The governor of Osun, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola has announced that plans are in the pipeline for the promotion of cultural dance in the state as part of efforts to showcase the rich culture of the Yoruba race.
Oyetola, speaking at the year’s edition of International Dance Day, said cultural dance was a viable means for revenue generation if properly managed.
Oyetola, who spoke through his Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Obawale Adebisi, at Duro Ladiipo Hall, Council for Arts and Culture, Osogbo, noted that Yoruba culture is exceptional among other cultures which, according to him, is a selling point in the world.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the State for the sake of economic growth, adding that the promotion of cultural dancers falls within the scope.
He also mentioned that the Federal Government of Nigeria is planning to constitute a national troupe in which many dancers from states will be screened and the successful ones will be recruited into the troupe.
He therefore charged cultural dancers in the state to keep the flag flying, most especially, the Corp members who performed exceptionally at the event, adding that, government may retain some of them after their one year mandatory service.
While speaking, the President, National Guild of Nigerian Dancers Practitioners, Victor Thompson, charged participants to dance with definite purpose, advising that they should not always dance to entertain.
He added that when people dance most times, they register profound policy statements, advocacy, declarations, critical criticism, evangelism and overall education through body intelligence that cannot be expressed in words.
Thompson also advised dancers to keep dance alive to heal the soul of Nigerian politics and governance, thereby entrenching peace and security in our tenuous society.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Coordinating Director of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mrs Sola Akinsola, and her counterpart in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs Roseline Ajao; Leaders of Theater Practitioners Associations in Nigeria, Osun Chapter, like Ayo Oladapo, Toyin Ola-Iya, Afolabi Dipeolu, Comrade Wasiu Aborisade, and Ademola Ogunyemi, opined that dance is not for lazy people which makes it necessary for those who engage in it to take it with all seriousness.
They also encouraged the dancers to keep the fire of dance burning, pledging that they will not betray the trust that the State Government has in them.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Executive Secretary, Council for Arts and Culture, Mr Samuel Adeniyi, appreciated the State Government for organizing the event. He disclosed that the programme will be coming up every year.
The International Dance Day was celebrated with funfair as different dancers performed to the admiration of every spectator present at the event.
