NIGERIANS, particularly the people of the South-West, will from April 29 this year, have the opportunity to savour the rich cultural values of the Yoruba, as its eminent citizens are concluding plans for an inter-state "Yoruba Festival of Arts and Culture", which will kick off from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The festival, which begins with a three-day symposium on "Religious Pluralism and the Yoruba Example" at the cultural centre, Ibadan, will later spread to other Yoruba states, including Kogi, Kwara and Edo states.

Renowned historian and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Jacob Ade-Ajayi, who disclosed this in Ibadan yesterday, explained that the festival is also to honour slain Justice Minister, Chief Bola Ige, who mooted the idea in 1997 and to draw the younger generation closer to the hidden treasures of the Yoruba culture. Prof. Ade-Ajayi was quick to disabuse the minds of Christians and Moslems, who may equate the event with idol worshipping, stressing that there is a difference between culture and religion. Ade-Ajayi, who is the chairman of the festival's steering committee in the company of Prof. Bolanle Awe, told journalists that paucity of funds had made it impossible for the committee to announce specific dates for the remaining programmes of the event after the symposium. He, however, said a book exhibition may hold simultaneously with the symposium on Yoruba arts and culture, adding that books, which promote "our culture will be showcased at the event".

The organising committee chairman disclosed further that the festival would
gulp about N14 million.

Already the Odu'a Investment Limited had released N1.5 million to the Yoruba Solidarity Council (YSC) for the organisation of the event.
Explaining that the idea of the festival was mooted by the late Ige, Ade-Ajayi said May 11 - 25, this year dates are again being considered for the
event, "but the council elections fixed for May 18 may not make the dates
realistic".

Activities lined up as part of the festival expected to hold every two-year
are inauguration at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, speeches, cultural performance, sampling of Yoruba cuisine.

The inauguration, he said, would simultaneously hold in state capitals and
major towns, adding that exhibitions and the display of the components of
Yoruba arts and culture will follow.

The grand finale is billed for the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan while school
debates, carnivals, fireworks, awards, film shows and fashion parade, would also form parts of the programmes.

He said that the machinery for the successful hosting of the festival is
being put in place with co-ordinators in all the states where Yoruba speaking people are present.

Ade-Ajayi listed the two main aim of the festival: dedication and
remembrance of Ige, who mooted the idea and unification of the Yoruba race.

The festival is also for the promotion of the rich Yoruba culture,
especially among the younger generations, who have imbibed the Western culture at the expense of theirs.

Other members of the committee at the briefing were Prof. Akinwunmi Isola, Chief Adebayo Faleti, Pastor Olayinka, Dr. Larinde Akinleye and Tope Obayemi.