The Story of Yemi Ajibade

When the BBC producer John Stockbridge was approached by the World Service in the 60s to create a drama for African listeners, he chose Yemi Ajibade, a promising young actor from west Africa with an established theatre career, for the lead role. The series was never made, but from then onwards Yemi regularly featured on radio. His talent was spotted, too, by television producers and he appeared in series including Danger Man (1965), Dixon of Dock Green (1968), The Black Safari (1972) and The Fosters (1976).

Yemi's play Parcel Post (1976) explored the clash of traditional African virtues with the values of modern Britain. It was directed by Donald Howarth at the Royal Court in London and, during the theatre's 50th birthday celebrations in 2006, Howarth recalled that the play had a "reconditioning" effect on audiences. Among Yemi's other stage plays were Fingers Only (1982), Waiting for Hannibal (1986), Para Ginto (1995) – Peer Gynt transposed to African soil – and A Long Way From Home (1991).

Yemi was born in Otta, Nigeria, from a line of Yoruba kings. The foundations of his love for theatre and the arts were laid at Abeokuta grammar school. In the mid-1950s Yemi travelled to the UK intending to become a journalist, but read a book on Stanislavsky and thought: "This is it." Yemi joined the Actors' Workshop in 1960 and the London School of Film Technique (now the London Film School) in 1966. Later, he took a master's degree at Royal Holloway, University of London.

In 1995 Jude Kelly, as artistic director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse, invited Yemi to join the cast of Wole Soyinka's Beatification of Area Boy as part of the Africa 95 celebration. His final stage appearance was on the Olivier stage at the National theatre in Thea Sharrock's 2007 production of Emperor Jones.

Yemi inspired a younger generation of Nigerian writers and artists in the UK.

Source: Guardian.com

Lagos Dance Festival

Dance is a choice.

Some of us chose it not because we can or can dance but because DANCE CHOSE US!

The only choice we made was to not resist being chosen. 

Dazall.

On the 18th of December, the Lagos Branch of the Guild of Nigerian Dance Practitioners, Eko GONDP organized the Lagos Dance Festival and  I was humbled by their sheer guts of making things happen in spite of all the odds. 

You see, the dance industry (I want to believe and hope that it is gradually becoming an industry) is one grossly misunderstood and hence underrated -but that is gradually changing. The dancer, to an unsuspecting public, is at best, merely an entertainer- one,  needed to create spectacle and amusements. If these were all a dancer is, what would be the fate of those who need such spectacles and amusements without the dancer? While I leave us to think about this, may I humbly submit that a professional dancer is more than the above. To the professional dancer, ‘dance is the hidden language of the soul’.

It is a deep expression of consciousness. Its economic importance to a discerning society is monumental too. Dance is life. Let me not even begin to make any attempt at talking about dance. 

Now, considering the level of structures in place and the appreciation of the art of dance in our clime, those who dare to strive to not only live their dreams but also plough the hard ground of creativity to plant the seeds of hope which they wet with their blood and sweat, deserve accolades and more. 

On the 18th of December 2021, I found myself among the few, selected for honour. How I got there, I really do not know, but when you find yourself in the midst of giants, being honoured by those with whom you ‘ply the same trade’, ask no question. Dance the dance of gratitude.

It is in this light that I want to say A BIG THANK YOU to:

• The brains behind the Lagos Dance Festival.

• The Chairman of Eko GOND, a true and worthy leader. 

• Our precursors in the industry, those who cleared the jungle before our arrival. 

• The gallant soldiers still dancing their hearts out to change the narrative, home and abroad. 

• The Chosen Ones, those special people who not only appreciate dance but also encourage and contribute to its sustenance.

• AND FINALLY TO THE MOST HIGH.

Let the dance begin. 

Let the dance continue. 

Great GOND!

WE DANCE TO THRIVE!

(Oriade. December 2021)

IGBOS FEARED - AND FEAR - ONLY THEIR LOCAL GODS

‘Did you say you are from Umunnachi?’

‘Yes.’

‘You must know Okpa Ime-Odu.’

I know Okpaa from stories. It is a powerful Deity in my town whose slogan is: ‘O bulu na nwanyi fu m yara i gba oso, atuba m nwoke ime.’ 

(If a woman sees me and fails to flee, I will impregnate a man.) 

All my life, I have never considered the reality behind this brag until I met this stranger in a welder’s workshop.

‘Eiii!’ he screamed. ‘That deity is everything scary. I saw it and my head swelled. For months, I could not take its image off my head.’

And he shared his encounter with Okpa Ime-Odu.

A wealthy Umunnachi man returned from overseas and decided to build a house. He engaged a tractor to clear his piece of land. While they were working, a local farmer went to his house with a complaint.

‘Your tractor is encroaching in my own little farm. You are exceeding your boundary.’

The wealthy man ignored the farmer and continued with his land clearing. The farmer visited the wealthy man’s kinsmen who could not stop the intrusion. 

Returning to his farm, the farmer noticed that labourers were already digging the foundation for the fence in his farm. He tried to stop them, but under the Wealthy man’s instruction, he was overpowered and the work continued.

The next morning, the labourers called the Wealthy Man. 

‘Oga, come o. There is something you need to see.’

‘I am not around. I will be back before mid-day.’

‘Then, we have to wait till you return.’

‘Wait? You should be laying the blocks. No living being can stop you.’

‘Oga, this one pass living being. Come and see with your own eyes.’

Leaving all his appointments, Oga ran back to his site. And behold, a native priest was on his land, and beside him was the dreadful, horrible-looking Okpa Imo-Odu.

The narrator, who was a part of the team that was erecting the fence, said that for the first time in his life, he saw a dark man change into green. The sight of Okpaa Ime-Odu sent fire and brimestone down Oga's spine. He had never imagined that such an imposing statue exist anywhere in the universe. 

The presence of Okpa Ime-Odu has already created a scene. The Priest of the dreadful God identified the man immediately.

‘This is for you. All you have to do is: say before Okpaa that every part of the land you cleared is yours; and we will take Okpaa back to His shrine. Just say it.’

You know, men do not know how to settle dispute amicably until a fly perches on their scrotum. Still too afraid to speak, his kinsmen took him by the side, and most probably enlightened him on what he was about to do.

He asked for the poor farmer, and the Priest plainly told him that they represent the farmer, hence, he should say whatever he wants to tell the farmer to them. He told the farmer to show him the boundary, that he was willing to settle.

Funny creatures. He thought that would be the end. The priest taught him the tradition. The Deity cannot just leave His abode to yours and you send Him back without some rites. In the list of what the deity went back with was a big Ram, and the man fulfilled it.

Fear no gree Oga to continue his dream project. He left the field and ran back to Oyibo man’s country; yes, he found something his money could not buy - the ultimate protector of the poor.

Had he sworn the oath - and if the legend is true - Okpaa will not only kill him but will also kill all his kinsmen that knew the truth and didn’t say it. Okpa will continue clearing all his relatives until He is appeased. 

At the involvement of a powerful deity, Oga - or any oppressor in Igbo land - loses his willpower to decide. His kinsmen, who also will inherit the blow of the gods, must get involved to exonerate themselves. Yes, at the involvement of Alusi, all the hidden truth must be let loose.

And I tell you, had the farmer reported Mr Wealthy Man to the church or Mosque or to other foreign gods, Oga and his kinsmen wouldn’t lose a night sleep. It took only a God he fears to persuade him.

This is the general case of every Igbo man. We know what and who to fear.

