Happy 4th of July to all!

E nle e ku isinmi o!

I hope everyone has a nice relaxing

 4th of July / Independence day 

planned for tomorrow, maybe including

 some backyard barbecue cum fireworks etc! 

Were you there at the last Auburn meeting?  Our Auburn hosts welcomed us with open arms as per our tradition. We celebrated father's day, honoring our yodaai dads, new and older. Rice, soup was very plenty, and the camaraderie and friendship was not shabby either!  I was there very briefly, without my essential camera equipment and here belatedly, are some iphone photos from our last meeting to help while away some down time this weekend... As they say, better late than never, Enjoy! Part of the The montgomery consortium... Iya aburo! Our newest member, on the right... Visiting students... Awon alagba with fathers day gift bags... Our Auburn Host, on the left... My trusted camera woman in action! Yours truly, late comer! Our Auburn host and education committee member addressing the Yodaai kids/cadets Madam Vice president and chair of the education committee. Madam social secretary. E maa w'ole, ma a r'ora! Akowe egbe... Mr president Sir! ...visitors from nigeria Ibadan o ni b'aje o! More visitors from Naija! Our newest member addressing the audience. Ipade wa bi oyin o.  See you all later in August in Birmingham.

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Condolences and Final arrangements

On behalf of the extended Yodaii family, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr Charles and Kathy Thomas (our accountant) on the loss of their family member, Miss Virginia Glover, Kathy's sister. May the Lord bless and comfort them in this time of need at this.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

June 15th 2003 @ 1pm - church service for Miss Virginia Glover

Greater Shiloh Baptist Church

2135 Jefferson Avenue SW

Birmingham, AL. 35211

205-925-5972

Miss Virginia Glover

Poole Funeral Chapel Inc.

1501 7th Avenue North

Birmingham, AL 35203

205-322-5574

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June is for Yodaai Fathers...

To the best Yodaai dads out there.

Baba ku ise o!

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A Yoruba girl, President Barack Obama and The Dream Act.

Tolu Olubunmi introduces the President of the united States. You read that right!

You know me - where a Yoruba person has done good, we highlight it for the world to see. Too often, what you read about Nigerians in the news or online does not cast us in good light. This is why we highlight the positives. The achievers. The movers and shakers amongs us rubbing elbows with the President of the United states. Please see below an excerpt from whitehouse.org, an excerpt from the Presidents speech on Immigration reform. Tolu Olubunmi, said yoruba lady introduced the President. How cool is that??

"Tolu Olubunmi, a DREAMer originally from Lagos, Nigeria who has lived in the United States since age 14, introduced the President at today’s event. Tolu exemplifies the very core of why commonsense immigration reform is so critical. Throughout her life, Tolu has shown exceptional promise, earning high school honors and graduating at the top of her class from a prestigious university with a chemistry and engineering degree.

Tolu Olubunmi introduces President Barack Obama before his remarks on immigration reform in the East Room of the White House, June 11, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

But because of our broken immigration system, she has spent years hiding in the shadows. It’s time to help DREAMers like Tolu find a permanent pathway to earned citizenship.

"This week, the Senate will consider a common-sense, bipartisan bill that is the best chance we’ve had in years to fix our broken immigration system," President Obama explained today. 

We are not taking sides here. Just rooting for one of us when they succeed.

See you soon at the next meeting.

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And the winner...

...of the proverb of the month of June

 is our social secretary with the submission 
# 78: "Eni ba ma d'aso fun eni,
 t'ara re ni a o koko wo"

 The interpretation

was also supplied by her as follows

"How can you help me when you can't help yourself". 

We thank you for your submission.

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May is For Moms and their children!

Happy Mothers day to all 
Yodaai Mothers!

Pls click on the green "iya mi, ololufe mi" link below for a presentation on Yodaai moms and their kids.

"Iya mi, Ololufe mi"

Music digitally arranged and produced by Tobi.

All vocals produced and layered by Tobi & Tomi's mummy. 

Lyrics adapted from an original song done by the Lijadu sisters.

