A Professor of African Traditional Religion and Cultural Studies, Adetunbi Ogunleye, has called for a revival and reawakening of African culture and traditions as a path to restoring moral values, peaceful coexistence, and a sense of self-identity among Africans.
He made the call on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, while delivering the 49th Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, titled “Resting in Peace? The Dilemma of the Living Dead.”
Prof. Ogunleye described culture as “the sum total of both material and intellectual equipment which people use to satisfy their biological and social needs,” lamenting that many cultural values and practices that once defined Africans-especially the Yoruba-are fast disappearing under the weight of modernity and foreign influences.
He observed that traditional customs such as naming, marriage, and burial ceremonies have been altered by Western education and foreign religions to the extent that they no longer produce the moral and social outcomes they once guaranteed.
The Don noted that many now give names to children without deep thought or connection to the circumstances of birth, adding that the adoption of meaningless foreign names has weakened the moral attachment people once had to their names and identities.
According to him, the combined effects of Western civilisation, foreign religions, and modernisation have eroded the cultural pillars that sustained moral discipline and social harmony, leading to widespread moral decay and disorder in society.
He decried the growing acceptance of practices such as cohabitation and same-sex relationships, describing them as alien to Yoruba culture and detrimental to the sanctity of marriage, which has resulted in the collapse of family values and increased cases of divorce.
“In the traditional Yoruba worldview,” he explained, “sexuality is not merely about pleasure or personal freedom. It is a sacred act tied to procreation, spirituality, and community continuity. The harmonious union between male and female is not just natural but essential for societal balance and moral order.”
Prof. Ogunleye further warned that the erosion of traditional values has triggered a moral crisis, as seen in the rise of indecent dressing, sexual promiscuity, indiscriminate killings, and general insensitivity to ethical and communal values that once held societies together. He said these negative trends are clear signs of moral confusion resulting from the neglect of indigenous culture and belief systems.
He also linked the weakening of ancestral influence to the adoption of improper burial practices, noting that such deviation from tradition has disrupted the sacred connection between the living and their ancestors, who were once seen as guardians of morality and protectors against evil.
Prof. Ogunleye explained that the increasing frequency of misfortunes and failed rituals has created doubts about ancestral powers, leading many to believe that ancestors have lost their spiritual potency. He, however, attributed this perceived silence to the modern disregard for traditional customs that once sustained ancestral authority.
He stressed that the growing neglect of indigenous traditions has created an inferiority complex among Africans, diminishing the relevance of ancestral heritage and weakening moral consciousness in contemporary society.
The scholar recommended a return to proper cultural education, in-depth research into dying traditions, and a balanced embrace of change and cultural preservation. He also urged scholars to engage in rigorous academic inquiry into traditional values and practices to document, revitalise, and sustain the essence of African identity.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, who chaired the lecture, congratulated Prof. Ogunleye on the successful presentation.
He noted that an inaugural lecture offers newly appointed professors a platform to share their scholarly contributions with colleagues, students, family, and the public, while also serving as an opportunity for the university to showcase the academic excellence and intellectual achievements of its faculty.
