4 Pillars of Understanding in Ifa Gratitude makes 5 By Fayomi Falade Aworeni Obafemi
January 28, 2007
Ela moyinAboru, mo yin Aboye,mo yin Abosise, ogbo ato asure Iworiwofun. Waking up this morning, I am reminded by Ifa of my Odu for the year 2006-7 Oturupon Obalufon, when in this stanza I give praise for life lessons, Olodumare, Ori, Ifa, Irunmole, and Egungun Ile, the Araba Oluisese Agbaye Adisa Aworeni Awoyemi Mokanranwale,Oba Ifayemi Bogunmbe, Akoda Elebuibon, Araba Agboola,Oloye Fasina Falade,Babalawo Ifakolade Obafemi,Babalawo Pete Rojas, Oloye Fama, Oloye Somadhi,Babalawo S. Ifatunji, Oloye Aluko, Oloye Awotunde,Iya Ifatola Adesanya, Iya Fa Omi Oyesanya, Babalawo Awogbemiga Bogunmbe, Babalawo Adewale Bogunmbe, Iya Komade Aworeni,Awo Olota,Oloye Olatunji Aresa, Iya Ifaronke Aresa, Iyaolosa Adeomi Sewade(Marcia Watkin's Iba ara t'orun) Awo Ifadogbon Imodoye,Deborah, Norma, India, Tina,the entire Aworeni clan-Campbell clan, for it is the Deities, Ancestors and friends who have taught me as such-This is for you:
Ifa ni ti a ba ji
Ogbon ni ka maa ko raa wa
Ka ma jii ni kutukutu pile e were
Oro ti a ba ro ti ko ba gun
Ikin eni laa kee se
Dia fun Paraka alawoo winniwinnin
Nijo to nlo ree jij alaranbara labe Odan
Ifa says that whenever we wake up
We must be teaching each other wisdom
We must not wake up a dawn and Lay the foundation of foolishness
Whatever matter which we deliberate upon
But could not...
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Unity by Iyanifa Fayomi Falade Aworeni
January 26, 2007
UNITY
We were taken from our land of many beautiful black nights,
Shared putrid sickness ridden boats with familiar strangers
Who looked like us but spoke in different songs
Keke facial mark said they came from other places
Our darkness of skin bore familiar spaces
They, too were children of the land of many beautiful black nights
We were forced to leave our land of many beautiful black nights
Not knowing our twin plights
Did leave our mother and fathers
Standing on distant shore crying
Beating chest and wailing
For the lost children stolen from their arms
The Ebo made by two infamous ajogun
Would steal our sight
Our language
Our songs
Our Irunmole
Yet, Not Our Destinies
Yet, not from our minds
Yet, not from our inner spirit
The twin's ajoguns named Colonialism and Slavery
Both qualified their destinies by doing Ebo
Coming in to the world destined to either break
The spirits of a beautiful people
Or die trying
Yet, there is a hidden song in Ose Meji
Which sings of another laurel
As the Ibeji's of Colonialism and Slavery did ebo
Unity's children bow before the Babalawo's of Orun
Gathering the items of their ebo
Went before...
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The Mother's and The Humankind PT II
January 17, 2007
The Mother's and The Humankind Part II Told by Mama EgunYeye Kamu had gathered with the children in the Human play compound located in the Forest. There were three boys and two girls. "Did you see that funny lookin' thing over at the Mother's compound," Kamu said with a snarl of sacasm reflected in his voice. "Why do you say that boy?" queried Omowale not liking the tone of Kamu's voice. "What's up with you man?" retorted Kamu as he began to step into Omowale's space. A threatening gester meant to intimidate the younger boy. "Don't you see that funny lookin' thing She's got over in her compound cooing to it all the time like it was human", said Kamu feeling increasingly angry. "So what Kamu! You don't look nothing like us either but we ai'nt calling you a funny looking thing, or names and stuff!", yelled Osunbunmi as she step straight up to Kamu's chest to protect her little brother Omowale. "I'm with you Bunmi, he's mean", shouted Aina Kiset moving closer . The other children now had named their dissention and approval until it became dark. And they knew that they had to go home before all their...
