Battle Of The gods: From Kwanzaa In The US To Isese Day In Ibadan, Bemused Nigerians Have A Day Off



The Oasis Reporters
August 21, 2023

Africans have always had their diverse religious beliefs before Islam came to the shores of Nigeria, and it got an uptick through Usman Dan Fodio’s Fulani jihad that worsted northern Nigeria, killing the Hausa Sarakuna (kings) and replacing them with Fulani emirs to entrench Islam and Fulani minority rule.
Thus, the Hausa mode of worship was supplanted with Islamic mode of worship, with the Emirs as guardians. The Fulani conquest also got as far as the northern fringe town of Ilorin, a Yoruba town, but with Fulani emirs.
Christianity was also to follow, right on the back of colonialism led by the British which declared traditional modes of worship as idolatry.
Therefore, Nigerians became largely Christians and Muslims, religions with Middle eastern origin. Thus, utterly neglecting traditional religions.
But this is a new generation of Nigerians, clamoring for recognition of African Traditional Religions (ATR).
It was African Americans who led the charge, by fighting for “Kwanzaa” to be recognized as a holiday for African culture, tradition and religions.
That is, if Christmas Day (December 25) can be recognized as a public holiday for Christians and in Nigeria, Eid day would also be a holiday for Muslims, African traditional modes of worship must have a day of holiday set aside for them too, as holiday, to be called Isese day.
There’s a city with a sticking point in Yoruba consciousness, called Ilorin, a Yoruba city with a Fulani minority emir.
When the issue of Isese day came up, it met opposition from the elite in Ilorin, who recognized that indeed, the city was Yoruba speaking, but it was an Islamic city. Thus no Isese Day! The sticking point had just become a tipping point.
Resentment seemed to have boiled over. So Oyo State governor declared August 21, as Isese day.
🌿Embracing the richness of my heritage on this Isese day 🌍
— Àyìnkẹ́ Ifátòròmádé Adéfémi (@AyinkeAdefemi) August 20, 2023
Isese teaches us to honour & respect Ọlọ́dùmarè, our progenitors the Irúnmọlẹ̀, our Ancestors & Mother Earth. We find strength in our spirituality & it brings beauty, peace &unity into our lives.
Happy #Iseseday 🎉 pic.twitter.com/olo5UBFQM1
Europe is in solidarity with Isese
Happy Isese Day to all the wonderful people of Odu’a.
— President Eniola Daniel (@UnlimitedEniola) August 21, 2023
May the Yoruba race continue to wax stronger. #IseseDay #Iseseday2023 pic.twitter.com/LNM8WOrK5C
More congratulatory messages on Isese day
I am joining the millions of well wishers around the world to wish all the traditional worshippers all over the world Happy ISẹse day, and also kudos to the Southwest stakeholders for giving enough support and most expecially declearing a pub holiday #IseseDay #FreeTaniOlohun pic.twitter.com/WYxwa47rkO
— Oluwatosin🇳🇬🇩🇪 (@Oluwa_teekeyz) August 20, 2023
To all my Yoruba Angels, Happy Isese Day. Proud of our heritage and our culture #IseseDay pic.twitter.com/BXd5O63a79
— Qwuiga (@qwuiga) August 21, 2023
More to know about Isese Day
I commend all the Governors who has approved the Isese Day. .
— Omo_Olodumare 🌿 (@OmoObaAlewi) August 20, 2023
We are looking forward To other governors to improve on this development .
Oodua a gbe wa. Oo .
Ase.🌿#iseseday pic.twitter.com/Y5ZwJw2WO0
Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun declares August 21 as Isese day in his state.
Isese Day: Gov. @dabiodunMFR declares Monday Public Holiday
— SF (@sfojoemmanuela) August 19, 2023
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has declared Monday, 21st August 2023 as public holiday to commemorate the annual Isese Day. pic.twitter.com/YfpBKGLuuu
Gbadebo Rhodes starts with an oriki, all for a day of holiday, Isese day:
Yoruba A kú ọdún ó
Ọdún á yabo ó
Ìṣẹ̀ṣe á gbè wá ó
Àwọn Alálẹ̀, wọ́n á bá wa ṣe é
Ifá Ọ̀rúnmìlà á bá wa ṣe é ó
Àmín Àṣẹ Èdùmàrè
I commend a few of the Southwest governors for their recognition of the Isese Festival, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people. Embracing our diversity and tradition is a bold testament to a shared commitment to unity and inclusivity.
However, It’s unfortunate that some oppose this celebration in Ilorin, a city with rich Yoruba history. It is my hope that our rich culture and heritage are not demonized or subdued.
We must remember God is love, father of all, and is divine consciousness.
Multiple canoes on the same stream.
We must continue to encourage understanding,harmony, and work towards an egalitarian society.
A kú ọdún ó
— Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (@GRVlagos) August 20, 2023
Ọdún á yabo ó
Ìṣẹ̀ṣe á gbè wá ó
Àwọn Alálẹ̀, wọ́n á bá wa ṣe é
Ifá Ọ̀rúnmìlà á bá wa ṣe é ó
Àmín Àṣẹ Èdùmàrè🙏
I commend a few of the Southwest governors for their recognition of the Isese Festival, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba…
The varied comments say it all on Twitter and other social media platforms.
By Greg Abolo




