Leaders and stakeholders in Yorubaland have called for urgent measures to preserve Yoruba culture, history, language and traditional values, warning that continued erosion could worsen identity loss and cultural misrepresentation.
The stakeholders made the call at the 140th Kiriji War Legacy event held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
The event brought together traditional rulers, historians, academics, policymakers, public administrators and students to commemorate the 1886 Kiriji Peace Pact.
Representing Yoruba leader and historian, Professor Banji Akintoye, Opeoluwa Akinola disclosed that the Kiriji War, fought between 1877 and 1886, had severely affected Yoruba unity and development.
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He said the eventual peace agreement demonstrated the importance of dialogue, reconciliation and political cohesion in resolving conflicts.
Akintoye commended historical figures, including Fabunmi Oke Imesi and Orisarayibi Ogedengbe, for their roles in the events that culminated in the peace settlement.
He urged present generations to learn from the past and avoid repeating the divisions that led to the war.
Similarly, Ambassador Dosunmu Awolowo, represented by Professor Remi Ayede of the University of Ibadan, urged Yoruba people to embrace dialogue, peace and unity.
He noted that the preservation of good character and cultural values remained essential for transmitting Yoruba heritage to future generations.
Traditional rulers at the event, including the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, and the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Clement Haastrup, represented by his wife, Queen Victoria Haastrup, also advocated stronger protection of Yoruba language, culture and heritage.
The Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Dr Segun Oyeleye, and Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, Olawale Albert, called for the teaching and wider use of the Yoruba language in schools, particularly through civic education.
The duo advocated stronger regional and international relationships as part of efforts to preserve the legacy of the Kiriji Peace Pact.
Earlier, the President of the Kiriji Heritage Conservative Foundation, Florence Folami-Adeoye, and the Foundation’s Consultant, Professor Olubukola Oyawoye, urged Yoruba leaders and communities to support the Imesi-Ile Kiriji Project for the preservation of landmarks associated with the 1886 peace agreement.
They revealed that the Kiriji Anniversary and Legacy had received UNESCO recognition in 2024.
The event featured the presentation of gifts by Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka to students of history and poetry, as well as awards to individuals recognised for their contributions to the promotion of Yoruba heritage.
