Ara Decries Poor Support for Culture

Lagos: Nigeria's foremost female talking drummer, Aralola Olamuyiwa, popularly known as Ara, has decried the lack of support from local brands for artistes promoting indigenous culture. Ara spoke during the second edition of her cultural showcase, 'ARA Monthly', held at the KAP Hub, Kunle Afolayan Production Centre, in Lagos. She highlighted that several corporate organisations had turned down her requests for sponsorship. According to News Agency of Nigeria, the absence of support is forcing many talented artistes to seek better opportunities abroad. Ara expressed disappointment, noting that only two people bought tickets for the first edition of her event, and just one person paid for the second edition. She emphasized the need for brands to support artistes to sustain and promote Nigeria's rich culture. Ara pointed out that many colleagues have left the country due to lack of support. She added that Nigeria is globally recognized as a cultural hub blessed with unique heritage and talent. During the event , Ara thrilled the audience with a vibrant performance that combined drumming, singing, and dancing. She performed her song 'Ase', inspired by her admiration of God's creation and the spiritual authority bestowed on humanity, revealing that the song's melody first came to her in a dream. In addition to 'Ase', Ara performed folklores and her song 'Ife', distinguishing her music from songs centered on heartbreaks by celebrating abundant love. During her performance, she spoke against immorality, theft, and lies, urging Nigerians to embrace honesty and uprightness. Ara expressed gratitude to filmmaker Kunle Afolayan for providing the performance venue free of charge and described his gesture as a major encouragement. She reiterated that cultural promotion required the backing of brands and institutions to thrive, warning that without such support, Nigeria risked losing its rich indigenous heritage. Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon, a renowned Ifa priest, poet, and dramatist from Osogbo, also spoke at the event, urging the revival of indigenous religion and practices. Elebuibon lamented that Nigerians had long been conditioned to neglect their cultural heritage. He described culture as a vital resource that should never be relegated and explained the 'Orisha' concept, noting that the Yoruba concept of Olorisha refers to individuals spiritually endowed to perform wonders, thereby attracting followers. Elebuibon argued that missionaries disrupted this understanding by relegating African traditions and imposing foreign religions, fearing indigenous practices might prove superior. He maintained it was not madness to uphold the practices of one's ancestors and praised Yoruba names, describing them as unique, beautiful, and meaningful. Speaking on peaceful coexistence among traditional worshippers, Muslims, and Christians, Elebuibon stated that harmony could only be achieved if adherents refrained from mocking one another's beliefs.