American Ifa

By Iyalemole Dr. Queenchiku Ngozi-Fabuluje

December 5^th, 2019

American Ifa, US, Florida: Orisa/Ifa rituals, studies, sacrifices, divination, and icons will come with a cost in any country. Oyeku Meji states that a person who does not do sacrifice after the priest prescribes the necessary ebo is saying the Ifa priest is a liar, Esu is a thief, and they think that they will never see death. Ifa may say the individual needs to be initiated (Odu Irerte Eguntan) but with a cost for labor, animals, icons, clothes, food, and spiritual substances (normal expenses for the ceremonies). The charges for those sacrifices range from zero to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the market and the financial system of that country. Some people will claim that these costs are the acts of extortion. The Orisa/Ifa priests should not display any distrust when it comes to charging, character, and identity to the world (odu Ika Osa). At the end of the day, fifty percent of the 256 odus state there is a need to do sacrifice for protection from death, sickness, danger, etc., while the other percentage indicates the need to sacrifice to obtain good fortune regardless of whether it’s for wealth, long life, plenty of children, open doors, and so-on. On the flip side of the coin, many people who are not trying to be right in the eyes of Olodumare will look for priests that they can spiritually extort through their own lies, inappropriate behaviors and shortcomings (Odu Ogbe Ale).  Also, some Orisa/Ifa priests have not set themselves apart from most Christian institution’s mega churches in the diaspora and West Africa.

Extortion comes in many forms. Extortion has both negative and positive aspects; it depends on what end of the coin you are on. Under extortion there is coercion, pressure, lying, stealing, swindling, fearmongering, dishonesty, blackmail, etc. Google’s dictionary states that “extortion” means the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats; or necessity for protection by the payment of money (Odu Ofun Bara). Extortionate qualities are also found in self-dealing (Wrage, 2007). Extortion is an inappropriate act and prohibited for priests to do for their own greed and desires. In odu Ogbe Osa, Ifa says that if a Babalawo/Iyanifa or Orisa priest is in grave wants, let the [priest] not lie to display dishonesty. Ifa oracle explains that many priests are impersonating Orisa or Ifa and acting like mob bosses as they deceive the people by extorting large sums of money for protection. Many are outright stealing, lying, practicing defamatory activities, financial cheating, and blackmailing others who are honest (Odu Ogbe Idi -odi). The cost can range widely due to the wealth of the individual seeking protection which is something that is considered by the priests who inflate the prices through self-dealing. Briefly, self-dealing can be observed in the third party priests who put up defamatory remarks about credible priests on fraud pages to minimizes those priests. They do this to promote another priest who the third party is acting on behalf of because they hold membership cards to that priest’s organizations (Wrage, 2007). Some would call this behavior thuggish like extortion.

In 2016, Perlmutter stated that there might be some criminality associated with extortion and orisa and Ifa religious practices. Many people blame social media, advanced technology, and classic Hollywood and Nollywood Nigerian film industries. Orisa/Ifa and spiritual products have become a religious cybercrime on social media from both Nigeria and second diaspora communities (Cuban Babas and Oloshas) (Tade, 2013). There are more and more Latin Botanicas today on the internet especially social media and now Amazon. Social media is flooded by many West African religious cybercrimes from Nigeria by young people who claim they have high status with Orisa and Ifa communities (Tade, 2013), who are worse than title consumers. Many of these oppressors are imposter Orisa and Ifa priests who have victimized both weak and curious people with the projection of death. Lying does not prevent a person from becoming rich (Odu Obara meji). However, manipulation is dishonest and Ifa says that “no matter the condition in which the priests may find themselves, they should never lie to cheat and extort a client in exchange for protection. Because lying can injure other people” (Odu Aji Ogbe).  Unfortunately, technology has created a double-edged sword capable of destruction as well as constructive purposes.

