OmoOduduwa's Xanga

ATR Social Networking Community

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 03:37:13 GMT

To the Creator!

To the Witness!

To The Messenger!

Mo Juba!

Greetings all!

I am sorry I have not had much time to peek my head in here to bring you as
much spiritual guidance as I would have liked to. However, as you can imagine, my plate is quite full these days. But I have never forgotten you.

There are other "Orisha Lists" that you can join. However we never wanted “just” an Orisha list serve; we wanted a teaching forum where everyone who practiced an ATR was welcome to join. That has now happened. We now have a social networking community, where you can set up pages such as you can on MySpace, chat, learn make friends, all whose interests are the same as your own.

Many of you are here to learn the ways of Orisa and Ifa. Some of you have no clear idea of this culture. We are here to help you formulate your own ideas as to how Ifa, Orisa and your Ancestors can help you enhance the quality of your life. We will help you to learn Afrikan culture that has been stripped from you as a result or your
ancestor's enslavement.

Remember you are all free to speak here and on all of our forums. No one will be attacked for their cultural NATIONALIST viewpoints. Our goal is to assist you in learning about Ifa, Orisa and the ancestors without the colonizer's influence. This
new community is also pro-black, pro Afrikan and pro-procreation and there is no
discussion of anything otherwise. There are other lists for that. I have my
own ETA or marching orders which I must follow and this community is born out of
that. I pray that you all get what you need here in this universal Ile.

Now being nationalists, there is no way we can go forward in the veneration of
Orisa, Ifa, or (Ancestors) without touching on slavery or Afrikan
colonization from time to time. Ancestor veneration is the foundation of Afrikan
Tradition Religions. Ancestors can bless you, for they have a vested
interest in your very survival and the survival of your lineage. We shall
see that later. Or, they can stop it all! For anyone to not recognize the
Afrikans role in Afrikan traditional Religion is foolish and cannot be of
Ifa, Orisa or the Ancestors in my reality, all of whom are BLACK.

I am not speaking of racism. I am not speaking of hating anyone. I am
speaking of loving ourselves. And to love you is to love others. You
must love the very fullness of your black lips, the wideness of your hips,
the blackness of your skin, handed down by your AFRIKAN ancestors to say you
love yourself. There cannot be such a thing called "universal love" unless
that is in place! You must love and care for your black neighbor and not be
ashamed before you can run 10 miles to help your white boss and call that
love. Because in loving your black neighbor you show love for yourself. Then
you can turn and help your white boss.

Malcolm said, "Don't love your enemy, love yourself." That did not mean
HATRED. That meant that what he saw in the slums showed that we as Afrikans
and descendant of the Afrikan did not love ourselves enough. So how could we
then love somebody who did not care about our own humanity? Ase!

Your own Ori and Ancestors will show each of you, your own individual paths.

May we all be blessed from the Heavens!

Princess Adinasse

http://www.african-spirituality.info

Princess Adinasse to teach "Basics of Yoruba Spirituality"

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:17:48 GMT

You are invited to join our new e-group, The Basics of Yoruba Spirituality. Princess Ademide Adinasse, the Iya Ademidemeji, is a Traditional Yoruba Priestess of 13 years ritually initiated into the Ifa/Orisa and Dahomian Vodun tradition, will teach this group. Princess Adinasse is active in the Oudiah Cultural Organization, based in Benin, West Afrika, which is calling for the return of all of the children of Oduduwa to their homeland.

Additionally, Princess Adinasse and other well known traditional Priests of the Yoruba culture will host a show on Yoruba Oduduwa Radio’s Orisha channel.

Join us in this exciting chapter in Black History in the making!

You may join the e-group for discussion and lectures by going to :

Yoruba_Spirituality@yahoogroups.com

Yoruba Oduduwa Radio’s Orisa Channel can be found at:

http://www.live365.com/stations/yor_ifa

More information on Yoruba Oduduwa Radio can be found at:

http://www.YORadio.org

Other sites of interest:

http://www.ouidah.org

http://www.africanspirituality.org

Contact me at:

Information@OjaIyalajeAfrika.com

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 19:53:06 GMT

Respected Compatriots:

It is estimated that there are over 100 million Yoruba people spead all over today’s world. There is need for more effective communication globally among Yoruba People for Yoruba People Development. Effective communication is essential for a sustainable Africa.

