WISDOM FROM THE CROWN.
"Get up, get out and build our villages"

It's been an amazing journey as we reflect on the past 9 years of sitting on the throne of Adefunmi. Part of this amazement stems from working with a small but elite group of elders and young people who are passionate about the forward progression of our land and movement worldwide. Those who have contributed are vast in numbers and we thank each and every one of you, male or female. The work has been daunting, however there are a small few whose shoulders remain at the wheel. This innovative coalition rely on relevant input and contributions from you but nevertheless are still willing to stay the course indefinitely. We have built roads, built public restrooms, constructed a new Oyo Horseman, bed and breakfast and kitchen for the comfort of our visitors and guests. Also during this 9 years of service we have re-created the Great Benin Films studios which produces countless videos pertaining to Oyotunji and the cultural movement at large (see YouTube/Oyotunji) so that the world can tune in and be a part of the development in the oldest African town in North America. As we near the completion of the first decade of our reign, we have given immense focus and priority to various initiatives as it pertains to farming, eco building, and recycling. Sadly the last three mentioned above did not sell to well with our community. We believe that we are not ready to fully accept the Earth as the pinnacle of our religion and culture.

Coming from the original ancient indigenous people, we have a duty to clean the earth and live in cohesion with the environment. Our religion is our land and natural resources. This is why we have been pushing this movement towards the earth and it's care. If you pollute the lakes, rivers, streams, ocean, forest, and air you have disrespected Orisa.

While we highlight the successes and the shortcomings of the King’s reign and community, we must at the same time note the areas where we have not yet reached our full potential.

As the king works, the Crown needs the strong support of all egbes. The egbes have been lacking terribly in their duties and responsibilities to the community as well as to the Crown. The egbes are almost non existent. Ifa reminds us daily that the egbes are the King’s chiefs; men and women that work closely with the King to keep things running smoothly. To ensure that the school, temples, farm and safety of the local, state and national community, Egbe’s apply their knowledge of Orisa or discipline towards the peaceful evolution of the world. As we see it, we must continually re dedicate ourselves to the institution of Egbe, ancient African societies .

The ancient African proverb says, “It is our deeds that enter us into heaven , not our words”. The verbiage pandemic has become an epidemic in our community. More to the point, the King should never be left to walk alone. We challenge all omo oduduwa to live up to the King’s example as to longevity and innovation in creating spaces where you are and allow those who are seeing enlightenment to receive abundantly the wisdom of the ancients. The Village has a new spirit that revolves around it and that did not just happen by coincidence. There has been countless hours and programs that contributed to the up serge in attention.

A major area that we are still striving to reach our full potential in is the mentor, shadow, apprentice training programs between the elders and the youth. The elders are still working in their respective positions with no relief in sight. As they age, so does their approach to the innovation of the emerging leadership.  Any African village in which the youth do not take up the jobs of the elders will not be as healthy as it can be. New ideas come with fresh and seasoned minds alike.

The King deeply values the advice, input and full participation of the leadership of cultural communities across the country in building solidarity toward a more sustainable future. Building the unity in our community not only keeps “hope” alive, it deters the King from becoming “weary in the well-doing”. It is the Yoruba people’s blessing to respectfully support the Crown, demonstrate their loyalty, dedication, and longevity to the ancestors.

While the majority of our people deal in street politics or the internet court of opinions, the King continues to seek those that affect and implement change from a position of title. Failure to do this renders one view or “opinions” on any given situation null and void. Opinions are not needed, however we do value/reverence science and facts. The future of social design depends upon it.

The Crown and the Kingdom are best served and supported as Egbes are faithful to their oaths, actions and tributes that are paid to the King from every initiation into Orisa and Egungun. Those in good standing with all levels of cultural leadership are the faithful, loyal and true. Loyalty such as this always has the ear of the Crown and bring their advice from a deeper place then opinion. Failure to send tributes to the King/dom in honor of the Source from which the ase received, flows… makes obvious persons that do not have the sustainability of the Kingdom in heart or pocket. Such individuals should be known as spiritual bandits who never give back to the source. If a river forgets it's source it dries up. We have given every night and day working for Kingdom and community, loving the Legacy that we inherited. Many times we have neglected visitation with family and children to see to it that duties are carried out .

Work for the Kingdom as the King does.

The King is a:
Avid Gardner
Filmmaker
Daily builder
Road maintainer
Plumber
Public speaker
Teacher
Contractor
Musician

These hats we wear interchangeably between the hours of sunrise and sunset daily. The entire community needs to examine its self, redefining self determination as the means by which our individual and ancestral gifts/talents are shared with the whole. We as a community must re dedicate ourselves to the land and move back to the land. The land needs it's people. Too many black families move away from the land to the bustle of the cities only to find later that the land has been lost or in terrible disrepair when they return. As we witness the over growth of our ancestral lands we know that it's people have abandoned her.

