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Showing posts from September, 2023

The IFA priest who sacrificed himself for ljebu Land

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Long ago, when we still worshipped orisas among the trees, and orisas and heroes still walked among us, a major part of ljebu was suddenly covered with water from a lagoon. It was in serious flood and it threatened to inundate the whole of ljebu Land and other parts of Yoruba land. The ljebu elders decided to consult the great IFA priest Onisemu Leguru. Leguru brought out his "opele" and after a long panegyric rite, he cast it. The odu Ifa that came spoke of a mixture of both bad and good fortune. The good news was that the water would recede. The bad news was the nature of the sacrifice to be performed. Leguru had to pay with his life. As he was a wise and true priest, he did not try to twist the message of IFA or avoid his fate. The brave priest told the elders of ifa message and agreed to die in exchange for the life of the town and its people. He agreed to do so on the following conditions: that no one from his lineage should ever pay tax again in Ijebu and that yearly hi

Ajogun - Malevolent forces in the Yorùbá Cosmos

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  Ajogun - Malevolent forces in the Yorùbá Cosmos Satan, also known as the Devil in Abrahamic religions is not a recognised entity in the Yorùbá Cosmos. What we do have however are the Ajogun. These are evil forces that inhabit the left hand side of the Yorùbá pantheon. They are: Ikù (Death) Àrùn (Disease) Òfò (Loss) Ẹ̀gbà (Paralysis) Ọ̀ràn (Big Trouble) Èpè (Curse) Ẹ̀wọ̀n (Imprisonment) Èṣe (Affliction) The word Ajogun (A-ja-ogun) literally means "warrior", hence the Ajogun continuously wage war against humans. May you not confront Ajogun in your life. Àṣẹ Olobe Yoyon

ÌGBÉYÀWÓ NÍ ILÉ YORÙBÁ (MARRIAGE IN THE YORÙBÁ NATION)

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Traditionally, ancient Yorùbá people were said to be monogamic, although polygamy was not forbidden - only wealthy men were said to be polygamous otherwise having one wife was necessary. In recent times, the marriage laws and customs in Yorùbáland have undergone many changes due to the wide acceptance of Christianity and Islam. But all things being equal and normal, there are three stages to be observed: The first stage was for  the elder female members of the family to look out for a wife for their male relative. It is said that young men married as soon as they are of age to support the family and the girls are often marked out from childhood for a particular young man even with or without her knowledge. They will first check the girls family background (medical, financial and criminal history), if satisfied, they will then approach her parents and then consent will be established, if the girl likes the young man in question then stage 2 is unlocked, though it is rare for a girl to r

Death according to the Yoruba

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Death! The essence of Babatúndé, Babajídé, Yétúnde, Yéwándé etc. - Physics and Ifá perspectives Why do people die and no one has been able to overcome death? The first law of thermodynamics, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; energy can only be transferred or changed from one form to another. Odù Ifá Oyẹku-Isẹ confirms this law and further declares that death is a good thing. It is part of the recycling process. Death is not a problem. I      II   II     II I      II II     II K'á má tètè kú, awo ilé aláyọ̀ Àìtètèkú ṣe, awo ìbànújẹ́ Bí 'kú bá dé, ká yin Olúwa l'ógo, awo Olóòótọ́ Èéṣe tí ikú fi n pani? Ire ni Amúniwáyé fi ikú ṣe Omi tí kò ṣàn sí 'wá tí kò ṣàn s'ẹ́hìn A di omi ogodo ogodo, omi ìbànújẹ́, omi ẹ̀gbin Omi n gbé wa lọ rere Omi n gbé wa bọ̀ rere Olókùnrùn ká relé lọ gbàwọ̀ tuntun bọ̀ wá yé. Literal translation: "May we not die young", the diviner of the house of joy "What&