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Ogun State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Oluṣẹgun Elemeide, has declared that Yoruba traditional arts, particularly in architecture, predate those of the Western world.
Speaking on Thursday, August 14, 2025, during a courtesy visit from the Ọmọ Yorùbá Àtàtà Socio-cultural Initiative (ỌYÀSI), the Speaker challenged the widely held belief that Western architectural styles were original.
He explained that while Europeans claim the flat housing system as their own, it actually originated from the Yoruba people, who built circular flat houses with open courts in the olden days.
He also noted that the face-to-face room house design attributed to the Yorubas or Africans actually belongs to Brazilians.
Rt. Hon. Elemeide praised the Yoruba people for their mastery in passing messages through non-verbal signs and facial expressions, describing them as a wise and culturally rich tribe with some of the finest traditional arts in the world.
He further argued that the Western world's misconception of cultural superiority stems from their reliance on written documentation, whereas Yoruba culture has thrived through oral tradition and other non-written forms.
The Speaker also distinguished culture from religion, emphasizing that "religion is only a part of culture, which is far broader. Some people don’t know the difference between culture and religion,” he said, reaffirming his belief that Yoruba culture remains one of the best in the world.
The Chairman of the ỌYÀSI, Ọlawale Ajao, briefed the House on the World Headdress Celebration, an initiative organized by the group. He sought the Assembly's support for the event’s second edition scheduled for December 28, 2025.
The Ogun State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Elemeide, pledged its support for the celebration aimed at promoting and preserving Yoruba cultural heritage.
Other members of the ỌYÀSI delegation included Messrs Adeyẹmi Olorire, Johnson Akinpẹlu, and Idris Ọdẹrinde.
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Ogun State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Oluṣẹgun Elemeide and Ọlawale Ajao, Chairman, Ọmọ Yoruba Atata Socio-cultural Initiative, ỌYÀSI
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