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Baba Adetunji Joda, came to America in 1958 and moved to Denver, Colorado in 1971 from New York. While in New York, he appeared with various groups such as the Dinizulu Dance Group, Egbe Omo Nago Dance Troupe, Ilori Dance Group, Mongo Santamaria, Ajass Repertoire, and most notable, Olatunji and His Drums of Passion. During his appearance with those groups, he traveled throughout the Eastern portions of the United States, appearing in schools, colleges, universities and theaters. Baba Joda has danced with Pearl Primus and is a student and longtime friend of Baba Olatunji and His Drums of Passion. |
| Baba Joda has appeared at the United Nations on two different occasions, one as a tribute to the late Dag Hammerskjord and Heinrich Weischioff and again at the Fourteenth Anniversary of the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He was also a guest star at the 1965 New York Words Fair, at the Hall of Education. | |
Baba Joda has been gracing Colorado with his calm, quiet drum power for the past 30 years. Baba Joda works from the bottom of the drum rhythms of his homeland. Baba Joda's drum work has projected a strong African dance and drum culture and community in Colorado. Baba Joda is the foundation of African dance, chant and drum in Colorado. He is the bottom line of the history of the communication of African culture in Colorado.
Baba Joda was hired by Cleo Parker Robinson to teach their first African Dance classes.
During his 30 years of teaching in Colorado, Baba Joda created four major African dance companies, either as founder or artistic director, including, Ajose, Irepo, Sankofa, and Joda and Friends - African Dance South of the Sahara.
Baba Joda has received many awards. Mayor Wellington Webb decreed June 24th as Baba Adetunji Joda Day in Colorado. In 2000, he was honored by the Four Mile Historic Museum as Artist of the Year. In addition, the Denver Black Arts Festival has created The Joda Village, and it is a permanent site at the annual event.