We, the Board of Trustees/Working Group are pleased to present the following multi lingual announcement:

YORUBA TRANSLATION

Yoruba Oduduwa Redio -YO Redio – Adiresi Titun 02.01.06

A ki gbogbo omo Yoruba, Afirika ati awon ore wa kaakiri agbaye.

Adiresi titun fun Yoruba Oduduwa Redio - YO Redio (Redio iran Yoruba ni gbogbo agbaye) ni:

http://www.yoradio.org

E JOWO SAMI SI. E maa te botini LISTEN ni webusaiti Yoruba Oduduwa Redio-YO Redio lojojumo lati tunbo gbe itumo ati igbadun aye yin laruge.

A si tun be yin lati darapo mo egbe titun fun awon ololufe Yoruba Oduduwa Redio ni

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Yoruba_Oduduwa_Radio

lati le maa fi ikunlukun fun itesiwaju gbogbo omo Yoruba ati omo Afirika.

E jowo e se eto omoluwabi tiyin gege bi enikan lati fi iroyin ayo yi to Ebi, Ara, Ore ati Gbogbo Agbaye leti .

Ire o. Lati owo:

Igbimo Oludari Yoruba Oduduwa Redio – YO Redio

-----------------------------------------------------------------

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Yoruba Oduduwa Radio -YO Radio – new URL 02.01.06

Greetings to All Yoruba, African People and Friends in the Global Community.

The new URL for Yoruba Oduduwa Radio - YO Radio (Internet Radio for ALL Yoruba Global Community) is:

http://www.yoradio.org

PLEASE BOOKMARK .

Click on the LISTEN button at this Yoruba Oduduwa Radio-YO Radio website homepage regularly to enhance the quality of your life.

You are warmly invited to join a new Yoruba Oduduwa Radio e-group
and participate for progress at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Yoruba_Oduduwa_Radio

Please do your own personal patriotic duty; share this happy news widely with your Family Members, Friends and the General Public.

Kind regards,
from

Yoruba Oduduwa Radio -YO Radio -Working Group

FRENCH TRANSLATION

Le Radio de Oduduwa de Yoruba -le Radio de YO – les nouvelles Salutations de 02.01.06 d'URL à Tout Yoruba, les Gens et les Amis africains dans la Communauté Globale. La nouvelle URL pour le Radio de Oduduwa de Yoruba - le Radio de YO (le Radio d'Internet pour TOUT Yoruba
la Communauté Globale) est : http://www.yoradio.org PLAIT LE SIGNET.

Cliquer sur l'ECOUTER le bouton à cette page d'accueil de site web de Radio de Radio-YO de Oduduwa de Yoruba régulièrement pour améliorer la qualité de votre vie. Vous êtes chaudement invité à joindre un nouvel e-groupe de Radio de Oduduwa de Yoruba et participez pour le progrès à :

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Yoruba_Oduduwa_Radio

S'il vous plaît votre propre devoir patriotique personnel ; partager ces nouvelles heureuses largement avec vos Membres de Famille, les Amis et le Grand Public. Le genre considère, du Radio de Oduduwa de Yoruba -le Radio
de YO -Travaillant le Groupe

PORTUGESE TRANSLATION

O Rádio de Oduduwa de Yoruba -Rádio de YO – novas Saudações de 02.01.06 de URL a Todo Yoruba, para Pessoas africanas e Amigos na Comunidade Global. O novo URL para Rádio de Oduduwa de Yoruba - Rádio de YO (Rádio de Internet para TODO Yoruba Comunidade Global) é:
http://www.yoradio.org AGRADA BOOKMARK.

