Ademola Lookman, right, and Babara Banda, winner of CAF Women Player of the Year Award
CAF Awards: All hail Ademola Lookman, Yoruba Omoluabi who keeps it real
Ademola Lookman was born in Wandsworth, in the United Kingdom, and lived his entire life in Europe. Yet, when he went up the stage to receive his 2024 African Footballer of the Year Award, he was dressed in traditional Lukumi Yoruba clothes and started his speech in flawless Lukumi Yoruba.
Throughout his career, he also never attempted to Westernise or funkify his name. He kept it real, as an Omoluabi.
Meanwhile, there are millions of people born and raised in Nigeria who can’t speak their own native language and mock others when they do not speak a borrowed tongue, like English, well.
This vindicates what I have famously written about the Lukumi culture. It is the most durable and resilient tradition in Africa.
Whereas most other cultures gradually die out when exported to Europe, America and the world, the Lukumi culture thrives and influences its host culture. In places like South America, it even dominates them.
Before today, music of Lukumi Yoruba origin, also known as Afrobeats, has been and still is the hottest musical genre on the planet bat none. After today, a footballer of Lukumi Yoruba origin is now the hottest footballer on Earth.
Lukumi Yoruba: Bigger than Africa!