His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Hammed Makama Oyelude, CON, The Olowu of Kuta Kingdom has received the TOFAC Oduduwa Award for Cultural Excellence for Royal Majesty’s monumental contributions to Nigeria’s educational development and Yoruba cultural renaissance.
Oba Oyelude says, “Yoruba cultures are not demonic, so we must do everything possible to promote our cultures”, while receiving the award, at the 14th Toyin Falola International conference on Africa and the African Diaspora, hosted in Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium, Osogbo Main Campus, on Tuesday, July 1st.
He also charged Nigerian government to prioritise culture to generate revenue for the country and promote it to the world.
This year’s edition of the globally TOFAC conference is themed; “African Cultural Creativity and Innovations”, and it aims to provide a multidisciplinary platform for scholars, creatives, policymakers, and cultural enthusiasts to explore the intersections of tradition, innovation, and the future of African cultural production.
“Nigerian government should take our culture to the world as part of nation building”
“Federal government can use culture to redeem the image of Nigeria in Abroad and they can generate revenue for the growth of economy, Oba Makama said.
“We are installed culturally, we are traditional rulers for maintenance of traditions and culture for posterity.”
The conference featured Professor Nemeta Blyden of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, as the Keynote Speaker, Dr. Wale Okediran, Secretary General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), Accra, and Dr. Lasisi Olagunju, award-winning columnist and Editor at the Nigerian Tribune.
Adding further prestige to the event, the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq, was ably represented as the distinguished Guest of Honour, while Honourable Abiodun Bankole Ojo, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Osun State, served as the Special Guest of Honour.
The Toyin Falola international conference is in honour of the celebrated scholar and historian, Professor Toyin Falola of the University of Texas at Austin in recognition of his global contributions to African and African Diaspora studies.
Also, Olowu-Kuta Oba Oyelude, other traditional rulers and his entourage thereafter paid a visit to the OSBC Library complex to inspect the ongoing Library project.
