By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu
Houston, Texas/
Mayor Sylvester Turner of the City of Houston will on Monday host traditional rulers from Nigeria and some other African countries to this year’s celebration of African culture tagged Asa Festival 2018.
According to the organizers, the special reception is to establish a lasting relationship between the City of Houston and the various African communities they represent.
The Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Jerry Davis and other executives of the Counties in Houston are also meeting with the Nigerian Kings in a scheduled County Meet and Greet, where they would be given welcome certificates to Houston, on Friday.
The George Bush International Airport witnessed an unusual flow of traffic on Wednesday as Yoruba sons and daughters in Houston trooped there to welcome the monarchs who arrived from Nigeria for the Asa Festival 2018.
Mayor Turner expressed support for the festival which promises to boost trade and entrepreneurship in Houston.
The Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, His Royal Highness Joseph Adebayo Adewole, Alara of Aramoko and Oba Abdul Azeez Adegoke Olu Adeyemi have already arrived in Houston for the event. Others including three kings from the Republic of Benin are expected today.
On the Asa Festival, the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti said: “One thing that gladdens my heart in the Asa Festival 2018 that made me attend is the encouragement it gives to our people abroad to embrace their culture and tradition. Even at home, many people discourage their children from speaking Yoruba. That threatens our culture and tradition. Any language, culture and tradition that is such treated by its people will go into extinction. The Yoruba are perfectionists. They excel in all things they do because they believe in quality and don’t believe in half measures. That portends danger. It can make the race go into extinction. Our race is the best in the world. Everything about our tradition, language and mode of dressing is unique. Yoruba people are the best in the world. We are perfectionists. The way we celebrate our naming, housewarming, burial is different from other cultures.”
The Convener of the Festival, Princess Adejoke Phillips, owner of Jokceebe Radio FM said that promoting the Yoruba culture in America would make the Yoruba children born in the diaspora to learn the Yoruba culture and speak the language.
This, according to her, will prevent the Yoruba culture from going into extinction.
“Through this type of encouragement, they will learn to eat our food, wear our clothes, enjoy our way of life,” she said.
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