The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi will unveil an Oduduwa mobile library on September 7, to boost cultural awareness in the country.
The cultural ambassador, House of Oduduwa Foundation, Princess Ronke Ademiluyi, told News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, that the project would redirect interest of culture among the youth.
According to her, the N5 million museum is an initiative of the Ooni of Ife in conjunction with governments of Brazil and Cuba as well as over 20 other countries.
She said the countries involved in the exercise would have the artifacts moved round their embassies.
Ademiluyi told NAN that the project would add economic, political, and socio-cultural benefits to the country as it would attract global attention to the richness of Oduduwa culture.
She stated that the historic event, which would have tourism potentials, would be flagged-off on September 7, at the Brazilian Embassy in Lagos.
Her words: “The whole event will last 60 days, as cultural materials of African origin will be strategically moved from place to place within Lagos and exhibited for all to see.
“The event is scheduled to coincide with the 197th Independence anniversary of Brazil on September 7.”
Ademiluyi, the founder of Africa Fashion Week, averred that the choice of Brazil for collaboration, was because it is a country with over 80 million population of Oduduwa descendants
“Brazil is the first country to collaborate with the House of Oduduwa on the promotion of African heritage due to her acceptance of Yoruba people and culture.
“It is noteworthy to mention that Brazil had gone as far as adopting Yoruba language as one of its official languages,” she added.
According to her, the programme would include a four- day exhibition of antiquities, art recreations of divinities and treasures of ancestors of the Oduduwa people.
She said: “The cultural items combine to reinforce the belief that, indeed, humanity originated from Ile-Ife, the acclaimed origin of the Oduduwa people located in South Western part of Nigeria.”
The cultural ambassador added that researches had shown that the Oduduwa people started the tradition of arts in casting, sculpturing, carving, and molding.
“Remains of ancestors of the Oduduwa race dating back to over 13,000 years ago have also been discovered inside Iho Eleeru (ashes cave) at Isarun near Igbara-Oke in Ondo State, through valid academic research.
“Somewhere in Iresi in Osun State also, tools showing civilization dating back to about 5,000 years ago have been discovered by certified researchers,” she added.
Ademiluyi noted that the museum project was aimed at attracting and coordinating various interest groups for sustainable global peace and development that placed emphasis on youth encouragement.
“Specifically, it will serve as the hub for the collection of diverse African cultural productions and knowledge-retrieval, renewal and production centre for ancient African cultures.
“This gesture will also work for the reinforcement of the historic ties of Brazil with Africa as recognized by the UNESCO,” she stated..
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