By Etop Ekanem

Passionate culture advocate, Oluwadamilare Igbayiloye, has led a pivotal conversation on promoting and preserving Yoruba heritage at the recently concluded ERÉKỌ́DÚN 6.0 event, sparking a movement to safeguard the rich Yoruba cultural legacy for future generations.

Disclosing in a media statement, she said the event, hosted by Akonilede Yoruba (an online Yoruba language school led by Oluwadamilare Igbayiloye), held on December 14 in Lagos,  and was streamed online to a global audience.

The culture advocate  stated that the event aimed to promote the Yoruba language and culture among children and parents in the diaspora, using technology as a tool to bridge cultural gaps.

“The theme for ERÉKỌ́DÚN 2024 was “Lá bẹ́ Igi Òrom̀bó”,(Under the lime Tree) and it seeks to bring to life some highly educative cultural practices that are gradually going into extinction as a means of promoting the Yoruba cultural heritage,” Igbayiloye emphasized.

During the event, the Convener spoke on “Reviving Yoruba Language and Culture, Best Practice in Today’s World.”

The presentation highlighted the importance of engaging conversations on the importance of culture and best practices for its preservation in today’s world, facilitated through technology.

It also featured a cultural Immersive presentation showcasing the richness of Yoruba heritage, including discussions, music, folk, games, art, and networking opportunities for like-minded individuals passionate about the preservation of culture.

According to Igbayiloye, the event provided a unique platform for participants to engage with Yoruba culture and language in a modern and innovative way.

“We are committed to ensuring that our cultural heritage is preserved and passed down to future generations,”  she said.

She added that the event was designed to inspire a new generation of Yoruba language and culture custodians by offering actionable practices for participants in Nigeria and the diaspora to embrace Yoruba culture.

The event further provided actionable practices for participants, both in Nigeria and in the diaspora, to embrace and adopt the advancement and preservation of the Yoruba culture.

These practices include communal language lessons, values, art, integration of technology, storytelling, and fashion.

“The acceptability and preservation of Yoruba culture among diaspora children and their parents is not only possible but achievable with concerted effort,” Igbayiloye noted.

The event featured notable guests and speakers, including Iskil Mustapha (Arojinle), Demilade Adepegba (The Bold One), Olamide Osho, and Michael Adelakun (Lumee| Olootu Agba).

Their contributions added depth and richness to the conversations, inspiring a new generation of Yoruba language and culture custodians.

With the success of this event, Igbayiloye has reaffirmed her commitment to promoting and preserving Yoruba heritage, ensuring its continued relevance and vibrancy for generations to come.

As she aptly put it, “our cultural heritage is a treasure that must be cherished, preserved, and passed down to future generations.”