Recently, there have been “wolves moving among us in sheep’s wool”, women that expose their cultural ignorance at every turn and opportunity. The authority of the elders and chiefs by their oath to the Crown has been grossly disrespected or outright ignored. The sacred laws, customs and traditions shall not be polluted by those that seek to abuse a false sense of power. If ever the foreign police are called into the Kingdom’s perimeter our national and personal ancestors are grieved and embarrassed. We have our own methods of conflict resolution and relevant codes of conduct. We call on our elders to resolve conflict because the foreign authorities have no compassion nor care for our cultural laws. Our sovereignty should be protected and not molested when we feel egoist enough to summon the European masters to solve our conflicts we render ourselves to the plantation once again.

In conclusion, we as the OBA are the brother to the Orisa. We are approachable and will always be among the people we serve. At your service 24/7. (Phone#843 846 8900/info@oyotunji.org)

We beg that you uphold and modernize tradition in this turbulent time. Utilize the wisdom of the ancients and apply it to a modern time. Become a student of the Earth, apply its lessons and laws relevantly to social design.


Ese pupo

Odua a gbe wa oooo

HRM Oba Adefunmi II

Oba nki gbogbo omo Oduduwa Nile, ni oko, le li odi



We, HRM Oba Adejuyigbe Egundjobi Alladahonu Oyewole Adefunmi II, Oloyotunji of Oyotunji Village USA, Paramount Ruler of the Yoruba people of North America and the Diaspora of the Americas, Descendant of HRH Oba Ofuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi I, function in this office of the Oba sanctioned by Ifa, the ancestors, the Alaafin  of Oyo , the Ooni of Ife and the Traditional Kings Group of the Republic of Benin and of course the great elders , Chiefs,  Priests,
Priestess and the general people of the Yoruba nation of North America and the Diaspora. 

Oba, in our tradition, is the high Priest. Though the Oba may not belong to any priesthood in particular, he is at the pinnacle of all societies. The Oba is said to be the glue uniting all of the various Egbes and societies of the nation. The King is the King by virtue of ifa, the ancestors, the Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo and the people. A King’s bloodline must be able to be traced back to the progenitor of the Yoruba nation. 

The lineage of the Alladahonu Kings in America can be, and has been, traced back to King Tegbesou of the Dahomean nation. As tradition has it, a King only becomes a King after eating another King; referred to as joba where one eats the heart of the King of which they are succeeding, prior to the candidate being permitted to rule. Yes, this custom does indeed continue for worthy and qualified candidates in Yorubaland, North America and the Diasporas.
 
A traditional Yoruba King cannot be a King without land. The term Oba is said to be derived from Baba (Father) and Baale Father of the land). The Yoruba people are innately tied to the land, and this can be seen in the continuous use of the  prefix or suffix in some cases: Le or ile (house/land). Land is a major component in building a Kingdom and without it a King cannot be a King. As our ancestors saw it, A Kings #1 job is to build temples for the veneration and worship of the gods and ancestors. This can be seen in the remnants of ancient Luxor and the temples of Ramses at Karnack "Egypt".

Hierarchy amongst Obas, in antiquity until present day, exists in their respective districts. We, Alase Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi Egundjobi Alladahonu, are the Paramount Oba in our district; ruler of the North American Continent and the
Diasporas. We pay our tribute and respect to the Palace of the Alaafin and the Palace of the Ooni of Ife and all the Obas of Yorubaland . 
  
In the year 1957, Oba Oseijeman Adefunmi laid claim to his ancestral legacy and began the work of reestablishing the traditional institutions of the Yoruba people. Oba Oseijeman was subsequently crowned King by the Yoruba people of
North America. The Oba Oseijeman did not crown himself. After traveling to Nigeria to draw awareness to the building of an African nation in North America, the Ooni of Ife crowned his royal blood, making him King of the Yoruba backed by
traditional royalty. The King is elected.
 
Just as much as the Pope cannot be selected by a rogue group of Catholics claiming to enhance the religion by intentionally subverting the traditional practices surrounding the installation of a new Pope, can any one group here in the USA crown a King in any part of this land without the sole consent, authorization and/or simple mandate from the Crown that is already established; we, HRM Oba Adejuyigbe Egundjobi Alladahonu Oyewole Adefunmi II, Oloyotunji of Oyotunji
Village USA, Paramount Ruler of the Yoruba people of North America and the Diaspora of the Americas, Descendant of HRH Oba Ofuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi I, Iya Oba Esu Ogo Oyewole, Iya Oba Adefunmi, Baba Oba Alladahonu Maza, inheritor of the throne the great Alada Ruler King Tegbesu once sat; sanctioned by Ifa, the ancestors, the Alaafin  of Oyo , the Ooni of Ife and the Traditional Kings Group of the Republic of Benin and of course the great elders, Chiefs, Priests, Priestess and the general people of the Yoruba nation of North America and the Diaspora. 
 
