Cultural heritage: an urban memoir towards Idanre city prosperity

The present tasks facing most of the cities in Nigeria is over reliance on foreign exchange earnings on crude oil. The task ahead is to ensure cities function properly and cater for its inhabitants adequately. Several effort to diversify and develop other sectors of the economy over the last two decades yielded no positive end. Although the country campaign for more consolidating efforts in agricultural production also faced with inadequacy in infrastructure, credit, political instability as well as energy without any sustainable growth. The crash in global crude oil economy coupled with Corona Virus (CONVID-19) is compelling global south cities to explore alternative source of income. At this crucial time, the need for creative industry to leverage cultural heritage in the face of this daunting challenge cannot be overemphasized as much are the investment opportunities through creative industry. This paper explores Idanre urban memoirs via creative industry to enhance much needed prosperity. The study is underpinned by heritage preservation and urban prosperity. Idanre is a relatively small and historic town in Ondo State situated at the foot of scenic Idanre hills with unique cultural heritage and propensity to attract diverse tourist locally and internationally. Idanre Hills stands out well among all other places that have been proposed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nigeria. The unique features or identities of the city cannot be shared with any other city. It is believed that this cultural heritage when annex with creativity will spur creative industry that fosters economic prosperity. Community participatory exploration of Idanre heritage resources was adopted through focus group discussion personal observation and purposive interview of traditional institutions. This research findings include 1350AD ancient palace on the hill: unique Orogho, Usalu and Udale quarters; Orosun Sacred Groove and Festival; Agaga Hills; Idanre Forest Reserve; and small-scale Cocoa Agricultural Estates. Community consensus identified heritage memorabilia, cottage industry, small scale local chocolate industry, community sacred forest tour guides and Orosun festival as creative industry to enhance the prosperity of the town. The paper recommended that innovation capacity and citizenry interaction are fundamental for desired prosperity through vibrant heritage resources rooted creative industry. Keywords: Creative Industry, Cultural Heritage, Branding, Memorabilia, Memory, Self-sufficiency, Urban Prosperity