Talking about the project, Odika said the event, which would be hosted by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, is an annual competition in which youths come together to showcase different talents and dance groups in undiluted Yoruba language, “with the aim of promoting integral talent through holistic approach without any form of discrimination against any person or group.”
“The inspiration to do this came when I was going through the culture of the Yoruba. I saw that in Yoruba culture, there is a lot to be extinct. The Yoruba language is very rich and unique, but I noticed that most Yoruba folks do not allow their children to speak Yoruba, and it will be unfortunate if the language becomes extinguished. Thus, I thought about bringing forth an event which will bring out youths to speak in undiluted Yoruba for 15 minutes,” she said.
Though from the South South, Odika who features prominently in Yoruba movies said she has lived in the west all her life.
“The Yoruba culture made me who I am, so I cannot teach what I don’t know. We also want people to celebrate the Yoruba culture, as different ethnic groups have different dance steps, foods and peculiarities, which are unique to them. Some children have never come in contact with masquerades. An average Yoruba person doesn’t know what Gelede dance is, and this is one of the things we want to showcase with the event which will be graced by many celebrities and personalities,” she said.
