No fewer than eight traditional rulers – among them from Brazil and Gambia – are expected Saturday to join other personalities in US to celebrate “Yoruba Day”.
The culture and artistic skills of the ethnic group from Nigeria will be on display at the Peoples Convention Centre, Dallas, Texas, where an American citizen, Nikki Spooner, is putting Nigeria on the cultural world map.
The event is the second edition, Spooner, who is the promoter of the event, which will be attended by eminent artists, explained.
She stated that among the artists to be present at the colorful event include Yemi Solade, Ara Osan, Ayo Ewebiyi, Ologundudu, Shina Ayo, Wole Akanni Duro-Ladipo, Ayanbinrin, Mercy Flawless, Yinka Rhythmz, and Adeniji Jemiriye.
The Yoruba traditional rulers who have indicated their interest to attend, Spooner disclosed, are Oba Adejuyigbe Oyotunji, Oba Shola Akinrimisi, Oba Moshood Abolade (Gambia), Oba Sunday Ekundayo (Oniroko of Ekiti), Oba Agbaje Abibu Adetoyese, Arowo Okun Joye II (Olu of llogbo), Oba Adeniji Alade Onimole (Apata Shiaba) and Oba Jose Mendes (Brazil).
Spooner stated that she was organizing the event in conjunction with Wole Akanni Duro-Ladipo and Ologundudu.
“I believe that people don’t know or have forgotten why Yoruba culture is so amazing,” Spooner, who holds associate degree in Music Theory from Berkeley College, said on the rationale behind the event.
“There are too many Nigerians living in America and giving birth to children here that never get the chance to teach their children African values and beliefs, and American society begins to mold them unconsciously,” the songster, who holds Masters degree in International Business from Suffolk University, emphasized.
As a self-motivated woman ‘who loves culture, music and entertainment,’, according to her, “I want to bring Yoruba people back to the cultural beliefs they grew up believing in and respecting, and the ones I cherish today.”
She added: “The focus of this program is to teach and promote Yoruba African culture and diversity in this culture.”
“I am a singer and I also teach people how to sing with an American accent. I have performed in many churches and some events as well,” Spooner said of herself.
“I can sing in five languages and I have acted in four Nigerian movies,” she added confidently.
The journey to her interest in the most populous country in Africa started from her first contact when she prior visited.
“The truth is that my first experience in Nigeria was with Igbo people and I fell in love with Africa desiring to learn more,” Spooner said, adding: “I went to Lagos and fell in love with the music I was listening to (King Sunny Ade Merciful God) and as a musician the music was what attracted me first. I said to myself I love that language.”
“As I started to learn more and more about Yoruba language I became interested in the culture and why people behaved with so much respect for their elders and siblings and as I started going to weddings and events I began to fall in love with traditions going all the way to traditional rulers and government officials,” she stressed.
She further said that she is planning to organize the same program in Nigeria and London, but, however, stressed that her attention now is finding sponsors.
The Yoruba Day, she further said, is to promote cordial relationship between Nigeria and US. “I would love to use this opportunity to showcase the cultural exchange between the US and Nigeria but I hope that people will use this opportunity to see it for what it’s worth.”
“Yoruba and Nigerian culture is full of pride and respect and I don’t want to exploit it, I want to share it with the world,” Spooner said matter-of-factly.
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