In 1988, Mitchell wrote that Santeria/Lucumi, Nigeria, Haiti, Brazil and Diaspora practitioners have come into the business of being deity extorters and it continues to grow rapidly. Today, the business deals to obtain the protection of the Orisa/Ifa is handled like the mafia or like the large global fake healthcare insurance corporations. To illustrate, the extortion is the threat that the Orisa/Ifa will not protect the individual unless they make payments to the priests for sums of money that can add up anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 per ritual. In Tampa, Florida, there was a botanica charging $1500 for warriors, $500 for Esu alone, and lucky charms ranged from $300 to $500 each. On top of that, there is no training or education provided for the individuals on how to care for the warriors or Esu. Another example, a well-known Iyanifa stated on social media that she did an unauthorized divination and used fearmongering on two persons by telling them that they needed to pay her $200 each and a goat or they would die. Such actions are dishonest, extortion, fearmongering, and lies (odu ogbe osa). This negative behavior has caused distortion in the perceptions people have of the Orisa and Ifa practices. In reality, spiritual cybercrimes and the got to have money attitude are the real forces behind Orisa-Ifa priests’ extortion tactics. Unfortunately, it does no favors to our faith’s integrity and image. It develops individual spirituality displacement. It is sad to hear so many people report how they come to learn about their spirituality from priests in both major systems, only to have those priests take their money and give them in return only beads, icons, initiations, and fearmongering for more money. Many have defined these behaviors as extorting.

There are several organizations from both Santeria/Lucumi, Other diaspora traditions, and Nigerian Traditional Orisa/Ifa practices which state in their organizations’ (ex: ICIR, IWA, YCA of Cuba, ACYC, and CLBA, etc.) code of ethics that they will not extort money (Odu Ika Ofun). Today on social media and on instant messenger, an individual becomes prey for extortion due to the ideology of institutional collaboration from many of these organizations mentioned. However, membership cards don’t enforce and hold their members responsible for extortion. The organizations are a part of the problem because various members practice extortion against their clients under the guise of legitimacy. One traditional organization stated “extortion – a priest must not collect or extort money from [their] client(s) or any member of the public under false pretense.” “Liars knows the truth but tell untruth” Ifa says in Odu Ogunda Bede. Every priest who is helping, assisting, charging, and consulting people under their guidance to a better place in life needs to know the difference. Orisa and Ifa practices throughout the diaspora and as well as Traditional Yoruba practitioners are recognized as a blessing. Odu Ose Meji informed that priests that participate in stealing money, contraband, chantage, extortion, drug and sex trafficking, kidnapping, illegal gambling, fraud, prostitution, over pricing, forcing people to get initiated with the use of fear, and so-on will be exposed and handled by Ifa. This is a hot topic which will anger many people as well as confuse others.

In conclusion, this article was written only to discuss some aspects of few organizations and priests concerning basic pricing. It is important to understand that individual’s spirituality cannot be bought with icons, rituals, and initiation. It is earned through continuous studies, practice, education, prayers, self-awareness, pure heart, open-mindedness, balance, and respect for one’s self and others. Additionally, travelling from one diviner to next looking for discounts most likely increases one’s chance of being a victim of extortion because there are always frauds and cons artists available and lurking. Don’t be a consumer spiritual shopper. At the same time, do your research. The right priest just might not be giving discounts.

References

Mitchell, R. (1988). Power of the orisha: Santeria, an ancient religion from Nigeria, is making its presence felt in Los Angeles. Retrieved from www.latimes.com/archives/

Perlmutter, D. (2016). Ritualistic crime. In Payne-James, J. & Byard, R. W. (2016) Encyclopedia of forensic and legal medicine (2^nd ed.)

Tade, O. (2013). A spiritual dimension to cycbercrime in Nigeria: The “Yahoo Plus” phenomenon. Human Affairs, 23(1), 689-705. doi:10.2478/s13374-013-0158-9

US Department of State (2000). Annual report international religious freedom 1999.

Wrage, A, A. (2007). Bribery undermining business, and governments, and security extortion: Westport, CT: Praeger Security International

By Iyalemole Dr. Queenchiku Ngozi-Fabuluje

November 21^st, 2019

American Ifa, U.S. Florida: In the holy odu Ofun Osa, Ifa says “If the world becomes rotten and destroyed it is because no one no longer knows how to behave with one another.” Misogyny is also considered to be sectarianism, superiority, chauvinist, racism, ethnocentrism, and discriminatory. Usually, the male misogynist dislikes or despises or are prejudiced against women in various positions. Misogyny can be attributed to both males and females. Misogyny has a variety of layers in a complex society. Brogaard (2019) asserts that misogynists are self-loathers. The female misogynists have no real powers. Their oppressors do and they assist the oppressors in the dehumanization of other women. Misogyny is present in the Orisa and Ifa practices throughout the diaspora and the Nigerian Yoruba Tradition. It is a huge problem.