Ozii Baba Anieto

Ajambele

IF YOU DESIRE TO RAISE CHILDREN WHO WILL GIVE YOU REST OF MIND ALL THROUGH YOUR LIFETIME, READ THIS WRITE UP!

Yesterday we attended an event that changed my perspective on raising kids completely in US. I will try to summarize the key points as it will be helpful to all. The speaker was Dr. Leonard Sax. Even though it was at the Centre it was not related to any religion. The speaker is a Jewish Psychologist and author of a famous book call Collapse of Parenting. He had a lot of statistical information and tips to raise kids in America. Even though it was more focused on American Kids, it applies to bringing up Kids in the Age of Internet and Social Media, the evils of which have spread like an epidemic in the whole world. I can tell you that this was probably the best 3 hour workshop we attended. Even though a big segment was dedicated to social media, it was primarily about raising kids who will go on to have strong character and virtue. I have summarized the points below.

1) Statistically, the biggest indicator of success by age 32, is having self-control at age 12.

Success is determined by a lot of factors namely no drug , no criminal violation, having a stable job, good citizenship etc.

2)  Make your kids speak their native language at home and with you. Reduce generation gap by involving their grandparents in their lives. If possible try to convince their grand-parents  to move in with you.

3) Make them feel proud of their heritage. Kids nowadays are ashamed to talk their language or wear their cultural attire. In a quest to fit in and assimilate they want to no longer associate with their roots.

4) Have a friend circle with folks whose kids also are able to communicate in the same mother tongue. This way the kids can talk the language among themselves.

5) Do not give them smart phones until you know they are responsible. Buy them a dumb phone if required. This phone will fulfill the needs.

6) He went onto compare American society of the 50s to now. The family unit used to be the focus of ads and movies. How media has changed. At that time shows that depict parents as role models having strong moral characters were popular. Now shows like Simpsons etc that show Parents as dumb are popular. Make sure u keep track of things your kids watch. The more they watch shows like this the more they will loose respect for you as a parent.

7) Keep them away from games that promote violence and vice. He talked about Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto. Grand theft auto in particular rewards a person for doing all the wrong stuff like stealing cars and killing people. What kind of character is that going to build. He talked about how violence in games is directly related to gun violence in America with statistical examples.

8) No TV or computers in the bedroom. Kids cannot be in the bedroom with screen whether its school work or something else. Make family room a place where screen time is allowed. Follow the example yourself as well. Bedroom should be a place to go to sleep not to socialize with the outside world.

9) Keep kids away from Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook if possible as long as possible. Put monitoring software on their devices so that every single picture they take or Share, you get notified. Take their phones away at 9 in the night and give it back to them in the morning. Tell them that this is a condition going forward if they would like to keep their phone.

10) Be a peer to them but not a friend. If you become too friendly with the kids, they will start taking you for granted. Speak to them from a place of authority where No means No. When you take away the privileges from kids for their bad actions, they are going to resist. Be firm, remember you are the Parent.

11) Girls according to statistics are greatly influenced by Instagram and snapchat. Girls by nature will always post the good thing happening in their lives. This will create a false illusion among other girls and lead them to think that their life is a mess and make them go into depression. Boys are more influenced by video games. Limit screen time to 20 minutes a day during the week and 1 hour on weekends. But the condition is they complete all their school work. If they do not listen take away their devices.

12) Raise kids with humility. A very important characteristic. This can be inculcated by making them do chores at home even though u can afford maids. He said that the typical thing that parents say is  my son/daughter is already so busy I cannot burden him or her. This is a very wrong approach and will make your kids grow up with a feeling of entitlement and selfishness.

13) The biggest detrimental effect of increased screen time or social media is the displacement effect. Which means that the time they are spending on games is the time they are not spending on something useful.

14) Know what kind of music they listen to. The music of these times are ripe with sexual innuendo . Make sure they do not make people like Justin Bieber or Akon as their role models. He gave example of how the chartbuster song last year with some 1 billion or so downloads was filled with the most sexual content imaginable.

15) T-shirts with stuff written with rude and offensive remarks like "I will trade wifi for my Brother", "I don't care" etc should not be encouraged. T-shirts of these types when shown in Scotland and Australia, people found it very offensive. He actually talked abt a guy he found wandering the Streets of  Australia who was wearing this type of T-shirt . When Dr. Sax approached he found out he was an American visiting Australia.

16) America is one of the leading countries where drugs are given to kids in the name of ADHD and Depression. The statistics he said was the whole of France does not prescribe medicine for these disorders as much as they would do in entire Houston. Any small issues with A Kid, he is treated with anti depression medicine. This is all destroying a generation.

17) He said religion is a very important factor in people's life. Now a day’s people have made popularity, fame, money etc as their God. When people lack a higher purpose in life then they try to make materialistic things as their end goal.

18) When they surveyed people in the 1980s in America as to what are the 15 most important qualities or  characteristics people should possess. Having good character and helping people etc were all top of the list and being famous was on number 15 on the list. Today becoming famous is at number one. Signs of the changing times.

19) There is a big industry that makes phone apps that look like calculators, but when you enter a certain number it opens into an app that shows pornographic images. This way the kids can fool their parents. It goes beyond this. If the kid shakes the phone before handing over to the parent, the app disappears without a trace, not even in the recent list. Unless u download certain monitoring software it will be difficult for parents to keep  on top of their kids online activity. Netnanny is one of the software he recommended.

20) The kids who are addicted to online bad video games, when we ask them, are there any changes in their personality, they compare themselves with who are their peers and in similar situation and feel that they are OK, normal. But they are not comparing with normal kids who are not addicted.

22) Having dinner/meal with family is very important. The kids who eat 7 or more times in a week with family vs those who eat alone, there is big difference in their stress level and self control and happiness.

23) if you give 20 minutes screen time to your kids per day and if they don't use it, those minutes should  not roll over to future dates.

24) Sexting is very common nowadays. It is felony in certain states and kids may end up in jail. If a 16 year old is caught with explicit photos of another 16 year old on his/her phone, he or she will be charged and sent to jail and live as a registered sexual offender for rest of their life. Please make sure your kids are aware of the consequences of these acts.

25) Snapchat photos do not necessarily vanish in 5 sec. There are Apps that circumvent this restriction and allow you to take screen shots of photos without letting the sender know.

26) For current generation 'how they look' is more important than 'who they are'.

27) Finally, the Doctor added a very important point. He said Human beings have the longest period of childhood of all Mammals. Horses run Derbys when they are aged 3. This is by design for a reason. God has created human beings to have a long period (18 years) in which they are nurtured and the values re-enforced so that they stick with the individual for the rest of his/her life. Once the formative years are lost it is very difficult for an individual to change.

Ori

Ori, literally meaning "head," refers to one's spiritual intuition and destiny. 

Ori is the basic of our personality, it decides about our good and bad luck that is why our Ori (the place in our head) is the most important thing we have, something that we should worship in our life. It is human beings are able to heal themselves both spiritually and physically by working with the Orishas to achieve a balanced character, or iwa-pele. 

When one has a balanced character, one obtains an alignment with one's Ori or divine self. It is also believed that Ori be worshiped like Orisha. When things are not going right, Ori should be consulted. And to make things right Ori should be appeased. This is because whatever one becomes or whatever happens in one's life is as destined by Ori... 

