Alaafin urges Yoruba diaspora to reconnect with cultural, spiritual roots

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has urged Yoruba people in the diaspora to reconnect with their cultural and spiritual roots, saying returning home could strengthen their identity and promote spiritual self-rediscovery.

The monarch made the call at the grand finale of the 2026 World Sango Festival held at the ancient Alaafin’s Palace in Oyo, where he also called for Yoruba cultural studies to go beyond performing traditions and focus more on the intellectual foundations of the civilisation.

Oba Owoade, in a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, urged stakeholders to support the study and celebration of Sango, as well as promote the leadership virtues associated with the historical Alaafin.

He said the life, administration and leadership of Sango should be subjected to rigorous academic study, particularly as Nigeria continues to search for effective models of governance and nation-building.

In his address, the Alaafin described Sango as a man of valour, purpose and diplomacy whose leadership strengthened Oyo during its formative period and helped consolidate the kingdom’s position as a major regional power. He said the ruler’s achievements offered lessons that could be applied to contemporary leadership and nation-building.

Oba Owoade also called for greater support for the Sango Festival as part of a broader cultural tourism agenda, saying the celebration provides an opportunity for people to reconnect with Yoruba history, values and traditions. The monarch further urged Yoruba in the diaspora to immerse themselves in their religious and cultural traditions for spiritual strengthening, personal fulfilment, global understanding and harmony.

Oba Owoade went on to lament the declining appreciation of African history and indigenous traditions, urging Yoruba people to preserve their heritage and document the deeds, wisdom and achievements of past heroes for future generations. He also appealed to parents to teach their children the Yoruba language, stressing that preserving the language was essential to maintaining the cultural identity of the Yoruba people.

The Sango Festival was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2025, further highlighting its global cultural significance.