In the past there is nothing like such, but later came the assembly of various Babalawos, with their reasons, knowledge and wisdom, they established the World home of IFA known as Ifa Agbaye at Oke Itase, then the question is how did international council of IFA religion came in to existence and for what purpose.
There was a time Orisa tradition and culture was in existence before it vanished.
Orunmila Young star wasn't
popular anymore not to talk of remembering Late Chief Ogundijo.
I was formerly in support of that before mismanagement finished it.
Ose IFA is every 5days while babalawos assemble at Araba' place on the 17 days, chanting IFA songs (iyere IFA), also training themselves. It is believe the 17days is given to the Araba, although nothing to prove this or back it up, it may just be regarded as a myth.
Later some elite among the Babalawos decided to make international council of IFA Religion.
Those who made the establishment of world home of ifa (Ifa Agbaye) proved to support the myth that lle - Ife is the source of the Universe not to make mistake, they decided to work according to the myth and added IFA verses to back the myth up such as Okanran meji:
Ifa ko o je ebo, naa o fin, ko je ebo o da,
ko je ebo naa orede orun bure bure
Sokoto mo jalawa
Adi ifa fun aluko ogogoro
Nijo ti n lo re saroji fun n ife oodaye
Ojo pa aluko
Are idi e d odi
O d asure
Jeki asibi dasure fun mi ati gbogbo ololufe gbogbo ifa
Ase
Translation:
Make my sacrifice auspicious, let the ritual be accepted
And let my undertaking go up to the place of divine realm
My mission will succeed
Thus declared Ifá oracle
When the tall cock, the diviner
Came to Ifá for advice
As the set out for ancient Ife
To make rain for the drought struck city
When tall cock succeeded
It rained and rained
Till he was soaked
Wings and tail
Soaked and confused
Wishing to bless
Instead he cursed
May evil intents turn to good deeds for me and my well wishers.
Ase
Another Odu that talks more about ile ife is OKANRAN OWONRIN (Okanran Onile / Okanran Ajagbile)
This Odu talks about Oduduwa, talks about Ooni of Ife, and also claimed this same odu established Ile - Ife.
The Babalawos sat down to create or relate stories of Orunmila in IFA to be part or suit Ile - Ife.
The Babalawos look at each compound in Ile - Ife, considered those compound who have historical Babalawos that are strong and powerful first, then after the weak Babalawos compound considered to be secondary.
History started, from Moore one of Ajo/ogbon marun.
Ogbon or Ajo Ilode, iremo, moore, okerewe, ilare.
Some names in the Ogbon/Ajo are (Olori Ogbon/Ajo etc).
Formerly these 5 Ogbon or Ajo added money contribution like a financial institute which I'm in support but I don't if such still exist.
Let's leave that and focus on how the world ifa home was formed in ile - ife @ Oke itase.
According to what I heard, during my research and investigation, the place most Babalawos consider as world home of IFA was formerly property of the white people (during Colonialism or Colonial masters) before the Nigeria independent, the white people was using the building as church, a place of worship before they left the building behind, although the building have been renovated and expanded since the white people left it behind, and the funniest part of the story, all this renovations and expansion still make this building looks like church.
Since it was on history or record in IFA that Orunmila lived in Oke Igeti, there is a compound named Oke Igeti in Ile - Ife but the compound has no mountain or hill, One of the popular hills in Ile - Ife is called Oke Ora, the only Mountain close to the town or Ooni's palace that can be used to back the myth up is Oke itase, because these Babalawos must give reasons why World Home of Ifa wasn't at Oke Igeti, so they have to established history to back their lies up, that when Orunmila was descending, He first descended in Moore because he was not well taken care of or honored, then he left Moore and moved to Oke Igeti, the same thing happened in Oke Igeti, then he moved to Oke Itase and he was well honoured and taken care of then he made Oke Itase his home.
The building been used today as World home of IFA was located at Oke Itase in Agiri's compound.
To make it appear as if is real, they decided to developed a myth about Orunmila descending through Moore in ile ife to Oke Igeti and from Oke igeti to Oke itase known as Oke agbonmiregun, With prove of inserting Origi as a symbol of where Orunmila first set foot on.
Awo Olodu merindinlogun was developed, ( 16 Awos Olodu in Ife) and among the Awo Olodu is the Araba as the head, followed by Agbongbon, next is Akoda , followed by Aseda etc.
Ajo ife Mefefa was formed, with names like Elegan, Olori Elegan, Ogbon, Olori Ogbon etc.
There are steps Babalawo Olodu must take before becoming Araba, Araba must have acquired the tittle of Agbongbon before becoming Araba, because Agbongbon is second in command to Araba.
After the passage of Araba, the next to become Araba is Agbongbon.
But suddenly the theory changed and Araba was zoned to Oke Itase Agiri's compound only,
Based on the believe if truly IFA is from Oke Itase, then only Oke Itase compound have the right to become Araba with the prove that Orunmila migrated to Oke Itase and made the place his home so therefore only Oke Itase will be entitled to the position of Araba.
Although the changes was of recent, some previous Araba were not from Oke Itase.
Another changes was recorded when the previous Araba Aworeni Mokanrale was made Araba from the position of Olori Iwarefa to Araba simply because the Araba must come from Oke Itase Agiri's Compound without any knowledge of IFA.
They later spoiled it all, people who knows nothing or have no training of IFA were made to become Araba and Awo Olodu.
Money is now one of the reason or major purpose to choose Araba not base on the steps to follow and the IFA training.
The recent Araba Aworeni Owolabi is the son of previous Araba Aworeni Mokanrale.
I had a fight or misunderstanding with the so called Araba Owolabi, he is very rude and I don't consider him to be Araba instead i see him as a rude an arrogant person.
This fake history and money involvement goes on till the world IFA home here in ile ife became a laughing matter or issue to be discussed.
It became worse when those who doesn't know IFA are initiated into Awo Olodu, simply because some claimed the title belong to their compound while some claimed to be babalawo without practicing and yet initiated into Awo Olodu.
See I won't lie to you or hide the truth, I don't believe in this international council of IFA religion, it was organised simply to exploit the foreigners.
And I'm happy that everything they did backfired on them, when they made Prof Odeyemi the president of international council of IFA religion, some claimed prof Odeyemi knows nothing or have little knowledge of IFA but he was given the honor by the late Araba Aworeni Mokanrale, as the president of international council of Ifa religion, while some claimed he helped in the registration of the international council of IFA religion.
In 2013/14, the Osun state government under the leadership of Gov Aregbesola gave out some millions to international council of IFA religion to renovate world Home of ifa, but the money was mismanaged.
The money was misappropriated by prof Odeyemi the president of international council of IFA religion and this led to a great fight, this fight caused a division.
Prof Odeyemi went to Ekiti is state to established another World home of IFA named Oke igeti.
Several attempt to bring them back to ife, by some Babalawos like (Araba) Baba Awodiran to avoid such division failed till today.
A lot of Babalawos doesn't believe in this international council of IFA religion.
As I have said I have nothing to do with any of the division or branches of international council of IFA religion, if they can back any or both up with IFA verses I will be in support and pls note, any fake IFA verses, either unrecognized or unaccepted IFA verses will always be ignore as back up.
By Ifanla Ogbeate Temple (09052586551)
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