Yoruba Studies

History of Yoruba Studies

Yoruba Studies at UT began as a student-driven initiative from the African Student Association (ASA) in collaboration with the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies. ASA and the Warfield Center were concerned about the absence of instruction in indigenous African languages at UT.  The students circulated petitions, consulted with faculty, met with administrators and, eventually, the Yoruba Studies Program was born in 2002.  Dr. Akin Alao of Obafemi Awolowo University (Ile-Ife, Nigeria) was hired to teach Yoruba Language as well as Yoruba History and Culture.  When Dr. Alao returned to OAU, Dr. Fehintola Mosadomi from Tulane University was hired to teach the Yoruba courses. Dr. Omoniyi Afolabi was hired to supplement the language instruction, and to teach courses on the Yoruba presence in Brazil along with Lusophone African literature.

After the departure of Dr. Tola Mosadomi, Dr. Abimbola Adelakun was hired in 2019 to share the Yoruba language sequence with Professor Afolabi and to teach African religiosity and creativity. Upon the departure of Dr. Adelakun, Dr. Adebimpe Adegbite was hired in 2025 to teach both Yoruba language courses as well as African studies. The other Yoruba Studies faculty include Dr. Toyin Falola, who teaches courses in Yoruba history; Dr. Jossianna Arroyo-Martínez, who teaches literature courses with Yoruba diasporic content; Dr. Moyo Okediji, who teaches Yoruba visual aesthetics. Former faculty members Dr. Oladotun Ayobade and Dr. Omi Osun Joni L. Jones also served as facilitators in the program, with Dr. Ayobade leading Yoruba language and performance studies and Dr. Joni L. Jones teaching courses in Yoruba theatrical and ritual performance