Another way of worshiping Ori, is the way of worshiping Ori by ritual, called BORI. This way is more complex. It involves certain procedures and is performed by certain people who are qualified to do it. This is a ritual through which we feed our personal god and honor him to be nicer to us. Moreover we do this ritual for our Ori, our personal god, to be present and attentive in our life, so he can be at our service all the time. Ori is something of a significant importance and something we all possess, therefore in the philosophy of Orisha Ori is the first divinity – the first energy, which needs to be worshiped. Our individual Ori is the one, who creates the conditions for all other divinities, regardless of religion we belong to, to exist in our life. I have my Ori and this Ori is my personal divinity. All other gods, from whichever religion, all depend on how my Ori receives their messages. Each individual is the basis for gods.. 

PRAYER TO ÓRÌ

May the Creator of Destiny always be by my side to direct my steps and guide my destiny.

May the light of the day and darkness of the night always work for my favor to fulfill my life destiny.

Just as life currents work in the favor of those who know the path of light and wisdom.

May all the energy of the universe work in my favor and support my desire. 

May my legs take me to where my destiny will be fulfilled and attained its fullness.

May all divinities continue to bless me and guide my life now and in the life to come.

May all loved ones attract the blessing from Ólòdumàré , and may I witness divine protection and blessing till the end of the year and the beginning of the next year, and attract abundance till the end of my life.

ÀSÉ ÉDÚMÀRÉ....

Àbórú Àbóyè Àbósísè!!!

By Prof Odeyemi

During slavery, it was illegal for Africans to read any book other than the Bible

Anyone caught reading philosophy, science, governance, history, economics or any other genre of literature, faced the death penalty.

Why was this so?

The slave masters understood that the Bible was a tool to limit the thinking of black Africans and to keep them perpetually subservient. They knew that to keep them in servitude they had to make them accept their lot as the will of God and have them thinking about the end of days, these things will keep them in perpetual servitude. They refused to give them anything good but they gave them Christianity and the Bible.

Over five hundred years later, the descendants of the slaves who were whipped, tortured, raped and murdered, now confess implicit confidence in the same Bible. (a book hurriedly put together by Emperor Constantine in 325 AD when he decreed Christianity - an infusion of Roman paganism, Greek and Egyptian mythology" as the new State religion and his troops would violently convert most of the world's populations to this newly formed order by force and through violence. The Bible was central to the success of the trans Atlantic slavery. On a trip to Cape Coast in Ghana 2010, I saw first hand the role Christianity played in slavery. Slaves were first baptized and letters (signifyng their new names such as John, Peter, Isaac and other Christian names) engraved with hot metal in their backs - this was even before they learnt English. While in chains, blood dripping from all over their bodies, they recited the Nicean creed, not knowing the meaning.

Biblical Verses used by Slave Masters to Justify Slavery:

Ephesians 6:5

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ." lent divine credence to the predicament of slaves and consigned them to perpetual slavery.

Ephesians 6:9: And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Colossians 3:22: Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

Colossians 4:1: Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Titus 2:9: Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 

1 Peter 2:18: Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.

Revolting against the oppressors, was a direct rejection of God - so they were made to believe.

Today, many Africans know the Bible from the beginning to the end but they know little about themselves or ideas that can improve their lives. They can feel Jesus in their spirits and they are absolutely sure that Christianity is the only true religion. They are waiting for an apocalyptic climax to humanity where a blue eyed, blonde haired Caucasian savior would appear from the sky at the sound of a trumpet, to save them from debilitating poverty, a dysfunctional system, diseases and imbecility. 500 years later, Africans are still languishing in profuse ignorance.

The damage has been done.

In the words of the late scholar Dr. Henrik Clark;

"To control a people, you must first control what they think about themselves and how they regard their history and culture. And when your conqueror makes you ashamed of your culture and history, he needs no prison walls and chains to hold you".

What do you make of this?

THE FALLEN GENERATION: TAKE ACTION

A nation without a leader is a fallen nation. The persistent misinformation, misrepresentation and misinterpretation of the Yoruba Religious Culture is because of a lack of systematic education of its foundational concepts and pillars of truth in the National Academic Curriculum. 

Before the colonial era, the Yoruba society has its way of educating its people about its culture and ways and values and Taboos, as a member of the family or as a member of the community. 

In fact, Yoruba has a saying that "it takes 2 eyes to give birth to a child but it takes 200 to raise the child". The Yoruba educational structure before colonization was communally oriented.

This link of Knowledge transfer from generation to generation (Education) was broken upon colonization. 

Now that colonization has taken place and gone, the present governments of the indigenous people are supposed to unwind the colonial ties but take the colonial lessons. 

The system of education has changed, people now have to go to school to learn value systems because the school session has separated them considerably from the social system that used to be the system of education (OF VALUE AND WORK), where they learn by doing, not by reading.

As we have chosen to adopt the Oyinbo style which has proved also effective in raising their own environment to such excellence that we aspire to, we ought to switch the knowledge transfer medium of the Yoruba in digraphs way of life using contemporary machinery - School. 

Simply put, Yoruba Religious Studies should be an ACTIVE Academic Curriculum from Nursery school level. 

YORUBA LANGUAGE STUDIES MUST BE A COMPULSORY SUBJECT AS WELL AS ENGLISH LANGUAGE. 

This is the Leadership of the Rising Generation. 

We have to learn from the colonial agents, we have their Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) which is designed to make the children get the rudiments of the Gospel and Bible Stories. And the same for Arabs, who created the Islamic Religious knowledge. 

These stories are fascinating stories that make the idols (called Angels) of those people as the only divine superheroes that existed, thereby creating a love for their race in children's innocent hearts, while the religions go on a ferocious hate propaganda against Yoruba Indigenous religion, philosophy and history; we see that manifest in a form of self-hatred demonstrated by an innate suspicion of anything indigenous.

The Yoruba thus fearfully abandon his culture and tradition to cling forcefully, beggarly to Jesus and Mohammed superheroes to deliver them from their own wicked ancestral demons. 

The Yoruba culture was simply created to become a stench to Yoruba, something that painfully, some Yoruba are wishing will crumble forever and be ground to dust and forgotten in the lake of fire. It hurts me deep, these words I'm saying. But Ifá ò leè pin. It can't. Òtítọ́ ló ń gbé ni lékè.

It is time for Yoruba to tell the story of their history and philosophy as it is well clearly stated in Ifá. 

This much I know is a simple step, I don't think this needs any back and forth.

Get your representative in your parliaments into a discussion and present this petition. Tell them that Odùduwà sent you, tell them ALL THE IRUNMOLES of Yoruba sent you:

TO INCLUDE YORUBA RELIGIOUS STUDIES IN ACADEMIC CURRICULUM;

TO MAKE YORUBA LANGUAGE AS COMPULSORY AS ENGLISH LANGUAGE. 

With:

Babalawo Akomolafe Wande, The Secretary, International Council of Ifá Religion, Oluwo Ijo Ọ̀rúnmìlà Adúláwọ̀, Iwori-Osa Temple, Ijomu Akure 

&

Babaláwo  Folorunṣo Adetunji, The Àràbà Awo Ìṣẹ̀ṣe of Ondo State.

EŞU IS NOT SATAN; AND WHO IS ESU?

There is no blindness like ignorance. - Anonymous.

History is an intelligence that is more intelligent than everyone of us, because it lasts longer.- Prof Niyi Osundare.

Introduction: 

Silence should not be mistaken for consent, its a sweet medicine of the heart. 

