The Yoruba culture of passing down knowlege

It is important to understand that:

The Yoruba style of passing down knowledge is VERY DIFFICULT for the average westerner to understand, myself included, although I’ve gotten better, lol.  Our mentality is that if we are not taught the most detailed version of some ceremony, ritual, message, song, medicine, etc, from the beginning, then it’s incomplete, and therefore won’t function how it should, or is wrong.

But, Yorubas teach everything in pieces and in layers. This in no way means that what you’ve been taught won’t work, or is somehow not effective.  

The Ase of your elder, who does know all the details, and who passed this knowledge onto you, will help insure that what you’re doing is effective, despite you not knowing the complete details. This is called Iba and Ase!

Even songs are taught in layers, not just rituals and ceremonies. Your elders’ Ase and those who came before him or her, will insure that what they’ve taught you will be effective. 

This is why Iba and Ase is so important. That’s why learning ceremonies, rituals, etc from books, videos, audios, alone, will not give you any of this Ase. There’s no way around it, everyone needs an elder!

Trust the process and have patience with it and in time you will see the benefits and blessings of the process. 

~Baba Jose Rodriguez
~Photo: Yeye Nike of Lagos
Artist and owner of Nike Art Gallery


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