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Our Mother's and Humankind As Told by Mama Egunyeye Part I
January 11, 2007
Our Mother's and The Humankind
As Told by Mama Egunyeye
Part I
Sutisuti wuyewuye
Sutisuti wuyewuye
Ko s' eni ti yoo pehinda
To ko nii l'oroo suti l'ara
Dia fun Orunmila
Ti omo araye yoo maa yosuti sii
Won nike o rubo
O gbo o rubo
O ni E se maa yosuti eyin lo
Egan o pe k'oyin ma dun
Suti le yo si mi
Ni mo fi lowo lowo
Ni mo fi bimo le mole
Ni mo fi bimo le omo
Ni mo fi ni ire gbogbo
E se maa yosuti eyin lo
Egan o pe koyin ma dun
Secret slander
Undercover ridicule
There is no one who turns his back
Who does not become the subject of slander
This was the teaching for Orunmila
When people were directing slander against him
He was advised to sacrifice
He said: now, you may continue your slander
But ridicule cannot removed the sweetness from honey
It is when you direct slander against me,
That I become extremely wealthy
That I build houses upon houses
That I bring into being an abundance of children
And that I become the possessor of all good things
So, continue your slander
For ridicule does not...
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Protocols and Why Part II of What Does the Word Protocal Imply In Ifa
January 7, 2007
Ela moyin Aboru, Aboye, Abosise, giving honor and praise to Olodumare, Ori-Isese, Ifa, Orunmila, Irunmole Ojokotun, Irunmole Ojokosin, and Egungun Ile, the mothers and fathers who lives we are now standing in their shadow and on the accomplishments of their work. The last year has been a wonderful parody of events that have taught us superb lessons even in the mist of saddness. The passing years brought understanding and knowledge of Odu Ifa and its application to our lives in more profound ways than I would have imagine. Isn't Ifa amazing. This time however, has brought me to a place of wondering about the Ifa cultural protocol of behaviors that we exhibit in the world of priesthood as well as Yoruba cultural protocols. April 8, 2006, in an article entitled for Ile Iwosan Orunmila Mimo group," What Does The Word Protocol Imply in Ifa", several areas of concern that have been discuss with other priest about the need to bring clarity and cohesiveness to known and unknown rules that apply to our religious and cultural tradition. Remembering, that the two areas are not necessarily practiced by all of the Ifa Orisa tradition. Understandably, there many Ifa Orisa practioners who do...
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Something To Think About
December 22, 2006
Ela moyin Aboru, Aboye, Abosise, Abo Ato Asure Iworiwofun: Honor
and praise to Olodumare, Ori-isese,Ifa, Ela, Irunmole Ojokotun,
Igbamole Ojokosin, and Egungun Ile. There are many wonderful events
that are taking place as the ending of this calendar year
approaches. Yet, our Yoruba calendar year is still 7 months away.
The Odu Ifa of this year Ose Biile is still upon us and has heavily
taxed our sensibilities, shook our resolve, given us wake up calls,
brought out hurts in each of us who are Ifa devotees, and given us
all many "somethings" to think about our character.
Whether it has been religious politics worldwide or spiritual
committments to one group or another, there have been enormous
changes made in our personal lives that will be forever remembered
under this Odu year. The religious politics have brought about
greater understanding of our traditions rules but not however, its
spiritual nature. There has been a full gammount of diverse dialog
on the rules of Ifa but the need for us to see underneath the power
that is behind all of this, the awesomeness of Olodumare is still
not out yet.
In order for us to see this force; this power; this...
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Valuation of a religion of Afrikan Descent
December 8, 2006
Ela moyin Aboru, Aboye, Abosise
In the Western world; particularly in the United States, there is the habit to challenge, change, mold, ideals and concepts to reflect that of a western mindset and paradigm. Throughout the history of the"Roman Empire (Europe and its satellites including the US)" in its pursuit of the power and acquistions in the world, it teaches its people intolerance of a type when it comes to Afrikan religions.
