Nigerian ‘Sister City’ Delegation to Visit Asheville
Ataoja (King) of Osogbo and Olori will visit Asheville and the surrounding region.
by Wallace Bohanan
The King of Osogbo (O-showg-bo) in Nigeria will lead a delegation to Asheville from May 1-10 as the guests of Sister Cities of Asheville. The delegation will include the King, one of his wives and his two sons, as well as artists, civil servants, and a physician.
The King is the traditional head of the Yoruba people in Osogbo. There are about a dozen groups of Yoruba people in Osogbo, each headed by a chief, and each chief and his people pay homage to the king.
Sister Cities International is a program of cultural exchanges and
friendship with cities around the world, created in 1956 by the
Eisenhower administration to improve global understanding and
cooperation. Asheville’s first Sister City was Vladikavkaz in southern
Russia, a relationship established in 1990; since then the group has
affiliated with San Cristobal, Mexico (1994), Saumur, France (1996),
Karpenisi, Greece (2004), Valladolid, Mexico (2006), and Osogbo (2008).
Two years ago a delegation from Asheville visited Osogbo, where they had
an audience with the king, his Oloris (wives), the Yoruba chiefs, and
special members of the king’s court. To share part of that experience,
Sister Cities will screen Sangodare- Artist, Herbalist, Priest at the
Fine Arts Theater on Saturday, May 1. The story of Sangodare, who will
be part of the Osogbo delegation, was videotaped by committee member
Rainer Doost, who will discuss the traditional Nigerian culture as well
as tell what life is like in Osogbo.
The Osogbo delegation will be in Asheville from Saturday, May 1 until
Monday, May 10. In addition to meeting with Mayor Bellamy and Buncombe
County Commissioners on Tuesday, May 4, they will attend the Friday
night Drum Circle in Prichard Park on May 7 and also participate in a
special signing of the Sister Cities Agreement at the Pisgah View Ranch.
Other activities for the delegation include a trolley tour of Asheville,
tours of Mission Hospital, UNC Asheville, and Warren Wilson College,
and visits to the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Biltmore
Estate visit, and Asheville Mall. There will also be a reception at The
Aesthetic Gallery on College Street and a workshop at the Fiber Arts
Alliance.
The king and his entourage will be guests of AB Tech, and other
delegates will stay in the homes of members of Asheville Sister Cities.
If you should see the delegation from Osgbo, Nigeria during that week,
please give them a warm Asheville welcome. For more information visit
AshevilleSisterCities.org.
