It’s that time of year in most of the northern hemisphere - Back to School! Students of all manner from first time learners to adult continuing educationers are migrating to a learning institution near you--Kindergartens, middle and high schools, trade colleges, university campuses and some are taking to phones, tablets or computers for online courses. ’Tis the season for getting the mind ready for a new round of training, building and expansion. So this week, in preparation for the start of classes its a review session with some glocal citizens firmly planted in the business of education. Taiye Ayoola-Adedeji, author of the innovative, educational and interactive Yoruba-English bilingual book—The Yoruba Sound Book for Children, Ayobisi Osuntusa, Executive Director of Sesame Square Nigeria Foundation, a mirror image and partner organization of Sesame Workshop; Nisha Ligon, Co-founder and Senior Advisor of Tanzania-based, UBONGO, Africa's leading kids' edutainment company and Videographer, Composer, and Musician, Farai Malianga a tenure track Professor at Florida State University with a focus on Music for dance and choreography all join us with insights on learning education, arts and people. Class is in session, let’s LEAP right in!

Special Guests: Ayobisi Osuntusa, Farai Malianga, Nisha Ligon, and Taiye Ayoola-Adedeji.

It’s happy hearts day and this week's episode is especially close to my heart because we’re talking learning and language, culture and heritage in multigenerational diaspora communities across the globe. Dr. Taiye Ayoola-Adedeji, a Nigerian-American Pharmacist and recently the CEO of her publishing company, Taikun Publishing, is the author of the innovative, educational and interactive Yoruba-English bilingual book titled, The Yoruba Sound Book for Children, which was successfully launched in April 2022.

Currently based in Maryland, Dr. Taiye earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy, a top institution in the U.S. Although she migrated to the US at a relatively young age, she is fortunate to have spent her early formative years in Nigeria where she was truly able to gain appreciation for the Yoruba culture and language. As a mother wanting her own children to also value their cultural heritage, she is even more resolute about finding innovative ways to pass on the rich culture and instilling in them a sense of pride about their great ancestry, cultural heritage and identity.

Dr. Taiye is passionate about preserving and promoting the Yoruba language and culture, particularly in the diaspora where comprehensive resources to teach or learn the tonal Yoruba language are limited. We say cheers to continued success with works in Yoruba and other African languages!

Special thanks to GC 83, Ivonne Cameron for making the connection.

Where to find Taiye?
www.yortones.com
On Instagram
On Facebook
On Twitter
On Youtube

What's Taiye reading?
Principles and Power of Vision by Dr. Myles Monroe
History of the Yoruba People by S. Adebanji Akintoye
Yoruba Proverbs by Oyekan Owomoyela
I’m Judging You by Luvvie Ajayi
Will by Will Smith

Other Books On Bookshelf:
Just as I Am by Cicely Tyson
Finding Me by Viola Davis
Don’t Drop the Mic by TD Jakes

Other topics of interest:
About Prince George’s County, Maryland
Omoluwabi
About Oriki and more
King Sunny Adé

Special Guest: Taiye Ayoola-Adedeji.