Yoruba World Population - July 2004 Estimate
by Olamijulo S.K.-
COMMUNICATION QUOTES
http://www.hopeafricaepublisher.com/ywp0704-commquotes.html
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QUOTE 1: Olamijulo S.K.
DATE: July 2004
THE APPEAL CIRCULATED ON THE INTERNET
Respected Compatriots,
Yoruba people include:
a) All who have one or more Yoruba parents, grandparents, great grandparents, ancestors.
b) All Yorubas by marriage.
c) All who identify themselves as Yoruba through adoption or naturalization.
Using information then available to me, I estimated Yoruba People World
Population in June 2003 at OVER 50 million. Over 50 million, by how much? That has remained an open question best answered through a cooperative effort by us all
from all parts of the world. For more details please see
http://www.hopeafricaepublisher.com/yoruba-digital.html
You are invited to please cooperate openly with others to evolve, through online communication, a credible 2004 updated agreed best estimate that can be reliably quoted and used with confidence everywhere. For official census figures, Yorubas in most countries are only listed as part of "blacks" or "others".
Please share any useful information currently available to you 2004 Yoruba World Population Estimates, especially where you have actually lived or have reliable information. Send to any appropriate Internet forum of your choice. In addition, please copy me for compilation at
publisher@hopeafricaepublisher.com
Please share freely with others who might be interested.
Thank you for your interest and helpful cooperative action.
Olamijulo S.K.
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QUOTE 2: Adetunji
In: Omo-Oduduwa@yahoogroups.com
Date: 11 Jul 2004
From: Okekoto@aol.com
Subject: Re: Message on Yoruba Language
Your estimate is very low. Nigeria alone has about 30m but outside it is close to 100m. Please note that the Hispanic population outside Spain is much larger than Spain itself, so it is with The YORUBAS.
For Brazil, you can get in touch with the Kabiyesi there.
Adetunji
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QUOTE 3: Adisa
In : Omo-Oduduwa@yahoogroups.com
Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004 01:46:28 -0000
From: "Snargabel Fleuvaheuggen" <adisathestabman@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Message on Yoruba Language correct me if I am wrong
But how many out of the 60 million Africans in Brazil are Yoruba, or
the 8 million in Cuba? I know that most of Bahia is Ketu but that
does not mean that all of them are. I would guess more or less there
are around 70 million counting Europe, the south Americans/islands
and the United States, because the number in Benin and Togo are low
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QUOTE 4: Aluko M. E.
Personal Communication
Date : 13th July 2004
Alukome@aol.com wrote:Dr. Olamijulo:
It is best to do this YWP estimate effort on a systematic country-by-country basis, and then put error bounds based on country-by-country (in)accuracies.
And it need not be ALL COUNTRIES, but countries that we feel have THE GREATEST POSSIBILITIES OF A LARGE CONCENTRATION of the Yoruba.
Even the number of Yoruba within Nigeria is in dispute - which of the censuses do we use, and why? The 2005 Census promised by OBJ does not hold out hope to be decisive and definitive.
There is one number that might be CALCULATED: slavery-dispersed Yoruba. For example:
1. How many slaves were taken from West Africa ?
2. How many were of Yoruba origin?
3. How many survived - including the Middle Passage?
4. Can a population forward-growth rate since slavery be plotted for them?
5. Or can slavery-survival rate be "back-plotted" and the two compared?
And so on.
What would be best would be to announce a Yoruba-conscious census, but I bet there would be a lot of commotion about "divisiveness."
Abo mi re o!
Bolaji Aluko
PS: Much as I know about the Saro-Yoruba connection, I was blown away by a Sierra-Leonean wedding event that I attended here in Washington DC. Almost EVERY Sierra Leonean CITIZEN (I am not talking of a NIGERIAN CITIZEN of Saro ancestry now) that introduced himself or herself to me had a YORUBA NAME! I just shook my head that we the Yoruba are not taking enough advantage of our own Diaspora. I would not be surprised if the Black Diaspora were not adjudged 60-80% Yoruba! :-)
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QUOTE 5: Adejumo F.A.
