If there is no place like home, how would you describe a place that has the same cultural sentiments as your ancestral home? A village where you discover far into your voyage. A place that gives you the same warm feeling of peace you have as you close your eyes on your bed.
Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave and grow old wanting to get back to.
Behold a village that offers you the ambience of the yoruba home–Oyotunji Village.
Oyotunji Village is located near Sheldon, Beaufort County, South Carolina. The Village was founded by Oba Efuntola Osiejeman Adelabu Adefunmi 1. He was born as Walter Eugene King on October 5, 1928. He became influenced by the Yoruba culture and initiated into Orisha Priesthood. It is ruled by its current monarch HRM Oba Adejuyibe Adefunmi 11. One who shockingly has the Pele tribal marks on each cheek. They practice the traditional monarchical rule, adopted in most South Western villages in Nigeria.
Omo Oduduwa Tiwa n Tiwa understands that Oyotunji relates to Oyo empire literally meaning “Oyo returns” or “Oyo rises again.” The village’s goal is to allow people through the practical usage of Yoruba tradition.
Yoruba Culture is widely practised at the village as they host various festivals: Odun Oya, Sango Festivals, Yemoja festivals. The village is designed as a religious and cultural community. Majorly for African-American of West African Yoruba faith. It’s a combination of the Yoruba and the Dahomey Kingdom. They trade in popular solidarity cloth” Aso Ebi”.
The kingdom is about 40 years old. It promotes depths of values, beautiful art, and grandeur of the customs of New Yoruba World in the United States. It is a pinnacle center of learning as it sustains ‘traditional Yoruba Sociology and value system’ in the United States.
