In the past few months Lagos has been divided over the effect of the introduction of Chinese lessons in their public schools. Lagos is predominantly a Yoruba speaking city with a significant number of people also speaking Igbo and Hausa languages. The Premium Times reported that the Lagos state governor said that the introduction of the Chinese language in public schools will not deter children from learning Yoruba. The Lagos State House of Assembly had their reservations about the introduction of this policy claiming that the government should have instead made the learning of the native Nigerian tribes compulsory in schools and not the other way round. To this, the Lagos state governor said that the Chinese economy is expanding fast and there was need for the children to start getting exposed to the culture.
Being the third largest ethnic group in Africa the Yoruba people are known the world over for their passion in celebrating their language and culture. The Festival of Yoruba Arts (FOYA) is an annual event that is normally marked with pomp and colour. The event gives the Yorubas living in the Diaspora a chance to celebrate who they are. The event is normally furnished with the BATA dancers, showcasing of traditional Yoruba cuisine among lots of arts and crafts. FOYA is marked every year to celebrate the beautiful culture of the Yoruba. FOYA 2012 happened at Clissod Park, Church Street, London.
The Yoruba have a very interesting story about the origin of their tribe as well as their kingdoms. The Yoruba believe that their father named Oduduwa was sent down from heaven by God. Oduduwa was sent down by God to create the earth and human beings. He descended with his seven sons at Ife-Ife who created various kingdoms including: Owu, Ketu, Benin, Ila, Sabe, Popo, Awori, Ondo and Oyo. To date, the Yoruba kingdoms are still help in high esteem among its people. The Yoruba are believed to have first originated from Egypt into West Africa through the Nile. Slave trade is believed to have spread the Yoruba people far and wide across the world and the African continent as well. The Yoruba are found in Nigeria, Benin and Togo and in other places around the world.
