Dear Abrahamists, Journalists and some gullible oníṣẹ̀se.
Herbalist is not Babaláwo.
Herbalist is anyone that believes in herbs. I.e if you believe vegetables give nutrients, and àgbo is good for the body. You are an herbalist.
P.S. Herbalism is the making of herb medicine and the usefulness of the medicinal leaves and roots. ii Oníṣègùn is a Traditional doctor NOT Babaláwo. Oníṣègùn is the Yorùbá indigenous medical doctor. They treat their patients using leaves and roots (Ewé àti egbò) with different kinds of method.
Adáhunṣe is a Yorùbá Traditional specialist, a researcher, natural philosopher that engaged in the philosophical study of nature for the benefits of their clients and can also be referred to as Yorùbá indigenous scientists. They don't limit their research on only plants.
The above mentioned are Paid occupation that involves prolonged training and qualifications.
Babaláwo can be translated to as an Ifá priest.
Now when you talk about priests or priestesses, Religion comes to mind, though they may get compensation from their followers, devotees or whoever comes to them for spiritual help, but being an ifá priest or priestess is NOT a typical occupation like that of Herbalism, Oníṣègùn (Doctor) and Adáhunṣe.
Ifá and other òrìṣà priests and priestesses only have the power and the knowledge to administer religious rites; i.e rites to sacrifice, consultation and propitiation of the irúnmọlès and òrìṣas, and they do this in accordance with the teachings of the òrìṣàs and the will of olódùmarè.
Even though, some priests and priestesses acquire other professional skills and not limited to the likes of Herbalism, Yorùbá traditional doctor, Yorùbá traditional specialist/scientist e.t.c. We should be able to differentiate between profession and religious leader/devotee.
Having said that, A priest or priestess that also practice Herbalism for an example, whatever methods he/she uses in the practice of Herbalism is based on the knowledge that he or she has acquired in that field, not as an òrìṣa priest/priestess but as a professional herbalist which the practice may be quite different from being a religious leader or devotee.
An Òrìṣa priest/priestess will not do anything without divination or other consultation methods. They are being guided by the irúnmọlès/òrìṣas.
Dear BBC News Yoruba & AlaroyeTv and other news outlets that are quick to tag every herbalist/Yorùbá indigenous pharmacist (Eléwé ọmọ), Yorùbá indigenous scientist (Adáhunṣe) and Yorùbá traditional doctors (Oníṣègùn) as babaláwo whenever they're being caught with some materials that are against the law of the land.
Always make your research before publishing your news. Whenever you tag a babaláwo as human ritualist, you are actually attacking their religion (Ìṣẹ̀ṣe religion) and Ìṣẹ̀ṣe religion is against harming, killing or destruction of your fellow human beings..
What most people don't know is that Yorùbá are civilized tribe before the invasion of the Caucasians and already established a well standard institutions in different areas of life such as medical, education, e.t.c.
In Many medical laboratories in Nigeria today, there are countless of human body parts (specimens) used for the study of human body structure and tests are carried out on them to obtain information. Non of the medical laboratory technicians have been tagged babaláwo. Why? Where does the idea of a babaláwo using human body parts come from?
Let's be guided and stop the attack on the ìṣẹ̀ṣe religion and the devotees.
A word is enough for a Wise.
Ire o.
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