Bill Text: NY J01553 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Honoring Baba John Yomi Awolawo Robinson and Iya Carole Awolawo Robinson upon the occasion of their designation for special recognition

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-21 - ADOPTED [J01553 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J01553-Introduced.html

Senate Resolution No. 1553

BY: Senator PARKER

        HONORING  Baba  John Yomi Awolawo Robinson and Iya
        Carole Awolawo Robinson upon the occasion  of  their
        designation  for special recognition by the Brooklyn
        Academy of Music on May 24, 2019

  WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies  and  serve
the best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration
and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and

  WHEREAS,  Baba  John  Yomi  Awolawo  Robinson and Iya Carole Awolawo
Robinson have given not only of their time  and  energies  but  also  of
their competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently have been
designated for special honor; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body is justly proud to honor Baba John
Yomi Awolawo Robinson and Iya Carole Awolawo Robinson upon the  occasion
of  their designation for special recognition by the Brooklyn Academy of
Music at its DanceAfrica program on Friday, May 24, 2019; and

  WHEREAS, DanceAfrica is Brooklyn Academy of  Music's  (BAM)  longest
running  program  and  America's  largest  celebration  of  African  and
African-American dance, music, and culture; created in 1977,  under  the
artistic  direction  of  Founding  Elder Chuck Davis and with the aim of
heightening awareness of African culture, the festival has evolved  into
a  beloved  annual  Memorial  Day  weekend event which brings the entire
community together; and

  WHEREAS, Baba John Yomi Awolawo  Robinson  and  Iya  Carole  Awolawo
Robinson were born and raised in New York; and

  WHEREAS,   Iya   Carole   Awolawo   Robinson   earned  a  degree  in
administration and went into a career in banking, however, she had  been
a dancer since the age of 13 and continued dancing into adulthood; and

  WHEREAS,  After  studying  aeronautical  engineering, Baba John Yomi
Awolawo Robinson was introduced to African drumming by a  neighbor;  his
love  for  the  drum quickly grew and he began drumming in earnest while
studying at Bernice Johnson Dance Studio in Jamaica, New York; and

  WHEREAS, It was at Bernice Johnson Dance Studio that their two paths
crossed in 1967, and the couple married just one year later; and

  WHEREAS, As Dancer and Drummer, Baba John Yomi Awolawo Robinson  and
Iya  Carole  Awolawo Robinson were founding members of both the original
Chuck Davis Dance Company and the inaugural DanceAfrica  performance  in
1977; and

  WHEREAS,  Iya  Carole  Awolawo  Robinson  transitioned  to  a  vocal
performance career and  stayed  close  to  home  to  raise  their  three
children  Moremi,  Akinwale, and Imani; Baba continued drumming and went
on to perform at venues to include FesTAC, the Richard Pryor  Show,  and
the World's Fair Guinea Pavilion; and

  WHEREAS,  Furthermore,  they  both  performed  as vocal artists with
Milton Cardona and Eya Aranla at various global venues  to  include  the
Berlin Jazz Festival and Earth Celebration in Sado, Japan; and

  WHEREAS,  In  recent  years, Baba John Yomi Awolawo Robinson and Iya
Carole Awolawo Robinson have devoted themselves  to  projects  close  to
their  hearts,  including The Underground Railroad Quilt Project and the
Source Farm in St. Thomas, Jamaica; and

  WHEREAS, Throughout their lives as priests of the  Yoruba  tradition
and  pillars  of  the community, Baba John Yomi Awolawo Robinson and Iya
Carole Awolawo Robinson have initiated several god children  and  poured
their time, energy, and love into countless others; and

  WHEREAS,   Rare   indeed  is  the  impressive  dedication  shown  by
individuals for the benefit of  others  which  Baba  John  Yomi  Awolawo
Robinson and Iya Carole Awolawo Robinson have displayed throughout their
lives; and

  WHEREAS,  It  has always been the objective of this Legislative Body
to  honor  and  support  those  individuals  who  have  displayed  their
commitment  to the betterment of their communities, and it is the intent
of this Legislative Body to inscribe upon its records, this  tribute  to
Baba  John  Yomi  Awolawo Robinson and Iya Carole Awolawo Robinson, that
future generations may know and appreciate  their  admirable  character,
their  many  benevolent  deeds, and the respect and esteem in which they
are held by their peers; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  Baba  John  Yomi Awolawo Robinson and Iya Carole Awolawo Robinson
upon the occasion of their designation for special  recognition  by  the
Brooklyn Academy of Music on May 24, 2019; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Baba John Yomi Awolawo Robinson and  Iya  Carole  Awolawo
Robinson.
feedback