By Olawale Olayinka, Abeokuta
The Olopeji of Opeji, His Royal Highness Oba Abdul-Ganiyu Adesina Razaq, has called on the Yoruba people, particularly those in the South-West, to embrace, preserve and promote their culture and traditional heritage.
Oba Razaq made the call while speaking at the 2026 Isese Day celebration, describing the occasion as a special day for Yoruba people and an important opportunity to celebrate their cultural identity, traditions and heritage.
The monarch said he was delighted to participate in the celebration not only as an individual, but in his capacity as the traditional rulers, Olopeji of Opeji in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, stressing the importance of traditional institutions in preserving the cultural values of the Yoruba people.
He commended the Ogun State Government and other South-West governors for declaring August 20 as a public holiday for the celebration of Isese Day, describing the decision as a significant step towards giving recognition to the cultural and traditional heritage of the people.
According to him, Christians have special periods such as Christmas and Easter, while Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Kabir and Eid-el-Fitr, adding that traditional worshippers should also have a recognised day to celebrate their own heritage and traditions.
He noted that Isese Day represents an opportunity for traditional worshippers to proudly celebrate their own identity, saying the August 20 celebration is significant because it provides a platform for the people to showcase their culture without abandoning their roots.
The monarch urged Yoruba people to stop looking down on their culture and traditions, stressing that no society can achieve meaningful development while neglecting its cultural identity.
Oba Razaq said cultures across the world have continued to serve as sources of identity, tourism and economic development, adding that Yoruba culture has enormous potential to attract international recognition and generate economic opportunities.
He said, “Our culture is good and fantastic, and it is our responsibility to embrace it. It is something that we can sell to the world, and it can even bring economic benefits to our people.”
The Olopeji of Opeji further disclosed that the Opeji community has its own unique cultural and traditions which are celebrated from time to time, expressing his determination to take the cultural heritage of the community to an international standard during his reign.
He identified Ibu Yeye as one of the major cultural traditions of Opeji, noting its association with Iyemoja, Egun and Oke, which, according to him, remain important aspects of the community's traditional heritage.
The monarch thanked God for the opportunity to associate with and promote the cultural heritage of Opeji, while expressing optimism that more people from within and outside the community would identify with Opeji and its rich cultural traditions.
He prayed for the continued growth and development of Opeji, urging residents and people of Yoruba extraction to remain proud of their heritage and work collectively to preserve it for future generations.
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