By Isa Isawade
A UK-based educational charity organisation working with children, young people and families in disadvantaged areas of Newcastle, Success4All, has organised Yorùbá Workshop for 2025 to promote the race’s rich culture and traditions.
The organisation has since 2024 been working in collaboration with a Newcastle Upon Tyne-based Nigerian and author of SCARS DO HEAL, Kayode Joseph Akinropo to carry out volunteer activities in schools and communities in England.
In its relentless efforts to live its dream of promoting languages and beautiful cultures threatened by extinction, the Success4All team on Monday visited St Paul’s Church of England Primary School Newcastle NE4 7JU to present Yorùbá Workshop 2025.
Sixty pupils and their teachers, according to Kayode, were in attendance.
“I was ably assisted by Barrister Johnson Amusan. The first pleasant surprise was when three pupils came to us before we even started our presentation, greeted us and told us that their parents had copies of my novel in their homes! Dumbfounded, I thanked them, told them to read the novel and asked them to thank their parents for me!
“In the absence of a Yoruba woman to showcase how Yoruba women dress gorgeously, Kate, one of the teachers helped me out! That’s the second pleasant surprise! See how gorgeous she was? Yes, she’s gorgeous!” Kayode enthused.
The team had on March 4, 2025 been to the Central Walker Primary School NE6 2NP for the same Yorùbá Culture workshop.
Kayode, on his ‘Monday Promo’ Facebook page of March 5 edition, said: “Despite the fact that many schools in the North East of England signified their interest to having this workshop taking place in their schools this year, we’re able to offer just six schools the opportunity due to our tight schedule. It’s a lively session that 50 pupils and their teachers in attendance won’t forget in a hurry!
“Activities covered included: Introduction to Yoruba Language; Countries where Yoruba Language is spoken; Population of those who speak Yoruba Language; Basic Yoruba phrases, Names of Yoruba people and their importance; Yoruba fashion and menu; Notable people of Yoruba origin; Songs and their importance in Yoruba culture and customs.
“I taught the pupils how to sing and dance to one of the popular songs in Yoruba Language: ‘Bàtà rẹ á ró ko ko kà/Bàtà rẹ á ró ko ko kà/Tí o bá kà wé rẹ/Bàtà rẹ á rọ́ ko ko kà….'” Akinropo said of his Central Walker Primary School show experience.
He expressed profound appreciation to Success4All; the participating schools; Barrister Amusan; the lovely Teacher Kate, and others who have been supportive of the noble project.
