Buhari inaugurates Randle Center for Yoruba Culture and History

Started by ex-Governor Akinwumi Ambode in 2018 and completed by incumbent Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the center will further promote Yoruba studies inside and outside Nigeria.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, reaffirmed his passion for the creative sector on Tuesday, January 24, when President Muhammadu Buhari opened the John Randle Center for Yoruba Culture and History, Onikan during the Lagos Projects Festival.

The inauguration, which was attended by many prominent players from the creative sector, including top cinematographer Tunde Kelani, actress Joke Silva and actor Abiodun Ayoyinka, underlined the Governor’s commitment to the ‘Entertainment and Tourism’ pillar of his THEMES agenda.

A landmark in the Onikan Axis, the Randle Center was built in 1928 for recreation and entertainment before falling into disrepair. Sanwo-Olu’s predecessor, Akinwumi Ambode, acquired the center from the Memorial Fund it previously managed, demolished the structure and began rebuilding it in 2018.

Prior to the inauguration on Tuesday, the governor and members of his cabinet periodically visited the site, which features a swimming pool, tennis court, exhibition space, multi-purpose room, library, orientation and learning areas, gift shops and lounge to assess work progress.

While President Buhari did not make any speeches, there was excitement as he toured the facility alongside Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, members of the state’s executive council, and Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed and his sports counterpart. Sunday Dare. The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Eleru of Lagos, Abiola Dosunmu and members of the diplomatic corps were also part of the group.

Tourism Commissioner UzamatAkinbile Yussuf later said that with various exhibits including masquerades, gods, music and artifacts, the museum would boost the state’s economy by bringing tourists from inside and outside the country to the museum.

She said: “Besides being a museum, this center is a multi-faceted and comprehensive tourism asset that depicts the indigenous culture of Lagosians and the entire Yoruba race. Indeed, it is a center that creates an avenue for younger generations to first gain in-depth knowledge about our culture that is close to extinction, so it is a center for knowledge exchange.”

Her Information and Strategy counterpart, Gbenga Omotoso, added: “It’s a very bold attempt to sell and revitalize our culture and capitalize on tourism in terms of economics.”

The site architect, Damilare Ojewole, who took visitors on a tour of the facility, further explained that the center brings out the origins of the Yoruba culture. He said the center educates individuals about the creation of the Yoruba empire through “Ile-Ori,” “Ori-Olokun,” “Esu,” and more.

According to Ojewole, “We have exhibitions on naming ceremonies in ancient, divination, revealing the various masquerades in Yoruba land, we have a contemporary art department, fashion and more. In another session, we have a gadget for visitors to check the meaning of their name and a good atmosphere for stories by moonlight. The permanent exhibit here celebrates the language, rituals, festivals, gods, and ancestry of the Yoruba people during this time. It will ensure that the legacy of Yoruba culture and history is kept alive in Lagos.”

Friends of the late John Randle, who died at a relatively young age, built the Randle Center in his honor. The J Randle Memorial Fund administered the property, also established in his memory by the original trustees.

When the government demolished the original centre, there were condemnations from part of the Lagos society who criticized what they believed to be disrespect to the memory of the great athlete. They changed their tone when they heard the lofty plan for the center now inaugurated for the glory of Lagos and all the Yoruba race.

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