Specialties
14 Annual Traditional Yoruba Festivals
Daily Tours
Educational Workshops
Farming Initiatives
Living Culture.Feeding Community.Celebrating Tradition.
Oyotunji African Village is the first intentional community based on the culture of the Yoruba and Dahomey tribes of West Africa; founded, (1970) in the Americas. Now in 2013, after over 40 years of sustaining the only Kingdom based on traditional Yoruba sociology and values, OAV brings to the Low-country and greater global community the depth of culture, beautiful art, grandeur of customs and resilient history of the New World Yoruba.
OAV is positioned as the pinnacle center for learning, exploring and celebrating the ancient traditions and culture of the Yoruba people of present day West Africa.
The institution of OAV serves as a real-time reminder of the sociology and African world view contribution made to society by African ancestors of antiquity.
History
Established in 1970.
In the fall of 1970 His Royal Highness Oba (King) Ofuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi I, found the Yoruba Village of Oyotunji in Beaufort County South Carolina; beginnung careful reorganization of the Orisa-Vodu Priesthood along traditional Nigerian lines. He was initiated to the Ifa priesthood by the Oluwa of Ijeun at Abeokuta, Nigeria, in August of 1972. Baba Adefunmi was proclaimed Alase (Oba-King) of the Yoruba of N. America at Oyotunji Village in 1972.
In 1981 the Caribbean Visual Arts and Research Center in New York sponsored Oba Adefunmi to be a presenter at the first World Congress of Orisa tradition and culture at the University of Ile-Ife, Nigeria. After his presentation, his Divine Royal Majesty King, Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, the "Ooni" of the ancient Yoruba city of Ile Ife,Nigeria, summoned Adefunmi, ordering the Ife Chiefs to perform coronation rites on him; thereafter becoming the first in a line of new world Yoruba Kings consecrated at the palace of the Ooni in Ife.
Meet the Business Owner: HRM Oba Adefunmi II A.
King Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II became the Oloyotunji or King of Oyotunji on July 3, 2005 thus continuing a legacy of Yoruba Kings in America that has been confirmed and supported by the Ooni of Ile-Ife. Thousands of Yoruba Americans came to celebrate the Royal Coronation. Afterwhich, HRM traveled to The Holy city of Ile-Ife and was crowned by the Ooni of Ife just as his father did on Nov. 16, 1981. HRM was also invited to Ophia Ketou, Republic of Benin for extensive ceremonies of installation.
Many are the gifts and talents this young King brings to the throne of Oyotunji African Village. When asked what His Majesty looks forward to the most, following in the footsteps of his Father, he says "the passion of my heart at this point in my journey is twofold, to fulfill my Baba's vision for the Kingdom of Oyotunji in its ultimate beauty and to pass to the next generations our customs, traditions and cultural lifestyle/skills in a way that serves the betterment of our world and its people.