It is the observation that many people in this country will accept most other foreign religious beliefs in terms of the behaviors, cultures, worship modes, text, with little fanfare into wanting to change the belief system to reflect that of their specific mindset. From clothing to the actual text or the words of the ancestrial text past down for generation is deem acceptable and yet, in the Afrikan religious traditions there is a need from certain people, to want that change to reflect the dogma of the country or mindset of the western powers that be. Sometimes without realizing that this is what they are doing.
If a person is Hindu, Buddhist, Toasist, no one will question their specific riturals or cultural perspectives and practices. It will be...
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Spiritual Discontent I & II
December 5, 2006
Ela moyin Iboru, mo yin Iboye, mo yin Ibosise ogbo ato asure Iworiwofun:
Holding the greatest of Deities in the highest esteem and love Olumoran Okan, Eleda, Ela, Irunmole, and dobale to Egungun Ile.
Needing today, just to specifically to speak on the direction of Ifa in the Afrikan Diaspora and then finding a dialog to hopefully touch someones spirit to move on what is being said in this text; I find myself in a place of "spiritual discontentment".
A waterlog that has grown from the external and internal struggles that come from finding in the Afrikan Diaspora the lack of complete forms of Afrikan religious institutions. Institutions that are reminscent of those develop institution of our origins, those that have decline since the "Golden Age" of our Ancestors, yet, are there in need of a little repair, refurbishing, and in some case new constructs, in Yorubaland. Those that we are in sore need here in the Diaspora as well.
In the past few weeks, I have had to redefine my resolve in developing a voice, a written diary of what I have seen as a complacency amongst us that have a deeper understanding of Ifa corpus, as a need to "holla" at you'll to...
Posted at: 11:24 AM | 0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink
Worship Without Ori there is no Orisa
December 3, 2006
Ela moyin aboru, Ela Moyin Aboye, Ela Moyin Abosise, giving honor, respect, praise, love, devotion to Olodumare, Ori-Isese, Irunmale Ojukotun, Irunmale Ojukosin, Okanle ni Irinwo Irunmale, Egungun Ile dobale.
There was a question?, comment in the introductions of one new list member, concerning when will the discussion pertaining to worship of our tradition begin?
What better way of a religious discussion than something we all have in common-Ori. The Ori stalwart divinity warrior, the supreme Orisa and bows down only to Olodumare. One defintion I was given a few years ago was embodied in the Odu Ofun 'Rete that Ori Isese is the Creator of all gods and on his orders they were sent to various locations where they were worshipped and respected.
WEriweri in Heaven
Owewe, who washes away poverty with perfection
It was divined for only One Ori
And also for four hundred and one heavenly divinities
Who were going to Olorun, the Creator and Chief
To attempt to split the kolanut of Ase
Ogbon directed them to sacrifice
400 divinities defied his order
Only Ori complied and his sacrifice was accepted
What was Ogbon's directive?
They were to wake up at the crack of dawn
And pay...
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Osa Meji and the Issues of Character
November 28, 2006
Osa Meji and the Issues of Character
II II
I I
I I
I I
While many people enjoyed this week of beginning holiday bliss with family and friends; there have been some families not so blessed. There have been tragic deaths that the public will not be made aware nor even care. One of our community's priest has had to faced this with the demise of her youngest brother at the hands of unknown assailants coming into his home with guns brandished; killing him dead with a gunshot to the face.
Lionnel Johnson was a hard working young man whose life was taken away more than likely by people who looked just like him over an issue that was not the unsavory drug war or even theft but the useless evil energy of revenge.
The issue here for us is not only that a "very good man" is dead but the state of people in the world and particularly in our many communities, is that of the lack of good character amongst us.
The heart-felt sadness is that no matter how many times one quotes an Odu Ifa on the necessity of all Human Beings starting immediately the process of changing their minds and hearts to that of...
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