Professor Siyan Oyeweso, a historian and Chairman of the Governing Council at Obafemi Awolowo University, has urged institutional leaders across Nigeria to protect Yoruba culture from being eroded by religious influence. He said preserving culture is essential to safeguarding identity, language, and values.

Speaking in Osogbo at the maiden edition of Fountain University’s Cultural Day, themed “Preserving Heritage, Celebrating Identity: The Interplay of Islam and Culture in Our Shared Tradition”, Oyeweso stressed that religion should not come at the expense of tradition.

“Culture is the bedrock of all religions. When we lose our culture, we lose our identity, language, and morality,” he said. “A language dies when its last speaker dies. Preserving Yoruba culture is the surest way to preserve our language.”

He decried the fading regard for traditional values, linking it to social vices such as kidnapping, cybercrime, and drug abuse. According to him, older Yoruba literature from authors like D.O. Fagunwa and J.F. Odunjo promoted moral teachings, unlike the current trend where some parents endorse fraudulent behaviour like internet scams.

Oyeweso, whose work extensively documents the history of Islam in Yorubaland, noted that Yoruba tradition and Islam have historically coexisted harmoniously. “Our royal institutions have preserved Islam mosques have always been sited near palaces and marketplaces. The Ile-Ife Central Mosque dates back to 1903,” he said.

He called on followers of all religions to unite in protecting Yoruba heritage, stressing that cultural preservation is a shared duty.

In her earlier remarks, Fountain University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ramota Kareem described the event as part of the institution’s commitment to promoting cultural identity. “Culture remains a vital means of identification,” she said, urging academics to appreciate the traditions of their host communities.

The event honoured Oyeweso for his dedication to promoting African history and culture globally.