Alaafin, Gani Adams to attend Beautiful African Day

Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams and Iyalode of Owu Kingdom, Adenike Lawal, have all signaled their intentions to attend the Beautiful African Day Festival scheduled to hold on June 1 in Belgium.

During the courtesy visit of the Africa TV crew, led by its Chairman, Larry Omodia, to his Lagos residence yesterday, Adams reiterated his commitment to attend and support the annual festival, especially for cultural advancement and presentation of a good image of Nigeria and the African continent to the world.

“I can assure you that I will attend the event in June and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, would also be part of it. I love the concept and the platform, reeling out the good part of the continent to the world.

“It is also an avenue for me to further promote the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba race and the event is coming at the right time, because we are just planning to launch our Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) in Luxembourg.

“So, we might incorporate the launching into the Beautiful Africa Day Festival, if all things work well,” the Aare stated.

Adams noted that the Yoruba in the Diaspora must have a sense of belonging and identify with their roots all the time, adding that OPU has its presence in 84 countries and launching in Luxembourg and re-awaking the organisation in Belgium during the event would be a plus for the organisation.

Iyalode Lawal vowed to continue to promote Yoruba tradition and cultural heritage, as well as propagate peace in Yoruba land, Nigeria and unity across the continent, assuring that she would attend the Belgium event and also contribute her quota to the success of the event.

Omodia thanked the Aare for the good reception accorded the crew, saying he would give his best to have a better outing at this year’s edition.

Beautiful African Day is a yearly event aimed at celebrating and promoting Africans who are doing well in their respective endeavours, as well as a channel to encourage and recognise eminent Africans who deserve to be honoured.