Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy new year!

*Pls leave a comment on the blog. We'll never know you came if you dont!
What a wonderful year this last year has been on many levels for us members of YODAAI! 

From humble beginnings of trying to organize ourselves into something tangible with an executive  body and a sense of direction....

to one with a fully functioning community of members and officers
 trying to put on a good culturally rich event for our people..


and get our children to participate actively -- that alone blows my mind and is encouraging...


People from all walks of life and disciplines mixing it up in unity as one people..


Can you believe it?


 As we watch the last dwindling hours of 2011,  let us take some time to be thankful for where we have been individually and collectively as members of Yodaai  and where we hope to go with this association in the new year.


I am eternally optimistic about our prospects, aren't you? 
Just look at where we are coming from, Watching our families get to know and bond with each other, Planning things for us as well as the community at large,

Watching our children learn new things about our culture
And watching them shine while doing it...


Shine on, members, shine on...


And a very happy and prosperous new year to you and yours!
Sincerely and very personally from me to y'all!

Funke Abolade, M.D


Social/Publicity secretary

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Say something.


Saturday, December 24, 2011

A very fine first Ajodun !


 As some of you may know, I have been somewhat incapacitated and anything you've seen posted  since the Ajodun was written a while back and set to post automatically - the magic of technology! This post however is live and fresh so enjoy...

It's come and gone, our first Ajodun and what a wonderful occasion it turned out to be by all accounts and feedback!

The Yodaai AJODUN cake
 People came on time, (Unbelievable!), and the first 3 families even won prizes for punctuality. 
Mr Lawal, Dr Akingbemi and Dr Fadamiro all were punctuality winners, enjoing the year book. Mr Dada came early too but as a social comittee member, no prizes for that!
The president gave a brief speech encouraging our cultural values
There was plenty of food and raffle gifts to go around. 

Thank you to all our generous raffle donors! Gift cards, goods, calendars and Yodaai yearbooks.. Ko ni tan ni 'be o.

Old Ibadan-Ijaye battles were fought all over again and won with trophies to show for it. Wow! The Ijaye people and their supporters won this one (with some help) over the Ibadan people (Ako po!). 
The modern day Are Ogunmola was represented by Are Lawal for Ibadan.The counterpart Are Kunrunmi was represented by Are Ayanwale. See for yourselves below!

Are Lawal and Are Ayanwale. O le Ku. Ija Ore!


Iyaafin Ayanwale hoisting the trophy of victory! 

 Can you believe it ? Here are some of the other pictures from the event from the Alo segment...

Pastor Odeleye ti won n"pa alo o ! and Mrs Badewa helping...
The pied piper had the children's attention on the Alo apagbe


It was so good to see our children turn out in traditional attire and to participate in the alo segment.
What a beautiful smile from Ms Odeleye!
...To the fashion parade organized by the education committee and Mrs Popoola.


Master Fadamiro. Check out the guinea brocade and that fila...
Ms Morenike Babatunde in her updated skirt and blouse doing a twirl ....
Our general secretary Mrs Alabi in a red and black batik boubou with gele...
Mrs Akingbemi in the lace with a thousand stones...O ga O! She won the much coveted gele in the raffle.
Bisola Adediji dressed just like a princess!
Dr and  Dr Mrs Ogunbi in full tradtional regalia complete with coral beads known as Iyun
(l) Dr Okeowo and (r) Engineer Latunde Addey dressed as a hunter! How cool is that outfit!
Some of the Education committee members, Dr Akingbemi,  Mrs Popoola and Mr Babatunde
Elewi wa, Mr Babatunde and his wife play a game of proverb charades
Mr Popoola, Mrs Popoola's son in full lace regalia. Mrs Popoola, your hands must be full  with these young men...

Rice, soup, very plenty indeed...


(l) Mrs Akingbemi. On the right is Mrs Lawal who was a trooper setting up all the food to be warm.


Iyaafin Adediji. E ma wo o 'le, m'aa w'ora! Simply Regal! 
The Secretary of Ko le daa naa ni o.!
The dancing was original especially when Fela came up...

Mrs Dawodu and Mrs Ayanwale in the buffet line 
Some members of the social committee. Mrs Badewa, Mrs Sodeke, Mrs Ayanwale, Mrs Adediji and   Mrs Abolade. A very big thank you!!!
2 of the members of the Board of Directors, Dr Badewa and Dr Adediji, Our president. 
Sharing the joy with guests, Mr and Mrs Kromit to the right of pic. 
Baba Ayanwale helping to cut the YODAAI cake! 
Awon eyan ko m'ole gan ni o. 
Prof and Mrs Ayanwale and their guest, Lady Betty Florey.  They donated copies of their book on the Ibadan - Ijaye war 
Dr Sesi Ogunbi deep to her elbows in dish water...

Dr and Mrs Fadamiro, Auburn, Al
Dr Benson Akingbemi and Dr Adediji looking regal in our traditional clothing 
(l) Mr Dada and (r) Mrs Fadamiro
Tomi and Femi Adediji
Tomi Abolade enjoying the alo segment

Dr Akingbemi & some of our children, Moni Fadamiro hidden behind,  Bisola, Tomi & Femi Adediji
Awon omo Ogunbi 





Mrs Popoola, Mrs Adagunodo and Dr Okeowo


What a beautiful smile...
The original Madam faaji..

Some of our college students, these are our future...

Dr Badewa, Mr Jide Thomas, Dr Adediji and Mrs Badewa. Gele yi ga o!

K'elenu m'enu o lowo ni gele yi o1

Mr Fasino and children

Some of our cultural artefacts were on display

Dr Doyin Ogunbi

A cross section of guests..
Dr and Dr Mrs Okeowo of Montgomery. The chin chin she made was sooo good! Thanks.
Mr Adagunodo (thanks for helping with the clean up), Pastor and Mrs Odeleye



I am eternally grateful to all our helpers who made this the success that it is and to new friends we've made this year alone. Our lives are the richer for it. Ajose wa o ni baje o. May God continue to bless us all with his infinite mercies. 

Merry Christmass everyone!
Leave a comment everyone to show your involvement.

See the "comments" or "post a comment" section in green down here? Go on! Click on it and see what happens. Join the community. Leave a comment! Even anonymously. You don't have to have a google account to leave a comment. Funke , M.D. Social/publicity Secretary