Generally speaking, the name "Eşù" in relation to Biblical Satan and Qu'ranic Shitan has become a serious and controversial subject matter on social media and public domain in the recent time, which I can't just watch and keep mute, but air my voice on. 

It was so serious that all well known novices now asserts nonsense as knowledge, as if Satan and EŞÙ has the same conceptual and ideological origin coupled with their meanings. 

What must have caused this confusion about the identity of these two controversial beings? 

To ascertain that, one must endeavour to see through the eye of history, so as to cast out the ignorant blindness of our people, for clear understanding. 

History teaches us that, more than a century ago, a Yorùbá boy of about age of 12 named Ajayi was captured as a slave in the ancient small town of Osoògùn via Iséyin in the present Qyó State, Nigeria by the slave raiders and traders; and eventually got trained by the Missionaries as a Clergyman after the abolition of the slave trade. 

He later translated English Bible to Yorùbá language with erroneous/mischievous translations of many of the Yorùbá spiritual, conceptual, and ideological terminologies to devilish and retrogressive foreign metaphors and ideas. 

For example, he erroneously and mischievously translated Satan to be synonymous with our own dear Èşù. One will be tempted to ask what does a 12 year old boy know about Èșù at that time when he was not a Babaláwo in training, a son of an Awo or a child of an Eşù devotee? 

Definitely, It must has been as a result of ignorance, Christianity induced mischief and ego consciousness of being the one who did the translation of English Bible to Yorùbá (with the primary objective to Christianize the Yorubas) !

This very mistake and mischief of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther is still hurting Àsèsian community and Onísèses and all lovers of Yorùbá ancient religion till this moment; and it must be corrected appropriately. 

And it is very important to note that its not enough to continue to chant Eşù is not Satan; it's also very important that we tell the whole world who Eşù really is! 

Who is Esù? 

Eşu is not a ghost or falling angel, but an important Orişà in Yorùbá ancient religion known as Asese / Işese. He is an Irúnmolè. He is an excellent Administrator of justice and Police Officer in the pantheon of Deities who protects towns and villages and Awos against evil machinations. And it must be noted that, Eșù always favours those that performed the necessary and or appropriate ebọs and other forms of rituals; "eni tó bá ba rúbọ l'Èşù n gbè". 

He is the carrier of sacrifices from one Òrişà to another and or to the "ajoguns". And also, he do takes ebọ from the earth to the heaven. He is as strong as wall stone. With Eşù, Yorùbá towns has no reason to build wall of protection; Eşù is the wall of protection! 

Similarly, in the oral eulogy of Èșù as encapsulated in the holy Odù Ifá Oseètúrá, Owónrinsogbè, Osalogbe (Osá Èṣù), it is crystaly clear that Èsù is the most important Irúnmolè to be consulted and offered worship to whenever it comes to the founding of the new towns and communities in the ancient and pre colonial Yorübáland. 

Eşu and Satan: 

Unlike Eşù of the Yorùbás, Satan is a falling angel. Once glorified creature. He was not born of any human, but uses human to manifest its evil nature. Satan is a spirit that no mortal has ever seen with their naked eyes (but only Jesus Christ according to the Biblical records and it all happens spiritually). 

Yorùbás has a name for such a being prior to the colonisation of the Yorùbáland, but certainly not Eşù. Its called "ajogun" (evil spirit) and whoever such a spirit possessed to operate, they call such a person eni ibi or ènìyàn ibi (evil person). 

Eşù has the kind of foods that he do eat and the one he detest; and which his devotees must not also eat. Biblical Satan is the head of evil principalities and has controlling powers over them, but the Yorùbás' Èşù (though always a mischievous Irúnmolè) is a persuasive Orişà. 

Eşù and Names in Yorùbá Land:

Prior to the introduction of Christianity and Islam to the Yorùbá land, Yorùbás believes that the names to be given to a new born baby have a serious influence in his or her life, and the names are determined by the situations at home of the child's parents, circumstances that may surround the birth of the children themselves and Irúnmole /òrişà been worshipped by the parents. 

Hence, a child that is born into Ifá devotee's household is likely to be given a name with Ifá, Awo, Oşùn, and Odù as a prefix. Eg Ifákúnlé, Awósolá, Amóşùn, Odùşànyà. So also Èşù devotees' household which is not an exemption. Eg Eşúlékè, Èşúkòyà, Eléşùúdé etc. 

And behold, it may interests you to note that those that are bearing or sharing names with Eşù do not act devilishly. 

Èşù, Three foot path and and the Worship Points in Yorùbá land:

Eşù is not just an Irúnmolè that can be venerated by anyone and at anywhere, but at the three foot path abode called Ojúbo Èşù or Ojúbo Elégbára (among the Awóris in Lagos and Ọta axis in Ogun States). 

Hence, Èşù Láàlú Ògiri Òkò, Onílé Oríta. This Ojúbo is usually located in the centre of the towns or villages. The Babaláwos also used to erect Éşu "agbębo" in front of their homes and like wise some other Oníşeses in front of their different shrines. 

A typical example of this, is the popular Ojú Ẹlẹ́gbaa located in the present Surulere area of Lagos which used to be the worshipping point and shrine for Èsù also known as Ẹlẹ́gbaa (Ẹlẹ́gbaa) by the Àwórìs in particular owned by the Ọ̀jọrá Ruling House of Lagos now corrupted as Ojúelégba. 

Conclusion: 

Having critically examined the Irúnmolè called Eşù from different perceptive, I will like to believe that I have been able to contribute to the body of knowledge about Èşù and also convinced and not confused you that Eșù is not Satan.

Written by Kareem Adetola Yusuf Edited by Adérèmí lfáòleèpin Adérèmí (Olúwo Ifákòleèpin)

Learn From Daddy and Mummy In Malawi ….

A man in Malawi calls his son in South Africa last week & says, "I hate to ruin your day but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing, forty-five years of misery is enough".

"Dad, what are you talking about?'" the son screams.

"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer", the father says. "We're sick of each other and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in USA and tell her".

Frantically, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone, "Like hell they're getting divorced", she shouts, "I'll take care of this".

She calls home immediately and screams at her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?"and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife.

"I told you, it's done! They are coming home for Christmas"

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR AHEAD!!!

A HEALTHY PERSON FOR EVERYBODY, A PATIENT FOR HIMSELF

(Resemblance to the Case of Sunday Adeyemo -Igboho)

When the Bolivian military managed to find Che Guevara out of hiding with the information off a shepherd, they asked the shepherd : "Why denouncing a man who sacrificed himself yet for your freedom and well-being?"

The shepherd replied: "I denounced him because the crackling of arms scares my animals in pasture".

When Mohamed Karim, the Egyptian who undertook to resist the assault of Alexandria launched by Napoleon, was arrested by the army and sentenced to death, Napoleon appealed to him and said: "I have the trouble to execute a man who has valiantly defended his country, I do not wish history to retain the image of a person who stifles the impetus of the patriots that defend the integrity of their homeland, so, I promise you freedom if you pay ten thousand gold coins as financial compensation to my soldiers that the resistance killed ", smiling, Mohamed Karim replied:" I do not have the full amount requested on me, but I am indebted more than 100 thousand pieces of gold by the merchants of Alexandria, they will pay for sure, this fine, so that I have my life saved! "

Chained, Mohamed Karim was driven to the Alexandria market for a tour of the market in search of the sum on which his freedom will depend. But, to his great surprise, no merchant was on his fate, worse, the natives accused him of being a troublemaker, destroyer of property, and undermining the economic vitality of the port city of Alexandria! "

Napoleon, in view of the resignation of his family towards him, declared: "I will concede that the sentence of capital punishment be executed not because you killed my soldiers, but for having fought for cowardly people, who care more about their business than about their integrity! "

Mohamed Rachid Rida, Syrian Arab reformator said:

"To revolt on behalf of an ignorant people, is like to set yourself on fire in order to light the way for a blind man!"

