Did you know that Timbuktu a retail company owned by two WHITE-BRITISH people from Lancashire who have no affiliation with Yoruba language or tribe have trademarked the word ‘YORUBA’ and are opposing anyone else from using it?
Many of you might know we have a programme where we teach children Yoruba language called Yoruba Stars. We also run a Parent and Toddler play group called Yoruba Stars.
Late last year I decided to trademark the name ‘Yoruba Stars’ as it has become quite popular especially amongst our young students ranging from the ages of 18 months to 13 years old who all call themselves ‘Yoruba Stars’.
I noticed that there was a company called Timbuktu Limited @timbuktuglobal based in Lancashire who had registered the word ‘Yoruba’.
I thought it was really strange that a company would be allowed to trademark the word ‘Yoruba’, a tribe and language of millions of people! I did some research on @timbuktuglobal and found out that they were an outerwear clothing retailer owned by two White-British people from the North of England.
They even claim on their website that “to many, Timbuktu is a fictional location which literally means “the middle of nowhere”, a location that has intrigued mankind for centuries, whether it’s to discover something new or simply escape the everyday”. Last time I checked Timbuktu is a city in Mali, Africa!
I went ahead and registered my trademark of ‘Yoruba Stars’ as I was sure there wouldn’t be an issue. A few months later I received an email from the IPO that @TimbuktuGlobal had opposed me registering the trademark and were in effect opposing anyone from using or registering any brands with the word ‘YORUBA’ under the classes they have registered it on. Bearing in mind, this company does not offer any services, products or have anything to do with Yoruba at all.
Since then I’ve exchanged a few correspondences with their legal representative. I also sought legal counsel after @timbuktuglobal made a proposition to sell their trademark of the word ‘Yoruba’ to me. I refused their offer and told them they won’t be getting any free money from me. If they value it so much why did they want to sell it?!
They have now made a formal opposition and I have until the middle of July to file a notice of defence before it goes to tribunal.
I feel this is the height of cultural appropriation and I’ve informed @timbuktuglobal that I intend to make this case public. I told them I do not think Africans or the global media for that matter would take kindly to a company with roots in the North of England attempting to claim sole ownership of a birth right belonging to the people of another continent.
I need the African community as a whole to help retweet and share this! Let’s all call out @timbuktuglobal on this daylight robbery! Today it’s Yoruba, tomorrow it could be Igbo, Swahili or even the word AFRICA! I intend to fight this with everything in me but I need our community to rise up in support! @timbuktuglobal should not and will not have ownership of our birthright!
Ekaale Ma, there contact details (mobile and email) are on their profile page you just have to click contact.
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