Obatala faithfuls from different parts of Nigeria converged on a rustic community in Oyo State , Igangan, recently for the Obatala festival organised by the Olokun festival foundation.

Faithfuls drabbed in white apparel turned the town into a big carnival as various cultural troupes tried to undo one another with their performances.

Bata Dancers, Oke Ako Cultural Troupe and members of the Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners of Nigeria put up great performances of how the deity, Obatala, and others were sent by the Almighty Creator to make the earth habitable for mankind.

The Oodua National Troupe gave a good account of itself as those who were present refused to allow the troupe go.

The festival, according to its chief promoter, Otunba Gani Adams, was a gathering to honour one of the great Yoruba deities, Obatala, who was sent on a very crucial mission by the Almighty Creator. And because the deity left an indelible mark in the life of mankind, the Yoruba in particular often celebrate him because he was an intercessor between mankind and the Almighty.

Otunba Adams said the celebration was also a part of the huge plans to consciously let the people know that the Yoruba culture could not be so relegated because of foreign influences and was, therefore, an integral part of a striving society like those in the Yoruba land which have been misrepresented.

He said: “Obatala festival is the celebration of cultural attitudes in modern times. Obatala promotes brotherhood. To make it clear, the deity is the patron of the people living with disabilities. It is easy for us to use our culture for enhancing diplomacy.

While noting that the festival is to educate the world about the deity of purity, he said “We were blindfolded into believing that everything about our angels was demonic, but if you really go into tradition and see the importance of these angels, you will observe that they were not demonic but harbingers of hope and good tiding for the black race.

“That is why this gathering is very important; those who are seeking the deities’ favour would definitely have their encounters at this occasion.”

Commenting on the dwindling cultural heritage, the Asigangan of Igangan said it was sad that people “now pay much attention to foreign values; those who ought to correct the situation have even mandated their wards to swallow everything external hook, line and sinker at the detriment of the culture that has brought values and progress to mankind.

He said: “We bleach our skin and change our indigenous names to foreign ones. We use spoons and forks to eat okro soup and prevent our children from speaking the Yoruba language, claiming that it is archaic and retrogressive. This is sad and barbaric and cannot be termed a mark of civilisation in any form, but a condemnable episode in the chapter of the African culture.”

Dr Ilori Abegunde, who was the guest speaker, said when Olodumare decided to create the solid earth, He summoned Obatala often referred to as Orishanla and gave his some important assignments.

He said: “Obatala was provided with a hen, pigeon and some piece of earth.As soon as he arrived the planet earth, Obatala threw the piece of earth on a particular spot which the hen and pigeon spread with their web_feet.”

The gathering, which had in attendance other international observers from the United States, could be described as a success because some of the international participants noted that the likes of Obatala and other important Yoruba deities were often put at the background each time civilisation was being amplified.

He further said: “Some of us living overseas have been wrongly informed about the good nature of the deities; it was like nothing good comes out of these deities. We would ensure that the wrong impression about the African culture is corrected.”