If you were at our last Yodaai meeting in October, then our member family this month needs no introduction. Awon ayan, alagba Sholanke - our surprise onilu at the meeting, providing us with indigenous entertainment.
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| Ayodele Babatunde Sholanke (son) and Solomom Adeyinka Sholanke. |
Mr. Solomon Adeyinka Sholanke was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria in 1952. From an early age, Mr. Sholanke has been passionate about and proud of Yoruba culture. He began studying Yoruba-style drumming at the age of 7. Living in Nigeria and studying extensively about prolific Nigerians & Yoruba pioneers like Wole Soyinka, Madame Tinubu, the Iyalode of Egbas, Pa Fela Sewande, and Mrs. Fumilayo Kuti had a profound impression on him. Also, growing up around fellow Yorubas taught him how wise it is to respect and learn from the elders and those who come before you. He knew that the Yoruba culture is ripe with knowledge.
Mr. Sholanke came to the United States in 1975 to attend college. He settled in Alabama, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Management and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. He married Cynthia Bradford Sholanke in 1978 and had two children, Abiola and Ayodele Sholanke.
After coming to the United States, Mr. Sholanke discovered that Yoruba culture is everywhere. In fact, he learned how Yoruba culture is respected and regarded around the world outside of Nigeria in places like Puerto Rico, Cuba, Brazil, the Caribbean, parts of South America, other places where African culture survived the Transatlantic Slave Trade. He also learned that the culture is also celebrated by people who are not even descended from Africans. The culture is so rich that it attracts people from all over the world. Mr. Sholanke has always been and is still very proud of this culture.
Disillusioned by the misinformation and prejudice toward Africans and African culture in the West and the lack of respect for the culture by even some Africans, in 1988 Mr. Sholanke was inspired to found the Osumare African Drum & Dance Ensemble, a vehicle to present authentic drumming, dancing, singing, and drum-making from the Yoruba culture, other ethnic groups in Nigeria, and other parts of Africa. His philosophy was that if he can educate people then they would be better informed and begin to appreciate the wonderful, powerful cultures of Africa.
He utilized the ensemble as a vehicle to specifically preserve Yoruba culture as well as educate Westerners about African culture in general. During performances and lectures, audience members are exposed to traditional music and dance from the Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and other ethnic groups of Nigeria, as well as from other countries on the African continent and the African diaspora - hence the name “osumare,” which means “rainbow.”
The ensemble has performed extensively in the city of Birmingham, state of Alabama, and various states in the Southeastern United States. Most of his programs have been sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, including performances and educational presentations, the council’s Apprenticeship Program, and the Rural Schools Touring Program in which the ensemble exposed students in rural schools to African culture for the first time. The Osumare ensemble is well-known in Alabama’s fine arts communities and he continues to be a practicing artist.
Aside from his family, one of Mr. Sholanke’s deepest concerns is the preservation and reverence of his native Yoruba culture. He wants people to know that we must embrace all aspects of our culture - the traditional drumming, the singing, dancing, oriki, fashions, etc - because it is our history and it is who we are.
*Thank you to Mr Sholanke for sharing a little bit about yourself and your family. We appreciate it.
*Thank you to Mr Sholanke for sharing a little bit about yourself and your family. We appreciate it.
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