DO NOT TAKE AWAY CULTURE IN ANYTHING THAT YOU DO - OBA ISIAKA

His Royal Majesty, the Alase of Ilase Ijesa, Oba Isiaka Adesina Odundun Asoludero Ajarabiolu II has enlightened the 2021 Batch C Stream II Prospective Corps Members on the similarities and peculiarities of the Yoruba culture and traditions to other cultures. 

He gave the enlightenment during the traditional lecture at the Multipurpose Hall of the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ede on Monday. 

Oba Isiaka took the members through the definition and components of culture, describing it as a total way of life of a people cutting across their behaviour, greetings, mode of dressing and acceptable norms. He took them through the various greetings in the Yoruba language stressing that the Yorubas have greetings for different times of the day, seasons and events thereby making it a very interesting language to learn. 

The Alase further enlightened the PCMs on the various types of dressing of the Yoruba people including Aso-oke, agbada, dansiki and  kembe worn by men and  iro and buba worn by the women. He also intimated them with the different types of caps worn by men such as abeti ajá, among others.

Speaking on the posture of greeting of the Yoruba people, he said that men prostrate while women kneel to greet their elders as a mark of respect. Oba Isiaka also touched on the food peculiar to the Yorubas such as Amala (made from Yam flour) and ewedu with gbegiri (beans) soup. Other food eaten by the Yorubas includes: Pounded Yam, eba, egusi soup and efo riro (vegetable soup), among others. 

He explained that in Yoruba land, they believe in their festivals and forefathers. Some of these festivals are where they remember, praise, and pray for their forefathers, like the Osun Osogbo festival.

He enjoined the PCMs to embrace the trainings of the NYSC as it affords them the best platform to integrate and interact with one another thereby birthing regard and respect for others culture in the PCMs. 

He concluded by commending the purpose of the NYSC Scheme as it exposes PCMs to different cultures and people other than those in their States and Geo-political zones.