Renowned Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, emphatically declares that the Isese tradition is indomitable and eternal, firmly asserting its permanence in the tapestry of humanity. This resounding affirmation came to life during a vibrant public exchange at the Kongi’s Harvest Art Gallery on Freedom Way in Lagos State.
The Isese Day celebration, resonating across several South-Western states, was not without its share of controversy, particularly in Ilorin, Kwara State. Here, Yeye Ajesikemi Olatunji, an Osun priestess, encountered verbal opposition from the Emir of Ilorin, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, and other members of the Muslim community, who staunchly opposed the commemoration of the day. Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, the Emir’s spokesperson, went as far as asserting that idolatrous activities had no historical place in the Ilorin Emirate.
This heated dispute was further exacerbated when Adegbola Abdulazeez, a prominent Ilorin Isese devotee and activist, known as Talolorun (Who is God), was arrested and detained on charges of defamation. Professor Wole Soyinka, the eminent scholar of English Literature, took a stand during his presentation, decrying Talolorun’s detention. He passionately argued that no one should be confined to a dungeon for matters related to belief.
Soyinka’s message transcends religious boundaries, advocating for the liberation of the human spirit. He views Isese as an expression of collective human experience, an enlightening journey rather than a fixed destination. Isese, he asserts, expands rather than diminishes. It fosters a spirit of gratitude for human life and rejects the notion of one spiritual structure’s supremacy over another. It is content with pursuing inner serenity, seeing celebration as a precursor to communal balance, devoid of power-seeking motives.
Professor Soyinka also issues a stern warning to Muslim adherents engaged in smear campaigns, emphasizing his commitment to equity, fairness, and justice rather than animosity towards any religion. In his view, Isese is a celebration of diversity and the profound, unifying human experience.