In an
unprecedented visit to the United States by a reigning African King, His
Imperial Majesty, Dr. Adeyeye Ogunwusi and his wife, Queen Wuraola-Zynab
Ogunwusi have made a remarkable impact in the past several days.
The Ooni
of Ife and Queen Wuraola-Zynab will be honoured at the White House on June 22,
2016, marking the first time in history, a West African King visits the White
House.
A day
after their White House visit, The Ooni, King Ogunwusi and Her Majesty will
have a briefing with the US Department of State. On June 23, they will be
addressing US Congress in Washington D.C.
Earlier
this week on June 14, 2016, the Pennsylvania State Capitol and Members of the
House of Representatives, welcomed His Imperial Majesty, Dr Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
Speaker of the House, Rep. Mike Turzai, his constituents, and the Congressional
Black Caucus. Also in attendance was Police Superintendent Marcus Brown, The
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission’s (PHRC), members of the Human Rights
Commission, and representatives from the US Office of Ethnic Affairs. The
Ooni’s address was televised Live by CNBC, CSPAN and Huffington Post.
The Ooni
of Ife delivered a powerful speech at the Pennsylvania Capitol so masterfully
that it speaks for itself. His Imperial Majesty presented his powerful oration
focused exclusively on unity, forgiveness and race relations.
King
Adeyeye Ogunwusi reflected on Africa’s contributions to the world and the true
meaning of the Continent’s natural resources. His Imperial Majesty urged
members of The House of Representatives to stand in solidarity with Africans
rather than be bystanders. His message to the The House centered on fostering
the kind of society that considers the equality and the unity of all mankind
not as a privilege but as a human right.
Addressing
the disproportionate poverty that plagues Africa, His Imperial Majesty said, “A
majority of Africans are living under less than $1 a day. We want things to be
properly balanced. We want things to be done evenly. We are appealing to you to
work together.”
Earlier in
the week, the Ooni of Ife officially partnered up with the United Nations
Populations Fund to assist in providing solutions and resources for young girls
and women to have the right to a proper education and adequate Healthcare.
This trip
is a major part of King Ogunwusi and Queen Wuraola-Zynab Ogunwusi’s agenda to
bring global attention to their initiatives for Humanitarian efforts, economic
empowerment, Food and job security, fostering Women’s Rights and nurturing the
next generation of young African entrepreneurs and leaders.
About
Ile-Ife:
The Royal
Dynasty of Ile Ife, one of Africa’s most ancient dynasties, is over eight
centuries old. Today, this dynasty is ruled by Ogunwusi. who was crowned in
December 2015. The history of this prestigious and sacred grounds of Ile Ife
dates back thousands of years. The Yorubas are the largest ethnic group in
Africa and consists of over 200 million people around the world. The Kingdom of
Ile-Ife is known for its distinct art. According to historians, Ife artists,
ahead of their time, were creating unique bronze, stone, and terracotta
sculptures by the turn of the 12th Century. Many of those rare pieces can be
found today in museums in South America, Europe, and Nigeria.