Paramount chief calls on Yoruba Community to cherish tradition, culture

In an interview with The Point, Bojang made this statement as he recounted what his Nigerian counterpart is trying by regaining the lost glory of Yoruba traditions and cultures.
He revealed that Nigerian King is taking up a campaign against Nigerians in Diaspora who installed themselves as Yoruba King in Diaspora to discontinue with the act, as evidently publicly condemned, cautioned and even published by some Nigerian newspapers.

According to Chief Bojang, Yoruba people can be leaders outside but they can’t claim or get themselves installed as Yoruba Obas: he added: “The tradition and culture even in our Gambian context should always be given due respect.

He called on both Gambians and Nigerians to regain the lost glory of their traditions and cultures which their forefathers were bent on cementing their relationship locally.

“For us as Bojang Kunda Clan, here in Sukuta as an example, we were the custodian of the chieftaincy 45 years ago, but we lost it since 1972 until 2017 when we regained it thanks to government of the day,” he said.

Bojang hailed the efforts of his Nigerian counterpart, Ooni of Ife, HIM Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and His Imperial Majesty Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Alaafin of Oyo as the most prominent Kings and custodians of Yoruba traditions, customs and cultures in Nigeria.

He stressed that kingship is a core tradition and above all, an institution which should be jealously guarded by true sons and daughters in Gambia and Yoruba Communities.
No Oba, he added should be recognised in a foreign land, saying an Oba must have a domain within the Oodua enclave with staff of office from government which unfortunately cannot be possible in the diaspora.

“Self-proclaimed Obas is outlaw in Yoruba Land especially where there is no record of an ordinary chieftaincy ever existed in one’s lineage, stressing that being a traditional leader means we are shouldering a big responsibility in our various countries,” he concluded.