Some traditionalists have called for concerted efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s indigenous heritage, noting that Ìsèse serves as a living bridge between present generations and their ancestral roots.
The traditionalists made the call at an event marking the 2026 Isese Day on Thursday at the Oloto of Otto Palace in Lagos.
Chairman, Association of African Traditional Religions, Nigeria and Overseas (AATREN), Lagos Mainland Chapter, Chief Adegboyega Junaid, described Isese as a tradition rooted in remembrance and respect for ancestors.
Junaid, who is also the Baale of Oyingbo community in Ebute-Meta area of the state, said that preserving the tradition would help younger generations understand their cultural inheritance.
He called on practitioners to embrace honesty, patience, hospitality and peace, noting that their conduct would shape how society viewed and valued the tradition.
Junaid said that he introduced his granddaughter to Isese but gave her the freedom to adopt another faith if she married outside the tradition in future.
Baale of Oyingbo, Lagos Mainland, and Awodiran Agboola, Araba of Oworonsonki at the 2026 Ìsèse Day celebration
He cited the participation of Christians and Muslims in the celebration as proof that cultural preservation could thrive alongside religious diversity and peaceful community relations.
“In the evening, both Christians and Muslims come together to celebrate with us,” he said.
The traditional leader added that practitioners were also considerate of people who abstained from foods linked to sacrifices.
Also, Secretary-General of AATREN, Awodiran Agboola, said Isese Day was created to unite practitioners in celebrating their shared African heritage.
Agboola, who is also the Araba of Oworonshoki, described the observance as the ‘Universal Day for African Traditional Religious Festival’.
He said it provided an avenue for Africans to reconnect with their origins and preserve indigenous knowledge.
Agboola said the celebration had expanded beyond Nigeria to countries including the United States, Brazil and the United Kingdom, with young people increasingly using social media to rediscover their heritage