There are pros and cons of having a worldly upbringing. Whilst in an ethnic majority situation, you are in the wide nurturing embrace of your culture and heritage. Switching to an ethnic minority situation, you have the unique and exciting introduction of other community groups from a young age. But there can also be some disconnect to stabilising roots of identity and social dynamics ranging from music to politics, arts and science, storytelling and hair braiding. Time to bridge the gap of knowledge and understanding with the upcoming informative & enlightening Yorùbá /Nigeria/ Africa/ Diaspora a.k.a. YNAD talks (à la TED talks!)
**YNAD talks**
Here’s the planned line up of Yorùbá Yonder lecture series / YNAD talks throughout 2023:
Date
Topic
Coinciding Event(s)
1
Jan 2023
African
Heritages - Director's Cut 1, Art & Stories
International Day of Education
2
Feb 2023
Cultural
Legacy 1 - Yorùbá Benin City, Benin Bronzes
World Day of Social Justice
3
Mar 2023
ÌyáNaija - Transformative Women of Nigeria
International
Women's Day
4
Apr 2023
West meets East - Yorùbá-Japan
overlaps 1,
Climate-Based
& Culture & Spirituality
International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace
5
May 2023
*African
Heritages - Director's Cut 2, Travel & Languages
*Decolonising
Instructional Language on the continent
African
Languages Day /
World Day for Cultural Diversity
for Dialogue and Development
6
Jun 2023
Cultural
Legacy 2 - Yorùbá Time Concepts
Yorùbá New
Year
7
Jul 2023
*Nigeria & South Africa Solidarity Against Apartheid
*Yorùbá sense of Justice
Nelson Mandela Day
8
Aug 2023
Cultural
Legacy 3 - Yorùbá History, Nok Empire to present
International Day for People
of African Descent
9
Sep 2023
Cultural
Legacy 4 - Afro Hair & Yorùbá braiding styles
World Afro Day / Int’l Day of Peace
10
Oct 2023
Mental
Colonialism Pyramid Scheme: Nigeria-UK
Nigerian Independence Day /
World Teachers Day
11
Nov 2023
Motherland - Nigerian
Natural Resources
Africa Industrialization Day
12
Dec 2023
Cultural
Legacy 5 - Sùǹgbọ́Ẹrẹ́dò Storytime
Festive Season
Watch this space to see the various collaborations behind the scenes working to bring this knowledge stream to life!
This International Women's Day prelude is the third of Yorùbá-Nigerian writer, poet and lecturer Abíọ́dún Ọlátòkunbọ̀ Abdul’s lecture series focusing on cultural and social themes related to Yorùbá/Nigeria/Africa/Diaspora: YNAD Talks.
Being the most populous Black country in the world, Nigeria boasts many transformative women who, as leaders, originators and entrepreneurs, have compelled recognition through their society-shifting achievements reverberating beyond West African shores, leaving inspiration in their wake.
This YNAD Talk celebrates six such Ìyá Nàìjá (Mothers of Nigeria) including:
1. Artist Níkẹ Okundaye: Her renowned skills for making Yorùbá àdirẹ fabrics were quickly recognised across Nigeria and further afield. Now the world-famous creative has the biggest art gallery in Africa, showcasing Yorùbá culture and beauty.
2. Businesswoman Fọ́lọ́runshọ́ Alákijà: This captain of industry built her business empire in real estate, printing and fashion. Overcoming great odds to reach billionaire status in a male-dominated field, her commercial interests continue to expand.
3. Economist Ngozi Okonjo Iweala: This is a woman of historical firsts (a) serving two terms as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (b) becoming Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). All the while, she proudly wears vibrant Nigerian fabrics whilst wearing vibrant intelligence on her sleeve.
4. Sculptor Elizabeth Olówu: This trailblazing craftswoman is Nigeria’s first female bronze caster, continuing in the tradition of the world-famous Benin Bronzes. Her royal lineage feeds into these cultural treasures archiving Yorùbá history and information in solid form, whilst also exploring modern and feminist themes.
5. Doctor Ameyo Adadevoh: A heroine in the truest sense, this healthcare professional correctly diagnosed an Ebola patient, then worked tirelessly to avoid an outbreak. Her diligence cost her life but saved hundreds of thousands in Èkó (Lagos) and across Nigeria. Ẹ́ kú iṣẹ́ Ma.
6. Writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Our generation’s most powerful African literary voice, her books are a conduit exposing everyday Nigerian lives to the world. Her words humanise our communities and assert we should all be feminists, with Beyoncé in firm agreement!
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