Royalty
On Monday, March 1, 2010, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 2151 on the Miami Dade College, North Campus, a modest but enthusiastic crowd of students, community members and well-wishers acknowledged and commemorated the lives and works of five “Queen Mothers” living among us in the greater South Florida community. The United Faculty of Miami Dade College, LOCAL 4253 along with five other community organizations including Miami Dade College, North Campus, The Diaspora Arts Coalition, Asili: The Journal of Multicultural Heartspeak, Ile Orunmila Ogunda Bede and the Osun Village/Community Builders HDC co-sponsored this event which honored:
HRG Olori Iya Orite Olasowo Adefunmi, Ohemmaa Nana Tallaha Boatenma, Chief Sandrell Ihinosen Rivers, the Gbesiewu of Badagry” (Posthumously), Olorişa Delma Jackson Rodriguez, and Ms. Adora Obi Nweze,
Each of these women has distinguished themselves in their respective communities. They have kept their eyes on social conditions and acted to right numerous wrongs, build communities, preserve the arts, and be leaders and caretakers of their respective spiritual communities.
The theme of this celebratory event was: Celebrating Our Mothers.
In general terms, the title of "queen mother" from several traditions of monarchial rule describes the widow of the deceased former king or the mother of the currently reigning king or queen. The title distinguishes the queen mother from the current queen consort, who is the wife of the currently reigning king. The queen mother is also an honorific given to a ruling queen in the latter days of her rule.
The night began with invocations to the deity in Ga (a language from Ghana, West Africa), Spanish, English and Yoruba. Campus President Jose A. Vicente welcomed the audience to North Campus and spoke of the connection of this event to the ending of Black History Month and the beginning of Women’s History Month. Dr. Vicente was followed by welcoming remarks from Ms. Shirley Richardson of the Diaspora Arts Coalition, Professor Joseph McNair representing The United Faculty of Miami Dade College and Asili: The Journal of Multicultural Heartspeak and Oloye Ifatokun Awolola for the Ile Orunmila Ogunda Bede temple.
Professor McNair, the evening’s master of ceremonies, introduced each of the Queen Mother honorees with video clip of a poem written in their honor, and the reading of an extensive biography. Each of the honorees, defined by their embrace of an African spiritual path and years of service to the South Florida community, spoke of their lives and service.
The Queen Mother honorees were then acknowledged with prayers by a selection of chiefs and elders representing various African-derived spiritual communities, including Oloye (Chief) Aikulola Fawehinmi, Oloye Ifatokun Awolola and Oloye Nathaniel B. Styles.
Prince Emmanuel Abiodun Aderele invoked the Orishas with an impressive drum solo and Chief Styles, the Oloşun of Oşogbo, the Ankobeahene II of Kwahu, Ghana and the President of Oşun Village enstooled each of the honorees as Queen Mothers in greater South Florida, generally, and specifically in the Oşun Village, the initial focus area of the African and Caribbean Cultural Arts Corridor which will span 43 city blocks in Miami, Florida's Liberty City Community.
The evening was an important milestone in bringing together several community organizations, acknowledging the service of important community activists and building bridges and lasting friendships.
HRG Olori Iya Orite Olasowo Adefunmi, Ohemmaa Nana Tallaha Boatenma, Chief Sandrell Ihinosen Rivers, the Gbesiewu of Badagry” (Posthumously), Olorişa Delma Jackson Rodriguez, and Ms. Adora Obi Nweze,
Each of these women has distinguished themselves in their respective communities. They have kept their eyes on social conditions and acted to right numerous wrongs, build communities, preserve the arts, and be leaders and caretakers of their respective spiritual communities.
The theme of this celebratory event was: Celebrating Our Mothers.
In general terms, the title of "queen mother" from several traditions of monarchial rule describes the widow of the deceased former king or the mother of the currently reigning king or queen. The title distinguishes the queen mother from the current queen consort, who is the wife of the currently reigning king. The queen mother is also an honorific given to a ruling queen in the latter days of her rule.
The night began with invocations to the deity in Ga (a language from Ghana, West Africa), Spanish, English and Yoruba. Campus President Jose A. Vicente welcomed the audience to North Campus and spoke of the connection of this event to the ending of Black History Month and the beginning of Women’s History Month. Dr. Vicente was followed by welcoming remarks from Ms. Shirley Richardson of the Diaspora Arts Coalition, Professor Joseph McNair representing The United Faculty of Miami Dade College and Asili: The Journal of Multicultural Heartspeak and Oloye Ifatokun Awolola for the Ile Orunmila Ogunda Bede temple.
Professor McNair, the evening’s master of ceremonies, introduced each of the Queen Mother honorees with video clip of a poem written in their honor, and the reading of an extensive biography. Each of the honorees, defined by their embrace of an African spiritual path and years of service to the South Florida community, spoke of their lives and service.
The Queen Mother honorees were then acknowledged with prayers by a selection of chiefs and elders representing various African-derived spiritual communities, including Oloye (Chief) Aikulola Fawehinmi, Oloye Ifatokun Awolola and Oloye Nathaniel B. Styles.
Prince Emmanuel Abiodun Aderele invoked the Orishas with an impressive drum solo and Chief Styles, the Oloşun of Oşogbo, the Ankobeahene II of Kwahu, Ghana and the President of Oşun Village enstooled each of the honorees as Queen Mothers in greater South Florida, generally, and specifically in the Oşun Village, the initial focus area of the African and Caribbean Cultural Arts Corridor which will span 43 city blocks in Miami, Florida's Liberty City Community.
The evening was an important milestone in bringing together several community organizations, acknowledging the service of important community activists and building bridges and lasting friendships.
***
2 comments:
Thanks for your great work!
Chief Nathaniel B. Styles, Jr.
African, Caribbean Cultural Arts Corridor / Osun's Village Miami
Praise from Osun's Village is heartwarming.
Give thanks for this blessing.
1Love,
Geoffrey
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