As an African, dance is as much a part of my life as eating, drinking and working, but it is also an important part of our worship, following the guidance of the Bible where it is frequently referenced, particularly in…
Culture Is A Company’s Single Most Powerful Advantage. Here’s Why
There are very few factors that contribute more to business success than culture. Although it is sometimes difficult to draw boundaries around the notion of culture in organizations, it remains widely associated with business performance by practitioners, consultants, and researchers.…
Nigeria’s Yoruba women announce their arrival in style
When an aunt sent Oye Diran an old family photo, he was mesmerised by the high sense of fashion and style exhibited by the Yoruba women of West Africa in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The photo was of his…
Ọmọ Tí A Kò Kọ́: Globalization and Cultural Education among New Generation Nigerian Yorùbá
This essay 1critically explores the semantic, phonological and philosophical implications of the sound “kọ”́ (build) in the Yorùbá proverb—Ọmọ tí a kò kọ́ ni yóò gbé ilé tí a kọ́ tà (the child that is not taught will eventually sell the house…
Bigger than Africa: Tales of the Yoruba people
The Yoruba people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa, have survived for centuries on the African continent. Evidence points to a powerful Yoruba kingdom in the eighth century in Ile-Ife. They lived in well-structured urban centers organized around…
The forgotten story of America’s first black superstars
In the 1920s US, glamorous, funny black female singers were the blues’ first – and revolutionary hitmakers. Why were they then relegated to the sidelines, asks Dorian Lynskey. O On Valentine’s Day 1920, a little over a century ago, a…
A Call To Preserve And Digitise Yorùbá Orature And Chants
Like tiny blocks that form a building, oral history/traditions, chants and folklore form a large part of Yoruba heritage, creating a powerful impact on the bedrock of cultural appreciation and socio-economic status. The richness and exotic appeal that chants and…
Masquerades In Igbo Land
In Igbo land, masquerades are seen as superior beings. When a masquerade is seen in public, they have to be treated with respect because it is believed that they embody both the spirit and human worlds. There’s also a popular…
Ancient Symbolisms And Languages Of Nigeria
By now, we are familiar with the fact that long before the coming of the White man on the African soil, Africa was developed in its own capacity. Besides the written history of Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, and what is today…
Preserving The Yorùbá Heritage: The Role Of The Obaship And Traditional Institutions
The sacredness of the Monarchy system in Yorùbá land is one of the few reasons why Yoruba traditional systems and values have garnered so much respect and admiration over the years. The Obaship inspires nothing short of reverence. The almost…