The Yoruba cultural renaissance boomed again in the city of Paris, France on December 5, 2014 when Otunba Gani Adams, the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples ‘Congress and Worldwide Leader of the Oodua Progressive Union, inaugurated the France Chapter of the OPU.
The elaborate ceremony held at Boulevard De Liberation, St Denis, Paris.
It had in attendance Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Hakeem Olawale, who was represented by the Head of Chancery, Olumide Olowo; the Zaki of Arigidi, Oba Yisa Olanipekun; Captain Olatokunbo Adesina; Akogun Banji Ojo; Chief Yomi George Giwa; Staff of Nigeria High Commission in France; the Europe Coordinator of OPU; and all OPU Coordinators in Europe and Great Britain.
The style, branding stunts, packaging and mobilization for the event adopted by members of the Oodua Progressive Union in Paris commanded the presence of other members of the union from Holland, Britain, Austria, Spain, USA, Sweden, Norway, Finland, South Africa and North America, who stormed Paris in their different cultural costume, which accentuated the rich cultural heritage of the Oduduwa siblings.
The OPU France chapter inauguration was made livelier not only by the array of Yoruba musicians who were ferried from all over Europe to France, but also the act of one Abayomi Abiodun Mate, aka Ifankalleluyah.
Prayers were offered to God in accordance with the tradition of Oodua People’s Congress, which always gives glory to the creator of heaven and earth in the three dominant religions that traverse the land of Oduduwa – Islam, Christianity and traditional.
Prince Aladeloye Akinloye Hakeem, OPU France chapter coordinator, in his welcome address lauded the vision of Otunba Adams in rising up stoutly to salvage the obliteration of Yoruba pristine culture, values and tradition from the international forum by inaugurating OPU in over 17 countries of the world.
Hakeem said: “Our generation is most grateful to the initiator of Oodua People’s Congress, Otunba Gani Adams, who has taken upon himself the trans generational burden of revitalization and resuscitation of the dying Yoruba culture particularly among the Yoruba in Diaspora.”
He commended members of the OPU all over Europe for their resilience and determination to support the efforts of Adams who has put his life on the line for the sustainance of the culture of our fatherland.
Olawale praised Adams for “being a cultural icon who has come to Paris to reawake and stoke the embers of cultural renaissance among the Yoruba people and other ethnic groups in France”.
The Ambassador pointed out: “We appreciate the effort of Otunba Gani Adams.
“We at the Embassy salute his courage and commend him for giving Nigerians and the Yoruba a sense of cultural belonging and pride not only in Nigeria but at the international level.
“This is a rare sense of patriotism and altruism, which is commendable, laudable and worthy of emulation.”
The Ambassador called on Nigerians in Paris to conduct themselves according to the cultural values, norms and mores of their different ethnic groups, which preaches good neighbourliness, humility, honesty, diligence and hardwork.
Olawale said: “I am happy that OPU is preaching how to be a good citizen in a foreign land.
“This I urge all members and other Nigerians not only to imbibe but let these values reflect in your day-to-day activities and conduct.”