Adeniji Kazeem: Community Without Cultural Memory Is Vulnerable to Fragmentation

 As he bows out as Chairman of the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union, former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prince Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), reflects on his tenure, the defence of the Eyo heritage during the Gangs of Lagos controversy, the future of indigenous Lagosians, and why he chose not to seek a second term. Raheem Akingbolu brings the excerpts:

As your tenure as Chairman of the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union draws to a close, how would you describe your overall experience?

 It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve the community of my birth and heritage. Public service is often measured by titles and positions, but service to one’s roots carries a different emotional significance. Isale Eko is not merely a geographical location; it is a civilisation, a history and a people. I leave the office with a deep sense of gratitude. Together with my colleagues in the Executive Committee, we worked voluntarily and without remuneration, driven solely by a desire to strengthen our community and preserve its heritage.

 What would you consider the major achievements of your administration?

 One of our key accomplishments was bringing the community together around shared cultural and developmental objectives. The Isale Eko Day Walk and Isale Eko Day Celebration became important platforms for promoting unity and showcasing our rich heritage. We also supported potable water distribution initiatives and facilitated medical outreach programmes through strategic partnerships. These interventions demonstrated that community organisations can make meaningful contributions to improving the quality of life of residents.  In addition, we expanded membership, promoted employment opportunities for younger members and maintained active participation in important cultural institutions such as the Eyo Festival and the White Cap Chieftaincy traditions.  I would also count among the defining achievements of our administration the principled stand taken by the Union, alongside other stakeholders, regarding the unfortunate portrayal of the Eyo Masquerade in the film Gangs of Lagos. The Eyo Masquerade is one of the most revered cultural symbols of Isale Eko and indeed Lagos. We considered it our duty to defend the integrity of that heritage against misrepresentation.

 Indigenous communities across Nigeria are increasingly concerned about preserving their identity. How important are indigenous rights to you?

Indigenous rights are fundamentally about identity, heritage and belonging. Every indigenous community has a legitimate interest in preserving its history, customs, institutions and collective memory. For Isale Eko, indigenous rights do not mean exclusion. Rather, they mean ensuring that future generations understand who they are, where they come from and the contributions of their ancestors to the development of Lagos and Nigeria. Communities that lose their history eventually lose their confidence and their voice. Preserving indigenous rights therefore means preserving dignity.

Lagos is changing rapidly. Are you concerned that urbanisation may erode indigenous culture and identity?

Urbanisation is inevitable; cultural extinction is not. The challenge is not whether Lagos will continue to grow. It certainly will. The challenge is whether growth will occur in a manner that respects the communities and traditions that gave Lagos its identity in the first place.

What role should organisations such as the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union play in addressing urban challenges?

Community organisations serve as bridges between government and the people. Issues such as housing, environmental sustainability, youth unemployment, education and healthcare require collaborative solutions. Community organisations have a responsibility to mobilise citizens, provide constructive engagement and contribute ideas that reflect local realities. The future of Lagos cannot be left solely to government institutions. Civil society, traditional institutions and community organisations all have critical roles to play.

Why do you place so much emphasis on culture?

Because culture is the soul of a people. When we support Eyo, celebrate our festivals, preserve historical sites, document our history and honour our traditional institutions, we are not engaging in nostalgia. We are investing in identity. The events surrounding the Gangs of Lagos controversy reinforced this conviction. The overwhelming response from Isale Eko descendants and Lagos indigenes demonstrated that our cultural symbols are not mere entertainment props. They embody centuries of history, values and communal identity. The successful resolution of that matter underscored the importance of vigilance in preserving and protecting our heritage.  A community without cultural memory is vulnerable to fragmentation. I believe strongly that development and culture must go hand in hand. Economic advancement without cultural preservation is incomplete.

One of the most publicised issues during your tenure was the Gangs of Lagos controversy. Looking back, what lessons did that episode teach you about cultural preservation in contemporary Nigeria?

The episode taught us that culture must never be taken for granted. Many people often assume that cultural symbols can be appropriated, altered or portrayed without consequence. The reaction to the portrayal of the Eyo Masqurades demonstrated that our people remain deeply attached to their heritage and are prepared to defend it when necessary. The lesson for me is that cultural preservation requires vigilance. It requires institutions, community leaders and ordinary citizens to remain actively engaged in protecting the narratives that define who we are.

