Hello All:
Well, everybody in Philadelphia, and surrounding communities, knows what time it is: IT'S TIME FOR ODUNDE!! It's one of my favorite festivals - and it's celebrating it's 40th year in existence. Actually, Sunday, June 14th is the last day of a week long celebration of our African Ancestry and Heritage that sees South Street taken over with performers, vendors, music, dancing, food, entertainment. People are literally dancing in the streets, drumming on the corners and playing their own make shift instrumennts.
The whole world converges to make this one of the best attended, most joyous celebrations of being Black in the US. Philadelphia has a rich Black history - and this is the perfect opportunity to put our pride on display. A wonderful affirmation for ourselves, our children and the world - that Black was, is and will always be Beautiful!
{HINT: For those of you new to the area, or who have never participated in an Odunde festival, the word is pronounced OH-DOON-DAY! Now that you know, you can pronounce it correctly and blend right in with the Old Schoolers who have been celebrating it since it's inception in 1975.}
As I said, this is a week-long celebration. So if you're not already involved, what are you waiting for? You're on the late show!!! Get with the program!
Odunde, which means Happy New Year - from a song by the late, great Nigerian musician and performer, Babatunde (Michael) Olatunji, was also song that he performed as part of his repertoire - check out his album, Drums of Passion.
"It means "Happy New Year". The ODUNDE festival is an occasion marked by joy and hope, a joy which is highlighted by a colorful procession to the Schuylkill River (at noon) where offerings of fruits and flowers are made to Yemaya, the Goddess of the River. (Google)." It is part of the Yoruba tradition to celebrate the Orishas (or Gods and Goddesses in African Traditional Spirituality).
So be prepared to celebrate the New Year Nigerian style, get your dancing sandals, your dashikis, lapas, geles, kufis, lekes, bring your dun-duns, cowery shells, and celebrate one the biggest celebrations of African heritage in the Diaspora.
Odunde! Odunde! Odunde! Odunde-yaaah!!
ALAFIA! ENJOY!
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria
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