This week returning guest, Yasmina Fagbemi, is flashing forward with us with an update on her latest projects and evolving glocal citizenship. Having emigrated to the United States in the 1990s, she began her career in marketing with major international corporations. Building on this experience, she developed her network to fuel her passion for cinema. She produced her first documentary, "Bigger Than Africa," a film highlighting Yoruba culture that was featured on Netflix. She went on to develop multiple projects and met Gabriel Souleyka, with whom she founded Tioleja Films to bring original projects to life that contribute to Africa's growing prominence in global cinema. The film "My Soul is a Witness" has been announced in pre-production across global media outlets. Her new feature film, "The Soul of Africa," directed by Gabriel Souleyka, will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this May. As an editor and publisher, she is committed to publishing stories that others don't tell. Be sure to check out her socials for updates on where you can view or read more about African stories that are worth getting to know more about!

Where to find Yasmina?
https://tiolejafilms.com
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
On Facebook
On TikTok

What’s Yasmina reading?
Tioleja Titles

What’s Yasmina watching?
Sinners

Other topics of interest:
Le Festival des Divinités Noires
About Lomé, Togo
About Aného, Togo
About Abrahamic Religions
Pavillon Afrique @ Cannes
More about the persecution of Blacks in the Nazi camp system
More about Joy-Ann Reid

Special Guest: Yasmina Fagbemi.

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.