Ifabunmi Adefunmi is a pretty Californian Yoruba diaspora who was born in Harlem in New York. She is the daughter of late King of Oyotunji African Village. The current king is one of her younger brothers. A few months back she and her brother, the king, visited Nigeria and spent close to a month rediscovering their roots before they went back to the US.
In this interview with City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE, Ifabunmi spoke about her life.
Ifabunmi, tell us a little about yourself?
I am a Californian Yoruba diaspora who was born in Black Mecca, you would know it as Harlem, New York, that is what it was called to the Blacks of America during Harlem renaissance’. I was born Ifabunmi Olubiyi Adesoji Adefunmi by way of my African naming ceremony, and my American name is Fabunmi Olubiyi Adefunmi by my American government papers. As the daughter of Oba Adefunmi I and Olubunmi Adesoji, I am a diaspora child of the Oyo and Ile Ife empire by my diaspora blood line.
I was born to the ruling house of Adefunmi, first Oba Of Oyotunji African Village Osejiman Efuntola Adefunmi I, and the first Olori Olubunmi Adesoji who were very strong traditionalist Yoruba priests; who were very reknowned in the priest hood in North America. I was born to a clan of Obatala priest on my father’s side. My mother’s clan are warrior women / iron women as well as Christian preachers, and Native Indian (Black foot and Edisto) medicine spiritualists.
I was raised in the USA with western colonial ideology all around me, I am a grand descendant to Alexander Hamilton, the first treasure to the United States of America, also the grand descent to Robert Smalls, the first freed slave Senator to South Carolina. I am the granddaughter to Roy King who worked alongside Marcus Garve to help with the Black star liner and the assisting with the birth of Liberia. I was at the birth of the beginning of the nation we all now call Oyotunji African Village. I was raised in the Sango temple in New York until I was age 5, where for many nights my Yeye and baba with other priest held bembe’s and called the ancient Orissas to the earth.
I graduated from American River College with an Associates in Health and Science with an emphasis in psychology and emergency medicine. I also graduated from the University of Phoenix. I have a Bachelors in Health and Administration with emphasis in Emergency room and National disasters. I am also certified in orthopedics, and Echocardiogram reading. I work as an Emergency room technician. I am a shop steward for SEIU-United Health care workers, I assist with debating on the Capital floor in Sacramento, California, dealing with health care bills and rights for the people of California. I am a Human rights activist, also an African American Historian who hosts traditional and spiritual educational events.
What are your plans for the Black History Month in February 2018?
My plans for the Black History Month event is to start with a drum call of talking drums. The reason for the drumming in America is because drumming was outlawed in all slave owned states in the union. The drum is also how we call our ancestors and wake the spirit of our ancestors in us all. There will be workshops held during the black History events, these work shops are to educate the diaspora about the ways of their enslaved ancestors, the spirituality and how to tap into the energies of the earth. Moreover, there will be short films on the founder, my father, Oba Efuntola Adefunmi I of Oyotunji African Village, and the ideology and the trials and tribulations that the Africans/ Blacks went through here in America.
There will be educational workshops on modern day slavery and human trafficking and how it is a global issue still and how worst the evil can manifest. There will be African traditionalist priest educating on how to call on the ancient Orissa. There will be speakers on what the Diasporas had to endure to keep what knowledge that was passed down to them bye their ancestors from the mother land. There will be tours of Oyotunji temples and the surrounding historical sites around Oyotunji. There will be an awards banquet and night dining and dancing. My plau is to bring awareness and Knowledge of what we as the Black/African race have as a culture and spirituality of what the world took from us and how we returned it back to ourselves.
What is the delegation coming from Nigeria coming to do in the US during the Black History Month?
The delegation coming for Black History Month is coming to bridge the gap between the Africans there and here, also to help we Africa Diaspora tell our story.
Tell us about your late dad and the Oyotunji King?
My father was a kind and gentle man. I loved him from the first time I opened my eyes and even still long after he closed his eyes and ascended. My father wanted to give back to the blacks the diaspora of America their sense of pride and dignity that had been stolen many centuries prior. He loved to debate the spirituality and culture of the blacks. My father was well versed in Christianity, he was studying to become a preacher before he set out on his quest to reattach what the diaspora, the children of the enslaved ones of Mother Africa lost on their transatlantic travels. He was a book of knowledge, he was well versed in the Orissa world of Ifa and a walking spirit. He loved educating and returning our culture to the world. My father was a priest of Obatala and when he ascended he was defied 5 years later. In Benin Republic. He was made an Orissa of Obatala the road of Osajiron.
My brother the reigning king is finishing our fathers work where my father left off. The Oba, my brother continues to educate the world about the struggles of the diaspora, but he also helps with his many programs like I grow culture, PAGA, the electrical vegetable garden raising awareness to the American youths and many other various programs and festivals that is hosted in Oyotunji.
Tell us about your private life. Are you married?
Oh yes. I was married before. I’m a new divorcee. I am a mother of 4. I have 3 sons and a daughter. My children’s ages range from 29 to 17. I am the daughter of late king of Oyotunji African Village.
Tell us about your father and his mission…
My father wanted the blacks to evolve to a greater state of humanity, not to be seen as lesser than human, to be called a savage with no spirituality, no self identity here in the US where Blacks were considered one third human, until recently in American history, Slavery condemned the black race. It was imperative that my father fought to reattach what was severed from the blacks.
These thoughts and fights. I have imbibed. That is why I fight so hard against crimes against humanity passed to me by my father. I am out to always educate and bring awareness to what we are as a nation of people.
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