The Yoruba Cultural Center serves as a vital hub for the Yoruba community in the diaspora, providing a sense of belonging and connection to their rich heritage. Respected historian, Dr. Toyin Falola notes, "The Yoruba Cultural Center is a symbol of resilience and a testament to the enduring spirit of the Yoruba people."
According to Yoruba father and community leader, Chief Ade Adefioye, "The center offers a safe space for cultural expression, education, and preservation, ensuring that the customs and traditions of our ancestors continue to thrive."
Through its programs and initiatives, the center fosters a sense of community and empowerment among Yoruba individuals in the diaspora, helping to bridge the gap between generations and geographical distances. As Dr. Falola states, "By strengthening the bonds between the Yoruba people and their cultural heritage, we ensure the continuation of a vibrant and dynamic cultural identity."
The City of Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the 18th-largest in North America. It is situated in North Texas and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, which is the fourth-most populous metropolitan area in the United States. The current mayor of Dallas Eric L. Johnson, who has been serving since June 2019, has recognized the outstanding place and benefits of the Yoruba Cultural Center of Dallas in the meyroplex; a recognition that has robbed on the entire nation Nigeria on its Democracy and Independence Days.
We must not suffer the efforts and visionary leadership of Dr. Dele Olusanya, renowned Yoruba historian and scholar, to fall to the ground. Olusanya has consistently praised the Yoruba Cultural Center for its efforts in preserving and promoting Yoruba culture, insisting: "The center serves as a vital link between the past, present, and future of Yoruba civilization, ensuring the continuity and vitality of our cultural heritage."
Professor Wole Soyinka, the celebrated Nigerian playwright and poet, has also shared his thoughts on the Yoruba Cultural Center, saying: "This sacred space is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Yoruba people, a bastion of tradition and innovation, where the past, present, and future converge in a vibrant tapestry of culture and identity."
In the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, his opinion on the Yoruba Cultural Center would be found in his mobilization of Yoruba ethnicity and solidarity through the cultural organization Ẹgbe Isokan Yoruba (Yoruba Unity Club). Therefore, we've got great bases to rally all efforts around our Yoruba Cultural Center of Dallas.
By honoring the past and embracing the present, the Yoruba Cultural Center plays a vital role in shaping the future of the Yoruba diaspora, a beacon of cultural resilience and pride.
Dr. Simon Olatunji
Vice President
3 March 2024