Meditate to fully understand the ingratitude of a society that is ready to shamelessly deny its commitments, its convictions and its values...

Merry Christmas

ÈṢÙ BRIEFLY DESCRIBED

Long long time ago, in ilé Ifẹ̀, Ifá is the known as word of Olódùmarè. Ọ̀rúnmìlà was the revealer of this word, while Èṣù is Ọ̀rúnmìlà messenger.

Èṣù can be syncretized or compared to the Hermes of the Greek mythology, the messenger of the Gods.

Èṣù is a very swift Irunmole that is in every place attending to the errands of Ọ̀rúnmìlà.

Èṣù is not a creation of Olódùmarè, Èṣù is independent of Olódùmarè.

Just like everything in creation however, Èṣù has its own Àṣẹ. And the Àṣẹ is in his swiftness and ability to make anything happen that he wants happened, and that, independently.

Olódùmarè and Èṣù began existence almost at the same time. They are the first two things to exist.

Olódùmarè can create, for he dwells in the abode of light.

Esu cannot create, for he dwells in the abode of darkness.

As light began its expansion, darkness challenged that he would be taking his own fair share in the creation that is encroaching into its territory, and there is nothing Olódùmarè can, could, would do about it. A consensus was reached. Creation began/continued.

All Èṣù wants from all the creatures is acknowledgement, more like an "you met me here" kind of stand.

Most of them didn't know who he is and what he is capable of because he's usually a master of disguise, so they make light of his requests, they fail his test, they make light of his threats. They said "since they were created by Olódùmarè, Olódùmarè is greater than Èṣù án only Olódùmarè's Àṣẹ will move them." Ifá makes us understand that Èṣù does discipline them, ALWAYS for their folly, regardless of who is involved be it man, divinity or king. Èṣù ìs a respecter of no one.

Olódùmarè then gave Ọ̀rúnmìlà the thread of wisdom that will be needed by his creation - both man, Irunmole and Olódùmarè himself to live with Èṣù.

Ọ̀rúnmìlà became who to go to escape from the hands of all Ajogúns, which are under the command of Èṣù.

Ọ̀rúnmìlà got Èṣù's unflinching loyalty through his generosity. Ọ̀rúnmìlà will not eat without setting a portion to Èṣù.

This is why Èṣù in creation made himself stay with Ọ̀rúnmìlà since food was guaranteed for him with Ọ̀rúnmìlà.

How Ọ̀rúnmìlà knew that generosity can earn him the friendship of Èṣù is a function of Ọ̀rúnmìlà's own inner wisdom. This was demonstrated in a competition that Olódùmarè organized for all the Irunmole, winning this competition earned Ọ̀rúnmìlà the thread of wisdom I mentioned above.

Èṣù submits his Àṣẹ to the service of Ọ̀rúnmìlà.

Ọ̀rúnmìlà recognizes Èṣù as his most trusted friend among the Irunmoles.

The Odù Ifá is resplendent of several times that Èṣù helped Ọ̀rúnmìlà and several other people whom Ọ̀rúnmìlà prays for. Be it Man, King or Divinity. 

Whatever offerings those who Ọ̀rúnmìlà helps come with, Ọ̀rúnmìlà shares with Èṣù.

Odù Owonrin-ṣogbè makes us understand that without making offering to Èṣù, we can do nothing. 

Èṣù is an opposing force that demands and offering from us in order to enlist his support through our journey on this earth. 

The earth is created in Èṣù's territory, he is to be respected for this. This is what Ọmọlúwàbí teaches us. We honor those who are older than us. This is a Yoruba culture.

Today, Yorùbá celebrates Èṣù, a primordial divinity, a helper of the humble who makes offering, the one who rebukes the arrogant who feels confident in himself or his own ability to navigate through life. 

Happy Èṣù day. 

By Ayobami Ogedengbe

Copyrights: © 2021

ÌṢẸ̀ṢE (IFÁ-ORISA INSTITUTIONS) AS THE PHILOSOPHICAL BASIS OF A YORUBA NATION

Orí òrùlé kò ṣeé rìn gbaragada gbàràgàdà 

a dífá fún ìpilẹ̀ṣẹ̀ tí ń ṣe baba ìlékè, 

ǹjẹ́ tí ìpilẹ̀ṣẹ̀ bá bàjẹ́, èmi la fẹ́ fi ìlékè ṣe? 

- Ofun-Ose

Translation:

The roof (of the house) can't be walked upon majestically,

Ifá was cast for the foundation which is the father (bearer) of the roof,

Behold if the foundation is destroyed, what is the use of the roof?

- Ofun-Ose.

For hundreds of years, the cultural oppression of the Christian and Islamic adherents had destroyed and tarnished the image of the true essence of the Yoruba Traditional practice thereby putting a knife to that which binds us together as a people.

If you are a Christian, you might be scared that you might not be given a free hand to practice what you believe in the Yoruba nation (if there will be one), but rightfully so. If part of your practice is the demonizing of the indegenous Yoruba culture, which our forefathers accepted for reasons best known to them, you will not be having the freedom to do that in the Yoruba nation. 

You will not have the right to use Èṣù as your Satan nor refer to Ògún, Sango, Ọ̀ṣun, Ifá and others as "demons".

Your Christian theology will be completely reviewed and the government institution of the Yoruba nation will do all that is in its power to check the spread of those European and Arabian mythologies - as was the case in China and Japan.

Presently in our primary and secondary schools, Yoruba children are made to sing different songs linking themselves with "Father Abraham has many sons...", this is child abuse, a blatant lie that will not be allowed to take root. Why? Because we know the origins of the religion, its dangers on our soil and its limitation in raising true Ọmọlúwàbís. 

The terms "holy" "righteous" and "saints" are not defined in the same way the Yoruba define "Ìwà Pẹ̀lẹ́", "Ọmọlúwàbí" and"Awo" which are the core of the Yoruba Traditional Spiritual practice are defined. If therefore our children lose Ìwà Pẹ̀lẹ́ and Ọmọlúwàbí tenets in the interest of the advancement of foreign religions, do you consider it safe for us to fold our hands and watch our Cultural values continue to be eroded as it has obviously been? No! We need Ìwà Pẹ̀lẹ́ and Ọmọlúwàbí and that's what the Ifá-Orisa institutions teach. It is therefore a fatherly responsibility to educate our children in the Ifá-Orisa institutions which the Christian and Islamic communities stand VEHEMENTLY against. If leaving Nigeria for the Christians and Muslims is what will make it possible for me to educate my own children in the way they should go, it's a cause worth pursuing with all vigor.

If you consider the energy of the ÌṢẸ̀ṢE evangelists as threatening to colonial religious freedom, then you are an oppressor, a lover of filth and a champion of wickedness who has no regard for Ìwà Pẹ̀lẹ́ and Ọmọlúwàbí tenets. These are the major concepts that will form the foundation of a Yoruba nation and nothing else.

