Wole Soyinka, the Nobel laureate, has criticised the
cancellation of the Isese festival, a Yoruba cultural ceremony, in Ilorin, the
Kwara capital.
In an open letter on Thursday, Soyinka said Nigeria’s
constitution guarantees freedom of belief, adding that the cancellation will undermine
the progress of the country.
Earlier, Yeye Ajesikemi Omolara, a priestess, was said to
have announced the commencement of this year’s Isese festival from July 22 to
24.
But members of the Majilisu Shabab li Ulamahu Muslim group
in a video, warned the priestess against holding the event.
The group alleged that the order was from Sulu Gambari, Emir
of Ilorin.
In an open letter to the Emir, Soyinka said stopping the
festival “is a crime against the cultural heritage of all humanity” and “an
assault on civilised conduct”.
“Year after year, Ramadan has been celebrated in this nation
as an inclusive gathering of humanity, irrespective of divergences of belief,”
he said.
“Not once, in my
entire span of existence, have I encountered pronouncements by followers of any
faith that the slaughtering of rams on the streets and market places is an
offence to their concept of godhead.
“Vegetarians hold their peace. Buddhists walk a different
path.
“Prior to Ramadan, non-Muslims routinely join in observing
the preceding season of fasting as a spiritual exercise worthy of emulation.
“It may interest you to know that, in Abu Dhabi, numerous
programmes are pursued, at government expense, for the evolution of a humanised
community based on religious tolerance and mutual respect.
“By contrast here,
several tiers removed from origin, must we turn the turban of enlightenment
into a crown of bigotry? And in a society whose very constitution that
supposedly governs us all guarantees freedom of belief, association and
movement?
“Your Royal Highness, it is conduct like this that has bred
Boko Haram, ISIS, ISWAP and other religious malformations that currently plague
this nation, spreading grief and outrage across a once peaceful landscape,
degrading my and your existence with their virulent brand of Islam.”
Soyinka urged the Emir to make peace with the priestess to
enable “peaceful co-habitation, respect for other worldviews, their
celebrations, their values and humanity”.
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