Vice Chancellor of Ojaja University, Eyenkorin, Ilorin, Professor Jeleel Olasunkanmi Ojuade, has harped on the need for African dance to evolve with technological change without losing its cultural essence.
Professor Ojuade said this in his address at the opening ceremony of the the 10th Annual International Conference of the Association of Dance Scholars and Practitioners of Nigeria (ADSPON), holding at the University with the theme “ The Concept of Detty December and the Emerging Trends in the Practice of Dance in Contemporary Nigeria/Africa”.
He urged participants at the conference to explore how traditional forms like Bata, Atilogwu and Eyo can coexist with emerging trends such as AI-driven choreography and social-media-influenced dance culture.
While welcoming the prestigious gathering of dance scholars, researchers, and performers from across the country to the institution, the Vice Chancellor announced a major academic milestone as the National Universities Commission approved its Department of Dance, first of its kind in all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Professor Ojuade, however described the approval as a symbolic affirmation that dance, as an academic and cultural discipline, has found a permanent home at Ojaja University.
He noted that the new department positions the institution as a living archive of African performance and strengthens its commitment to integrating traditional knowledge with technological innovation.
According to him, this year’s conference, brought together participants to examine how popular culture, digital media, tourism, and globalisation are reshaping dance practices across the continent.
Professor Ojuade said the theme compels scholars to interrogate the cultural and economic dimensions of the fast-growing “Detty December” phenomenon, which he described as a performative economy and a creative laboratory where movement meets meaning.
Professor Ojuade reiterated that dance remains central to African identity, describing it as the archive of a people’s memory and the architecture of their becoming.
He urged scholars to use the conference as a platform to generate new knowledge, strengthen collaborations, and preserve Africa’s dance heritage amid global transformations.
The Vice Chancellor also expressed gratitude to the university’s Chancellor, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, for his support, which he said has helped the institution advance its vision for cultural revival and creative scholarship, while acknowledging Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for fostering an enabling environment for education and the arts.
The National President of Association of Dance Scholars and Practitioners of Nigeria, Professor Mariam Asabe Niye, said dance goes far beyond the notion of mere entertainment, stressing the need to correct widespread misconceptions about the discipline.
According to her, dance is educative and intellectually engaging, serving as a tool for learning, innovation, and global dialogue.
She explained that the conference was designed to advance the study and practice of dance in Nigeria by deepening knowledge and strengthening professional exchanges.
Professor Niye added that the gathering marks the association’s tenth annual conference, bringing scholars and practitioners together to further elevate the field.
The Keynote Speaker from the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos, Professor Duro Oni, said dance in Africa serves as a unifying force that connects people across ethnic and cultural boundaries.
The Don urged Nigerian dancers to embrace digital media as a strategic tool for promoting their creativity on global platforms.
He added that dance is the hidden language of the soul, emphasizing that dance teachers, scholars, and practitioners must continue to preserve its authenticity while adapting to modern technologies that enhance performance, documentation, and global visibility.
The opening ceremony of the conference was attended by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who was represented by his Commisoner for Youth Development, Ambassador Ndanusa Usman Sheu, Representative of the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, the Wife of Delta State Governor represented by the Special Adviser on Women Affairs to the Governor, Chief Eunice Aina, Representative of the Governor of Ogun State.
Others were representative of the Emir of Ilorin, Alh Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who was represented by Oba Muraina Adebanjo Adedini, Asoya of Ile Isoya Kingdom in Ife, Osun State in Nigeria, a Renowned Scholar, Professor Olu Obafemi, and others scholars.
