Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has asserted that the Isese tradition will endure and remain an integral part of humanity. He emphasized that Isese has a timeless presence and would remain for eternity.
Soyinka made these remarks during a public discussion held at the Kongi’s Harvest Art Gallery in Freedom Way, Lagos State, on Friday.
The celebration of Isese Day in various South-Western states has been a subject of controversy, particularly in Ilorin, Kwara State, where an Osun priestess, Yeye Ajesikemi Olatunji, faced opposition from the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Kolapo Gambari Dan, and other Muslim adherents who discouraged the commemoration of the day.
The Emir’s spokesperson, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, issued a statement asserting that “idolatry activities” had never occurred in the Ilorin Emirate’s history.
Notably, Adegbola Abdulazeez, a prominent Ilorin Isese devotee and activist known as Talolorun (Who is God), who advocated for the recognition of Isese in the state, was arrested and detained on charges of defamation and “insulting the Emir of Ilorin,” among other offenses.
During his presentation, Professor Soyinka expressed his opposition to Talolorun’s detention, stating that no one should be imprisoned or confined for issues related to their beliefs.
Soyinka remarked, “It transcends religion since it calls to what is innate to all sentient beings, those strange advocates of freedom who, paradoxically, nonetheless persist in fashioning chains for themselves and for their fellow beings.”
He described Isese as a liberating force, a manifestation of the collective human spirit that embraces and accommodates human experiences. Soyinka stressed that Isese promotes gratitude for and sanctity of human life, repudiates the supremacy claims of any spiritual structure, and encourages inner serenity and community equilibrium.
Furthermore, Soyinka cautioned against efforts by some Muslim adherents to engage in a smear campaign and clarified that he does not harbor hatred for any religion. He asserted that his stance is rooted in principles of equity, fairness, and justice.
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