Preserving traditional religious practices key to keeping Yoruba identity alive – Gani Adams

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland and Founder of the Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF), Iba Gani Adams, has called for the preservation of traditional religious practices, describing it as essential to sustaining Yoruba identity across generations.

Adams made the call while speaking at the 2026 Ifa Festival organised by the OFF in conjunction with the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) at Ogunlowo, Alagbole, Ogun State.

The gathering attracted traditional rulers, OPC members from Nigeria and abroad, youths, women leaders, cultural enthusiasts and members of the host community, and also featured traditional rites and a display centred on Ifa heritage.

The Yoruba generalissimo said the annual festival provided an opportunity for Yoruba people to reconnect with their cultural and spiritual heritage while passing traditional knowledge to younger generations.

On the significance of the Ifa Festival, Adams said the celebration was not merely a cultural gathering but also an occasion dedicated to Orunmila, whom he described as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge within Yoruba spiritual tradition.

He said the festival offered an opportunity to reflect on the history, teachings and values associated with Ifa and encouraged the preservation of traditional knowledge for future generations.

He said: “Ifa is more than a divination system; it is the spiritual wisdom and religion of the Yoruba people, embodying the teachings of Orunmila,” he said and further explained that the Ifa literary corpus is traditionally associated with 256 Odù, with the 16 principal Odù forming its foundational structure.

According to him, Ifa has historically served as a means through which practitioners seek spiritual counsel and insight into issues affecting their lives.

The Yoruba generalissimo said the continued observance of Ifa festivals was important to maintaining a connection between contemporary Yoruba society and its ancestral heritage.

The Aare Ona Kakanfo also used the occasion to call for greater understanding and religious tolerance in discussions about indigenous African religions.

He rejected the characterisation of Ifa as diabolical, arguing that it “should instead be understood within the cultural and religious context of the Yoruba people.”

Adams, while comparing the practice of seeking spiritual guidance through Ifa with forms of spiritual consultation found in other religious traditions around the world, cited Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism as examples of religious traditions in which adherents seek spiritual guidance and counsel.

He therefore urged adherents of different faiths to respect one another’s religious beliefs and practices, noting that there is a clear distinction between culture, tradition and religion.

“There is a clear distinction between culture, tradition and religion. I appeal to religious leaders to refrain from disparaging our traditional beliefs,” he said.

Adams added that Christianity, Islam and indigenous African religions could coexist peacefully, stressing the importance of religious tolerance in a diverse society.

Speaking further, Iba Adams said Yoruba traditional religion contains historical values, communal practices and moral teachings that had contributed to the development of Yoruba society.

According to him, preserving indigenous traditions would help younger generations maintain a connection with their cultural roots while contributing to Nigeria’s cultural diversity and, therefore, urged governments, traditional institutions and members of the public to support initiatives aimed at preserving indigenous cultural and religious heritage.

He also highlighted the recognition of Isese Day as an important development in efforts to promote Yoruba cultural heritage, saying the “celebration provides an opportunity for Yoruba people to come together in cultural expression and communal solidarity.”

He described the Ifa Festival and Isese Day celebrations as platforms capable of strengthening cultural identity and bringing together Yoruba people from different parts of Nigeria and the diaspora.

Adams also congratulated participants who had completed the three-day rites in Igbodu, offering prayers for their wellbeing and continued guidance.

According to him, the Olokun Festival Foundation and the OPC have, over the years, used cultural activities to promote Yoruba heritage and create greater awareness of Yoruba traditions among people at home and in the diaspora.

He said despite the financial and other challenges associated with sustaining cultural programmes, the Foundation remained committed to promoting Yoruba culture.

Adams urged Yoruba people to cherish and preserve their cultural heritage, warning that neglect of culture and tradition could weaken a people’s sense of identity.

He also referenced UNESCO’s recognition of Ifa divination as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, describing the recognition as “an indication of the wider cultural significance attached to the Ifa tradition.”

He reiterated his call for religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among adherents of different faiths.