Date : July 16, 2004
Dr. Olamijulo,
Thanks for your recent mail on the net. I read something from you virtually
everyday. I do not delete, I read. I am always interested in whatever you put
on the net not because you are from Imesi-Ile and I am from Ibokun but for
the quality of what you always offer. I once told you who I am. I live in
London, 53 years old and a Registered Architect. Like you, I have always
been interested in the emancipation of Yoruba as a race. I only had just one
opportunity to listen to the late S. L. Akintola speak Yoruba and to my mind
will remain the best speaker of the language. I was shocked not long ago
upon my visit to Jazz Cafe here in London to watch Tony Allen (Fela's former
drummer) perform when two white ladies asked me for a lift. One is English
and the other a Brazilian. The both speak Yoruba fluently. The both believe
that Yorubaland should be a Nation and her people should never to be
referred to as a tribe. Great Britain is 55m and I have been told that is
less than the population of Yorubas at home. We are over a million in the UK
- Baba Adesanya said it. Prof Wole Soyinka recently at one of the event
organised to celebrate his 70th birthday said, "Nigeria is already a divided
country". How can we get back to our old ways, the way we were in the 50s,
60, 70 and early 80s. For a start, I am a product of Free Primary Education
and proud of it. Not many educated people would have come out of Imesi-Ile
if Chief Makanjuola did not start and build the first 2 buildings that made
Imesi-Ile High School. How many people can do that today?
Thanks
Ayoade Adejumo
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QUOTE 6 : Olateju Taiwo
Date : July 16, 2004
From : "4Q olateju" olatejutaiwo@hotmail.com
To : ChatAfriK@yahoogroups.com
Subject: ChatAfriK] Yoruba World Population Estimate- 07.15.04 Update
The cradle of Yoruba is the beginning of the world. Thank you my noble doctor on your encouragement for all Yoruba to stand up and be counted. It is good.
However,what will be the benefit ? The only benefit I can think of is just a mere figure. A figure to remind ourselves with that we have 500,000 Yorubas in the UK, 400,000 in the USA, etc. What can we use this figure for in the present world socio political order? Enormous. However, with whose support? Nigeria or UN?
A census figure without a nation state is of no use. Within Nigeria, projects were successfully implemented to destroy the wealth of Yoruba people by appointing non-YORUBA military administrators and Governors on ODUA state. By so doing, ODUA INVESTMENTS (which commands revenue bigger than annual revenue of most African countries) is dead. ODUA states used to be what the state of CALIFORNIA is . California as a state is the sixth largest economy in the world. Odua states might have been the fifth or thereabout in Africa then.
If we look at the earlier Nigeria census figures, The Northern region tends to have a very huge figure. I am not disputing this but it looks very unusual. The reason is that of all the West African countries, It is only in Nigeria the population tends to increase the further you move away from the Atlantic coast. This riddle is yet to be solved by any geographer. It is miraculous.
I think the best anyone can do at the moment is to make sure that our families are getting the best of education because this had been YORUBA's strongest weapon and eventually, we can start consolidating by coming together again economically, socially, politically.
We may still be within Nigeria but we will be the decider of our destiny. There will be free education and health as we had before for Odua people, We will be proud to have new inventions like the time we had the first Television station in Africa, The first modern stadium complex in Africa, The most Beautiful University in Africa, The region that produced half of African Professors, In fact I see no reason why we can't have our own international airline.
This is my view. Contributions are welcome
I have not lost hope. Things will get better
Olateju Taiwo. Esq.
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QUOTE 7: Mikhael :
Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2004 11:21:12 -0400
From: mikhael@yorku.ca
Subject: Re: Yoruba World Population Estimate- 07.15.04
Update
May YAHWEH bless Feri (Yorubaland)
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QUOTE 8: Olamijulo S.K.
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2004 02:51:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Dr. Samuel Olamijulo" <samola43@yahoo.com>
Subject: Yoruba World Population Estimate- 07.20.04 Update
Respected Compatriots,
AFRICANS and YORUBAS DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS MUST BEGIN FROM HOME.
Additional contributions of Compatriots Felix Ayoade Adejumo, Mikhael and Taiwo
Olateju to the collective Yoruba World Population Estimate effort, reproduced above, are much appreciated.
An important consideration, among others, has emerged, why bother at all with
all this YWP Estimate effort?
In a very worthy, principled ,pursuit of African People Development globally,
at http://www.hopeafricaepublisher.com
we are agreed we should vigorously encourage "People Cooperation For African
Development" on people's own initiative and agenda in a deliberately
natural, traditional, simple, inclusive framework. This at the sustainable ,complimentary
levels of
EXTENDED FAMILY; TOWN or VILLAGE ; LANGUAGE GROUP; COUNTRY; CONTINENT and GLOBAL.
In this agreed context, Yoruba people within Nigeria shall learn and do
everything possible to successfully cooperate ; now and in future, better than in the
past , in mutual respect with all other Nigerian Language Groups for mutual
development. Igbo, development, Ijaw Development, Ogoni development, Efik and
Ibibio Development,Kanuri Development, Hausa development, Nupe development, Tiv
development etc ultimately impact positively on Yoruba development. The same
principle must apply in every one of the many countries in which Yorubas
currently live.
