Cuba Ambassador hails Yoruba heritage
The Ambassador of Cuba to Nigeria, Mariam Palmero, has described the centenary celebration of Yoruba Tennis Club as a significant occasion for reaffirming the deep historical, cultural and fraternal bonds between Nigeria and Cuba.
Palmero, the special guest of honour at the Centenary Jazz Festival of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Lagos, said the celebration transcended the marking of 100 years of the historic club, noting that it also offered an opportunity to celebrate the enduring influence of Africans, particularly Yoruba culture across the Atlantic.
Speaking at the colourful festival held on Monday as part of activities marking the club’s 100th anniversary, the Cuban envoy said the event symbolised the historical relationship between Nigeria and Cuba, countries united by cultural heritage, shared traditions and a common history shaped by the African experience.
She noted that the Yoruba contribution to Cuba’s cultural identity remained profound, describing African heritage as a living force that continues to manifest itself in Cuban religious, musical and social practices.
According to her, the historical ties between Africa and the Caribbean, particularly Cuba, are reflected in cultural traditions that have survived generations and continue to shape contemporary Cuban identity.
Palmero acknowledged the enduring influence of Yoruba culture in Cuba, noting that traditions associated with the Yoruba worldview remained visible in practices such as Regla de Ocha, as well as in Cuban music, percussion and other cultural expressions.
She said the connection was a reminder that cultural heritage was not merely a static memory of the past, but also a living force capable of strengthening solidarity, identity and mutual understanding among peoples.
The ambassador drew attention to the historical significance of the Cuban Revolution and the contributions of its leader, the late Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, to the recognition of Africa’s historical and cultural importance to Cuba and the wider Caribbean.
She said the African heritage preserved in Cuba demonstrated the depth of the historical relationship between the two sides of the Atlantic, adding that the Yoruba legacy had become an important part of Cuba’s national and cultural identity.
Palmero highlighted the Yoruba ethical principle of “Omoluabi”, describing it as a philosophy centred on good character, integrity, responsibility and social justice.
She said such values remained relevant to contemporary society and could provide a moral foundation for building communities founded on dignity, mutual respect and responsible leadership.
The Cuban ambassador expressed profound gratitude to the leadership and members of Yoruba Tennis Club for the honour extended to her and for recognising the cultural connections between Nigeria and Cuba through the centenary jazz celebration.
She described Yoruba Tennis Club as an institution that had preserved dignity, culture and continuity over the past century, saying the celebration was also a tribute to the enduring power of traditional and contemporary music to unite people across geographical boundaries.
Palmero said the presentation and celebration of Cuban music at the festival reaffirmed the continuing cultural links between Nigeria and Cuba, noting that music remained a powerful instrument of friendship, cultural diplomacy and international solidarity.
She said the centenary of the Yoruba Tennis Club should therefore be viewed not only as a celebration of institutional longevity, but also as a celebration of African identity and its continuing influence on communities on both sides of the Atlantic.
She congratulated members of the club on reaching the historic milestone and expressed the hope that the bonds of brotherhood, cultural preservation and friendship would continue to guide the institution into its second century.
“Happy centenary to the brothers and sisters of the Yoruba Tennis Club,” she said, extending her warm felicitations to the club and its members.
Chairman of Yoruba Tennis Club, Chief Olawumi Gasper, described the centenary as a landmark in the history of the club, established in 1926.
He said the 100-year milestone represented a century of friendship, community leadership, brotherhood and sustained commitment to the preservation of Yoruba cultural heritage.
He said the Centenary Jazz Festival was one of a series of programmes organised to commemorate the club’s historic journey, adding that jazz was deliberately chosen because of its rich African, Caribbean and global cultural connections.
The chairman said the presence of the Cuban ambassador was significant given Cuba’s prominent Afro-Cuban musical heritage, while the participation of representatives of the Consulate-General of Brazil in Lagos further broadened the cultural dimension of the celebration.
He noted that Brazil’s distinctive musical traditions, including the development of Bossa Nova through the fusion of Brazilian rhythms and jazz influences, demonstrated the ability of music to evolve through cultural encounters.
Gasper said the participation of diplomatic representatives from Cuba and Brazil had transformed the festival beyond a musical gathering into an occasion for cultural diplomacy, international friendship and people-to-people engagement.
He expressed appreciation to the sponsors and supporters of the festival, particularly Nigeria Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), for their contribution to the success of the event.
He welcomed CREDICORP’s Director of Operations, Mrs Nike Kolawole, and other senior executives of the organisation to the club, describing Yoruba Tennis Club as a “home of culture and tradition” and the first indigenous social club in Nigeria.
The chairman commended the club’s vice patrons, trustees, past chairmen, elders, members and the organising committees for their teamwork and commitment to the successful execution of the centenary programmes.
President of the Jazz Summit Group of the club, Otunba Olusegun Akinsanya, traced the roots of jazz music in the Yoruba Tennis Club to the colonial and immediate post-independence eras.
He explained that some members and distinguished guests introduced European and Afro-American musical influences into the club’s social life, with genres such as the Twist and Waltz becoming popular features of festive gatherings.
He recalled the contributions and social lives of prominent members, including the late Pa Ben Oluwole and Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony, who, he said, were among those who enjoyed the musical atmosphere at the club.
According to him, the club’s appreciation of jazz subsequently entered a new phase during the tenure of the late Bro. Olusegun Ajayi, who, alongside like-minded members, sought to establish a dedicated jazz group within the club.
The Centenary Jazz Festival therefore served as both a celebration of the Yoruba Tennis Club’s remarkable institutional journey and a reflection of the power of music to preserve history, promote cultural identity and strengthen international friendship.
As the club enters its second century, the celebration has reaffirmed its commitment to brotherhood, cultural continuity and the preservation of the values that have sustained the institution for 100 years.