Kava Africa

Alani Ogunlade who likes to be known as the “Village Boy” was born in Oshoba Village, Ifo Local Government in Ogun State, Nigeria. His father, Joseph Oniyiku Ogunlade was an elder in the village when Alani was a child. Alani attended the elders meetings where the affairs of the village were deliberated with his father. In African Culture, A young person does not talk in elders meeting. “You listen and absorb a wealth of wisdom”, says Alani. His mother, Victoria Omobola Ogunlade, could neither read nor write but an entrepreneur in her own right. According to Alani, he learnt the basics of excellent customer service and selling on credit from his mother. 
 
Alani grew up as a favorite son of the village community. I ate in every house in the village, Alani said. He started his schooling at Christ Church School, Oshoba. When he was in the elementary school, he traveled with his favorite teacher to villages such as Sojuolu and Alapako. In 1958, Alani was fortunate to escape the village and moved to Lagos, former capital city of Nigeria.
Alani attended Saint Finbars College in Lagos for his secondary school education. He traveled to United States in 1970 making his first stop in Washington D. C. He received his Undergraduate degree in Accounting from Bowie State University Bowie, Maryland
While in Washington D.C., he worked at The Museum of African Art which is now part of the Smithsonian Institute. He moved to Atlanta in 1976 to pursue graduate studies at Georgia State University where he received his MBA in Risk Management and Insurance
He was instructor of Risk Management and Insurance at Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University. He served as Finance Director for Economic Opportunity Atlanta.
Since 1985, he has owned and operated State Farm insurance Agency in College Park. Georgia. Alani is very involved in his community especially in the schools and youth programs.

Alani had many sweet memories of his village, such as waving to Queen Elizabeth of United Kingdom, who was passing through the village during Her cross country train tour of Nigeria before the country’s independence in 1960; religious and cultural festivals and moonlight story telling series. The most profound is his inclusion in the drumming and masquerade society of the village at an early age. On moving to Atlanta in 1976, Alani co-founded the African Dance Ensemble with late Dr. King Farouk Brimah. The group has been transformed into a major cultural group in United States under the name Heritage Drummers and Dancers.

Alani and his wife Vickie are blessed with a son, Olatoye, and daughter, Omobola. They are members of Cascade United Methodist Church and reside in Sandtown Community of South Fulton in Atlanta Georgia.

The Founder / Director
Alani Ogunlade who likes to be known as the “Village Boy” was born in Oshoba Village, Ifo Local Government in Ogun State, Nigeria. His father, Joseph Oniyiku Ogunlade was an elder in the village when Alani was a child. Alani attended the elders meetings where the affairs of the village were deliberated with his father. In African Culture, A young person does not talk in elders meeting.

Projects Topic 1
Alani Ogunlade who likes to be known as the “Village Boy” was born in Oshoba Village, Ifo Local Government in Ogun State, Nigeria. His father, Joseph Oniyiku Ogunlade was an elder in the village when Alani was a child. Alani attended the elders meetings where the affairs of the village were deliberated with his father. In African Culture, A young person does not talk in elders meeting.

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