Comments on: Nigeria::Osun-Osogbo Festival Sponsorship http://sci-cultura.com/2008/09/19/osun-osogbo-festival/ expressions of african culture in the diaspora and on the continent Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:09:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: EYEN AMOS http://sci-cultura.com/2008/09/19/osun-osogbo-festival/#comment-210 EYEN AMOS Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:50:41 +0000 http://scicultura.wordpress.com/?p=150#comment-210 the event was an eye opener. the grove is such a massive one covering many kilometres. i got there on the day of the grand finale. the town of oshogbo is so touristy; so many caucasians were seen around most part the city-the tourists mixed freely with the locals .there were media persons from the top news agencies;AFP, Reuters and the likes; most of the major news networks also had their representatives on ground to cover the festival. the grove because of its new found status as i was told has received some touching; a new road and several parking lots. it was amazing to see such a large number of people in a grove. thousands of people came into the grove to see the many sculptures/art pieces and shrines, collect the water from the osun river. some of the devotees came their to be part of an annual event that is over 500 years old. through the event i was able to understand some of the origin of the yoruba folklore, hairdos, fashion and believes; which spreads across most part of west africa and few other the world regions (brazil, the west indies and the USA).I have an unpublished account of the event . stay posted ; i hope to put a graphic and a well structured account on this page. Lol the event was an eye opener. the grove is such a massive one covering many kilometres. i got there on the day of the grand finale. the town of oshogbo is so touristy; so many caucasians were seen around most part the city-the tourists mixed freely with the locals .there were media persons from the top news agencies;AFP, Reuters and the likes; most of the major news networks also had their representatives on ground to cover the festival. the grove because of its new found status as i was told has received some touching; a new road and several parking lots. it was amazing to see such a large number of people in a grove. thousands of people came into the grove to see the many sculptures/art pieces and shrines, collect the water from the osun river. some of the devotees came their to be part of an annual event that is over 500 years old. through the event i was able to understand some of the origin of the yoruba folklore, hairdos, fashion and believes; which spreads across most part of west africa and few other the world regions (brazil, the west indies and the USA).I have an unpublished account of the event . stay posted ; i hope to put a graphic and a well structured account on this page. Lol

]]> By: sci-culturist http://sci-cultura.com/2008/09/19/osun-osogbo-festival/#comment-195 sci-culturist Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:51:37 +0000 http://scicultura.wordpress.com/?p=150#comment-195 eyen: thanks for stopping by. please do come back and tell us about your experience. eyen: thanks for stopping by. please do come back and tell us about your experience.

]]> By: eyen amos http://sci-cultura.com/2008/09/19/osun-osogbo-festival/#comment-191 eyen amos Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:43:37 +0000 http://scicultura.wordpress.com/?p=150#comment-191 i hope to be there for the grand finale on friday. i grew up seeing the picture of the place on national calendars; the whole thing is really deep; i dont like been at places that celebrate african traditional religions; but i am now saddled with the fact that i am now a Travels Reporter; covering events like this is what i am getting used to. i write for Nigeria Travels Magazine. i hope to be there for the grand finale on friday. i grew up seeing the picture of the place on national calendars; the whole thing is really deep; i dont like been at places that celebrate african traditional religions; but i am now saddled with the fact that i am now a Travels Reporter; covering events like this is what i am getting used to. i write for Nigeria Travels Magazine.

]]> By: sci-culturist http://sci-cultura.com/2008/09/19/osun-osogbo-festival/#comment-90 sci-culturist Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:56:54 +0000 http://scicultura.wordpress.com/?p=150#comment-90 A.A. Joshua: I sent you an e-mail but didn't hear back. I don't have an exact date, but have noted from a reliable source, namely Osunyemi, that it will be in August 2009. You may want to check out her website http://www.osunpriestess.com/ A.A. Joshua: I sent you an e-mail but didn’t hear back. I don’t have an exact date, but have noted from a reliable source, namely Osunyemi, that it will be in August 2009. You may want to check out her website http://www.osunpriestess.com/

]]> By: Osunyemi http://sci-cultura.com/2008/09/19/osun-osogbo-festival/#comment-74 Osunyemi Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:28:47 +0000 http://scicultura.wordpress.com/?p=150#comment-74 thanks, looking forward to your email. by the way gin/oti is part of every traditional gathering. Many of the Orisa requeste in in libations and venerations. They have to buy it...so it is okay that some of the money comes back to them....at least until they can manufacture their own gin! Osunyemi thanks, looking forward to your email.

