ISESE Day Celebration: Hondread Uses Music to Keep Yoruba Tradition Alive

As the world marks Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day, Makinde Damilola, popularly known as HONDREAD, is at the forefront of preserving Yoruba cultural heritage.

This Nigerian-born artist, spiritual storyteller, and cultural visionary has pioneered the Afro Tradition genre, blending Yoruba chants, ancestral wisdom, and contemporary rhythms to create a sound that heals, teaches, and uplifts.

Through his music, HONDREAD channels the voices of his forebears, reminding both young and old that “Ìṣẹ̀ṣe l’agba” (tradition is supreme).

His songs are crafted as offerings to the spirit world, carrying prayers, chants, and invocations that keep the path of Ìṣẹ̀ṣe alive.

For HONDREAD, music is not mere entertainment but a vessel of memory, bridging generations and ensuring the wisdom of the elders and the presence of the Orisa are never forgotten.

As a custodian of Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, HONDREAD urges all Yoruba sons and daughters to embrace and preserve their cultural and spiritual heritage. “I don’t make music for applause,” he said. “I make music so the ancestors can rest easy, knowing we still remember the path.”

Through his devotion, HONDREAD continues to establish himself as a messenger of Yoruba tradition, carrying the torch proudly into the modern world.

On this Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day, HONDREAD’s message resonates deeply, reminding us of the importance of preserving our cultural heritage and honoring our ancestors. His music serves as a powerful reminder that Yoruba tradition is not fading; it is alive, breathing, and evolving.