DAY 3 OF THE ATANDA CONFERENCE
On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, the Atanda conference came to a close. Although this was the final day of the 2021 conference, it was in no way the least enriching. The day began with morning devotions, followed by the last parallel session for the conference, which had a total of six panel discussions.
The first panel session was titled "Festivals and Celebrations." During this session, the panelists discussed the need to build a culture of peace in Nigeria, modern trends in Yoruba festivals, and the socio-cultural impacts of some Yoruba festivals among the Yoruba people. The second panel session saw panelists present papers on concepts relating to ori bibo (appeasing one's destiny), omoluabi, Yoruba beliefs in ancestors, Yoruba proverbs, the Olokun Temple and its significance as a center of worship for Yoruba religion, Ifa divination, among others. The third panel session was centered on "Art, Traditions, and Customs." Participants talked about Nigerian drama, identity and the culture of naming among the Yoruba people, the inheritance culture of the Yoruba people, the use of talking drums for effective communication, among other salient issues.
Under the theme, "Cultural (R)evolutions, Mutations, and Hegemony" at the fourth panel, interesting papers were presented on concepts such as the logic of eji o'gbeta, oral traditions in the Old Oyo empire, the struggle for cultural hegemony in Yorubaland, the loss of the greeting culture among Yoruba children, and chieftaincy titles accorded to women in Yorubaland. The fifth panel session looked into "Yoruba Cultures and Colonial and National Boundaries." This panel was centered on the history of the Yoruba people, looking into concepts such as the migration and business trend of the Yoruba in the northern colonial community, the relationship between Omo Awo and Jesus' calling of the twelve, the portrayal of myth in Nigerian novels, and related topics. The last panel session for the conference was on "Women and Gender in Society." Gender constructs, the role of the female gender in the Yoruba society, women's voice and representation, gender issues and the role of civic education in societal transformation, cultural factors and how they impact the careers of Nigerian female journalists, and other such essential topics were critically discussed.
The highlight of the last day of the 6th Atanda Lectures and Conference was the plenary session which featured what some participants described as "an enlightening and thorough workshop" on "Research Writing and Publication" Toyin Falola. Participants had an eye-opening and exhilarating experience as Falola opened their eyes to some important aspects of research writing and publication. He also urged participants to endeavor to publish at least one book while they still have the opportunity. The conference came to an end with the presentation of workshop certificates to attendees.
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