The Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) Sir, Ferdinand Anikwe has described the annual Olokun Festival as the leading cultural heritage of African tradition. He advised the promoter of Olokun Festival, Otunba Gani Adams to extend the celebration to other ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Anikwe gave the suggestion during the grand finale of the 2015 Olokun Festival celebration in Badagry which attracted over 50 traditional rulers from South-west and Republic of Benin.
He further stated that with the annual celebration of Olokun Festival in the country, Otunba Gani Adams has written his name in the annals of history. The CBAAC boss expressed disappointment that politicians failed to attend such an event that brings the people closer to their traditional heritage.
“What Gani Adams is doing has a place in history which I want him to extend such gesture to other ethnic groups in the country,” he said.
Anikwe further stated that other European festivals have its origin from African tradition which Nigeria is richly endowed.
In his address, the promoter of the festival, Gani Adams declared that the presence of people from different parts of the world signified the importance of the festival as a source of generating revenue for the country.
“The presence of people from different countries here today is a magnet that can attract the anticipated foreign investment that continues to dominate our desire for national economic growth and development,” he said. He further declared that Olokun Festival has the huge potential of promoting global peace, unity and economic prosperity.
Adams who is also the National Coordinator of Odua People’s Congress (OPC) commended both traditional rulers and other guests that have travelled along way to grace the epoch occasion. He stated that the decision to single handedly promotes and sponsor the festival was because of his believe that the country has a lot benefits to derive from the festival.
By Pita Ochai
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