Celebrate Kings Day 2017
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Kings Day celebration began when in 1974 the small group who called them selves Yoruba Americans crowned their first King. Baba Oseijeman was the father of the African cultural restoration movement which had its roots in Harlem, NY. After moving south and establishing the Oyotunji Yoruba Village in present day Sheldon, South Carolina, Oba Adefunmi was chosen by his people to sit on the royal stool of Oduduwa. This gave the small group of Yoruba their first and highest office in the re establishment of Yoruba socio-cultural institutions. In the summer of 1981 the Ooni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade bestowed the title of Oba upon Oseijeman Adefunmi. Therefore giving the Yoruba Americans, the royal backing and support needed to develop the only Yoruba nation in the N. America. Today we celebrate each and every October 6th to honor the nobel step taken by Yoruba Americans to establish their royal customs passed down from generations.
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Oba Oseijeman Adefunmi I |
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Sunday October 8th
11:am Annual ATA report 12:pm Royal crowns Parade and display 1:pm Ogboni presentation and Bembe for Onile. |
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His Royal Majesty Oba Adejuyigbe Egundjobi
Alladohonu Oyewole Adefunmi II
King of the Yoruba people, North America
Empowering people thru the practical application of Yoruba traditions.
HRM Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II began his destiny on earth December 21, 1976. Born the 14th child of 22 children to His Royal Highness Oba Efuntola Adefunmi I, and the third child of five born to Iya Esu Ogo Oyewole. The King Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II was raised in the Kingdom of Oyotunji African Village and began drumming at the age of seven.
An extraordinary listener and attentive history student, the young King, under the teachings of H.R.H. Adefunmi I, was entrenched in the traditions
and culture of his ancestors; the Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria and Benin. He was rooted in the traditional lifestyle of Oyotunji African Village settlement in North America. King Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II witnessed thousands of Africans in America that came to his father’s Kingdom in search of broadening their cultural awareness.
By the time of his graduation from the Yoruba Royal Academy, King Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II was an initiate of several sacred Egbes (African societies) to name a few: Egbe Egungun, Egbe Obatala, Egbe Onilu ayan, Egbe Akinkonju. Not the least of which would be the Prince’s entrance into Igbodu, the society of the Fathers of Mystery in the worship of Orunmila. Traveling throughout the United States and the Caribbean in the entourage of his Father, King Adejuyigbe reflects: “It was an amazing opportunity to observe my Baba, the Alase of Oyotunji, in all the commands and demands of being a King. I also observed, through his service to Africans in America and the undertaking of spiritual responsibilities to the tribal family within the village, and the toll it took on him.” As a young man, King Adejuyigbe followed his first love of drumming and touring nationally, and internationally performing Reggae, and African music playing alongside notables artist such as “The Wailers”, “Inner Circle”, “Freddie McGreggor”, “Junior Gong Marley”, “India Arie”, and countless others.
The development of a wide diversity of entrepreneurial skills as well as years of hard work and training in carpentry and administration on Dopkwe, (Oyotunji construction), gave birth to the “Stucco Kings” company In 2001, King Adejuyigbe moved to Key West, Fla. as an artist in residency at the Lofton B. Sands African Bahamian Museum. King Adejuyigbe Adefunmi ll lead the team in idealizing, planning, and construction of a full scale African Village. King Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II made many valuable contributions to the education and cultural expansion of the African American population in Key West giving daily lectures and classes to students from the Monroe County, Fla. schools.
King Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II became the King of Oyotunji on July 3, 2005 thus continuing a legacy of Yoruba Kings in America that has been confirmed and supported by the Ooni of Ile-Ife (the King of the holy city of Ife) thousands of Yoruba Americans came to celebrate the Royal Coronation. Following the Royal Coronation, HRM traveled to The Holy city of Ile-Ife and was crowned by the Ooni of Ife just as his father did on Nov. 16, 1981. HRM was also invited to Ophia Ketou, Republic of Benin for extensive ceremonies of installation. H.R.M. Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II has two wives, two sons and three daughters.