O estalido no ESCUTA botão nesta página principal de sítio web de Rádio de Rádio-YO de Oduduwa de Yoruba regularmente aumentar a qualidade de seua vida. Você quentemente são convidados unir-se um novo e-grupo de Rádio de Oduduwa de Yoruba e participa para progresso em:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Yoruba_Oduduwa_Radio

Por favor faça o próprio dever patriótico pessoal; compartilha esta notícia feliz largamente com seus Membros de Família, Amigos e o Público Geral. A espécie considera, de Rádio de Oduduwa de Yoruba -Rádio de YO
-Trabalhando Grupo

SPANISH TRANSLATION

La Radio de Yoruba Oduduwa -la Radio de YO – Saludos nuevos de 02.01.06 de URL a Todo Yoruba, Personas y Amigos africanos en la Comunidad Global. El URL nuevo para la Radio de Yoruba Oduduwa - la Radio de YO (la Radio del Internet para TODO Yoruba la Comunidad Global) es:
http://www.yoradio.org POR FAVOR SEÑALADOR.

El clic en el ESCUCHA el botón en esta página principal de sitio web de Radio de Radio-YO de Yoruba Oduduwa para aumentar regularmente la calidad de su vida. Usted es invitado tibiamente unir un E-grupo nuevo de la Radio de Yoruba Oduduwa y participar para el progreso en:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Yoruba_Oduduwa_Radio

Haga por favor su propio deber patriótico personal; comparta estas noticias felices extensamente con sus miembros de la familia, los Amigos y el Gran Público. La clase considera, de la Radio de Yoruba Oduduwa -la Radio de
YO -Trabajando el Grupo

Look for YORadio’s talk shows and news commentaries, along with announcements of special events. http://www.YORadio.org

Yoruba Oduduwa Radio (YORadio) is a subsidiary of Ajobi Enterprises, International, and part of Ajobi Enterprises, International’s global media outlet.

AEI brings you diversity and dedication.

Bookmark our site
http://www.ajobienterprises.com

Questions on YORadio can be directed to Administrator@YORadio.org

Information on AEI can be directed to Information@AjobiEnterprises.com

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Tue, 10 Jan 2006 23:26:57 GMT

OUIDAH, Benin (AP) -- Thousands gathered Tuesday on a beach to celebrate Benin's once-banned Voodoo, slaughtering animals and welcoming revelers from Brazil and the United States whose slave ancestors took the religion to the Americas centuries ago.

At a ceremony in Ouidah, 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of the commercial capital, Cotonou, Voodoo high priestess Nagbo Hounon Gbeffa sacrificed a goat, a rooster and a chicken as divine offerings.

"I'm very moved," said Faith McDouglas, a 37-year-old nurse from Omaha, Nebraska. "I've understood many things regarding my origins, because I'm a descendant of slaves."

Voodoo originated in West Africa and holds that all life is driven by spiritual forces of natural phenomena like water, fire, earth and air that should be honored through rituals that include animal sacrifices. There are no zombies or pin-skewered dolls here, but followers believe they can communicate with divinities and spirits by putting themselves into a trance.

Countless Africans were shipped into slavery from the West African coast, taking with them Voodoo, whose cults still survive in the Caribbean, Latin American and the American South.

The annual celebration "is an occasion for us in Ouidah to remember the hundreds of thousands of blacks deported to the Americas as slaves," said Albert Dossou, a member of the Daagbo Hounon family, which traces its lineage to a 15th-century Voodoo chief.

"It is always a pleasure for us to see them make the pilgrimage to the land of their ancestors," Dossou said.

Pamella Jonqueira, a Brazilian living in Portugal, said she'd come to Ouidah to make a documentary about Voodoo. "I've been able to glean some really beautiful images, but most importantly, I feel the need to initiate myself in Voodoo."

In Benin, the religion was repressed and then banned during incumbent President Mathieu Kerekou's first 18-year stint in power, which ended in 1991. Kerekou's Marxist regime believed the rites went against the socialist work ethnic.

But the religion, practiced by an estimated 60 percent of Benin's 7 million people, was impossible to suppress and the government inaugurated National Voodoo Day in 1996, giving the religion an official place here alongside Christianity and Islam.

Benin is considered the West African capital of Voodoo, and every year, hundreds revelers, believers and curious tourists from as far away as Haiti and the United States attend the festival along with thousands from Benin itself.

After Tuesday's animal sacrifice, Gbeffa, the Voodoo priestess, prayed for presidential elections due March 5 to be peaceful, saying they should be held "in an atmosphere of tolerance and brotherhood."

