WAKE UP PHILLY IT'S ODUNDE' 2019!!!

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

Well, here we are in 2019 and the 44th year of the ODUNDE' CELEBRATION IN PHILADELPHIA!

ALAFIA - 
HAPPY NEW YEAR - 
BLESSINGS OF THE ANCESTORS BE UPON US ALL 

MODUPWE OLOWO OLOM!!!

IN PHILADELPHIA ALL ROADS LEAD TO SOUTH STREET TO CELEBRATE OUR AFRICAN ANCESTRY AND HERITAGE - IN GRAND STYLE AS ALWAYS 

FOOD
FUN
DANCE
CAMARADERIE 
BROTHERS AND SISTERS COMING TOGETHER - OF ALL AGES - WE ARE ONE!!

HERE'S SOME ORIGINAL ODUNDE' MUSIC BY BABA OLATUNJI TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD 

ODUNDE'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMuA-E--aWU

ODUNDE'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql6Kt-HJnk0

OLATUNJI DRUMS OF PASSION ALBUM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzVjLEzN36M

The week of June 3 through June 9 has been ODUNDE' 360 in the City of Philadelphia - where not only the culture of our African Heritage was celebrated, but our business linkages to Africa as well.

The unity of our people in this 400 year of our captivity and and survival of the worst African Hellacaust in both the US, Africa and Caribbean, has to be of our utmost interest, goal and priority  We cannot afford to just celebrate our heritage without forging our mutual futures.  So as you see the vendors, enjoy the entertainment, and purchase the wonderful products, think about what it is we can do on both sides of the world, mutually to work together for the liberation, education and enhancement of Black people locally and world wide.  You can start by educating yourselves and your children about, not just the tragedy that we've survived, but the heroism and the creativity that made us the most resilient people on the planet.  Only the strong survive - and we have and continue to be, despite efforts to the contrary.  

 

Now, let's consolidate those strengths and begin to build in the spirit of Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Kwame Nkrumah, Leon Sullivan, Frederick Douglass, Carter G. Woodson, W.E.B. DuBois, Jesse Jackson, Sr (& Jr.), Rev. Al Sharpton, the Rev. Frederick K Eikerenkotter (Rev. Ike), Dick Gregory,  Brother Umar Johnson, Frances Cress Welsing, Amiri Baraka, and all of our Ancestor/Angels who have given us the benefit of their wisdom, strength, love and creativity.  

Start supporting each other by downloading this Black Business Guide: BLACK MONEY MATTERS  - and by cultivating and supporting Black businesses. 

Stay Blessed & 

ECLECTICALLY BLACK 

Gloria Dulan-Wilson

HAPPY AND BLESSED ODUNDE' TO US ALL

STAY BLESSED

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EVENT ALERT: ODUNDE IN PHILADELPHIA CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

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

SATURDAY, JUNE 6                                       ODUNDE365 PRESENTS:                                              AFRICAN FAMILY DAY AT THE  PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM Children will  learn   African dance and drumming techniques  from the Internationally known UNIVERSAL AFRICAN DANCE & DRUM ENSEMBLE. The children will have an interactive experience which will allow them to PLAY the drums and have ONE - ON -ONE Lesson with instructors. TIME: NOON AND 2PM             PERFORMANCES BY: THE UNIVERSAL AFRICAN DANCE ENSEMBLE LOCATION: PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM                                  (4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA 19131) COST: ADMISSION TO THE MUSEUM TUESDAY, JUNE 9                          ODUNDE365 PRESENTS: FREE T-SHIRT GIVEAWAY Come and get your free T-Shirt while supplies last!  PLEASE FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM FOR THE LOCATION!  TIME:     5PM- UNTIL SUPPLIES LAST             LOCATION:  CENTER CITY PHILADELPHIA                        (TBA ON INSTAGRAM) COST: FREE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10                                     ODUNDE365 PRESENTS:                                                          "A CONVERSATION ON LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS" Come and get fresh new advice on love and relationships. Food sponsored by Eatible Delights Catering! TIME: 5PM-9PM LOCATION: AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF PHILADELPHIA                                   (701 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA) COST: FREE THURSDAY, JUNE 11                               ODUNDE365 PRESENTS: A SOCIAL MIXER                                                              "An event where NETWORKING meets FASHION" A NETWORKING EVENT where everyone invited to NETWORK WITH THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS. Plus you don't need an invitation!!!!  TIME: 5PM-8PM LOCATION: MS.TOOTSIES-3rd Floor                      (1312 South Street, Philadelphia, PA) COST: FREE FRIDAY, JUNE 12                                 ODUNDE365 PRESENTS:                                                       AFRICAN BUSINESS ROUND TABLE YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT PRIOR TO ATTENDING! PLEASE CLICK THE FLYER TO THE RIGHT TO REGISTER. FEATURING KEY NOTE SPEAKER: Florizelle Liser, Assistant Trade Representative for Africa TIME: 2PM-5PM LOCATION: BOEHNE AUDITORIUM, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF PHILADELPHIA                    (100 N. 6TH Street, Philadelphia, PA) COST: FREE FRIDAY, JUNE 12                                          ODUNDE365 PRESENTS:                                                                      V.I.P. DIPLOMAT RECEPTION YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT PRIOR TO ATTENDING! PLEASE CLICK THE FLYER TO THE RIGHT TO REGISTER. INVITED DIPLOMATS FROM:  BENIN, BRAZIL, GHANA, GRENADA, IVORY COAST, JAMAICA, NIGERIA, SENEGAL AND TOGO TIME:   6PM-8PM LOCATION: BOEHNE AUDITORIUM, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF PHILADELPHIA                       (100 N. 6TH Street, Philadelphia, PA) COST: FREE                                                                                                                                    SATURDAY, JUNE 13                                        ODUNDE365 PRESENTS:                                                    THE GLOBAL AFRICAN DIASPORA TOURISM INITIATIVE This town discussion will give a global perspective into international tourism. PLEASE RSVP FOR THIS EVENT: odundefestival@gmail.com TIME:   10AM-1PM LOCATION: THE ENTERPRISE CENTER                      (4548 MARKET STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA) COST: FREE

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