Oba of Benin advocates propagation of cultural heritage abroad

The Benin traditional ruler, Omo N'Oba Erediauwa, has called on all members of the entertainment industry in Nigeria to export the nation's rich cultural heritage wherever they go in the course of their business.Oba Erediauwa made the call in his palace in Benin City during an award of honour given to him for his contribution to the preservation of the rich culture of the Benin kingdom.The Esogban of Benin, Chief David Edebiri, who delivered a speech on behalf of the monarch, said Benin was the only place in the whole of Africa where ancient culture remained intact in spite of modern technology.According to Oba Erediauwa, "This is the only place in the whole of Africa where culture has not submitted to modernity. We allow modernity to go on its own undisturbed. Social networking is going on; internet, e-mail and all the rest of it; but our own culture must live. We are not going to subject or submit our own to the white man's culture."The visitors we have here today are a kind of people who have made this country to be known to other parts of the world. We thank all of you who have hands in this beautiful occasion, and when you go to other African countries, please, export our [Benin] culture to all those places, and God will see you through."The organiser of the award ceremony christened 'Celebration of a culture preserver', Princess Owieayadolagbo Aideyan Esamah, said the traditional ruler deserved to be celebrated while alive for his support towards preservation of the rich cultural heritage of Benin."We are celebrating the Oba of Benin because he is a culture preserver. There is so much to be said of a king who through discipline, courage, astuteness and charisma, has preserved the awe with which the Bini kingdom is held even when it has become fashionable for culture to be eroded by the flood of civilisation.'According to her, "When you go round the world, you see a lot of culture being altered, but when you come to Benin kingdom, it's just the way it was. That is why we decided to celebrate him for his outstanding qualities. He is a very, very respected traditional ruler.
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