Kerekou lost the country's first democratic elections in 1991 but won office again in 1996 and 2001. The constitution bars him from seeking another term in office.

Monday, January 09, 2006

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 16:53:34 GMT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4588262.stm
Is voodoo a force for good or bad?

As millions of Beninois prepare for the annual voodoo festival of offering prayers and animal sacrifices, do we really understand what voodoo is?

Once banned, voodoo is now an official religion in Benin, where the practice was born. About 60% of the country's 7 million people practise the religion. Forms of voodoo also exist in Togo, Ghana, Haiti and Brazil.

Followers believe in a supreme God and spirits who link the human with the divine.

Spirits are thought to exist in many things - from the earth, wind, thunder, giant baobab trees and pythons.

But for centuries the religion has been associated with black magic used for evil purposes and based on animal and human sacrifices.

Is voodoo a force for good or evil? Is there a place for voodoo in modern Africa? Does voodoo play an important part in your family? Do you have any voodoo stories to tell us? Are there any parallels with other religions?

Send us your comments and experiences using the form on the right, or text us to +44 77 86 20 20 08. If you would like to take part in the Africa Have Your Say radio programme on 10 January at 1600 GMT, please include a telephone number. It will not be published.

Your comments:

I believe voodoo has been demonized by majority populations in the Americas during the peak of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade

Abu-Bakar, USA
Despite my very limited understanding of voodoo, I believe that it has been demonized by majority populations in the Americas during the peak of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. It is merely another example of xenophobia, or at least, a fear of the strange or unknown. It is important to note that what is considered common knowlege about voodoo is nothing more than a stereotypic portrayal by popular culture of an alien cultural practice.
Abu-Bakar, Washington DC, USA.

Some of the voodoo practices that held sway in the past were never questioned because of the fear of dire reprisals if one were to contravene them. People have now advertently or inadvertently, contravened some of the voodoo don'ts to no harm at all, which proves that voodoo was merely a traditional society's way of self-sustaining, which has no place in modern Africa.
Musyoki Kimanthi, Nairobi, Kenya

Voodoo is an evil force which may appear to be good at the onset. The good it may portray is often shortlived and will yeild bad results eventually. I think it originates from the devil, Satan. Anything which originates from the devil is bad and can never be good. I'm sure you'd rather associate with good rather than bad. For as long as Africa practises voodoo, the many problems that have hampered her development will continue.
Sammy Imevbore, Coventry, UK

I firmly beileve that voodoo is a force for bad. As a Christian I beileve in Jesus and nobody else, and cannot understand how in the 21st century Africans keep doing such practical sacrifices. I think it's really horrible.
Berthie Matona, Bristol, England.

A lot of people think that voodoo is wrong only because they think it is against Christian teachings. The truth is that there are a lot of vey good aspects to voodoo and, if incorporated with Christianity, it would yield amazing results. Throw out the bad elements first, of course.
Didi Newlove, Namur, Belgium

Let us not forget that it was probably the uniting force of voodoo that helped the slaves in Saint Domingue throw off their French, and other colonial, oppressors. Voodoo is a serious attempts to grapple with ontological and empirical issues - it should not be so easily dismissed by society
Reuben Loffman, London

Voodoo exists and I believe it's used for evil purposes. I think the practice should be discouraged since it has no place in these modern times.
Edwin Batiir, Tamale, Ghana

My grandfather used to have voodoo known as 'mabieh'. When I was a small boy, my grand father used to bless me along with other kids by speaking audibly to his voodoo or mabieh in order to chase away the sickness from us.The bad thing was after the death of my grandfather some years ago, his elder son called upon Christians to his home from a neighbouring village and burnt down all voodoo materials to ashes. So voodoo or mabieh does not exist now in our home in south Sudan.
Peter Tuach, Minnesota ,USA

I think voodoo is a force of evil and should be banned

Emmanuel Adelaja, UK
I think voodoo is a force of evil and originates from Satan. It is outright devil worship where people are remotely controlled and manipulated for evil. This is obvious when you realise that countries which make voodoo their national religion, or have the large population of them practicing it, remain the poorest countries in the world. I have seen people being manipulated and hypnotised for years and made to live under terrible conditions. This religion should be banned.
Emmanuel Adelaja, Bracknell, UK

