The colloquium provided an engaging platform for reflection on the importance of Yoruba culture, heritage and storytelling, with Chief Fatomilola speaking extensively on the role of the playwright as a custodian of Yoruba culture.
The Playwright as a Custodian of Culture
Drawing from his extensive experience in theatre, film and Yoruba traditional storytelling, Chief Peter Oladele Fatomilola highlighted the significant responsibility placed on playwrights and creative practitioners in preserving and transmitting cultural heritage.
He emphasized that the playwright is more than an entertainer. Through drama, storytelling, characters, language and historical narratives, the playwright serves as a custodian, interpreter and transmitter of culture, ensuring that the values, traditions, beliefs and experiences of one generation can be communicated to another.
Chief Fatomilola stressed the importance of preserving the Yoruba language, customs, traditions, history and indigenous knowledge, particularly at a time when cultural identities are increasingly influenced by globalisation and modern forms of communication.
Photograph: TIMTOOLSART
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