The male manifestation of misogyny is more commonly found among Babalawos. The female expression shows itself when women attack other women and assist the Babalawos with inflicting pain on those women reflecting their own self-punishment and self-shaming (Brogaard, 2019). These women are immoral and empty (Odu Odi Ogunda). The odu Okanran Ose says “Ifa enjoins he/she should not keep malice.” Misogyny is totally taboo in the eyes of Ifa (Odi Meji). It creates chaos and madness in the practice of Orisa and Ifa (odu Otura Oyeku). Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche (2018) believes that “we all breathe misogyny.” Aron (2019) evaluated misogyny as societal inequity. Women who ask for equal rights or want men to be held accountable are often called male haters or Orisa and Ifa terrorists. As an example of this behavior, a poser Cuban-initiated Babalawo known as CSK stated in a 2015 article that two women of color were terrorists because they are against the misogyny and racism in Ifa. The women were terrorists because they refused to accept the abuse and sexism in the Orisa and Ifa practices within the diaspora. In 2015, the American Araba from Nigeria called the two American women of color dangerous based on many assumptions and following a misogynistic bashing of American Ifa Fa Afa ideology. The women persisted because the U.S. Department of State Office of International Religious Freedom states everyone has the right to think and move according to their religious beliefs. In addition, the women of color are both initiated to Orisa and Ifa and were following the recommendations of Ifa.

The year is 2019 and misogyny is alive and living well both economically and religiously. It is outrageous when women play misogyny cards for misogynistic Babalawos in both the Lucumi and Nigerian Traditional Yoruba practices. They attack and post defamatory statements against women in the Orisa and Ifa online communities who think differently than them. One article in the Guardian (2019) stated that West African Ifa oracle and Babalawos constantly speak on how important a woman is in the spiritual practices; yet, rape, abuse, discrimination, and the degradation of women is still strong and thriving in these patriarchal societies (Adebowale, 2019). This makes misogyny more in line with sexual discrimination. This especially shows when a male gets initiated to Ifa at a certain price and receives Ifa items including Orisa Odu. A woman will pay that same price and will not receive the same treatment as her male counterpart. She will get a small fraction of what she is due in comparison. Male domination and abuse established and developed these protocols during colonialism including the lies being told against women’s spirituality as well as her religious position. Many Babalawos like to throw out odu Ofun Meji at women when questioned. However, in the oldest books, Ofun Meji states that Orisa Odu said, “NO ONE else may see me…” No one means no one. No man. No woman.

Further examples include the Gelede masquerade where all men dress up like women. It would seem it is only men who can satisfy the Mothers. There is even talk about women not being able to make or wash Esu (Eleggua) or use a knife to do any sacrifice. This is strange when women use a knife every day to cook a meal… a thought outside the box. Men continuously want to rewrite the passages to claim the woman’s position as custodian of the home.

In 2012, the Santeria Church posted how the misconceptions about women in Santeria are due to patriarchal Cuban Babalawos and their misogynistic ideologies and approaches on different Orisa levels. Even so, some women are their own worse enemy. Their need to be wanted, loved, and admired by men who they assume to be powerful causes them to push misogyny on their own gender. Yet as Santeria theology shows, it was women who initially shaped and preserved the Orisa and Ifa practices and knowledge from Nigeria during slavery. Women played a very important role in the New World. Across the water, the West African Nigerian theology dealt with the integration of colonialism which puts women’s lives in incessant jeopardy (odu Ogbe Oyeku).

In 2019, Adebowale recorded Olufnmilayo Ransome Kuti and 10 thousand Egba women declare: “Alake for a long time you have used your penis as a mark of authority that you are our husband. Today, we shall reverse the order and use vagina to play the role of husband.” Beliso-De-Jesus (2015) wrote that the various Ifa Babalawos of the Cuban, Nigerian, and American styles perpetuate coercive control, female religious, economic, and spiritual abuse as well as their misogynistic ideas on what and where a woman’s place is in Ifa. All of which was modeled after the Christian dogma and doctrines of colonialism. Beliso-De-Jesus (2015) also stated that the African style initiation of women into Ifa goes “against Cuban Babalawos’ misogynistic behavior in neoliberal terms of religious freedom.”

There has been an intense argument publicly and online about women in Ifa and the limitations created by men and imposed upon them concerning positions and duties in orisa rituals and ceremonies. All in the name of profit and coercive gender control (Beliso-De-Jesus, 2015). Not only does misogyny create huge divides in the relationship between males and females among the various practices, but it creates conflict and discrepancies in the theology and ritual practice of Orisa and Ifa in all spiritual/religious systems.  At the end of the day, despite all the unfavorable sexism, misogyny, and narcissism within the Orisa and Ifa online communities, the Orisa and Ifa practice centers the Odu-womb-Mothers and is fundamentally a female-based practice. Unfortunately, at this time, it is practiced without actual physical respect and equality for women (odu Ose’Otura).

