Stakeholders in the arts and culture sector have called for increased cultural education and awareness among young Nigerians as a means of preserving the nation’s heritage, values, and identity.
The call was made during the maiden edition of Itansan ArtFest 2026 held on Saturday at the Adeline Hall of Lead City University, Ibadan, where organisers also unveiled a new cultural book titled Emissaries of the Gods (Iko Orisa) to promote indigenous heritage among children and teenagers.
The festival, themed “Beacon of the Ancestors,” brought together prominent figures in the arts and culture industry, alongside emerging creatives and curators, in a celebration of African tradition, storytelling, and artistic expression.
The event featured cultural displays, stage plays, theatre performances, fashion showcases, trade exhibitions, workshops, and artistic performances aimed at reconnecting young people with their cultural roots.
Speaking during the event, the convener, Adekunle Elizabeth Adewunmi, popularly known as Adewunmi Itansan, described the festival as a platform created to preserve and promote African cultural identity through creative expression and intergenerational engagement.
According to her, culture should not merely be inherited in silence but intentionally preserved, interpreted, and passed on to younger generations.
“The word Itansan translates to ‘Rays of Light,’ and for us, it represents clarity, illumination, and the responsibility we all share to ensure that our stories, traditions, languages, art forms, and indigenous knowledge systems do not fade into obscurity,” she said.
Adewunmi lamented what she described as the growing disconnect between young people and their cultural heritage in an era increasingly shaped by globalisation and digital influence.
“We are seeing a generation that knows global trends but struggles to understand local identity. Culture is gradually being reduced to aesthetics without understanding the depth, history, and values behind it,” she stated
She explained that Itansan ArtFest was conceived to bridge the widening gap between modernity and cultural consciousness by presenting culture as dynamic, relevant, and engaging to contemporary audiences.
“Itansan ArtFest was born from the desire to bridge that gap. We wanted to create a platform where culture is not presented as outdated, but as alive, expressive, relevant, and evolving,” she added.
Highlighting some of the initiatives introduced at the festival, Adewunmi disclosed that the Itansan Young Creators Challenge was established to encourage youths to explore cultural identity through writing, visual arts, and performances.
She also unveiled the book Emissaries of the Gods (Iko Orisa), describing it as a literary project targeted at children and teenagers to deepen their understanding of African spirituality, mythology, and indigenous values.
“This is a book created for children and teenagers. It highlights our deities as powerful figures capable of transferring wisdom and strength to younger generations in fascinating ways,” she explained.
She stressed further that culture must go beyond celebration and become a tool for education, empowerment, economic development, and social unity.
“Heritage can be lost accidentally if it is not transferred intentionally,” she warned.
Adewunmi commended the Oyo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, sponsors, volunteers, partners, and collaborators for supporting the initiative and contributing to the success of the maiden edition of the festival.
Among dignitaries who delivered goodwill messages at the event were the Osun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ojo Abiodun; the Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatunbosun; Rashidat Olayinka Ladoja; Abiodun Adeyemi; renowned artist and curator, Tunde Odunlade; and Adekunle Alonge.