Cuba Ambassador Hails Yoruba Heritage, Nigeria-Cuba Bond at Yoruba Tennis Club Centenary Jazz Festival

Cuba Ambassador Hails Yoruba Heritage, Nigeria-Cuba Bond at Yoruba Tennis Club Centenary Jazz Festival

By Our Reporter

The Ambassador of Cuba to Nigeria, Her Excellency Mariam Morales Palmero, has described the centenary celebration of the Yoruba Tennis Club as a significant occasion for reaffirming the deep historical, cultural and fraternal bonds between Nigeria and Cuba.

Palmero, who was 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, stressing that it also offered an opportunity to celebrate the enduring influence of African, 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.

Palmero 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 specifically 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 a living force capable of strengthening solidarity, identity and mutual understanding among peoples.

The ambassador also 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 further 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 the 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 the Yoruba Tennis Club as an institution that had preserved dignity, culture and continuity over the past century, adding that 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 stated that 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 the 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.

Earlier, Chairman of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Bro. Chief Olawumi Gasper, mni, described the centenary as a landmark in the history of the club, established in 1926.

Welcoming guests to the event, Chairman of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Bro Chief Olawumi Gasper, mni, described the centenary as a landmark in the history of the club, which was established in 1926.

Gasper said the 100-year milestone represented a century of friendship, community leadership, brotherhood and sustained commitment to the preservation of Yoruba cultural heritage.

He explained that the Centenary Jazz Festival was one of a series of programmes organised by the club to commemorate its historic journey, noting that jazz was deliberately chosen as part of the celebration because of its rich African, Caribbean and global cultural connections.

According to him, the presence of the Cuban ambassador was particularly significant because Cuba occupies an important place in the development of Afro-Cuban jazz, with musical traditions characterised by the prominent use of instruments such as congas, bongos, timbales and claves.

Gasper also highlighted Brazil’s contribution to global jazz culture, further noting that the country embraced jazz and subsequently developed distinctive musical expressions through the fusion of traditional Brazilian samba rhythms with jazz harmonies, contributing to the emergence and international popularity of Bossa Nova.

The chairman said the participation of representatives from Cuba and Brazil had therefore added an important dimension to the centenary celebration, transforming the event beyond a musical gathering into an occasion for cultural diplomacy and international engagement.

“Distinguished guests, the Yoruba Tennis Club is celebrating a landmark milestone this year—our Centenary Anniversary, 1926 to 2026—marking 100 years of friendship, community leadership and the preservation of our rich cultural heritage,” Gasper said.

He expressed appreciation to the sponsors and supporters of the festival, particularly the Nigeria Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), for contributing to the success of the event.

Gasper also welcomed CREDICORP’s Director of Operations, Mrs Nike Kolawole, and other senior executives of the organisation to the club, describing the Yoruba Tennis Club as “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 team for what he described as excellent teamwork and seamless coordination of the centenary activities.

Gasper urged guests, members and jazz enthusiasts to relax and savour the performances, describing the festival as an opportunity to celebrate the enduring power of music and the values that have sustained the club over the past century.

Also in his remark, the President of the Jazz Summit Group of the club, Bro. Otunba (Amb.) Olusegun Akinsanya, discloses that the roots of jazz music at the club could be traced to the colonial and immediate post-independence eras, when some members and distinguished guests began introducing European and Afro-American musical influences into the club’s social life.

Akinsanya recalled that musical genres such as the Twist and Waltz became popular features of festive gatherings, providing members with opportunities to unwind and strengthen the bonds of friendship for which the century-old club is renowned.

Among those who particularly enjoyed the music and social atmosphere, he noted were the late Bro. Pa Ben Oluwole and Bro. Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony, alongside several other prominent members and personalities.

"During festive seasons, it was always a delight to see the likes of late Bro. Pa Ben Oluwole, Bro. Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony and a host of others dance to or savour the music,” Akinsanya said.

He explained that the club’s appreciation of jazz subsequently entered another phase during the leadership tenure of the late Bro. Olusegun Ajayi, who, together with some like-minded members, made an attempt to establish a dedicated jazz group within the club.