By Habeeb Ibrahim
Peter Fatomilola, a Nigerian dramatist, actor, poet, and Ifa priest, delivered a touching message to the students of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) at the just concluded Lagos Cultural Heritage event, urging them to hold firmly to their cultural roots.
Fatomilola, a legend in promoting Nigerian culture through his work of the arts, emphasized that neglecting one’s culture is similar to losing one’s identity. He cautioned, “He who fails to embrace culture is equivalent to a person born without an identity.
“ I’ll encourage us to hold our tradition and culture firmly because if anybody fails to hold his own culture and traditions, it’s like someone born on the earth without an identity, which means he has no background, no history. Such a person is what we call a bastard, and I don’t want our Nigerian youth to be bastards. They should uphold their culture and traditions.”
Fatomilola’s advice deeply connect with the theme of the event. He further emphasized the importance of preserving Lagos’ unique cultural blend, cautioning that external influences should not overshadow the indigenous traditions.
“Lagosians shouldn’t allow the acquired tradition, mixed with Lagos tradition, to affect their own tradition. Let it be balanced,” he advised.