References

Adebowale, O. (2019). Women arise in the face of misogyny: A cultural perspective. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://guardian.ng/life/women-arise-in-the-face-of-misogyny-a-cultural-perspective/

Beliso-De-Jesus, A. M. (2015). Contentious diasporas: Gender, sexuality, and heteronationalisms in the Cuban Iyanifa debate. Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 40(4), 817-840. doi:10.1086/68037

Brogaard, B. (2015). 12 ways to spot a misogynist. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/

Brogaard, B. (2019). 12 ways to spot a female misogynist. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/

Santeria Church (2012). The importance of women in Santeria. Retrieved from www.santeriachurch.org/

By Iyalemole Dr. Queenchiku Ngozi-Fabuluje

November 13^th, 2019

American Ifa, US, Florida: According to the 28 U.S. code § 4101 (defamation, libel, slander), it is stated that libel is a form of slander and defamation. Slander, libel, defamation “or similar claim alleging that forms of speech are false cause damage to reputation and/or emotional distress, [it also] presents [a] person in a false light or results in criticism, dishonor, or condemnation of [the] person” (Chung, 2019). Bottom line, libel is slandering and lying to defame which is an act of conspiring against someone.

The great oracle (aka Ifa) says that people should be truthful, honest and the orisas will support them (Odu Ejiogbe). Odu Obara Meji states that lying doesn’t keep a person from being rich or becoming old, but upon their death it will bring retribution. Lying, defaming, or publishing libel about someone is an attempt to deceive the world or the community about that person (Adewale, 1994). In ancient times, African traditional priests would chant curses on liars and ask the divinities to condemn the liars … to not to deceive or betray in foreign land (Odu Ogunda Bede). However as people become more and more in need of recognition and greed, they slowly create falsehood in the traditional African religious spiritual practices of the diaspora (Adewale, 1994). The liars that slander (and produce libel) are the conspirators who go against everything that ifa stands for.

When conspiring against someone this way, Ifa says the guilty will be punished (Odu Ogbe Alara). People who make themselves orisa and ifa cops, judges, and justice against innocent people are committing wrongdoing by falsely accusing someone of fraud or crime. People who conspire against people are fraudulent and thieves. Their ego causes them to belittle, shame, and embarrass people to make themselves look big. Ifa tells of this through the story where people were envious of Orunmila’s annual reading at Olokun festival. The conspirators betrayed people for money. A long story short, Orunmila found the conspirators around Olokun telling lies about him and suggesting that Orumila be replaced. This has happened in this way of life. There are a few people who promote certain people as they make allegations of fraud against others who are accredited and innocent all for the sake of money. The orisa and Ifa traditional societies are becoming more and more criminal using the diaspora and its traditions not for spirituality but solely for money.

The Orisa and Ifa traditional system is a strong moral base of society (Adewale, 1994). Certain factions of the religion or spiritual society have poisoned and injected a disease of insincerity, corruption, fraud and felonies in the concept of Ifa. That should raise red flags for the people, not the few people who end up on these fake fraud platforms set up by the governing and dishonest Apena Dafa (Adewale, 1994).  Ifa says in Odu Obara Meji that Ifa condemns disrespect and arrogance (i.e., Ifa – “a child indulges in stubborn acts, if he sees an aged priest and slaps him; if he comes across an aged physician and beats him mercilessly; if he goes on and meets an aged priest and knocks him down, thus declares the oracle to the disobedient child…”). Therefore, the libel by the Apena Dafa on a variety of platforms is fraudulent and criminal in Orunmila’s eyes.

The self-deputized, fraudulent-acting Apena Dafas have acted in an unacceptable, criminal way in the diaspora. This dishonesty will cause the religion to shorten its life forces as well as produce more and more uncertainties and dysfunctional relationships between various orisa/ Ifa societies. These types of judgement cause an unstable individual to implement harmful acts towards innocent people who have credibility.  It almost guarantees the death of the tradition in the diaspora as well as Africa as people wish it to be. People who are seeking guidance and entrance to the orisa and or Ifa are confused and damning the tradition. This also feeds the preconceptions and notions that the practice is negative and evil. In addition, the rituals, spirituality, and materialization of the Ifa and orisas will slowly dissolve the practices in the foreign land and the diaspora as well.