When asked what His Majesty looks forward to the most, following in the footsteps of his Father, he says “the passion of my heart at this point in my journey is twofold, to fulfill my Baba’s vision for the Kingdom of Oyotunji in its ultimate beauty and to pass to the next generations our customs, traditions, cultural lifestyle, and skills in a way that serves the betterment of our world and its people”.
Our focus is the practical application of ancient African traditions and culture in a modern time utilizing our ancient African worldview to guide us while providing nature base solutions, “the earth is our religion, and if you do not care for our mother you are disrespecting the Orisa.
HRM further aspires to increase to all peoples and cultures of the world the practical value for ancient traditions today!
Media, Speaking, and Travel Inquiries: info@oyotunji.org
HRM Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II began his destiny on earth December 21, 1976. Born the 14th child of 22 children to His Royal Highness Oba Efuntola Adefunmi I, and the third child of five born to Iya Esu Ogo Oyewole. The King Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II was raised in the Kingdom of Oyotunji African Village and began drumming at the age of seven.
An extraordinary listener and attentive history student, the young King, under the teachings of H.R.H. Adefunmi I, was entrenched in the traditions
and culture of his ancestors; the Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria and Benin. He was rooted in the traditional lifestyle of Oyotunji African Village settlement in North America. King Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II witnessed thousands of Africans in America that came to his father’s Kingdom in search of broadening their cultural awareness.
By the time of his graduation from the Yoruba Royal Academy, King Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II was an initiate of several sacred Egbes (African societies) to name a few: Egbe Egungun, Egbe Obatala, Egbe Onilu ayan, Egbe Akinkonju. Not the least of which would be the Prince’s entrance into Igbodu, the society of the Fathers of Mystery in the worship of Orunmila. Traveling throughout the United States and the Caribbean in the entourage of his Father, King Adejuyigbe reflects: “It was an amazing opportunity to observe my Baba, the Alase of Oyotunji, in all the commands and demands of being a King. I also observed, through his service to Africans in America and the undertaking of spiritual responsibilities to the tribal family within the village, and the toll it took on him.” As a young man, King Adejuyigbe followed his first love of drumming and touring nationally, and internationally performing Reggae, and African music playing alongside notables artist such as “The Wailers”, “Inner Circle”, “Freddie McGreggor”, “Junior Gong Marley”, “India Arie”, and countless others.
The development of a wide diversity of entrepreneurial skills as well as years of hard work and training in carpentry and administration on Dopkwe, (Oyotunji construction), gave birth to the “Stucco Kings” company In 2001, King Adejuyigbe moved to Key West, Fla. as an artist in residency at the Lofton B. Sands African Bahamian Museum. King Adejuyigbe Adefunmi ll lead the team in idealizing, planning, and construction of a full scale African Village. King Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II made many valuable contributions to the education and cultural expansion of the African American population in Key West giving daily lectures and classes to students from the Monroe County, Fla. schools.
King Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II became the King of Oyotunji on July 3, 2005 thus continuing a legacy of Yoruba Kings in America that has been confirmed and supported by the Ooni of Ile-Ife (the King of the holy city of Ife) thousands of Yoruba Americans came to celebrate the Royal Coronation. Following the Royal Coronation, HRM traveled to The Holy city of Ile-Ife and was crowned by the Ooni of Ife just as his father did on Nov. 16, 1981. HRM was also invited to Ophia Ketou, Republic of Benin for extensive ceremonies of installation. H.R.M. Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II has two wives, two sons and three daughters.
When asked what His Majesty looks forward to the most, following in the footsteps of his Father, he says “the passion of my heart at this point in my journey is twofold, to fulfill my Baba’s vision for the Kingdom of Oyotunji in its ultimate beauty and to pass to the next generations our customs, traditions, cultural lifestyle, and skills in a way that serves the betterment of our world and its people”.
Our focus is the practical application of ancient African traditions and culture in a modern time utilizing our ancient African worldview to guide us while providing nature base solutions, “the earth is our religion, and if you do not care for our mother you are disrespecting the Orisa.
HRM further aspires to increase to all peoples and cultures of the world the practical value for ancient traditions today!
Media, Speaking, and Travel Inquiries: info@oyotunji.org
