By Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo

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Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola has assured that his administration will give necessary support to the revival and revitalisation of dying Yoruba culture and tradition.
He stressed that culture with tradition define a given entity, hence the need to accord both necessary pride of place in the scheme of things.
Oyetola stated these at Ijo Orisa International Dance Festival at Owu Kuta.
The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Obawale Adebisi noted that Ijo Orisa is one of the ways to resuscitate the dying Yoruba culture.
While maintaining that his administration has done a lot in this regard, Oyetola challenged other royal fathers to keep the rich tempo of culture and tradition of Yoruba afloat so that the present and future generations will have a lot to see and learn from.
“We must not allow our culture and traditions go into extinction. We must do all we can to sustain and cherish them.”
Earlier in his remarks, Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Makama affirmed that any monarch in Yorubaland that brings any religion other than traditional religion into any palace is alien to culture.
He noted that Ijo Orisa festival as the name denotes is the first of its kind in the history of the town organised to promote the rich culture and tradition of the people.
He reiterated that the festival has nothing to do with religion but a means of reviving the dying culture of Yoruba land.
Oba Makama was emphatic that there is no village, town, city and even a country without its culture.
He used the occasion to appreciate sons and daughters of the town including well wishers for gracing the occasion.
“If our culture can be effectively harnessed, it will serve as one of the means of generating revenue. We must do everything within our reach to promote what is ours at the expense of what is alien to us. Culture is way of life, it must not be allowed to go into extinction” said Oba Makama.