The Yoruba Ìṣẹ̀ṣe practice MUST be entrenched because of the superiority of its worldview compared to the Abrahamic religious dogmas. There was never a religious motivated war in Yoruba land before the advent of these two foreign religions. We have observed the philosophical basis of both and found them completely inferior to Yoruba philosophical worldview. If this factual statement constitutes arrogance to you in your assessment of the Ìṣẹ̀ṣe evangelists, then we are unapologetic about it.

We will be fierce in establishing our Cultural values and we will not be so timidly kind like our forefathers for their kindness is what has brought us here, where we now see the need to aggressively protect our culture - it's called self-preservation. 

As for the notion that Christianity and Islam are in the majority, you speak what you feel. How did you come about that conclusion? Did you factor in the many Christians and Muslims who visit Babaláwos and who have also been initiated into Ifá in your statistic? 

Identification with Christianity and Islam are just needed as political power bases in Nigeria and for economic gains in the world (talk of the mark of the beast). As we move into the Era of cultural justice, the age of Sango in the Astrological order, water will find its level and these two religions will naturally lose their appeal (as it is already happening).

We will not be forcing Yoruba Ìṣẹ̀ṣe practice on the people, the people who are so called Adúláwọ̀ will willingly come to embrace their Ifá Orísun because the foreign religions have only built outwardly pious people who can't find spiritual fulfillment internally; this is why we have churches and mosques growing in Nigeria, JPs and Alhajis in Political spaces, yet the country continues on its path to a free fall.

Bí ọ̀rọ̀ bá kàn yín, ẹ̀ẹ́ tọ Ifá wá, but until then, the truth about ourselves and our origin will be shared to counter the negative psychological effect of centuries of cultural sabotage by the Abrahamists.

It is nothing personal, it is self-preservation. Not all of us will and can fold our hands.

Talking of religious freedom? 

If your religion says that my religion is evil, then we either reform your religion or I make killing you also a part of my religion. If my religion says I should kill those who are not of my religion, would you advocate for religious freedom? This in essence is proof that the idea of religious freedom must be defined. 

Yoruba has a well defined spiritual order, if Yoruba nation will be achieved, it will stand on Yoruba spiritual order. If you don't like the sound of that, maybe you should consider choosing to remain in Nigeria. The problem of Nigeria presently is majorly championed by these two foreign religions, if I am going into a Yoruba nation, you must know that Ogun, Sango and Ayelala will play important roles in the swearing in of political office holders not Bible and Quran as we currently know.

He who has an ear, let him hear!

PS: At this time, I'm for political restructuring to allow states their autonomy for the much needed economic development.

By Ayobami Ogedengbe 

Copyrights © 2021

IFÁ PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE: THE LAUNCHPAD TO AFRICA'S RISING

There is an Ifá Story that told us of when Ọ̀rúnmìlà sent his wife, Ìwà, packing out of the house, accusing her of untidiness.

Ìwà left and went back to her father's house but things did not remain the same again for Ọ̀rúnmìlà. Negative things started happening to him and he found out that it was because he had lost Ìwà. 

He searched everywhere on earth for Ìwà but couldn't find her, then he went to heaven to look for her. He found ìwà in heaven in the house of her father Sùúrù. 

He pleaded strongly for Ìwà to return with him to earth but ìwà refused and declared that henceforth humans will be the ones responsible for shaping their character, hence the saying, Ọwọ́ ẹni la fi ń tún ìwà ara ẹni ṣe.

(ìwà is the Yoruba word for character, good character)

Now, this Ifá verse might be applicable in the society in the two following ways:

1. As a social philosophy (larger society).

It can be used as a story for moral instruction on the importance of good character in man's life.

2. In Divination (individual)

The enquirer could be told that his wife is a very strong pillar to his success and that negative things have started happening in his life because he had divorced the woman. It might also be coming out as a warning for him not to divorce his wife.

In Africa, Ifá was/is used both as a means of teaching morals to the larger society and as a means of helping individuals maintain order in their lives considering that life is deeper than what the five physical senses alone can perceive/fathom.

For our African society to revive its cultural values of chastity and Ọmọlúwàbí, the teachings of Ifá must be developed by the academia and used as a means of teaching the native wisdom to native African people in order for Africans to be able to live according to their values, which we will all agree is nothing short of absolute, perfect holiness - being in unity with nature.

The African esoteric philosophy of life must be a part of the African educational system because Africa knows that there are forces beyond human forces that influence human experiences. These forces are mentioned in their different names in the Ifá Corpus and the interfacing interactions that man must have with them to create order in their personal lives and in the entire universe are well detailed, though in crude oral form. There should be absolutely no reason why there can't be a budget from African governments for the development of indigenous philosophical knowledge. 

What about the Osanyin traditional herbal medicine knowledge which is also contained in Ifá? Are we going to neglect such multi trillion whatever currency potential market because the priest of a certain St. George's Cathedral or St. Mary's Church said that herbal medicine by Osonyin followers are demonic or are we going to take just the herbal knowledge and not give credit to Osanyin through whose wisdom the plants were named and their uses identified?

Many of the clergies patronize these herbalists in their personal lives. 

You all Africans must know that the African Christian priest is simply doing the job his employer pays him to do in order for him to make ends meet, he didn't neglect his root. Those of them who know the truth never ignore their root. But their job description tells them to discourage such things publicly. It is now left for you to use your sense.

But I think it is hightime we stopped that hypocrisy. It is time we stopped it. 

Government SHOULD fund Ifá knowledge, especially the Philosophical and Medical Part.

By Ayobami Ogedengbe

Written first in 2020.

IFÁ SCHOOL

The Yoruba worldview of Ifá states that Our lives (and the universe) are governed by cosmic energies called Irunmoles. They are the divinities (Òrìṣàs) Ògún, Sango, Èṣù, Obatala, Ọ̀rúnmìlà, Odù, Ọ̀ṣun etc. 

Individual Ori (consciousness) interact with these cosmic energies like transmitter - sending and receiving energy waves. 

Ifá Religious practice (a combination of Divination, guide and sacrifice) is the process of harmonizing these energies in and around us to produce the desired impact (Ire - goodness) in our lives THROUGH OUR ORÍ (authentic divine conscious energy) which is our source (connection) to Olódùmarè - the Supreme energy. 

When these cosmic energies are out of alignment in our lives, that's when we experience Ibi (turmoil). Turmoil that can manifest in forms of financial poverty, body sickness, loss of profit in business, marital tension, emotional trauma and the likes.

Through frequent Ifá divinations (at the very least once a year) followed by sacrifice, listening to warnings and Ìtẹfá, ones Orí (consciousness) is kept in constant/proper alignment with the cosmic energies throughout one's life. 

Such people live life with a manifest calmness, serenity and assurance. More so, when they die, their offsprings thrive, they will continue to blossom from generation to generation as long as the tradition of using Ifá as guide is kept intact.

If one's cosmic energy pattern is dislodged from their favorable order, as said earlier, the individual will experience turmoil which serve as feedbacks for him/her to know that something is off. This is what prompts us to Dafa (make Ifá divination) to find out what is out of alignment and to seek to fix it with Ẹbọ (sacrifice) and Ètùtù (appeasements).

Consequently, if parents don't fix the imbalance in their lives, they would pass it on to their offspring except the offspring take steps to correct it. 

The manifest decline of the Blackman's glory in the world today is a repercussion of centuries of neglecting their Origin/source. Let's not forget however that it was the Whiteman who seeks to steal and eradicate the Blackman that deceived and sometimes forcefully discouraged the Blackman from connecting to his source through his spirituality of Ifá. 

