The National Association of Yoruba Descendants in North America held its 30th-anniversary convention in the Surrey area last week.
Ayodeji Famuyide, president of the National Associations of Yoruba Descendants in North America, said members from 24 different chapters came together from all over North America for its convention.
The association, which started in 1994, held the convention this year in Surrey, Langley, and Burnaby from Aug. 8 to 11. The four-day convention included a business expo, cultural and youth pageant nights, and a banquet night. Tickets for the banquet and youth pageant night were $50 each.
They use this time "to discuss and deliberate on issues that affect us and progress and empower our people here in the diaspora and also in Nigeria," Famuyide said.
Famuyide added that the Yoruba people originate from the western part of Nigeria and are known for their rich values.
"We call Yoruba the ethos of omoluabi, which means respect, progress, empowerment, Indigenous creativity and family value," Famuyide said. "Also people with a profound interest in having collaborative relationships in society."
"We are people that empower and improve the environment that we have," Famuyide said. The Vancouver chapter, which is called the Yoruba Association of BC, has worked hard to empower black people within Metro Vancouver and not just the Yoruba community, he added.
The Yoruba Association of BC was founded in Surrey in 1998 by Ebenezer Akinkeyin.
Akinkeyin was delighted with how far the organization has come in B.C. in the past 26 years. The first meeting was at his house in Surrey with four people. Akinkeyin said it has since grown to over 1,000 members. "The present members are doing a fantastic job."
It has not always been smooth sailing, though. Josiah Akinsanmi, who was president from 2019- 2023, said he helped the association through some tough times.
Two of the main problems at the time were the lack of activities and funding. Any programs they ran were paid for out of their own pocket.
"So after some time, when we decide to have little activities, picnic gatherings, or invite speakers, people become interested in it. It's like you are doing something. We want to participate. So, the membership continues to grow bigger and bigger and bigger."
A key focus of the association and convention is on supporting the next generation of Yoruba youth.
Iwalola Badewa teaches classes to the youth to ensure they learn the language and Yoruba culture.
"We teach numbers, music and dancing in our language," Badewa said.
"Each class there will be a little bit of grammar, and then we will now teach how things are done, like, how do you get married, how do we name a child, how do we make our clothes," she added.
Yoruba B.C. president Adebola Ige said they are planning to have a vocational skills training centre in the future to support teenagers and young adults.
"We want to focus on the youth at risk so they can become empowered," Ige said.
To learn more about Yoruba, visit yorubabc.ca.
-With files from Malin Jordan
