‘Africa’s contribution to world civilization can’t be ignored’

‘Africa’s contribution to world civilization can’t be ignored’

 

Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo, Osun State has said that Africa’s contribution to the world civilization cannot be ignored.

Speaking at the centre’s symposium for celebrating African iconic figures in all parts of the world, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the CBCIU, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said Africans are renowned for rear feat and greatness despite “desperate attempt to shroud these wonderful manifestations of triumph and immensity from us and our children.”

The former Osun State governor said Africa has come out strongly to create an identity for herself and in the process broken all records to show that she did not only have a very rich past but have contributed to the world civilization.

Represented by the Secretary to Osun State Government, Kazeem Adio, he said celebrating African cultural icons was not to show how their contributions have shaped “our existence as Africans since time immemorial.”

According to him, Africa is replete with great cultural icons that moved mountains and shook the world, saying African Diaspora is not left out “as we know from history the bravery many manifested even in the most extreme of conditions.”

He continued: “As far back as the 15th Century, even before Europe had thought of building states and forming empires, Africans had established empires and kingdoms and operated political systems that would be envied by many. 

Our progenitors had built strong economic network that facilitated trade and commerce, both on cross-continental and trans-national levels. 

We had powerful rulers, who reigned and left resounding legacies that have continued to be subjects of study across the world today.

“Africa has also had her fair share of wars and in the midst of theses emerged strong men, who created political institutions that exist even up till this day. 

For instance, there is a suggestion that the Haitian Revolution is believed to be the first incidence of mass emancipation in a colonial society and the only slave revolt that resulted in the formation of a modern state. 

It is also believed that our African progenitors in Haiti during the revolution identified with Ogun, who they believed abhors injustice, corruption and oppression. 

This served as the  most portent rallying force that drove the revolution.

“Just as our progenitors had done excellently well and contributed immensely to the progress and development of human civilization in time past, so we have this generation and in recent times.

Only this year, we lost to the cold hands of death, two great cultural icons, Alagba Adebayo Faleti and Akinwumi Ishola.

 In South Africa, Mariam Makeba too died few years ago. 

While these cultural icons are long dead and buried, their cultural legacies still revolves around us every day.

 We also recognize other cultural icons across the continent and in the diaspora for their immense contributions to the survival of the African heritage.”

Earlier, the Executive Director of the CBCIU, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso, has said that the workshop was meant to be intellectually stimulating and engaging, adding that there would be a lesson for the future.

Oyeweso, who announced January, 2019 as the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the CBCIU, said the Centre had reached a milestone and even surpassed expectations only a decade since it has been opened to the public in 2019.

He said: “I congratulate everyone, who has made the smallest of inputs to see that the Centre remains the hub of cultural renaissance in Africa and the world at large. Let me use this occasion to formally invite you all on 9th of January, 2019 to mark a decade of the CBCIU’s noble existence.”

Among iconic cultural icons celebrated at the workshop include the Ondo State born singer and queen, Comfort Omoge; peace Nobel Laureate and South African Bishop, Desmod Tutu; former President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere; and author of the “How Europe Under Developed Africa,” Walter Rodney.