Yoruba charity must however begin from Yoruba home. The first and most
important responsibility to replace past and still ongoing "yoboyobo" among Yoruba
political/cultural leaders and people with a return to calm, wise, energetic
coordinated pursuit of mutual cooperation for mutual development in Yorubaland ,
that cardinal responsibility belongs to Yorubas, not Nigerian Federal Government,
not any other Language Groups anywhere.
In a healthy, humble but confidently determined mind frame, Yorubas at internal
people-to-people levels must drastically increase cooperation for mutual
development with one another across Nigeria, Benin Republic, Brazil, Haiti, Cuba, USA
and Canada, United Kingdom, Asia and the Middle -East , throughout the world.
This is a guaranteed WIN WIN approach to Yoruba people development.
We must always be humble enough to admit the truth that we owe a lot to and
have a lot to learn from the rest of humankind. However, we have much to be optimistic
about in the very certain potentials for Yoruba people development through
renewed Yoruba people healthy cooperation with one another first as we learn to
cooperate with others better.
Dr. Kayode Fakinlede proposed a Historically Significant Yoruba Decimal
Counting System very suitable for current Information and Communication Technology
Age. at
http://www.lagosforum.com/comment.php?NR=976
He has also authored " Modern Practical Dictionary:Yoruba-English,English-Yoruba" which can be procured from jfakinlede@aol.com
Many good Yoruba based products continue to emerge regularly. We must cooperate
to selflessly spread these good development news around, buy Yoruba products
and cooperate to make current achievements better.
There are many potential benefits to YWP Estimate effort. Being able to tell
Yoruba children how many Yoruba people they should be cooperating with for mutual
development around the world, by itself is enough justification for our
collective YWP Estimate effort. Therefore, we shall by the special grace of God pursue it to
a successful conclusion-together.
Thank you
Olamijulo S.K.
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QUOTE 9: Lawal Olalekan(Sir Lawie)
Date: July 21, 2004
Yorubaworld Information Service.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yorubaworld/
Dear Dr. Olamijulo
RE: Yoruba World Population
There is no accurate statistical information about
Yoruba global populace. According to my research, few
years ago, 700,000 Yoruba people resided in United
Kingdom, 400,000 chose to live in London, while other
300,000 resided elsewhere in Great Britain.
The figures were based on electoral poll registration.
According to Yoruba Community Association London, an
official Yoruba Population in Britain is 400,000.
Clarification of this figure is yet to be obtained from
the association.
Clubs/societies: There are up to 50 Yoruba social
clubs & societies in London alone. The statistical
representation of members is due to be collated.
Today, I was at Nigeria High commission building at
Northumberland London, to extract more data regarding
the above subject matter, from the library archives.
Unfortunately, the librarian was not around.
I will write both the librarian and head of consular
affairs too see if such data is available.
Thanks for your time.
Olalekan (Sir Lawie)
Yorubaworld Information Service.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yorubaworld/
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QUOTE 10: Oludare Ayodele
Date: 21 Jul 2004 16:27:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: ayodele oludare <thefutureinternational@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Yoruba World Population Estimate- 07.15.04 Update
I suggest that we create a cyber registration form with country code.
It is interesting that here in Brazil; about half of the population believes their origin is
from KETU - YORUBA
I also like to use this forum to appeal to Yoruba leaders and Youths, especially members
of this forum to see what we can do in assisting to infuse a proper sense of belonging into
Yoruba descendants in the diaspora. Large numbers of people I came across, want to, at
least visit Yoruba Land which they belief is their Origin.
Please, let us see how we can go about this.
My warm regards.
Oludare Ayodele
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QUOTE 11: Adetunji
In: Omo-Oduduwa@yahoogroups.com
Date: 23 Jul 2004 19:54:13 EDT
From: Okekoto@aol.com
Subject: Re: Yoruba World Population Estimate- 07.15.04 Update
I once had trouble with currency exchange in Sierra Leone, it was a Yoruba lady who saved the day in perfect Yoruba. I also mentioned Kabiyesi in Brazil, I met him in San Francisco some years ago. A good example of An Oba.
About your suggestion above, I shall be happy to host as many in diaspora as want to go to Nigeria. I am a Physician in Los Angeles but I have a guesthouse in Abeokuta.
If you think this will be helpful let me know.
Adetunji.
