SE3/EP26: Conversation with Ibironke Otusile A Nigerian American promoting the Yoruba Unity in the Diaspora

I came across Ibironke Otusile’s impressive video, which was shared on social media, calling on Yoruba leaders and the Yoruba people in the diaspora to unite. I was impressed by her excellent articulation of the Yoruba language and the core message she presented. Otusile’s core message on the video was a call for unity of Yoruba people in the diaspora. It is extraordinary impressive that the younger generations in the diaspora are taking pride in the Yoruba language, culture, and unity of our people in the diaspora. After watching the video, others who also saw the video asked that I invite Otusile for a conversation on Pánsá Pánsá Forum for discussion. I was enthusiastic about such a suggestion, but how could I contact her? And someone advised me to look her up on social media. I was able to send a message to Otusile through her Instagram page. She eventually replied and agreed to be a guest on my podcast. There was no dull moment throughout our conversation. She was energetic, funny, and passionate about her heritage. Otusile grew up in NYC when it wasn’t cool to be African is especially a common belief among the children of African immigrants born in America or those who came to America at a young age. Before we talk about the video and the fantastic work she does in promoting the unity of Yoruba people in the diaspora and her impressive articulation of the Yoruba language, we discussed African immigrant identity and black experiences. We discussed balancing the two worlds of growing up in a Nigerian immigrant home and black identity. I was impressed by Otusile’s pride and passion for the Yoruba language and the influence her parents played in fostering such appreciation. We talked about the benefits and challenges of growing up in immigrant homes. We discussed Otusile’s social and academic life in college and if growing up in an immigrant’s home influenced how she interacts with her professor and the diversity of students on her college campus. For our audiences, who may be curious about the video she presented on social media on Yoruba in the diaspora, Otusile talked about the video message and what inspired her to speak about the subject. She expresses her desire to save our ancestral Yoruba nation for the sake of the younger generation and those whose ancestors were brought here during slavery. Those who may want to connect to their heritage. Otusile is presently working on a new project by traveling across Africa, and she creates video content for her YouTube channel. Ibironke Otusile is a first-generation Nigerian-American born and raised in New York. Her parents hail from the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria, West Africa. Growing up in a time when it was not cool to be African, Ibironke created her own lens to understand the diaspora from a Yoruba and American viewpoint. Ibironke holds a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry and a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling across the African continent and creating content for her YouTube channel titled “Ibironke Otusile.”