YORUBA VILLAGE OF OYOTUNJI

in Sheldon, South Carolina, this African village developed in the 1800’s around nearby plantations. Named after the Oyo Empire, the name of the village translates to “Oyo returns” or “Oyo rises again.”

 
 
 
 

I was invited to stay at the village by a friend who was a Blues singer from Chicago who was living there with her children. I stayed at this village in 1982 for a few days and upon returning from my trip, the New York Times was interested in publishing my photography. I was warned by Ellen Steward otherwise known as “La Mama,” to decline this offer as exposing the village’s schooling and scarification could harm the establishment which was Yoruba Village of Oyotunji. This has now become a tourist attraction and these people have never been seen.

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