- Orundun DaCosta is the mother of 42 year-old American actress and model Yaya DaCosta
- She founded the Central Harlem Montessori School in 1989 to provide a special kind of education to children of all ages
- The mother of four is married to former sociology professor, Carl Johnson Awolowo
Orundun DaCosta is the mother of American actress and model Yaya DaCosta and dancer/choreographer Djassi DaCosta Johnson. She is an educationist and founder of the Central Harlem Montessori School. The mother of four and grandmother prefer to stay away from the spotlight despite having two prominent daughters whose success in their individual careers speaks loudly about the kind of virtues instilled in them and their siblings.
Unfortunately, she is down to three children after losing one of her children to the cold hands of death in 2012. Regardless of that, she is proud of what her family and children achieved. Here are some of the most enthralling details we found out about her.
Biography of Orundun DaCosta
Much of what is known about Orundun DaCosta revolves around the little information her daughters, Yaya DaCosta and Djassi DaCosta Johnson shared at one point or the other, and also the media.
According to reports, she is an African-American with an ethnic linkage to Brazil because her father is a Brazilian. However, her first name Orundun is a Yoruba name from Nigeria. This may have suggested the possibility of Nigerian heritage, or a connection to her husband who shared the same surname with one of Nigeria’s former leaders, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. These are basically deductions that have not been verified.
Going further, Jukebugs.com gathers she is well educated having earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Although the school she obtained her bachelor’s degree is a mystery, she earned her master’s degree in Montessori in Ohio. Subsequently, she puts her knowledge of Montessori to use when she founded a school in Harlem in the late 1980s.
When Did Yaya DaCosta’s Mother Got Married?
Orundun DaCosta is married to Carl Awolowo Johnson for a long time now, yet the date of the wedding is under wraps because she is very discreet about revealing private information. Nonetheless, her oldest son’s date of birth can give a pointer to when the wedding may have taken place.
She gave birth to her oldest son Mamadou On 29th November 1972. Thus, it is not out of place to suggest her long-term marriage took place in the late 1960s to early 1970s.
She Is A Mother Of Four Children As Well As A Grandmother
Her marriage to Carl produced four amazing children. They are Mamadou DaCosta Johnson, Djassi DaCosta Johnson and Djani Dacosta Johnson. As a mother, she and her husband ensured that their children were sufficiently educated as well as had vast knowledge of their history. All of them attended the Northern Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts for their high school education.
Upon graduation, they all enrolled in ivy league schools across the US. The eldest, Mamadou went to the University of Pennsylvania, Djassi attended Barnard College and Columbia University, Yaya went to Brown University and Djani attended Cornell University.
Aside from being a mother, she is also a grandmother to Mirahl and Sankara Alafia. Mirahl was born to her eldest daughter Djassi on 28th December 2010, while Sankara was born to her youngest daughter Yaya DaCosta in September 2015.
See Also-Gloria Carter Is Jay-Z’s Mother: 12 Shocking Facts About Her
Yaya DaCosta, Orundun’s Youngest Daughter Is An Established Actress Model
Orundun’s youngest daughter, Yaya DaCosta 42 born on 15th November 1982 gained prominence as an actress and model. As an actress, she is known for appearing in TV series such as All My Children (2008), Ugly Betty (2009), and Chicago Med (2015-2021). In addition, she was applauded for her portrayal of late American singer Whitney Houston in the 2015 film, Whitney.
While as a model, she competed in the American reality TV show America’s Next Top Model. Even though she didn’t win, the show ended with her in second place. After this, she featured in many advertisements for brands such as Garnier Fructis, Oil of Oly, Seda, and Sephora. Also, she appeared on the cover of multiple magazines such as W, Hype Hair, Splash, and Global Modelling.
She previously dated American film producer and director Joshua Bee Alafia and shared a son Sankara, born in September 2015. Barely two months after giving birth, she called off the relationship.
Her Oldest Daughter, Djassi DaCosta Johnson Is A Dancer/Choreographer
Orundun DacCosta’s oldest daughter Djassi DaCosta Johnson is versatile and talented. She is a brilliant dancer, choreographer, writer, anthropologist, designer, activist, photographer, and filmmaker. Some of her performances as a dancer and choreographer have been featured in films, and music videos.
She collaborated with musicians, visual artists, and others including Lia Chavez, Eddie Peake, and Brendan Fernandez, and also toured with Dance Brazil, Earl Mosley, Hernando Cortezand, Bill T. Jones, Nia Love, Urban, Bush Women, and the Museum of Sex (MOSEX).
Her resume in film and TV (including music videos and commercials) are Crew 2 Crew (2010), Brooklyn’s Joy (2010), The Intern (2015), The Knick (2015), The Get Down (2016), Civil War (2018) and Bolden! (2019).
As a writer, she has written for several magazines such as KINFOLK, PLAYBILL, DIY dancer, TRACE, VIBE, and the Daily News.
She is married to an Italian name Corrado with whom she welcomed her daughter Mirahl in 2010.
Her First Son Mamadou DaCosta Died At 39
View this post on Instagram
Orundun DaCosta’s first son Mamadou died on 29 April 2012 at 39. He was hit while riding a motorcycle during a carnival at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. His family was saddened by his demise because he had a good thing going for him.
Djassi who was born after him, took to her Instagram page in May 2022 to eulogize her brother during the 10-year memorial of his passing. She said the day he passed was one of the most difficult moments of her life. It took days before her family came to terms with his death, the dancer/choreographer said.
During his lifetime, Orundun’s son was a dancer and a track and field athlete. He alongside Djassi danced together for several companies. Also, he was a member of the Penn track and field team, where he served as a captain in 1993.
Some of his achievements include being the only Ivy League athlete to clear 18 feet in the pole vault, second all-time in the indoor pole vault at Penn at 5.20 meters, and indoor and outdoor heptagonal pole vault titles.
Orundun DaCosta Founded The Central Harlem Montessori School In 1989
Yaya DaCosta’s mother loves teaching. It is this love for imparting knowledge that pushes her to found the Central Harlem Montessori School in 1989. This was after she earned her master’s Montessori in Ohio. Since the school was founded, it has been providing a special kind of training and education to children of all ages to develop their cognitive, emotional, social, and physical abilities.
When it was opened, it was the only accredited Montessori school in Harlem.
Orundun DaCosta is the mother of one-time Next America’s Top Model reality TV show contest and actress Yaya DaCosta. She is a teacher, founder, and director of the Central Harlem Montesorri School founded in 1989. Yaya’s mother is of Brazilian ancestry, but her first name Orundun links her to the Yoruba people of Nigeria. However, there is a possibility she may have adopted the name following her marriage to Carl Johnson Awolowo whose surname was once used by one of Nigeria’s leaders Cheif Obafemi Awolowo.
