The Center for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo, on Friday, March 13, continued with its monthly seminar series on culture and development in Africa.
This month edition, which was centered on death in relation to African culture, has “History Entombed; Gravestone and The Writing of African History” as the topic.
The Guest lecturer, Dr Shina Alimi of the Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University used pictorial evidences to drive home points and for clear presentation.
Alimi said a visit to graveyard will reveal how Africans have started documenting death along lines of culture, religion and civilization. He added that class and profession of the deceased can also be derived from the gravestones.
The well-traveled lecturer added that in the course of his research, which was based in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, he was able to derive that Africans started documenting deaths shortly after their interaction with the colonialists in the 19th century.
In his remark, the Executive Director of the center, Prof Siyan Oyeweso said the choice of death as the center of the discussion was to diagnose the role it played in African history.
He said, “today, a type of cemetery which is Christian cemetery was discussed and analysed. The importance of the topic is to sensitize the society that death is compulsory but the deeds before they die will forever be remembered.
“Across all strata of lives, people with great records have died and they still remain evergreen in the memories of people because they did wonderfully well during their lives.
Oyeweso used the moment to invite general public to be part of seminar series as it is continues to be educative, informative and enlightening.