On the other hand, the conspirator(s) in the diaspora can face either felony or misdemeanor charges and a possible fee if found guilty of deliberately accusing a person of crimes they did not commit and spreading rumors to tarnish a person’s reputation or defame them. Minc (2019) stated there have been several civil lawsuits to the U. S. Supreme court over slander or libel. It is a serious matter. At the end of the day, the criminals who commit a crime by falsely accusing innocent people will meet a serious and adequate punishment in the orisa and Ifa traditional system as well as in the courts (Adewale, 1994).  Recommendation is to get a lawyer, press charges and sue.

References

Adewale, S. A. (1994). Crime and African traditional religion: Orita XXVI/1-2 (1994), 54-66. Retrieved from http://www.africaspeaks.com

Chung (2019). Supreme Court of Georgia. Cottrell v. Smith et al. S16A0013 Decided: July 08, 2016. https://caselaw.findlaw.com

Legal Information Institute (2019). U.S. Code § 4101. Definitions: Defamation. Retrieved from www.law.cornell.edu/

Minc (2019). Defamation removal law. Retrieved from https://www.minclaw.com/us-defamation-laws/

We proudly introduce American Ifa, founders, and

F.N.C.V.T.T. (Fédération Nationale des Cultes Vaudous et des Traditions du Togo)

Benin/Togo West Africa

This certificate is gotten only on advice of Ifa/Fa/Afa for individuals as a calling to take a lead position as head chief, initiate to Mami Wata, the Vauduous, Afa/Fa/Ifa and years of dedication to the awareness of African Spirituality and

betterment of the people who are devoted to and practice African Spirituality.

This certification given to Ayaba-Oloye Erelu-Abiye Unsi-Tassinon and Iya Ayaba OchaBi-Ifabuluje.

Congratulations!!!

Recognizance for meeting all the qualifications for such a prestigious honor as a titled head “MAMI ADE” (Crowned Chief Mother of MAMI Wata “Water Spirits) at AGBEDEHOUE TEMPLE. It is honored for their lifelong achievements in African Spirituality to include their initiations to the Vaudous and, /Ifa/Fa/Afa and this title is respected by the F.N.C.V.T.T (Fédération Nationale des Cultes Vaudous et des Traditions du Togo) that includes our beloved homelands (Togo, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and now recognized in the USA of America)

Fédération Nationale des Cultes Vaudous et des Traditions du Togo (FNCVTT)

http://fncvtt.org/entrer.php

We are so honored and proudly thankful…..

Thank you Harold Hillery and the Gullah Nation of North America for acknowledging Iya Ayaba-Oloye OchaBi OseTura and Ayaba-Oloye Erelu-Abiye Unsi-Tassinon for contributions to the advancement of African Spirituality in the diaspora. We will continue to form bonds and to connect more and more people on this side of the world to their African roots via DNA testing and providing a variety of information on African traditions and culture. Like they say, you can take the person out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the person. May we all endeavor to make our ancestors proud for the sacrifices they made for us by finding our true roots and honoring them. Àṣẹ!

——————————————————————————-

Gullah Nation of North America
gnona@houseofancestry.org
1-888-693-8314 ext. 2
August 22, 2016

American Ifa-Fa-Afa
c/o Ayaba-Oloye Erelu-Abiye Unsi-Tassinon
Ayaba-Oloye Ochabi Ose Ture

I would like to personally thank both of you for agreeing to be our Special Guests on the Gullah Nation of North America’s Blogtalk radio show on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 7-9 PM EST. We will delight and engage our listening audience on the topics of the growing surgence of Gullahs embracing Afrikan-Diasporic Spirituality, the Spiritual Sankofa process and will this move solve the social justice issues which tend to cripple us as a people. Please share the call in number (657) 383-0686.

We have endorsed the American Ifa-Fa-Afa organization located in the diaspora as the premier agency to teach and inspire the Gullahs of making their way back home spiritually. I have engaged Ayaba-Oloye Erelu-Abiye Unsi-Tassinon and Ayaba-Oloye Ochabi Ose Tura over two years now and you both have exhibited your love for learning and properly propagating the Ifa-Orisa tradition. You both have given so very freely of yourselves to the Diaspora. We must stand in UNITY and STRENGTH.

The purpose of the Gullah Nation of North America (GNONA) is to unify the Descendants of Gullahs into a social, political and economic network of unique family histories, traditions, and ethnic heritage in the 21st Century. Most Gullahs throughout the post emancipation era have migrated from the Gullah lands of our origins along the sea islands and coastal low country of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida over the last 150 years and find ourselves today scattered and integrated with the general Eurocentric populations of the United States of America.