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And the winner...

 ...Of the proverb of the month for May 
is our very own baba Ayanwale with the 
following proverb #67 submission:
 "Ai fi'ni p’eni, ai f'eniyan pe eniyan
 ni ara oko se n'san bante w'olu."

 This is used when due respect is expected but not given. This explanation is given also by Prof Ayanwale 

Thank you for your submission sir! E e pe fun wa.

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Another fine meeting!

It was good to meet again and

 be in the company of friends and family 

last saturday, 20th of April 2013.

The Montgomery consortium hosted this time, led by the very busy Ogunbi's 

Dr Mrs Ogunbi, Wami, Madam Social secretary & Dr Ogunbi

- they had another significant event
 going on that day. More on that later.


We celebrated mothers day in advance of the month of May, since we dont have a meeting then.
Gifts to all mothers below in an array of colors...

We welcomed visitors and guests,

 amongst which was a senator
 all the way from Nigeria.

 He had good advice for our kids, encouraging them to learn and speak the
 language and share the culture.

Omo o, e e pe d'agba, kekere jojolo ma bi t'emi...

We engaged the kids in
learning parts of the body in yoruba

 and encouraged them to start thinking what they may want to present to us in the future, it shouldn't always just come from the adults.. .

The theme was blue for autism awareness month - Thanks to our social secretary for highlighting this. Members who showed up in colors other than blue were fined. The fine wont be so lenient next time...

Madam Social Secretary!

Our non yoruba speaking wives were involved in a little lighthearted banter, that necessitated their speaking a word or two of yoruba - and they were "sprayed" as we do, appropriately.

We congratulated Wami Ogunbi, a senior in high school and first time author.

The author signing books for members.
And of course, Rice, Soup, Very Plenty! with asaro, ewa agoyin, iyan, jollof roce, dodo, and various assorted meats. Thank you to our host family, the Ogunbis.

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A young author amongst us!

Congratulations to Miss Wami Ogunbi on the publication of her first book!!!

The book is titled Naga Ceyon and the target audience is teenagers and young adults

 including the young at heart like you and I!

The author and the proud father above and below with a poster of the book, at the Alabama book fair.

There was a book signing event at the Alabama book fair, with the author signing many copies for well-wishers and admirers. 

This is a milestone achievement when you realize that the said author is all of 18 yrs old and has not even graduated high school yet -
 another month to go for that! 
Ori mi wu o - we are filled with communal pride.

from left: Dr Ogunbi, the author, the web master with the kids
 who didnt understand what the fuss was about

 There was another special book signing at the April Yodaai meeting for Yodaai members,
 who supported her ably.

We interviewed the author and asked her for her advice to the young ones.

As our social secretary put it, We may be looking at the next Chinua Achebe, or the next Wole Soyinka.

 I hope our young kids are paying attention to the opportunities that abound
 here in the good ol' U.S. of A - use them!

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And the winner...

...Of the proverb of the month of March is
 Mr Babatunde with submission #99:

 "A ini aso l'orun Paaka o ye ki o to a pe'wo fun omo eriwo".

Akiika. 
Translation needed please, 
Eyin agba. E ba wa da si.

The winner on the left in the beige fila & agbada.

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April is...

Autism awareness month.

and Tuesday April 2nd is World autism awareness day.

 ....and we are lighting up theYodaai blog blue 

with the rest of the nation to raise awareness for

 autism while remembering all our kids with special needs.

Locally in Montgomery, Alabama, 

Wilson Elementary school is lighting up

 the entire school blue today at 6.30pm with presentations by the kids

 and Build - a Bears presenting them with gifts.

This saturday April 6th, There is an annual Autism crawfish boil at 

the Rock Bottom American Pub in Montgomery Alabama 

from 12-5pm. Hmm. Yummy!

If you are up for it, mark your calendars for a busy saturday April the 20th beginning with the walk for autism at the Ida Belle young park on Vaughn road

 if you live in Montgomery. Registration is at 8.30a.m for $35.

Please find a way to raise awareness for these kids with special needs in your area.

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