I personally do not believe in voodoo, but growing up in Ghana I have heard so much made of it, even by very educated people, which has made me believe, maybe, just maybe, it does exist. I however fully disagree with Emmanuel Adelaja who thinks it should be banned. What one chooses to worship is one's right and should not be controlled. The argument that religion has anything to do with the socio-economic development of any nation is lame and baseless. My native Ghana has one of the most religious populace on the surface of this earth and we are still very far from rich. It is only hardwork, good policies and mutual respect that can bring our continent out of the unfortunate position we are now. Ostracizing people because they do not share our religious beliefs should have no place in our culture if we really want to rise up as a continent.
Raphael Afaedor, Prague, Czech Republic

If voodoo is evil, then all the major world religions are so too

Anand Nair, India

Voodoo is a good religion. It is the missionaries who portray it as devil worship. It is a part of the African culture. If voodoo, one of the world's oldest religions, is evil, then all the major world religions are so too.
Anand Nair, Haridwar, Uttaranchal State, India

Voodoo, for many of these nations, provides a form of worship that was not brought over by the Europeans - and in my mind that is a good thing.
Alex Theoharides, United States

I do not believe any good things can come out of voodoo.

Emmanuel Osunkoya, Chicago, USA

My father before he passed away 30 years ago used to be a voodoo priest. The short period I lived with him I know that voodoo power existed. This power is evil and they use it to do evil things. A voodoo priest can use his voodoo power to kill and torment people. I do not believe any good things can come out of voodoo. The power of voodoo is limited. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ has greater spiritual power than any voodoo man or woman.
Emmanuel Osunkoya, Chicago, USA

I think voodoo, like the cutlass, could be used for both good and bad purposes.

Ike Tetteh, Accra
I think voodoo, like the cutlass, could be used for both good and bad purposes. If one considers the fact that Africa had its religion before the advent of the Bible, then we can only say that voodoo is for good. Voodoo punishes sins and that serves as a deterrent. Christianity or any other religion says pray for forgiveness and that is increasing the number of thieves in our societies. If we don't come back to our roots, then we will always be deceived by these so-called men of God.
Ike Tetteh, Accra

In films and television programmes voodoo is portrayed as a force of evil. We always see the necks of chickens being cut and voodoo dolls being pricked. What I would like to understand is the origin of voodoo and why is it so taboo? Surely to be so well established there must be positive elements to it?
Melanie, Wimbledon, England

There is absolutely no truth to voodoo. It is a state of mind, a farce, used by fraudulent individuals to control and exploit the weak! I will volunteer for any voodoo experimentation under the following conditions: 1. I am not asked to ingest anything, 2. I am not asked to apply any fluids, ointments, powders or gases, to my body, 3. the event takes place in open air for all to witness, 4. there's no physical contact between me and the voodoo practitioner!
Godfrey Ofem, Chicago, USA

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Wed, 09 Nov 2005 01:09:44 GMT

Alaafia - Peace:

Long live the children of Oduduwa Worldwide !

Beginning Sunday, November 13, 2005 at 12midnight EST,
Yoruba Oduduwa Radio -YO Radio will begin to test it's
systems and
programming on the Mo'Betta Radio Network.

Yoruba Oduduwa Radio- YO Radio is about to become a
reality.
We thank all members of Yoruba Oduduwa Radio Working
Group
who have worked selflessly to bring this to fruition.

Yoruba Oduduwa Radio is:

Internet Radio about and for all Yoruba people.

For communication that is independent, and respectful;

Information about Yoruba people, culture and
happenings;

In cooperation for the development of Yoruba and
African People Worldwide.

YORUBA ODUDUWA RADIO -YO RADIO- WORKING GROUP
CURRENT INVITEES LIST INCLUDES

1. Princess Ademide Adinnasse – Yoruba, African
Liberation Activist- a repatriate, originally from
USA now lives as Omo Oba in the Kingdom of Ofiya
Ketou, Benin Republic.

2. Dr. Valentine Ojo – Yoruba, African Patriot
based in USA.

3. Chief Bode Fasuyi - Araba Awo Ilogobo-Ekiti ;
Obalunrin Orisa Ikire Ile Ife; Otun Elejelu Awo Agbaye
- Yoruba, African Patriot based in USA.