To redeem the the Black race and the world therefore, we must accept the knowledge/fact that humans are individual transmitters that are in constant connections with cosmic energies within and outside of our space. And that through Ifá, we have prescribed procedure  to maintain harmonious relationship with these cosmic energies. 

The move by the western world to destroy that system of Knowledge and implant foreign spiritual ideologies in us while they go secretly on a frantic search to investigate what is beyond that outer space must be seen for what it is, a western deception aimed at keeping the rest of the world enslaved while they think they might be able to unravel what Ifá has said concerning the presence of intergalactic forces and beings. 

We choose to make the knowledge of Ifá available for public liberty as it is the foundation of personal liberation from fear and uncertainty. Despite years of deliberate suppression by forces of the West, Ifá has survived and it continues to spread, this goes to show that Truth can't be destroyed.

Ayobami Ogedengbe 

(c) 2021

ESU IS NOT SATAN

Esu is an irunmole among many others, it is ignorantly being referred to as SATAN OR DEVIL but as a matter of fact, he is certainly not the devil of the New Testament in the Bible (Book of the Christian)  nor SEITAN or Asitani as the Muslim clerics do call it. 

Esu is primarily a special relations officer between heaven and earth, he can be referred to as the "inspector general" who reports regularly to olodumare on the deeds of the divinities and men,  he checks and marks reports on the correctness of worship in general and sacrifices in particular. 

In Yoruba traditional belief system, the babalawo (an ifa priest)  usually hold the view that esu is created to be the right hand divinity to orunmila bara- agbonmiregun, Esu is ubiquitous because he must always be about  his business of inspection, his portfolio includes, among other things,  the inspection of worship and sacrifices, he works in collaboration with orunmila, he is the approver and bearer of sacrifices to heaven

"Owonrin a sogbe"

"ki esu gba "

Esu as a source of wealth to individual and especially a business man/woman

In odu ifa okanran meji, it is clearly stated that esu makes business activities to go well and helps about bringing more gain and achievement to someone day to day activities., 

Sowola Sowola Sowola

Adifa fun elegbara 

Ti yio fi Owo kan soso, se Owo la

Ti yio jere egberin oke

Nje ta lo fi Owo kan sowo la? 

To jere egberin oke? 

Elegbara lo fi Owo kan sowo la to si jere egberin oke "

This verse tells us how elegbara invested with little  money and made a lot of profit which is applicable to us as individual and a business entrepreneur. 

Esu is a great protector, esu can be worshiped for so many reasons, one of it is it's ability to protect his followers against enemy, this is why we have many families who worship esu and name there children after esu such as esubiyi, esuola, esudamilare, esulekan and so on

"Esu ko ibi kuro lori Awo"

Esu can be fed with many and different foods such as cock, palm oil, goat, colanut, gin, bitter cola and so on and it has a lot of praise name based on its character such as "Alakalu " meaning the heaven whose greatness is manifested all over the place"

It is also called elegbeje ado " the custodian of 700billions gourd" and each is used for different functions, that is why it is been praised as elegbeje ado in odu ifa "EJIOGBE "

Bo sa pamo

Ori re a ni oun ko sa pamo 

Bi o rin ni ikoko eleda re a ni oun ko rin ni ikoko 

Adifa fun alangajiga ti yio fi ise baba re sile 

Ti yio ma se ise baba o ni baba

Nje esu a gbe wa, elegbeje ado 

Alangajiga, odara a gbe wa o 

Elegbeje ado, alangajiga 

This simply explains how esu uses its gourd to bless his followers.

Esu is a benefactor of a community. For instance most esu residing in Orita meta (The three cross roads) sends back evil or calamity that may likely befall such community. Yet some people still ignorantly tags such deity as being devilish. 

It is high time we woke up from our slumber and orientate our different communities about what ESU as a deities is up to. 

Happy Esu Day!

Oluwo (Dr) Fasola Faniyi

Araba of Otta, Awori kingdom

Copyrights © 2020

THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM 'MMADỤ' (HUMAN)

There are many reports on the origin of the term Mmadụ in the Igbo Language. Mmadu can be translated to Human in English but this is just for the lack of a proper alternative. Mmadụ, as Igbos perceived it, is something far higher than mere flesh.

Of all of I have read about the origin of that term, 2 was outstanding.

One said that Igbo traditional religion has a lot of reverence for life which they call ndụ. Hence, their excessive usage of the idiom Ndụ Mmiri, Ndụ Azụ (Metaphorical supplication for the preservation of life). And every serious sacrifice, depending on its magnitude, requires a life.

The greatest of all the sacrifices was human sacrifice, because they believed that there was nothing greater than human beings. From these props, one group of scholars believe that man, in Igbo spiritualism, is the beauty of life (mma ndụ - literally meaning beauty of life). And for that reason, humans are called Mmadụ.

The second group takes it to another philosophical level and below is the summary of the submission:

In Igbo cosmology, spirits are referred to as Mmuo (spirits) and from creation, the greatest spirits of this universe are - Mmou Ọnwụ (Dead Spirit) and Mmou Ndụ (Living Spirit). Mmou Ndụ would always become Mmụọ ọnwụ and Mmụọ ọnwụ could reincarnate into Mmụọ Ndụ.

Like every tongue on earth, Igbos have a way of pronouncing names or terms with no patience. Take my name for example, my siblings call me Oziaa (fast way of saying Ozioma), and my elder brother, we call Chiooe (that's Chigozie).

Mmụọ Ọnwụ (The Dead Spirit) was not spared. Some tongues call it Mmụọ and others are still patient enough to pronounce Mmanwụ.

Mmụọ Ndụ (The Living Spirit) sounded as Mmadụ, and this becomes its term till today. However, the arts of the ancient Igbo always marry both.

That's why shrines always have a drawn representation of the living and the scary face of the dead. And Igbo, in every speech, will always join both.

We always say:

Ma mmụọ ma mmadụ

Nwa mmou egbuna nwa mmadụ, nwa mmadụ egbuna nwa mmụọ.

(These represent the dead and the living)

Even the priest of great deities introduced themselves as Okala Mmadụ, Okala Mmụọ (Half Living Spirit, Half Dead Spirit)

Either A (the beauty of life) or B (Living Spirit), I am very comfortable with the Igbo understanding of what Mmadụ. 

Igbo remains a misunderstood tribe that enshrined spirituality in every aspect of their culture - a culture the natives threw away without a second thought.

Ozii Baba Anieto

Nigerian, Col Amanda Azubuike Becomes Highest-Ranking Female In US Military

Col Amanda, currently the Chief, Public Affairs and Spokesman for the U.S. Southern Command is rewarded for her exceptional traits of brilliance and strength in the discharge of her duties.

She has served as a Public affairs professional with more than 15 years of experience leading strategic communications planning and execution, media relations, crisis communication, internal and external stakeholder relations, and international affairs.

Currently, the Communications Director and principal public affairs advisor for an organization that oversees military operations in twenty-eight countries throughout Central America, South America and the Caribbean, PushNews writes.

She Supports the Commander’s communications objectives and public outreach efforts through traditional and social media as she prepares and conducts media engagements, communications strategy for the command’s current and future operations. Responsible for planning, developing, monitoring and executing public affairs outreach and communication programs to build and maintain public trust and support for U.S. Southern Command.

