Alliance of Yorubas in Jamaica observes first anniversary today

THE OBSERVANCE of the first anniversary of the launch of the Alliance of Yorubas in Jamaica (AYJ) Association of Jamaica will take the form of a ‘Cultural Exposition inside the Alfred Sangster Auditorium at the University of Technology, Jamaica Papine campus, today starting at 5 p.m. Admission is $3,000.

The evening promises to be full of traditional Yoruba food, festivity and fashion, and, of course, mingling, networking and reconnection. Patrons will be entertained by a saxophonist, the AYJ live band, cultural dances and songs, ere osupa (moonlight story), a fashion parade to include the selection of the best male and female Yoruba attire, a naming ceremony drama, et cetera. The 360 degree camera booth will be revolving from 4 to 7 p.m. to capture patrons in their flamboyant attire.

The Yoruba is the second largest ethnic group in Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the others being the Hausa, the Igbo and the Fulani, with the official languages being Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Fulani. Nigeria, located in west Africa with a population of over 230 million people, is Africa’s most populous country and the sixth most populous in the world.

Hundreds of these peoples were transported from the early 1500s to 1838 to Jamaica to work on European-owned plantations in the brutal institution of slavery. Without a doubt, present-day black Jamaicans are descendants of west Africans who were brought here forcibly. Yet, even after Emancipation in 1838, West Africans, including the Yorubas – found in western Nigeria, the Ivory Coast, Togo, Ghana and Benin – kept coming.

According to Wasiu Abayomi, president of the AYJ, there are also Yorubas in Cuba, Chile and Brazil. But, the largest population of just over 100 seems to be in Jamaica. They are mainly medics and educators contributing to Jamaica’s GDP, said Abayomi, in what he referred to as “brain gain”. Jamaica is benefiting from educated professional Yoruba ex-patriots. They were working all over the country with no regular contact with one another. So, with the establishment of the AYJ one year ago, things have changed somewhat.

“There is a great significant awareness of Yoruba culture among us in Jamaica. Recently, we had a webinar that attracted large participants,” Abayomi told The Gleaner, “and we have been actively participating in the secondary school programme during Black History Month.”

On Sunday, February 25, there was an online discussion called, ‘The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity’, in which Dr Amina Blackwood-Meeks gave the Caribbean perspective, while Professor Ayotunde Bewaji led the African perspective.