4. Mrs. Lanre Aladekomo - Yoruba , African
Patriot;Former Bursar;Obafemi Awolowo University in
Ile-Ife.

5. Folabomi Olamijulo-Oki – Yoruba, African
Patriot and Software Engineer based in USA

6. Lawyer Ibukun Odunaiya - Yoruba, African Patriot in
Lagos.

7. Professor Sola Olowu – Professor of
Psychology at the Obafemi Awolowo University
in Ile- Ife

8. Dr.(Mrs) Hettie Soriyan – Computer Scientist
at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife

9. Dr. Ladi Osasona - Electrical and Electronic
Engineer at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile
-Ife

10. Mrs. Modupe Ogunjumo - in University
Administration at the Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife

11. Compatriot Felix Omidire - Yoruba, African Patriot
and Author based in
Brazil, South America

12. Professor Ade Ajayi - Yoruba, African Patriot and
Author based in USA

13. Dr. Kayode Fakinlede – Yoruba, African
Patriot and Author based in USA

14. Professor Antonia Yetunde Schleicher –
Yoruba and African Languages Professor
based in USA

15. Dr. Babatola Aloba - Yoruba, African Partiot and
Author based in Vienna Austria

16. Dr. Adebusola Onabajo Onayemi - Yoruba, African
Patriot and Independent
Author based in Canada

17. Lawyer Ibukunolu Babajide – Yoruba,African
Patriot working for the UN in
Arusha Tanzania

18. Engineer Oladele Olawole -Yoruba, Afican Patriot
and very innovative IT Developer
based in Norway

19. Compatriot Olalekan Lawal - Yoruba ,African
Patriot of YorubaWorld based in London.

20. Architect Felix Adejumo - Yoruba , African Patriot
based in London, England.

21. Compatriot Wole Akande - Yoruba, African Patriot
of Radio Abeokuta in Texas, USA

22. Compatriot Martin Akindana - Yoruba, African
Patriot, CEO ChatAfrik, based in USA

23. Professor Mobolaji Aluko - Yoruba, African
Patriot, Chemical Engineer, Former Chairperson of
Engineering at Howard University, USA

24. Compatriot Molara Wood - Yoruba, African
Patriot,CEO Tiwantiwa , based in the United Kingdom

25. Professor Oyewale Tomori - Yoruba , African
Patriot; until recently of the World Health
Organisation ;current Vice Chancellor, Redeemer's
University , Lagos Nigeria.

26. Dr. Samuel Kayode Olamijulo – Yoruba
,African Patriot; Cooperation for Development
Activist( YO Radio Working Group Convener).

Yoruba people around the globe will be participating,
from Africa to the Diaspora.

Tune into Mo'Betta Radio Network from midnight on the
13th until midnight on the 14th EST.
We will be relaying broadcasts from what will become
our Sister station, Radio Abeokuta.

We welcome your suggestions and comments.

Yoruba Oduduwa Radio-YO Radio will soon move to it's
own LIVE365 server.
Programming will originate from all over the globe.
Programming will be in Yoruba and other languages all
of the children of Oduduwa speak worldwide.

Yoruba people will rise above political, religious,
class and other differences.
We will effectively communicate to cooperate with one
another and others for the development of Yoruba
people in particular and Africans in general
worldwide.

If you have music or other materials that you want to
be aired on our new station, please contact Yoruba
Oduduwa Radio - YO Radio, any of the members of the
working committee.

http://www.mobettaradio.com
http://www.radioabeokuta.org

To listen, please click on or copy and paste to arrive
at the webpage :

http://www.live365.com/stations/mobettaradio

Ire O.

From Princess Ademide Adinasse
Princess_Adinasse@yahoo.fr

and

Dr. Samuel Kayode Olamijulo
samola43@yahoo.com

Kwaku Bandele, Ifayomi
Media Rep
Kwaku_the_chosen@yahoo.com

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Wed, 23 Jun 2004 19:30:15 GMT

Alaafia forum members:

I am most happy to most the following about the launching of ChatAfriK. Let me tell you about Baba Martin Matto...he welcomed me with open arms and helped me in so very many ways. He worked with me, despite the fact that I was not born on the continent and has included me in every list he has and allows me to speak freely, my views as a descendant of Oduduwa who finds herself born outside Nigeria (Adetokumbo). I am very proud, as always to claim my lineage that so many of our people are quick to cast aside.

