It was on this date, August 26, 1959 (a Wednesday) that the era of ReAfrikanization took on new heights. This is when the man, up until then known as Eugene Walter King (9/5/1928, Detroit, MI), Oba Oseijiman Efuntola Adefunmi I became the first north amerikkkan born Afrikan initiated into the mysteries of the priesthood of the orisa (deity) Obatalá – King of the orisa. This marked the start of a wider spread of authentic Afrikan traditions and culture across the north amerikkkan. The latter sentiment would be taken to the next level when he and a cadre of other orisa practitioners left New York and founded the first authentic Afrikan village, Òyótunji, in Beaufort, SC in 1970, which is still there til this day. That’s right – Beaufort. He knew this had to be done in the SOUTH! Major history would later be made shortly thereafter when he was declared oba (“king”) of Òyótunji making him the first king in the Yorùbá culture outside of Máwùfɛ (Afrika). In its own way, his initiation and crowning paved the way for other New Afrikans to be crowned and spread Afrikan culture in a similar fashion. Salute to the spirit of Oba Efuntola Adefunmi I and his groundbreaking achievements.
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