With Amanda’s exalted position she is also responsible for collaborating and synchronizing with communicators at all levels of DoD, the interagency and U.S. embassies in the region. Provide guidance to subordinate commands and maintain oversight of public affairs manning, training and logistics.

We say thumbs up to her on her elevation as a senior officer.

Queen Naomi Silekunola announces ‘divorce’ from Ooni of Ife, explains reasons!

Her Majesty, Queen Silekunola Naomi, has announced her separation from the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II.

In a statement posted on her verified Instagram handle and Facebook page on Thursday, she announced an end to the three-year marriage.

According to her, she tried to make the union work but said the monarch’s public identity is at variance with “his true self”.

The fair-skinned ex-queen wrote, “I did my best to endure and make it work; many times, I smiled through the struggle, but I have finally realised I had just one assignment, my son, and when God is done, He is done. He chose Saul to be king, and when He was done, He told the prophet Samuel I have moved on. Religion was never an issue between us; please refer to my interview on News Central TV. Instead, His Majesty has a picture he would love the world to see and perceive him as and another one which is his true self.”

The evangelist then declared, “Today I announce the beginning of a new dawn and the close of a chapter. Today, I am a mother to God’s unique gift. I am no longer a slave to my thoughts of perfection. I, at this moment, announce that I shall no longer be referred to as wife to the Ooni of Ife or as Queen of Ile-Ife but as the Queen of the people and mother of my adorable Prince.”

Responding to some allegations, Silekunola said that her “decision to move on did not come because his majesty is married to another queen”.

She further explained, “As many would love to assume, throughout our life as a couple, I was the only married wife to him. There were side attractions, but it was never an issue.

Naomi Silekunola and Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II

Naomi Silekunola (R) and Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II

“I never approached him with any revelation of any sort, as many believed he contacted me first and made his proposal known several months later.

“The marriage was not an arranged one, as many have misconstrued. I never knew the prophetess said to have introduced me to him. Instead, he introduced her to me after I agreed to marry him. I was only being polite out of respect for him.

“I have never been pregnant all my life before Tadenikawo; my son is my first ever pregnancy with medical reports to back it up. The girl who is said to be my daughter is my niece.”

The Ooni previously suffered a marital breakdown in 2017 when he split from Edo-born Zaynab-Otiti Obanor, whom he married as a monarch on March 16, 2016. Obanor’s marriage to the king lasted for 17 months before the separation.

He later married Silekunola in 2018 and the marriage produced a son, Tadenikawo.

The 47-year-old monarch also had a daughter with Omolara Olatubosun as a teenager. Olatubosun gave birth to Princess Adeola Ogunwusi but of recent, there have been counter-claims between the Ooni and Olatubosun over who is responsible for the upbringing of her daughter.

ITSEKIRI IS YORÚBÁ: CAN PRESIDENT

Ayodele Joseph Oritsegbubemi Oritsejafor, fondly called Papa Ayo Oritsejafor by many of his numerous admirers is the founding and Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, located in Warri, Nigeria. He became the national president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) on the 7 February 2005. He was elected President of CAN, Christian Association of Nigeria.

In this interview, he speaks about the history of Itsekiri people and other topics:

Q: What would you say is unique about the Itsekiri people of Warri kingdom?

The first Christian missionary that came here was the Roman Catholic. In fact, the first contact with a white man was here. The Itsekiri people are the first contact with the white man in Nigeria.

By the way, the second thing that many people in Itsekiri may not elaborate on is that Itsekiri is Yoruba. The Itsekiri language is a dialect of the Yoruba language. Itsekiri people migrated from Yorubaland. Some of them migrated directly from Ife.

Some migrated from the riverine areas of Ijebu, and some migrated from Ondo. Some of them especially the ones that migrated from Ife, they migrated with the Ilaje. The Ilaje stopped at a point but the Itsekiri continued and they ended up here in Warri.

Now, a few of them came from Benin Kingdom. The Benin connection came from the palace. The palace connection is still Yoruba at the end of the day because the first Oba of Benin was a son of Oduduwa.

The first Olu of Warri was a first son of the Oba of Benin. That’s the Benin connection. The Itsekiri, when they moved here, they came with their Ife.

The upland Yoruba called it Ifa. We are the waterside Yoruba.

Our people will call the other Yoruba, Iroke. They called the Oyo people Iroke and other Yoruba Iroke but the Yoruba called them Ara Oke.

This history is very important because they are dying away. In those days, the Ife which the mainstream Yoruba will call Ifa was the god of divination.

The Ife had told the Itsekiri people that a prince would come and become their king. Therefore, they stayed without a king for a very long time, in fact for many years.

They were waiting for that prince, eventually this prince who was the first son of the Oba of Benin was a grandson of Oduduwa. He was very proud so he had a lot of problems with Benin chiefs.

They were going to kill him. His father who was the Oba of Benin, you know he was supposed to be the Oba of Benin after his father, but for his own protection, his father had to get him out of Benin Kingdom. He gave him about 70 chiefs.

They smuggled him out, put him in a boat and they performed all kinds of rituals. They put him in a boat then sailed to Warri. When he ended up here, remember our own people were waiting for a prince, they have been waiting for years.

When he arrived, they consulted their Ife again and the Ife says, “This is the prince”. So, that was how he became the first Olu of Warri. That was how the first Olu of Warri came about.

In those days, in the palace, in Warri kingdom, they used to speak Yoruba. The palace was 100% Yoruba. Don’t forget the Itsekiri language is a dialect of Yoruba land and therefore a Yoruba language as it is to this day.

The Benin are not Yoruba; they are descendants of Oduduwa but the palace is YORÚBÁ.

The current population of Earth is around 7.8 Billion

For most people, it is a large figure, that is all. However, someone has condensed the 7.8 billion in the world into 100 persons, and then into various percentage statistics. 

The resulting analysis is relatively much easier to comprehend.

Out of 100:

11 are in Europe.

5 are in North America.

9 are in South America.

15 are in Africa.

60 are in Asia.

49 live in the countryside.

51 live in cities.

12 speak Chinese.

5 speak Spanish.

5 speak English.

3 speak Arabic.

3 speak Hindi.

3 speak Bengali.

3 speak Portuguese.

2 speak Russian.

2 speak Japanese.

62 speak their own language.

77 have  their own houses or are able to pay rent.

23 have no place to live.

21 are over-nourished

63 can eat full

15 are under-nourished.

1 ate the last meal, but did not make it to the next meal.

The daily cost of living for 48 is less than US$2.

87 have clean drinking water.

13 either lack clean drinking water or have access to a water source that is polluted.

75 have mobile phones.

25 do not.

30 have internet access.

70 do not have conditions to go online.

7 received university education.

93 did not attend college.

83 can read.

17 are illiterate.

33 are Christians.

22 are Muslims.

14 are Hindus.

7 are Buddhists.

12 are other religions.

12 have no religious beliefs.

26 live less than 14 years.

66 died between 15 - 64 years of age.

8 are over 65 years old.

If you have your own home, eat full meals & drink clean water. Have a mobile phone. Can surf the internet, and have gone to college. You are in the miniscule privileged lot.

(in the less than 7% category)

Amongst 100 persons in the world, only 8 can live or survive beyond the age of 65. You are over 65 years old. Be content & grateful. Cherish life, grasp the moment.

You did not leave this world before the age of 64 years like the 92 persons who have gone before you. You are already the blessed amongst mankind.

Important information presented in a very interesting manner, easy to comprehend.

I just thought we should read this again to see where we stand.

Stay Blessed!

By Adamu Ningi