A trip to Cuba that was originally enmeshed in political polemics, turned out for the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Dokun Abolarinwa, a revealing moment and an eye opener on how rich cultural and tourism potentials of Nigeria, Yorubaland particularly, could be harnessed to drive our growth and development. Kabiyesi shares his experience with KABIR ALABI GARBA.AS part of strategies to drive its culture and tourism plan, Osun State government recently sponsored a delegation comprising traditional rulers, market women, youths and government officials to Cuba to explore connections between the two countries.However, critics of the state government, especially the opposition, viewed the objective of the trip from another angle and gave a different interpretation to the honest mission.And since its planning was about the same time the allegation of attempt to 'Islamise' Osun State by Governor Rauf Aregbesola became subject of national discourse, it was alleged that the Cuban trip was designed to train 'militants' that would actualise the 'Islamisation' agenda.Although, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Dokun Abolarinwa, one of the royal fathers that made the trip, would not want to be drawn into the polemics, he, however, commended Governor Aregbesola for allowing the delegation to go ahead with the trip despite the criticism.Now back in the country, the monarch is recounting blessings and gains of the initiative, insisting, 'it will boost the tourism agenda of the state government.'Of particular interest to the royal father is how Africans in the Diaspora, especially in Cuba and Brazil, have continued to cherish their cultural roots in spite of centuries of disconnect with mother Africa occasioned by the slave trade.'We were at various tourist centres in Havana. Based on what I saw in their beaches, waterfalls, and monuments, I concluded that we are simply yet to develop ours. One of the most prominent and intelligent Cubans we met is a story-teller. The old man tells stories of history of Cuba, and he has, more or less become a demi-god. I asked myself: 'What stops me from doing a similar thing in my small community at home'' People pay a token to see him. We can have a similar thing and use what we have to develop Yorubaland.'He is agitated that Nigeria is yet to harness its rich cultural resources for national growth and development. As a networking trip for cultural and tourism development, Oba Abolarinwa reasoned that efforts to lay better foundation for the future would remain a mirage unless our history is upheld dearly and taught to younger ones.He decries, 'In Yorubaland, History, as a course of study, has been jettisoned. And we can't have rosy future without emphasis on the past. Brazil and Cuba have excelled in this, and that is why they are making progress.'Our brethren in Cuba as well as in Brazil still appreciate cultural attributes they took away some 300 years ago. What stops us from turning icons like Prof. Wole Soyinka and Wande Abimbola to semi-gods' Or Ooni of Ile-Ife, being the cradle of the universe to global phenomenon' That is what you have in developed economies. There is a lot you can do with human capital. There is no point just placing emphasis on our past. We cannot gain anything from deriding the value of one another or writing off our cultural heritage or dismissing our country in general. In Cuba, people are very patrioticand appreciative of their culture. You can say that that is as a result of their political antecedents but there is nothing in our own political history that says we should not celebrate our cultural legacies.'The 10-day trip took the team to several places such as African Heritage House; Yoruba House where the delegation had interface with the 'Yoruba past in a living form, documenting the linkage between Yorubaland and Cuba,'; African Heritage Museum in Havana, where the monarch saw the sculpture of legendary visual artist, Lamidi Fakeye.On sighting the carving, Kabiyesi was touched, he reminisced, 'I was moved beyond words. This is our own icon so honoured. I regard Fakeye as a leading light of the 21st century Igbomina land. But it also shows that Yoruba artefacts attract a lot of people because what they represent are strange to them. We have a lot of these that can be exported, while also making concerted efforts to produce more.'The king later posed beside the artwork to take a photograph. Interestingly, the master carver, who died a few years ago, hailed from Oke Ila's neighbour, Ila Orangun.To Orangun of Oke-Ila, overseas' trip in the last five years of his ascension to the throne has been frequent, courtesy of participating in international conferences organized by the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) and value such experience has added to his personality as a royal father, he notes, 'is immeasurable.'He has more or less become an idol in the face of many foreigners. A beaded crown standing tall on his head, a colourful bead adorning his neck, his equally well decorated staff, all resting on royally built shoes make him look like a piece of human art to those who are not familiar with African royal culture.While westerners are generally attracted by African attires, the added spectacles that traditional rulers exude make Oba Abolarinwa and any other royal father on similar mission an object of admiration.The monarch, who studied Political Science and International Relations at the University of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University) before studying Law,says, 'Even in the US, I am always the cynosure of all eyes. In fact, I feel I should be making money from such encounters. People always come to me to express their admiration and to take photographs.You know Yoruba dresses and other aspects of our culture are very rich and attractive. It is only unfortunate that many of us do not appreciate the values that many foreigners admire in us.'Returning to the rustic town (Oke-Ila) as a king after a flourishing career as a teacher, lecturer, and later lawyer, could be a tough decision, but Oba Abolarinwa has no regret because, 'I just have to answer the call of my people.'Before he embraced the crown, he lived most parts of his life first in Ibadan, where his mother resided in Agugu area of the Oyo State capital. His friends are mostly members of the elite, many of who found his having to return to the rural Oke Ila unimaginable. While it was tough for him to convince his immediate family too, some of his friends, however, encouraged him. The most important aspect of his story now is that he has grown to love being an Oba and being the symbol of the local breed.Life in Oke-Ila, he declares, 'is beautiful. I am happy to be a rural man. I enjoy what I have been doing as the king. Talents abound in the rural areas, and they need somebody to encourage them; to give them hope' here, there is a lot of work for me, representing the weak, young ladies, who are being exploited because of poverty. I am a social worker, a firm believer in the maintenance of the rule of law through the instrumentality of our various palaces. I am very busy and enjoy what I'm doing.'Among other cultural areas he is turning around is the Isinro Festival of Oke-Ila, which aims at promoting brotherhood. The feast peaks with the Ofin Odun, a platform to uphold the tenets of communal living and society progress. Planning is already on for this year's edition in August.But his love for people in the rural areas is transcending Oke Ila. He dreams to reach out to others in different parts of Yorubaland and the nation in general. As a result, he has instituted the Orangun Abolarinwa Aroyinka Foundation to actualize this dream.Not to leave anything to chances, the king is also undergoing further intellectual empowerment as he was at the Lagos Business School earlier in the year for a corporate social responsibility workshop for non-governmental organisations.On what he is missing now that he is a monarch, he admits that the royal institution has pruned down some of his social taste.He explains, 'I miss suits. Normally, I love wearing good suits, especially the flashy types. I can't wear such again. But if I see people wearing good suits, even as a monarch, I do appreciate it. When I see good ties, I say, 'I love your tie.' Being a lawyer, I miss my profession. But the fact that I settle disputes among my people somehow compensates for that. Because I am a rural man now, I also miss my family. Let me also add that I used to be a buka man. I was a regular visitor to all the bukas in Ibadan, Lagos and Abuja. But it is impossible for me to branch into any buka and eat now.
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