by the way gin/oti is part of every traditional gathering. Many of the Orisa requeste in in libations and venerations. They have to buy it…so it is okay that some of the money comes back to them….at least until they can manufacture their own gin!
Osunyemi

]]> By: sci-culturist http://sci-cultura.com/2008/09/19/osun-osogbo-festival/#comment-72 sci-culturist Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:29:14 +0000 http://scicultura.wordpress.com/?p=150#comment-72 Osunyemi: Thanks so much for your insight - much appreciated to hear what it's really like on the ground. I certainly do not presume to present a comprehensive picture of what is a complex situation. My specific criticism was what in my eyes was inappropriate advertising for an alcoholic beverage that may be used for libations. That said, I appreciate your view that sponsorship is needed and that nothing is black or white but various shades of grey. Thanks for stopping by. I will send you an e-mail - I would certainly like to hear more about the work you are doing in Nigeria. I love the idea of the people telling their stories - it's a priceless endeavour. Osunyemi: Thanks so much for your insight – much appreciated to hear what it’s really like on the ground. I certainly do not presume to present a comprehensive picture of what is a complex situation. My specific criticism was what in my eyes was inappropriate advertising for an alcoholic beverage that may be used for libations. That said, I appreciate your view that sponsorship is needed and that nothing is black or white but various shades of grey. Thanks for stopping by. I will send you an e-mail – I would certainly like to hear more about the work you are doing in Nigeria. I love the idea of the people telling their stories – it’s a priceless endeavour.

]]> By: Osunyemi http://sci-cultura.com/2008/09/19/osun-osogbo-festival/#comment-71 Osunyemi Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:33:46 +0000 http://scicultura.wordpress.com/?p=150#comment-71 As an American initiated priestess of Osun, having attended the Festival in 2006 and 2008, i can understand your frustration. My husband and i have a nonprofit cultural center that seeks to bridge the cultural divides, we document the people and culture of Osogbo. When most indigenous people live on $1.00 a day, and most politicians steal all of the money that comes to Osogbo to fix the roads, repair the Grove, etc. It is a more complicated problem than you may be aware of. It is difficult for us to view these things outside of our western, privilege. You need to meet many of the traditional priests and priestesses who use their own money to support the community that use the grove for their indigenous practices. There are the children of Susan Wenger who with associated artists would like to repair the sculptures in the Grove, but are prevented because they are not members of the ruling power, be it class, religious or cultural. I work with the locals to promote the truth of the culture, hoping to raise funds to help them at that level...the give them clout in the city, to give them respect so they have the political clout to have a say in the grove. I am glad there are sponors to pay off the big wigs. It may keep them off the backs of the keepers of the traditions. My solution, is to start a school, teach the people how to use video cameras....let them tell there own stories! Yeye Siju Osunyemi Priestess of Osun As an American initiated priestess of Osun, having attended the Festival in 2006 and 2008, i can understand your frustration. My husband and i have a nonprofit cultural center that seeks to bridge the cultural divides, we document the people and culture of Osogbo. When most indigenous people live on $1.00 a day, and most politicians steal all of the money that comes to Osogbo to fix the roads, repair the Grove, etc. It is a more complicated problem than you may be aware of. It is difficult for us to view these things outside of our western, privilege. You need to meet many of the traditional priests and priestesses who use their own money to support the community that use the grove for their indigenous practices. There are the children of Susan Wenger who with associated artists would like to repair the sculptures in the Grove, but are prevented because they are not members of the ruling power, be it class, religious or cultural. I work with the locals to promote the truth of the culture, hoping to raise funds to help them at that level…the give them clout in the city, to give them respect so they have the political clout to have a say in the grove.

I am glad there are sponors to pay off the big wigs. It may keep them off the backs of the keepers of the traditions.

My solution, is to start a school, teach the people how to use video cameras….let them tell there own stories!
Yeye Siju Osunyemi
Priestess of Osun

]]> By: A.A. Joshua http://sci-cultura.com/2008/09/19/osun-osogbo-festival/#comment-65 A.A. Joshua Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:06:02 +0000 http://scicultura.wordpress.com/?p=150#comment-65 Pls Osun Oshogbo Festival for the year 2009 will be when. thanks A.A. JOSHUA Pls Osun Oshogbo Festival for the year 2009 will be when.

thanks
A.A. JOSHUA

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