 You have announced that you will not be seeking another term. Why have you taken that decision?

The constitution permits a second term, and I am deeply honoured by the encouragement I have received from many members. However, leadership also requires knowing when to create space for others. In recent times, I have assumed the office of National President of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria. The demands of that office are considerable and national in scope. It requires extensive travel, strategic engagement and constant attention to matters affecting one of the foremost Islamic organisations in Nigeria.

How would you describe your relationship with His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I, the Oba of Lagos?

It has been one of respect, loyalty and mutual commitment to the welfare of Lagos and Isale Eko. Kabiyesi is not only the Patron of the Union but also a symbol of continuity, stability and cultural identity. 

During your tenure, you worked closely with Alhaji Femi Okunnu, SAN, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union and now Vice Patron of the Union. What role did he play in your administration?

 I consider myself exceptionally privileged to have served during a period when I could draw so extensively from the wisdom, experience and guidance of Alhaji Femi Okunnu. For me, Baba has been much more than a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees or a respected elder of the Union. He has been a father, mentor and guiding spirit throughout my tenure. His support, encouragement and wise counsel were invaluable, particularly at critical moments when difficult decisions had to be taken in the best interests of the Union.  One of the most remarkable qualities about Baba is the extraordinary sharpness of his intellect and the depth of his knowledge of the history of Lagos and Isale Eko, even at 93 years of age. Despite his age, his recollection of historical events, personalities, institutions and traditions remains astonishingly precise.

You also worked closely with Mr Akin Kekere-Ekun, who served initially first as Trustee and subsequently succeeded Alhaji Femi Okunnu, as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. How would you assess his contribution to your administration?

Mr Akin Kekere-Ekun has been one of the most important institutional figures during my tenure as Chairman of the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union.  Before becoming Chairman of the Board of Trustees, he served the Union faithfully first as a Trustee and was  therefore already deeply familiar with its history, traditions and governance structure. Following the retirement of Alhaji Femi Okunnu, SAN, as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, he assumed that office and provided a seamless transition in the leadership of the Board. One of the qualities I most admire about him is his unwavering commitment to good governance and ethical leadership. 

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?

Every leader leaves office wishing there had been more time. I would have liked to see even greater progress in institutional funding, membership expansion and the development of permanent community programmes.  That said, leadership must be judged not by perfection but by sincerity, integrity and commitment to service. I am satisfied that we laid the foundations upon which future administrations can build.

 What advice would you give the incoming Executive Committee?

 Stay focused on providing excellent service. Maintain the unity of our Union. Honour our elders while empowering younger members.  Preserve our traditions while also welcoming innovation. Most importantly, remember that leadership is about stewardship. We are custodians of an institution that existed before us and will continue long after we’re gone.

 What concerns you most about the future of indigenous communities in Lagos?

 My greatest concern is not external pressure but internal complacency. History alone does not secure the future. We must invest in education, leadership development, institutional strengthening and youth engagement. The younger generation must see indigenous identity not as a relic of the past but as an asset for the future.

The Isale Eko Descendants’ Union is constitutionally non-partisan and serves members across political divides. As a former Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, how have you balanced that responsibility amid growing calls by indigenous Lagosians for greater access to the state’s top elective offices?

That is a very important question because it goes to the heart of the distinction between partisanship and legitimate advocacy. The Isale Eko Descendants’ Union is, and must remain, a non-partisan organisation. Our membership cuts across all political parties, professional backgrounds, religious affiliations and ideological persuasions. 

What role do you see young Isale Eko descendants playing in the future of the community?

 A decisive and transformative one. Every generation inherits a legacy and assumes responsibility for its preservation and advancement. The future of Isale Eko cannot rest solely on the shoulders of today’s elders and community leaders. It belongs equally to our young men and women who must prepare themselves to become the custodians of our history, culture and institutions.

I believe strongly that our young people must become more actively involved in community affairs, cultural preservation, public service, entrepreneurship, technology and civic leadership. 

 What legacy would you like your tenure as Chairman of the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union to leave behind?

I would like to be remembered as someone who helped strengthen institutions, promote unity, defend our cultural heritage and preserve the values that define Isale Eko. Most importantly, I hope it will be said that we served with sincerity and left the Union stronger than we met it.