The Yoruba

Posted on Monday, May 23

Forgotten History Lecture Series Presents:
The Yoruba: From Home in Africa to Home in the New World

An international symposium in conjunction with the exhibition Sixteen Pieces presents, Yoruba from the perspective of five countries. Each panelist will explore Yoruba Ifa traditions and discuss how these traditions are practiced in their respective countries. Moderated by Oyekunle Oyegbemi, Board President of the Ifa Yoruba Contemporary Arts Foundation (IYCAF).

The Panelists:

Ebomi Vania Amaral (Brazil)
Adekola Adedapo (U.S.)
Professor William Leslie Balan-Gaubert (Haiti)
Miguel Ramos (Cuba)
Dayo Laoye (Nigeria)

The Moderator:

Oyekunle Oyegbemi is a native of Mississippi and for many years has been active in the examination of traditional African ways within African American culture. He has studied many of the world’s traditional cultures for twenty-five years and was initiated as an Egungun Priest (Ancestor Priest) in 1994. In 2001 Oyekunle traveled to Oyo, Nigeria and was initiated into the priesthood of Ifa. He has organized and managed the spiritual pavilion and opening ceremonies for the annual African Festival of the Arts in Chicago. Oyekunle has participated on panels as diverse as hip hop and spirituality to the use of traditional African ways to solve social problems.

Representing Brazil: Ebomi Vania Amaral, a native of Salvador, Bahia Brazil. She has spent her entire life a devotee and servant to the religion of the Yoruba ancestors of Brazil. Amaral is an authority on the teachings, dances, songs, rhythms and mythology of Afro-Brazilian Candomblé.

Representing the U.S.: Adekola Adedapo, who performs under her first name, is a Yoruba Priestess, Civil Rights activist and member of the Black Power movement who currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a prominent jazz performer and educational assistant teaching reading, music, theater and African storytelling in the Milwaukee Public Schools.

Representing Haiti: Professor William Leslie Balan-Gaubert, a native of Haiti and a Haitian History scholar at the University of Chicago. Professor Balan-Gaubert is a much sought after speaker who recently lectured on the legacy of Yoruba cosmology in its beliefs, rituals, and rhythms.

Representing Cuba: Miguel “Willie” Ramos, Obá Oriaté Lukumí (master of ceremonies for ordinations), was born in Havana, Cuba. Ramos studies Lukumí/Yoruba religion in Cuba and Brazil. Currently, he is President of the Diaspora Cultural Center in Miami.

Representing Nigeria: Dayo Laoye is from Southwest Nigeria which is the heart of Yoruba culture. He is from a highly esteemed family and grew up in Ibaden, Nigeria. Dayo graduated from the School of Fine Art, Yaba College of Technology near Lagos, Nigeria. As a custodian of Yoruba culture, he has taught his native language and consults on many aspects of the Yoruba worldview. Dayo is a highly acclaimed artist living in Chicago, Illinois.

Thursday, May 26

5:00-6:00 p.m. – Reception
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Lecture / Q&A

FREE

The Dusable Museum
740 East 56th Place