Oseijeman Adefunmi

Pan-African Movement

Oyotunji African Village

Keeping It Real

Chief Orisamola Awolowo

H.R.H. Oba Oseijeman Adefunmi I

Oba Oseijeman Adefunmi

Meeting with Connie Chung

Appearance on Oprah Winfrey Show

H.R.H. Oba Oseijeman Adefunmi I

1928-2005

H.R.G. IyaOba O. Adaramola

Oba Wo Aja!

Omo Oba

H.R.L. Fabunmi Adefunmi

H.R.L. Oduara Olafemi

H.R.L. Yetunwa Adefunmi

H.R.L. Ebunoluwa Olafemi

H.R.L. Ifatunbi Adefunmi

H.R.L. Adesoga Adefunmi

H.R.L. Ajigunwa Adefunmi

Hail

H.R.M. Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II

Oyotunji Coronation 2005

In 1959, Oseijeman Adefunmi became the first documented African-American to be initiated in the Yoruba priesthood.

The African Theological Arch ministry, Inc. was founded in 1959 in New York City by Oseijeman Adefunmi and several others, as a center for dissemination of knowledge and information about religious traditions of the Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria, Southern Dahomey, Togo and and regions adjacent to the city of Accra, Ghana.

1970 marks the year Oseijeman Adefunmi and his followers founded the Oyotunji African Village in Sheldon, SC. This provided the space and opportunity for them to practice the traditions of their ancestors as authentically as possible.

For many, the journey to and through Oyotunji was not only a spiritual, but cultural awakening.. The movement to restore cultural identity amongst Africans in America had taken place, now it was time to move toward preservation

First Chief Alagba of Oyotunji

In 1981, Oseijeman Adefunmi traveled to Ile Ife, Nigeria where he became the first African-American to be crowned King of all the Yoruba in North America.

(from left to right)

Olori IyaAdebisi Olasowo, Oba Oseijeman Adefumi I and Connie Chung

On February 11, 2005, our Father and King departed this earth to join the ancestors.

Devoted wife of Oba Oseijeman Adefunmi I and Iya to H.R.M. Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II

Oba Oseijeman Adefunmi I fathered 22 children and step-fathered many more.

On July 3, 2005, a historic event of monumental preportions took place. The first African-American to be crowned "King", the late Oba Oseijeman Adefunmi I, was preceded by his heir, our current Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II, King of all the Yorubas in North America.

This coronation was the first event of it's kind to take place on American soil, marking an era of continuance of the restoration and preservation of our traditional African customs and traditions in the Western Hemisphere..