This is Oyotunji village in South Carolina. The community
was founded by a black America named Walter Eugene King who was born on
October 5, 1928 in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Eugene went to the
Cass Technical High School and got fascinated by the African culture. He
also got exposed to the Katherine
Dunham Dance Troupe at the age of 20 which increased his love for the
African culture, particularly that of the Yorubas.
On August 26, 1959,
Eugene became the first African born
in America to become fully initiated into the Orisa-Vodun African
priesthood by African Cubans in Matanzas, Cuba. This marked the
beginning of the spread of Yoruba religion and culture among African
Americans.
With a few followers, and after dissolution of the Order of
Damballah Hwedo, Eugene founded the Sango Temple in New York and
incorporated the African Theological Arch Ministry in 1960. The Sango
Temple was relocated and renamed the Yoruba Temple the same year.
In
the fall of 1970, Eugene founded the Yoruba Village of Oyotunji in
Beaufort County South Carolina, and began the careful reorganization of
the Orisa-Vodu Priesthood along traditional Nigerian lines. He
was initiated to the Ifa priesthood by the Oluwa of Ijeun at Abeokuta,
Nigeria, in August of 1972.
He was named king of Oyotunji community in
1972 with the designation, His Royal Highness Oba (King) Ofuntola
Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi I,
born Baba Adefunmi. He later died and his son, Adefunmi Adejuyigbe took
over as king.
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