By Dansu Peter, Lagos
People of Yoruba race in America have expressed support for the development of culture and tourism in Ile-Ife and Nigeria.
Ambassador to the Crown and Kingdom of Oyotunji in South Carolina, United States of America, Rotimi Vaughan said this at the unveiling the logo and ARA the popular drum artiste as the face of Oloyotunji Festival which was done at the ILE OODUA Palace of Ooni at Ile-Ife.
The festival according to him is scheduled to take place between August and November 2017 at Oyotunji African Village, a Yoruba kingdom in America. He explained that Nigerians in diaspora were willing to invest in the country saying that plans were on top gear on the investment of $200m in Ile-Ife and Nigeria at large.
Ambassador Vaughan lauded Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), for exposing Nigerians in diaspora to the richness of their culture.
“The way members of the public perceive Ooni is awesome. You are loved worldwide. We are encouraged to do this because of your support for our cultural revolution and tourism"
“We are totally committed to the Ooni’s mission for cultural revolution. We will do everything within our power to support the drive. The impact of African American in the next two years will be powerfully felt.
“We are coming with $200m investment to Nigeria. After our visit to Nigeria, our people now want to associate with Nigeria and people of Nigerian race. We want to ensure that our impact is felt in our homeland. I must say that African-American now want to come to Nigeria.”
Ambassador Vaughan said
He encouraged Nigerians to participate in the festival, saying it was a means to re-unite historical experiences.
“Festivals open doors for Nigeria to experience what Africans taken to America as slaves had and the celebration of our heritage as blacks.
“It will open doors for Nigerians to meet their American friends and tap into several opportunities. It is an opportunity for empowerment and friendship.
The festival will be for four months covering different states and get enlightenment about African-American.
There will be seminars on Agriculture, commerce, industry, etc.”
He added.
On his part, Ooni Ooni Ogunwusi asked the organisers to make participation in the festival worthwhile and expressed his full support for the festival.
The globally recognised Spiritual Leader of Yorubas said the festival go a long way in enlightening the black Americans the 90% of whom are already clamming Yorubaland as their origin. He urged the organizers to be very sincere and make the impact of the festival positively felt.
“90 per cent of those taken to America are of the Yoruba origin. Many of them have started embarking on DNA and it is revealing their true origin.
“The festival will bring about englightment about black race. Do it with sincerity and make the impact felt.”
Ooni Ogunwusi said.
The king of Oyotunji Village, Oba Adefunmi Adejuyigbe was represented by the Aare Apo of Oyotunji Aare Apo of Oyotunji Village, Chief Oluwabe Amodie.
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