by
Akintokunbo A Adejumo & Adelagun
Abudu
Let’s pass it on to our children. “The
great and most powerful gift a parent can give their children is to pass to
them their language and their culture …”
We would have loved it very much to
write this in Yoruba but for two main reasons: one, we would love this article
to reach and be readable and understood by all in the world, Yoruba and other
peoples, and two, it is unfortunate, but our own written and spoken Yoruba has
not reached the level where we will be most accurate, articulate and fluent in
the translation of the article in such a way that the language will be
appreciated by all and sundry.
The 12th of March 2016 marks the 10th
Founding Anniversary of SAYLC-UK, founded by Late Sir (Dr.) Ezekiel Olusoji
Smith. The primary objective of the association is to promote the speaking of
Yoruba language amongst Yoruba people, especially our children who are totally
losing the language. Many other similar organisations in UK have ceased to
exist within five years of their founding and it is therefore apt to celebrate
the Founder’s Day of this unique and noble association.
The NOBLE CAUSE to sustain and advance
Yoruba language and culture in the United Kingdom started its journey from the
first meeting held at the premises of Yoruba Tennis Club in Onikan, Lagos,
Nigeria on 17 January 2006. Following
the meetings in Lagos, the United Kingdom Branch of the association was founded
at a meeting held in Emukay Restaurant, London on 12 March 2006; the meeting
was chaired by Dr. E. O. Smith and ably supported by Omo’ba (Prince) Adebambo
Ademiluyi. The first representatives of
the association in the United Kingdom were:
1. Mr.
Ade Abudu – Coordinator
2. Chief
Tunji Oyelana – Coordinator
3. Alhaji
I. A. Balogun – Coordinator
4. Mrs.
Tokunbo Gregory – Coordinator
5. Chief
Abiodun Sowunmi – Secretary
6. Mr.
Toyin Laguda – Secretary
7. Mr.
Akintokunbo Adejumo – Publicity Secretary
8. Mr.
K. A. Faloyin – Publicity Secretary
9. Chief
Abiodun Odusanwo – Publicity Secretary
The early actions and activities of
the new association included regular meetings on every 2nd Sunday of the month,
sub-committees working in-between meetings, membership drive, creation of
e-mail address for communication, design of website, contact with Agbajo Yoruba
Agbaye (AYA), identification of similar associations in the country,
arrangement of visit to Nigerian High Commissioner and drafting a constitution
for ratification at planned inaugural general meeting.
The inaugural general meeting of
SAYLC-UK was held at Emukay Restaurant in London on Sunday, 13 May 2007. The outcome of the successful general meeting
included the adoption of agreed constitution, election of trustees, election of
executive officers and overall commitment to an Improvement Plan towards
delivery of the Aims & Objectives of the association. The Constitution’s Preamble reads as follows:
We the members of “Egbe Ifesemule ati
Ilosiwaju Ede Yoruba”, United Kingdom (UK) Branch, being a cultural,
non-political and non-denominational Association establish this Constitution to
govern the matters within our Association.
The registered office in United Kingdom would be at Emukay Restaurant, 91
Camberwell Road, London SE5 0EZ.
The aims and objectives of the
Association shall be:
1. To
promote the speaking of the Yoruba language amongst Yoruba people, especially
our children who are totally losing the language.
2. To
cherish, uphold and project the honour and dignity of Yoruba culture, language
and tradition in United Kingdom and the diaspora.
3. Facilitate
full access to education about Yoruba Language to all and sundry through the
media and the use of Information Technology.
4. To
work with other organisations inside and outside the United Kingdom to promote
Yoruba Language and culture.
5. Subject
to approval by members of the Executive Committee of the Association, to obtain
or accept subscriptions, donations, grants, gifts, devices and bequests from
individuals, corporations, and institutions in furtherance of the Association’s
aims and objectives.
6. To
organise Yoruba classes for Yoruba youths in the United Kingdom.
7. To
set up a Yoruba Cultural Centre where the aims and objectives of this
Association would be further promoted within the United Kingdom.
8. To
publish a periodic Yoruba Newsletter and other publications to promote the aims
and objectives of the Association.
9. To
liaise with educational institutions and local authorities in the United
Kingdom towards achieving the aims of the Association.
10. To
undertake any other activities which are consistent with or which the Association considers will promote its
interests, aims, and objects.
