By Adesewa Alonge
Yoruba traditionalists converged on Osogbo for the maiden edition of Ifayemi Elebuibon annual symposium to celebrate his contribution to the growth of traditional religion globally.
The symposium organised by the Isese Welfare Association (IWA) with the theme: Veneration/Worshipping of the ancestors: Its place in Isese religion, was held at Ogbeyonu Hall, Osogbo.
Speaking with newsmen, Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon said the symposium focused on clarifying the differences between ancestor worship and Orisa worship while teaching future generations their spiritual responsibilities.
“We examined how to venerate ancestors and Orisa, and the differences between them, so that future generations will learn from us. Once we understand what we are doing, it will help us progress.
“My appeal to the government is to allow every religion to practice freely. Christianity, Islam, and traditional religion so that we can have peace and harmony,” he stated.
Declaring the purpose of the gathering, Babalawo Ogundeji Elebuibon said the symposium has helped reinforce the value of Yoruba heritage.
“We have known the importance of worshipping our deities and our forefathers. When we take care of our forefathers, we receive a lot of blessings from them. We should not neglect where we come from, and we must always cherish our heritage,”
He added that the symposium was not aimed at criticizing other religions but at fostering better understanding of the Yoruba traditional faith.
While addressing the journalists, Ifagbenushola Popoola, Secretary of the Isese Welfare Association, noted that the symposium was designed to celebrate a living legend and to encourage collective learning.
“The first purpose is to honor our living legend Baba Ifayemi Elebuibon and also to learn from him. We believe it is not until they are gone before we can appreciate and honor them. He has done a lot for the Isese community, and this is our way of showing gratitude,” he said.
The symposium featured lectures, discussions, and interactive sessions on Yoruba identity, culture, and heritage, with participants determined to promote traditional values through education, language, and public recognition of ancestral contributions.