I'd like to also give a warm thanks to Junious Ricardo Stanton, who saw something in me a few years ago that I did nto see in myself...that I was POSITIVELY BLACK and ON FIYAH for my people and actually had the ovaries to speak my truth as it pertains to the liberation of my people. I had been reading his articles for years and never dreamed for a moment that I would meet the man, much less appear countless times on his radio show. When he told me he was priming me to host my own show, I thought tha brotha had lost his mind! LOL! But here we are, throwing down for our folk side by side along with another important person here Baba Dalani Amon.

And none of my expression of public thanks would be complete without the aid and assistance of my dear Godsister, RE Auset-Olufemi. She has me moderating two of her lists, Yorubalife and History Notes, and contributing to others she owns. Her "REalities Groups" and Ile Ogbon will pool our efforts with others in the near future to bring more healing to our people and some great surprises. She has helped me to see something inside me that I just could not without her help and support.

Are we blessed or WHAT???

Ase O! Iba Se Egungun! Mo juba!

I give thanks, I give thanks!

Iya Ademidemeji
Lighting Tha Fiyahz of Black Consciousness
fueled by the ancestors!
http://www.xanga.com/afrikananctivist
www.Harambeeradio.com

FORWARD EVER! BACKWARD NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unless or until we begin to pray to Afrikan gods, liberation will continue to elude us. Iya Ademidemeji

================

Alaafia Baba Martin!

I am so blessed to know you and so proud in this moment to be a descendant of Oduduwa. Ase O!

Your lists have brought this Omo Oduduwa born in Amerikka so many blessings, I can't hold back the tears and to see this Baba, made me so proud to BE Yoruba! Ase

Ademidemeji

descendant of Yoruba People and sho'nuff child of Oduduwa!

======================

POSITIVELY BLACK

Junious Ricardo Stanton

The ChatAfrik Launch Party, A Pan-African Affair

On Saturday June 12 I had the pleasure of attending the official launch
party for ChartAfrik e-World a state of the art Internet portal
envisioned,
designed and executed by African. Contrary to what the ruling elites
would
have us believe that Africa is a backward continent, devoid of
intelligence
and contributions to the mosaic of human history or that in order to be
successful Africans who come to AmeriKKKa eschew their brethren and
seek
total assimilation into Euro-AmeriKKKan culture; there are continental
Africans living in AmeriKKKa a who are proud of their African heritage,
their ethnic, familial and tribal origins who have embraced the vision
of
Pan Africanism. Marin Akinwole Akindana and his lovely Queen/partner
Adeola
along with their supporters hosted a launch party to let the world know
ChatAfrik ( )was up and running. The party held in Laurel Maryland was
attended by many of the initial investors, supporters, sponsors and
underwriters from all over the world who came in just to be part of the
festivities. ChatAfrik is the outgrowth of an E-group of Africans from
Martin's home town in Nigeria he developed to so they could keep in
touch
with one another. From that one E-group or list of subscribers he
branched
out to start twenty-six additional lists dealing with a myriad of
topics,
themes and objectives. Each month Martin gives an award he calls the
Most
Valuable Netter to the man or woman who best exemplifies the
willingness to
contribute to the E-groups, keep discussions going, stimulate thought
and
dialogue. ChatAfrik.com has been up and running for several months now
and
has become a very popular site on the Internet, getting about 500,000
visits
a month.

