Meet and Greet Session on "African Cultures at the Crossroads: Perspectives on Local and Diasporic Voices" with Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon and Faseye Sangobukunmi

On Friday, 26 March 2021, the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU) hosted a Meet and Greet Session at the Fela Anikulapo-Kuti Room themed "African Cultures at the Crossroads: Perspectives on Local and Diasporic Voices". The Session was aimed at understanding the trajectory of the African Culture from the perspectives of cultural enthusiasts and experts within and outside the African continent. Famous Ifa priest who doubles as the Araba of Osogbo, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, was on hand to discuss the topic, Yoruba Language and Culture.

Chief Elebuibon commenced his presentation by stating that only 3000 languages would exist from about 6000 to 7000 languages at the end of the current century. He noted that language is one of the keys that hold life together and warned that any nation that loses its language and culture was likely to be confronted with a crisis.

According to the Araba, "The mother tongue is very important and akin to flesh and blood, the language is the bedrock for all innovation and creativity, it is very powerful. "All major scholars and researchers had agreed that anyone that is deprived of their primary language is already dead in some manner," he concluded. Chief Elebuibon suggested that parents should inculcate the habit of speaking the mother tongue to their kids while also encouraging schools to ensure Yoruba and other indigenous languages are taught in all schools. This, he said, was to help preserve the language and save it from going into extinction. The second presentation was done by Sango priest, Baba Faseye Sangobukunmi. An African-American based in the United States but at home with the Yoruba religion, Baba Faseye explained to participants how he began his spiritual journey into the world of Yoruba religion. He observed how he was introduced to his current Oluwo, Baba Fakayode Faniyi, Agbongbon Awo of Osogbo and how his search for meaning led him into making his first trip to Nigeria in 2004, where he was initiated into the Sango priesthood.

According to Baba Faseye, his experience was positive and has created avenues for him to conduct energetic healings, educational workshops in the African American community and other spiritual assistance to those in need through his organisation, Ile Ori L'agba Spiritual Community. The priest emphasised the need for the Nigerian government to invest in tourism which he observed offers a lot not only in terms of the revenue that could be accrued from such venture but most importantly, the intense spiritual feeling that would be derived by people of African descent in the diaspora. The event was attended by culture experts and enthusiasts. Also, partners from the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Osun State Ministry of Tourism and Culture and a host of others took part in the event which was live-streamed via Facebook to a much wider audience, particularly friends and acquaintance of the presenters in the African Diaspora. After the presentations, there was an opportunity for participants and guests to ask questions, make useful comments and add extra voice to the debate on what constitutes a crossroad in the African cultural landscapes

A cross section of some of the participants at the meet and greet session.