The Oldest African Village In America Is Right Here In South Carolina And It's Amazing
Just off Highway 17 in a sleepy part of Beaufort County, South Carolina there lies an African village whose roots trace back to Nigeria.
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Founded in 1970, the Kingdom of Oyotunji is based on the culture of the Yoruba and Dahomey tribes of West Africa.
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And the village comes complete with all the usual amenities you would expect a Kingdom to offer, including a Temple and a shrine. The Olukun Shrine is shown here.
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Oyotunji African Village is truly one of its kind in America. It's the only African Village with a King.
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Not unlike American villages, Oyotunji African Village has many of the amenities of other established communities in America.
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There's the Trader's Bazaar.
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A school, a temple...
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...and a welcome center.
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And for anywhere from $30 - $180 a night, you can even stay in the Oyotunji African Lodge.
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Oyotunji's mission has always been to educate and preserve African culture in the United States. And they do a fine job. You can attend any one of their annual festivals (see this link for the 2017 Festival Schedule) and you'll feel like you're actually in another country.
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See more of Oyotunji African Village in this YouTube video from SouthCarolinaETV.
Oyotunji African Village is located at 56 Bryant Ln, Sheldon, SC 29941. The village has an open door policy, and groups can schedule a visit through their website. Learn more about festivals and events at Oyotunji on their Facebook page.
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