Martin, or Moderator Matto as he is affectionately known, to the folks
who
subscribe to his E-groups graciously invited me to attend to launch
party
and I gratefully accepted and I was flattered and appreciative Martin
asked
me to be a contributing writer to the site since I contribute regularly
to
several of the E-groups he moderates. The affair was held at the Best
Western Hotel in Laurel. Interestingly the hotel allowed Martin's event
planner a young lady also from Nigeria to use their own caterer because
they
wanted to serve authentic African cuisine which I'm sure the hotel chef
and
banquet manager weren't able to accommodate. My wife and I were two of
only
a handful of African-Americans present. We were made to feel very
welcome
and we enjoyed the hospitality, the food, the entertainment and the
program.
I was able to meet and see for myself many of the people who stir up so
much
discussion and debate in the various E-groups Martin moderates. Once
during
the program I went outside to get something from my car and I passed a
group
of men dressed in traditional African finery having a lively discussion
about African politics and I couldn't help but think to myself, "these
brothers are always on, even at a party they are debating and sharing
ideas.

About a week or so before the event I asked Martin about the dress for
the
occasion. He told me it was "formal", so I packed a tuxedo dinner
jacket
with Kente Cloth tie and accessories so I would be fashionably and
politically correct.. When I got there, after we checked into our room,
we
changed clothes and headed to the room where the event was held, I was
surprised to see Martin, his wife Adeola and many of the guests wearing
their traditional ethnic clothing from their respective countries. I
learned
that for Africans the word formal means their finest traditional
attire. I
marveled at the richness of the fabrics, the quality, how proud and
regal
they all looked with their rich melanin skin tones and brilliant
colors. I
did not see anyone who appeared embarrassed or ashamed he or she was an
African, and that made me feel exceptionally proud also. I was also
impressed by the Ad booklet, the fact Africans mostly Nigerians from
all
over the world supported Martin and his vision of replicating,
expounding
and expanding on Marcus Garvey's Negro World using cyber technology as
a
bridge and vehicle for Africans throughout the Diaspora to share ideas,
our
history, talk to one another, re-establish links and ties of
brotherhood,
cooperation and mutual aid.

Martin graciously presented awards to the monthly winners of his Most
Valuable Netter Award going back from 2003 to the present. The event
planner
also scheduled a variety of entertainment, all African. They had a
vocalist,
a very funny comedian Deji Adedoyin who also authored a book of jokes
called
Jokes n Smiles, a Hip Hop Gospel Duo and a DJ that spun World Beat
dance
music until they closed out the session. African people love to party
and
have fun and we did. On the serious side the launch party was an
opportunity
for Martin and Adeola to thank their supporters and to share their
vision to
use the Internet as a bridge to unit Africans world wide, stimulate
business
opportunities, share information and provide services on a global
basis. In
his brief remarks Martin said, "When fully developed ChatAfrik.com is
poised
to be a major resource center for people all over the world." Looking
at how
far he, Adeola and their supporters have come in eight years, by the
Grace
of the Creator and ancestors, we should look for even greater success
in the
future.

My head to the mat to both Baba Matto and Baba Junious! Ase!

Friday, September 26, 2003

Fri, 26 Sep 2003 20:12:43 GMT

For Immediate Release
Please Contact
Ayoka O. Bamise
Olakuoto
Information@ileogbon.org

POETRY THROW DOWN and CELEBRATION AT WWW.DESTEE.COM 8 PM. EST

This Friday Iya Ademidemeji will be celebrating her tenth year anniversary as priestess of Sango. Please come and join us in the OPEN MIC/POETRY room on Destee.com for this special event . Click on the link for more details, and please sign the guest book. We look forward to seeing you there!

http://members.tripod.com/~kabiyesi0/OurIya2.html

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Wed, 24 Sep 2003 00:36:34 GMT

For Immediate Release
Please contact
Ayoka Bamise or Olakuoto
Information@IleOgbon.org

COME AND JOIN THE FAMILY!
Yoruba Chat Wendsdays 8pm. EST.
Iya Ademidemeji, Priestess of Shango, will be teaching an online, interactive, live class on the basics of Yoruba Spirituality and culture. She will also have on hand, occasional guest speakers.

Iya Ademidemeji is a Moderator on www.destee.com and can be found there most nights or on Blackmic.com Please do not miss this wonderful opportunity! Come Join us as we reclaim, rebuild and relearn the ways of our Ancestors, Ase!

Sunday, July 27, 2003

Sun, 27 Jul 2003 07:18:03 GMT

Equisite depiction of Osun/Oshun by Karmella Haynes. For information on copies of this oil painting or information on the painting itself, please contact me and I will forward your inquiry directly to Ms. Haynes.