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QUOTE 12: Bello Ademola
Frequently Asked Questions about Yoruba People
http://www.utexas.edu/coc/journalism/SOURCE/j331fall00/faq/yoruba.html
QUOTE
Do Yoruba people reside in America?
It is not known how many people residing in the U.S. are considered Yoruba since census forms restrict Yoruba people to responding to being just 'Black.' However, from a poll taken recently, approximately 100,000 Yoruba people reside in Texas.
END OF QUOTE
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QUOTE13: Abruzzi William S.
http://www.drabruzzi.com/FORUM_paper.htm
SOCIOPOLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE PERSISTENT WESTERN CONCERN WITH GLOBAL POPULATION GROWTH
FORUM: of the Association for Arid Lands Studies. (2002)
QUOTE
ABSTRACT: This paper argues that mainstream concerns about overpopulation and the programs designed to limit population growth in developing countries are ill founded. The paper also argues that the international population control policies developed by Western countries serve primarily their own competitive interests, not the interests of the countries they are designed to help. The paper concludes that neo-Malthusian population theories predominate in the international arena because they perform the same sociopolitical function for the globally dominant societies today that earlier Malthusian theories performed for upper classes within Western societies: a rationalization and justification to controlling the reproduction of the poor.
CONCLUSION
For more than 50 years, many people throughout Europe and North America have expressed a growing concern with overpopulation, and a powerful lobby has emerged whose goal has been to implement population control policies that will reduce global population growth. For the most part, these policies have been directed at the developing countries of the world. Significantly, the population lobby's justification for implementing population control policies and programs has undergone repeated change during the last half century. Population control has been vigorously promoted as necessary to: (1) reduce poverty and underdevelopment, (2) prevent political instability, (3) protect the environment, and (4) promote women's health and human rights. However, while the justification for population control has historically changed in the face of failed predictions and contradictory research, the concern with implementing population control has continued.
This paper has argued that the underlying cause for the persistent concern with overpopulation has more to do with the competitive implications of population growth in developing countries for those in the developed countries than with the reasons more commonly accepted. The paper suggests that the real concern is with the threatened change that population growth among developing (non-Western) countries portends for existing global political and economic relations and, thus, for the relative loss of power by the economically and politically dominant societies. The paper also suggests that neo-Malthusian population theory functions as a political ideology directly descended from Malthusian population theory and that, being directed explicitly at non-Western peoples, it represents the interests of the globally dominant populations and justifies their use of coercive social policies against peoples who are not only considered socially and morally inferior to those in the West, but who are also (through a denial of history and existing global economic and political inequalities) held individually responsible for their current condition of poverty and underdevelopment. As the cases described above for Kenya and Nigeria clearly illustrate, the issues raised here are particularly relevant to arid and semi-arid regions where overpopulation is frequently presented as the primary cause of poverty and underdevelopment.
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QUOTE 14: Omidire F.A.
Date : Sat, 31 July 2004
In : yorubaworld@yahoogroups.com
Subject : [YorubaWorld] Digest Number 296
Yoruba World Population Estimate- July 31 Deadline
Respected Omo Oduduwas,
Sorry I have not been able to participate in this census effort so far. I was on a brief working holiday to Uruguay. It was a pleasant surprise to me that even in that country with no known African slavery history,I met someone in the local market who was a strong adherent of Yoruba Traditional religion. He would like to visit Bahia in Brazilin order to get what he called first hand information on authentic Orisha (Candoble)worship.
That goes to show, in part, the importance of Bahia and Brazil as a reference point in Yoruba diasporal history.It is difficult to get exact figures on Yoruba Population in Brazil. Government policy and an edict by Ruy Barbosa had all records of slaves and slavery burnt at slavery abolition time.
More than half of Brazillian population of 170 million claim African descent. Bahia state has the greatest concentration of Orishas outside Africa. The largest part of the population are of Yoruba ancestry. One of the greatest Bahian musicians claimed in one of his songs that "in this land,everone is a child of Oshun" .Official historians of Bahia state boast of an orisha feast every night.
More than two thirds of Bahia are Yorubas by ancestry. Names like Ile-Aiye, Ara Ketu, Olodum from Olodumare, Filhas de Osum, Korin Efon, Ile Oya, Ashe Dada among others are commonplace.
I am currently conducting a research into Yoruba heritage in Bahia, Brazil. My findings will be published on the Internet at a later date.
Ire o.
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Felix Ayoh 'OMIDIRE
Centro de Estudos Afro-Orientais
Universidade Federal da Bahia,
Salvador-Bahia - Brasil
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