Monarch lauds UNESCO’s move to recognise Oyo as world heritage site

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has called on African countries to embark on a systematic documentation of their cultural heritage, warning that the continent risks losing invaluable historical assets if they are not properly preserved and recorded.

The monarch made the call during a visit to the Afro Brazil Museum in São Paulo, Brazil, where he stressed the need for African governments to establish comprehensive national registers of cultural property, including artefacts, monuments, historic sites and other objects of cultural significance.

In a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin said Africa’s growing engagement with the global community made it imperative to preserve its cultural identity for future generations.

He noted that cultural assets created by past generations, as well as those being produced today, should be properly documented because they represent the continent’s history and civilisation.

Oba Owoade warned that rapid modernisation, though beneficial, poses significant threats to cultural heritage if deliberate preservation efforts are not undertaken.

According to him, the disappearance of traditional economic and social systems has led to the gradual extinction of many cultures, with serious implications for disciplines such as archaeology, anthropology and art history.

He said failure to adequately preserve and document objects and places of historical importance would amount to an irreparable loss to humanity.

The Alaafin, who described museums as critical institutions for safeguarding the continent’s cultural memory and as important models for preserving African history in the Diaspora, urged African governments to invest more in heritage preservation and historical documentation.

The monarch, however, lauded the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for its plan to recognise Oyo as a world heritage site of outstanding universal value, describing the move as a major step towards preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.

The monarch gave the commendation while addressing Yoruba scholars, cultural leaders, government officials, traditional custodians and members of the Yoruba Diaspora at Bahia State University (UNEB) in Brazil.

The Alaafin said the proposed recognition would further project the historical significance of the ancient Oyo Empire and its contributions to governance, civilisation and intellectual development.

According to him, the Yoruba civilisation remains one of Africa’s richest cultural traditions, with an enduring legacy that continues to influence political, economic, religious and intellectual development across the world.

Oba Owoade said the Yoruba knowledge system was built on inquiry, research, investigation and the practical application of knowledge to solving human challenges, adding that the civilisation had remained relevant across generations because of its strong intellectual foundation.

He therefore urged world leaders to support efforts to reconnect Yoruba descendants in the Diaspora with their ancestral roots, saying that such initiatives would help preserve the race’s identity, culture and values.

The monarch also called for renewed investment in Yoruba intellectual traditions and knowledge production, stressing that Africa must play a leading role in shaping global discourse through education, research and innovation.

The event, however, featured the presentation of a trilingual book titled “Oyo: A City of Yoruba Cultural Heritage,” published in Yoruba, English and Portuguese, in recognition of the enduring historical and cultural significance of the ancient city.