It has become our knowledge that a rogue group from the Atlanta, GA USA, referring to themselves as the UNIOV have taken it upon themselves to ‘crown a king’ of the Atlanta (ATL) district without the permission of the seated Crown of North
America, Paramount Ruler of the Americas and the Diaspora for Yorubas. 
 
This, we see, as an act of treason on their part as well as those who had an active hand of involvement. No man or woman can parade themselves as an Oba in the land where an Oba is already seated. Anyone supporting such an act will be considered in the same light as those who committed the act of treason, directly.

In today’s society there are all types of charlatans claiming to be Babalawo, Awo Ifa, Chiefs, Priest and Priestess. Just as in the initiation process to receive ase, ocha and the like, there are steps that have to be taken to ensure the validity of the initiation. The new coronation circus for the self and rogue proclaimed ‘oba of atl’ is yet another attempt by new comers to subvert the great works of our elders. This cannot and will not be permitted any longer. Any longer! As we have received news, this latest and most recent blow to demean and disrespect the office of Obaship is where the buck stops as we see
it.

To foster unity in our community we must stick close to the traditions we all claim to be a part of. No longer will our Diaspora based culture and customs hold up, if we continue to stand for using European culture as a lens from which to view African culture. If Ifa has declared it to be of one’s destiny to be given an exalted position, he/she must be deeply steeped in African culture. 
 
The, treacherous group in question, UNIOV has made claims to have the backing and support of the people of Atlanta. This cannot be true. To our Crown’s knowledge there is only a small rogue group of individuals in support of this
move to divide the North American Kingdom. 

We Yoruba are a people of tradition. We do not and should not support shoddy initiations, coronations and/or installations. Those who choose to conduct themselves in this manner have no clear idea as to the intricacies of our ancient tradition. This is what we call usurpation of ancestral tradition; none of which will be permitted or supported by the Crown of North
America.

Our foremothers and forefathers did not leave us a shaky foundation on which to stand; in fact the ancestors left us a very clear road map of how to navigate within and throughout the physical realm. HRH Oba Oseijeman Adefunmi II was
crowned by his people; HRH did not crown himself. Our forbearers set the bar high and if we want to imitate them we must be prepared to jump over it. 
 
No formal letter of intent, not even a phone call was levied by the UNIOV group in question to inform the Paramount Ruler of North America and the Diaspora, Oloyotunji of Oyotunju Village USA, of this plan. And to our Crown’s knowledge,
neither was any other credible Ile, house and/or temple within the city of Atlanta (Atl) or in the nation included in this most holy and sacred process. Many were simply either bamboozled at the event or found out via Facebook, the social media platform.

Any knowledgeable Oba of Yorubaland would not and cannot ‘crown a king’ in the United States because it is sovereign territory, with a seated, vibrant, effervescent and very much alive Oba supported by the people! The action to do
such in spite of is a front to our North American Kingdom and is viewed as an unsuccessful and pitiful failed attempt of a raid, at best! While the August 26, 2012 return to the leopard circus in Atlanta, a failed attempt of a self induced ‘coronation’, was simply viewed by myself and cabinet as a show, the most recent sojourn by the UNIOV to Oyo, Oyo
Nigeria seeking coronation rights is seen by the King of North America as an invasion of sovereign Yoruba territory. The Crown seated at Oyotunji Village has been and continues to remain responsible for the re/establishment of the ancient
  Yoruba ancestral traditions and culture. As such and thus, we have every ancestral right to make these claims of doleful treason. The return of Oosalase as the ‘oba of atl’ is seen as not only an effort to mutilate the community but
  to also subvert the codes and processes of our ancestral tradition. The circus of a coronation for Oosalase can be seen as nothing more than a calculated attempt to enhance his personal ego and agenda. 
 
The Awujale of Ijebu, was the personification of a King’s reign gone bad. It was he and his unethical coronation that was to blame for his terrible tenure. And as the saying goes, it is to have been expected; the results of an improperly installed Oba. 
 
We, as the Great Father, stern and yet forgiving, do not wish for this to be the cultural fate of our dear son. As such, we ask all Yoruba of North America who follow their tradition, those who know themselves as constituents of the Kingdom
of Oyotunji Village USA, to call for the removal of the nomenclature of Oba from the name of Oosalase and urge the lad to remove his beaded crown. Encourage the action to follow the proper channels to Obaship, if he so wishes.


Below, we have outlined those individuals who are parading themselves as Yoruba Royalty in a sincere formal effort to debunk their claims...



1) Oosalase Efundeji El (Parading self as Oba of Atlanta [ATL])
 2) Orisayomi Fatimah Holley Saxon (Parading self as Olori of Oba of Atlanta [ATL]
 3) Awotunde (Parading as Daa Ahosu Agbovi)



We await your return home prodigal children…  


HRM Alase Oba Adejuyigbe E.A.O Adefunmi 
Oloyotunji of Oyotunji Village USA,
Paramount Ruler of North American and the Diasporas