#odunde2017

[47purple]

[salimadofo]

#odunde #odundefestival #odunde365 #odunde2017 #philly #phillyphotography #salimadofo

[poly-pervz]

We're just some Africans in America #africanroots #wunuwaup #sudan #djimbe #odunde2017 (at THE OFFICIAL ODUNDE FESTIVAL)

[rahndarize]

Me in all my #Odunde glory!! 🙌🏽😊💖 #odundefestival #Odunde2017 #rahndarize

[theyearofyears]

It's a New Year all day everyday

The Yoruba Calendar - called Kojoda - begins on 3rd June, and runs to 91 weeks each 4 days long. And the year that has just begun is 10,059.

Ancient though the calendar and people are, currently there are over 40 million Yoruba people in the world. Most live in Yorubaland - which encompasses a part of Nigeria and Benin. There is also quite a wide diaspora, including about 200k people in USA. Which - as I will shortly demonstrate - is a reasonable defence as to why I am only mentioning the New Year today and not on 3rd June as I should have done.

There is a festival held today called Odunde that has been held in Philadelphia for over 40 years. Based on the celebration of the Yoruba New Year, it is always held on the second Sunday in June, i.e. today. With over half a million visitors it is ‘the largest African-American street festival in the US.’ And in my not entirely robust original investigations it made itself well known. Can’t trust that internet as far as you can throw it.

But, on the plus side, Odunde is still based on being a new year celebration, and, according to no. 4. on the list of Yoruba New Year - 11 Things You Should Know: (http://www.theyoruba.com/2016/06/yoruba-new-year-11-things-you-should-know/)

'The festival of the Yoruba New Year lasts all year, hence the saying gbogbo ojo ni odun ne ile awo, meaning everyday is a festival in awo’s house.’

So, everyday is a celebration of New Year and I don’t need to worry. Phew. Though perhaps it also makes this whole Year of Years endeavour moot. Hmm.

Happy New Year.

[howie-el]

Set up down at Odunde 2304 grays ferry(23rd & grays ferry) south philly From 10-8pm! Come down and catch a vibe.... #dowhatyouLOVEwhatyoudo #hdartz #odunde2017