On 13th day of May 2007, the Constitution
was attested to by the following;
·
Chairman
– Mr. Ade Abudu
·
General
Secretary – Mr. Adeyemi Bello
·
Legal
Officer – Mr. Kole Ojo
The elected members of the executive
committee were:
·
Trustee
– Sir (Dr.) E. O. Smith
·
Chairman
– Mr. Ade Abudu
·
Vice
Chairman – Major (Rtd.) Dovi Yebovi
·
General
Secretary – Mr. Adeyemi Bello
·
Assistant
General Secretary – Chief Abiodun Sowunmi
·
Treasurer
– Chief Abiodun Odusanwo
·
Financial
Secretary – Mrs. Tokunbo Gregory
·
Publicity
Secretary – Mr. Akintokunbo Adejumo
·
Social
Secretary – Mr. Toyin Laguda
·
Legal
Officer – Mr. Kole Ojo
·
Internal
Auditor – Mr. Olumide Balogun
·
Welfare
Officer – Dr. Dapo Williams
There were subsequent annual general
meetings (AGM) on the following dates:
·
2008
AGM & Ede Yoruba Day in August
·
2009
AGM & Socio-Cultural Event in August
·
2010
AGM & Socio-Cultural Event in August
·
2012
AGM in August
·
2013
EGM in March
·
2014
EGM & Election of Interim Executive Committee
The current Board of Trustees are as
follows:
• Chief
Tunji Oyelana - Chairman
• Papa
Samuel Bright
• Pastor
(Major, rtd.) Dovi Yebovi
• Prince
Adelagun Abudu - Secretary
The current Interim members of the
executive committee are:
·
Cllr.
Adedokun Lasaki - Chairman
·
Mr.
Amos Akin Adejinmi – General Secretary
·
Mr.
Morakinyo Bamidele – Publicity Secretary
·
Chief
(Mrs.) Abiodun Abiri James – Treasurer
Amos Akin Adejinmi, current General
Secretary sees the future of SAYLC as very bright and outlines some of the
future actions of the association as intending to go and visit every Yoruba
organisation, such as Towns meetings; widening/expansion/intensification of the
Saturday Yoruba classes in London; reaching out to all Yoruba worldwide,
through the Internet; having regular interactive programmes, and facilitating
the use of all media, radio and television inclusive.
There were other activities of the
Association:
•
Visit
to the Nigerian High Commission office in December 2006 and met with Mrs.
Adeola Obileye as representative of the High Commissioner.
•
Opening
of Bank Account HSBC in 2007
•
Registration
of the association with the company house in 2007.
•
Production
of Association’s Logo
•
Promotion
Fliers & Business Cards
•
Launching
of Iwe Akarerin at Emukay in April 2010
•
Monthly
Yoruba Interactive Event at Emukay from June 2010
•
Website:
edeyoruba.org.uk
•
WhatsApp
Account for members only.
•
Facebook
Account for promotion of Yoruba Language & Culture
•
Fund
Raising Dinner
•
Donation
Envelopes
•
Yoruba
Class
•
Letter
to Lagos State House of Assembly
•
Annual
End of Year Festivities
•
Yoruba
Jingles on CD:
Ede
enii ni ami eni
Ede enii ni
iyi eni
Ede enii ni
awo eni
Ede enii ni
ewa eni
Ede
enii ni owo eni
Ede enii ni
irawo eni
Eyi
ni ajodun kewa lehin ti, Baba Ologbe (Dokita) E. O. Smith da egbe naa sile ni
odun 2006. Mo ki wa ku ajodun, a ku
iyedun,
Odumare
Olojo-oni ko ni je ka feyi sasemo,
Odoodun
la a rorogbo, Odoodun la a rawusa,
Odoodun
la a romo obi lori ate, Odoodun ni sapo ruwe,
Odoodun
lewura ruwe, Odoodun nila a sogun,
Odoodun
ni iroko sogbon, Odoodun labiyaya saadota,
Odoodun
leegun jo, Odoodun loro gbona,
Odoodun
ni ka ma ri ire iru eyi se lawujo wa,
Gbogbo
wa ta a sodun yii la a samodun, Tayatomo, Tokotomo,
Igba
ile wa a le si, Awo ile wa a le si,
A o
ni pee din lagbara Olodumare,
Ase!
Ede
Yoruba koni paarun o!
Happy 10th Founding Anniversary!!
Adelagun
Abudu – Trustee &
Past Chairman and Akintokunbo A Adejumo
– Pioneer Publicity Secretary
Akintokunbo A Adejumo MSc, Dip Mngt, CIHM, MCMI, FITP
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