By Adeyinka Adeniran
Traditionalists under the aegis of Isese Assembly, popularly called Isese Welfare Association (IWA), have indicated its readiness to organize a one-day interactive session with stakeholders in the film industry as well as skit makers in the Southwest of the country.
The targeted participants at the event are actors, directors, producers, script writers, film and skit makers, content creators and makers, who will interact with leading and practicing Oniseses (traditionalists).
The event is billed for Thursday, 12th of September, 2024, at the Onasode Hall, International Conference Center, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
The body, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Awo Ifatayo Awolade said, it has become imperative to call for the gathering in order to reorganize the Isese community at large in Yorubaland, create innovations and enduring capacities to deal with challenges encountering the Yoruba divinatory practices, traditions, spirituality, heritage and religion, which is known as Isese.
According to the statement, the event will be hosted by the revered Yoruba elder, High Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, who is the Araba Awo of Osogbo, Osun State.
He said, “On behalf of Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Community in general, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Welfare Association (IWA), which is popularly known as Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Assembly is organising a very inclusive and historic one-day interactive session with the critical stakeholders in movie industry in Nigeria (particularly in Yorùbáland), and these stakeholders include actors, directors, producers, scripts writers, film and skit makers, contents creators and marketers; with leading practising Oníṣẹ̀ṣes in Ibadan, Oyo dtate.
“This is part of the ongoing initiatives and activities aimed at reorganising Ìṣẹ̀ṣe community at large in Yorùbáland in particular, and objectively to create innovations and enduring capacities to deal with the contemporary challenges damaging the Yorùbá’s unique divinatory practices, traditions, spirituality, heritage, and religion known as Ìṣẹ̀ṣe.”
Awólàdé furthered that the symposium will avail participants to discuss ways to curb the denigration and bastardisation of Yoruba belief system, while establishing a sustainable channel for periodic consultation and collaboration towards the preservation of Yoruba culture, tradition and heritage, through film making and the theatre.
“The primary objective of this interactive session is to curb denigration of Ìṣẹ̀ṣe and to implore the stakeholders to help to stop the barstadisation of our dear belief system, and also to establish a sustainable channel for regular consultation and collaboration to preserve and promote our rich culture, tradition, and heritage through film making and theatrical practices.
“This event is scheduled to hold on 12th of September, 2024 at Onasode Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo Road, Ibadan, Oyo State by 11 am prompt.
“This ever important event will be hosted by Olóyè Àgbà (High Chief) Ifáyẹmí Àyìndé Ẹlẹ́buìbọn, the Àràbà Awo of Òṣogbo, Osun State,” he added.
