‘You Committed a Crime for Cancelling Isese Festival,’ Soyinka Blasts Ilorin Emir in Open Letter
- Prof. Wole Soyinka has reacted angrily to the cancellation of the planned Isese Festival in Ilorin, Kwara state capital
- The Nobel Laureate condemned the move by the Emir of Ilorin, Sulu Gambari for calling the festival off without thinking twice
- Soyinka in an open letter maintained that the monarch has committed a crime against the cultural heritage of humanity
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has written an open letter to the Emir of Ilorin.
Soyinka in his letter, lampooned the Emir, Sulu Gambari for having the effrontery to cancel the Isese Festival, noting he committed a crime against cultural heritage of humanity, PM News reported.
Source: Facebook
Isese Festival saga: ‘You committed a crime against humanity,’ Soyinka tells Ilorin Emir
In an open letter to the Emir on Thursday, July 6, Soyinka said it was sad to see the ancient city of Ilorin, a confluence of faiths and ethnic varieties, reduced to this level of bigotry and intolerance, manifested in the role of a presiding monarch, The NEWS report added.
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“The truncation of a people’s traditional festival is a crime against the cultural heritage of all humanity,” he said.
The Nobel Laureate added:
“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."
Emir of Ilorin backs Muslim group, issues warning to Isese devotees
Legit.ng reported earlier that the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, declared his support for the Muslim group, Majlisu Shabab li Ulamahu Society, that stormed the home of an Osun priestess, Yeye Adesikemi Olokun Omolara Olatunji to warn her against organising the Isese festival in the Kwara state capital.
The emir's spokesman, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, revealed that the traditional monarch had made a public declaration against such traditional religious festivals.
Arowona, who did not categorically state that the emir gave the Muslim group direct instructions, added that Ilorin Muslims would oppose the Isese festival because they were against “idolatry”.
Tension as Muslim group storms Osun Priestess’ house, warns against holding Isese festival in Ilorin
Recall that the Muslim group had warned the Osun priestess against organising Isese festival in the state.
The group stormed the residence of the Osun priestess to issue the warning, stating that they were sent by the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari
Source: Legit.ng
