Osun eyes world record with Tallest Drum

The world’s Tallest Drum has been unveiled in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, to flag off activities for this year’s anniversary of Centre for Black Culture and International Understandings (CBCII).
Several dignitaries, including the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, His deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Timori, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, and residents of Osogbo attended the unveiling ceremony, which was aimed at enhancing Yoruba culture.
Professor Wole Soyinka’s attendance of the event was seen as remarkable, coming few days after the burial of his 48-year-old daughter, Iyetade Soyinka, who died on December 28, 2013.
Aside from the drum, Governor Aregbesola also used the occasion to unveil a masquerade named after the late anti-apartheid Icon, Nelson Mandela.
Recall that The Director General, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Korchuro Matsuura commissioned the Centre for Culture and International Understandings on January 7, 2009. It was designed to promote African culture.
Professor Soyinka is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of CBCII. He was saddled with the responsibility in August 2012. The centre is charged with the development of The Yoruba World Heritage Centre to be called New Life at Ile-Ife, Osun State.
It will also be recalled that prior to the unveiling, Nigeria’s tallest drum was the 11- foot monument erected outside the home of the late Afro beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, which stood outside his Ikeja home. Fela’s drum was unveiled during the 2013 edition of the Black History Month celebration in Badagry.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have continued to react to the unveiling of the drum and Madiba’s Masquerade last Wednesday. For Bayo Omolola, “The drum is beautiful and symbolic. It befits the cultural centre, but Mandela’s Masquerade could have been made taller to show how important it is for Nigerian leaders not to be greedy.
“Mandela lived a simple life devoid of personal enrichment. He avoided a second term of office even when his people wanted him to continue. He remained a responsible leader throughout his life. What has the masquerade got to do with Mandela as benchmark for development in Nigeria and South Africa? This include a personal enrichment, corruption at the expense of the public. “
Bolu Awosoga in while reacting said. “The World’s Tallest Drum represents the golden image of King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 3. Time will tell. Amen”
However, it has not been clear whether Osun State Government will measure the drum and sent its details to the Guinness Book Of Record for the feat.