After decades of research, it’s been concluded that we are a separate but related ethnic group of African Americans that have, despite all attempts, managed to preserve the most Afrocentricity and African-centeredness out of any sub-ethnic group on North American soil. Our distinct African cultural traditions and Gullah language have survived chattel slavery, Jim Crow segregation, and integration. Many of us don’t even know that we are Gullahs and most cannot understand our significance enough to appreciate our pride.

The Gullah Nation of North America (GNONA) was founded to reconnect us all to our roots and Gullah lands as a unique group of African people! We are reawakening by reexamining and organizing ourselves as Gullahs who are officially and globally recognized and respected as a people with a legacy of greatness. The African Diaspora and/or Gullah descendants in the United States of America must come together as ONE of many African ethnic nationalities to contribute to this historic process and we welcome you to actively participate in these efforts.

Aims:
1. Unify the dispersed Gullahs of the Gullah Nation of North America
2. Rescue and revive the traditional culture of the Gullah Nation of North America
3. Create and Identify the unique needs of the Gullah political agenda of the Gullah Nation of North America
4. Defend the existing historical Gullah lands and communities of the Gullah Nation of North America
5. Develop a legitimate independent government for all Gullah people to centralize our vast network of families into a single national body with every agency and function of a contemporary state government, defined and democratically ratified, by Gullah people in our exclusive cultural, political, social, and economic interests as an African Diaspora nation.

Objectives:
1. Empowerment of the Gullah people
2. Elevation of our unique cultural heritage and legacy of achievement
3. Birth the Gullah Nation of North America as a legitimate and legalized nation-state formation with all of the international and national human and civil rights and respect of ALL nations of people that have declared and determined for themselves to be such
4. Reparations for the genocidal enslavement, segregation (domestic colonization), and gentrification (modern capitalist invasion) of Gullah people and our National Territory
5. Repatriation Resettlement of Gullah people both on our historical North American territory and the African continent from which we were forcefully taken captive and enslaved.

AMERICAN IFA FA AFA – IFA READING FOR 2016

On 12/21/2015

Afavi (IyaNifa) Ayaba OchaBi Fabuluje Ifaseye Ika meji Ile Ikoko Ata

Afavi Ayaba Oloye Erelu-Abiye Unsi-Tassinon, Ika Fun,

Shaina Yemajah Apetebi de ifa

Efunyale Obatala Apetebi de Ifa

Awotunde Ade Ogun

Turbado Esudino

Gbogbo Devotees

LAB: Obi Nganga etawa ire/Alafia; obi egun/egungun: etawa/alafia

LEADING ODU (Ikin ifa): Ogunda Otura (Ogunda’tetura; Ogunda’Tetuala)/ ejiogbe ‘edi AFA KPONLI (AFA Odu): Guda Tula

“TRANSFORMATION and PERSEVERANCE”

IRE: Ejiogbe, Ire elese Olodumare tesi Timbelaye, not firm without proper ebo (all our luck and blessings is coming from God)

IBI: Warns not to put yourself in the hole, which you dig for yourselves.

EBODE: Irosun’Rete (Loso Lete)

LEADING ORISHA: Sango, Ogun and Oshun

Oriki Orunmila:

Orunmila, ajomisanra, ibi keji Olodumare Eleri Ipin, Omo ope kan ti nsoro dogi dogi, Ara Ado, Ewi, ara Igbajo, ara Iresi, ara Ikole, ara Igeti, ara oke Itase, Ara iwonran ibi ojumo ti nmo waiye akoko Olokun, oro ajo epo ma pon, Olago lagi okunrin ti nmu ara ogidan le, o ba iku ja gba omo e sile, Odudu ti ndu ori emere, o tun ori ti ko sunwon se, Orunmila ajike, Orunmila ajike, Orunmila aji fi oro rere lo. Ase

TRANSLATION:

The spirit of fate, dew and eternal source of life, word and exultant strength, next to Olodumare, Witness to creation, offspring, palm tree, spark, eternal force. Ado native, native EWI native Igbajo, Iresi native, native Ikole, Igeti native, native Itase Hill, This native generator sea pure mystical Is the most powerful who gives youthful vitality, who rescues children from the wrath of death. The great savior who saves youth, he saves the lost, Orunmila is worth pleas in the morning, Orunmila is worthy of praise in the morning, Orunmila is worthy of prayers for the good things in life. Ase.

Ogunda: In Ire (positive statement) involve internal strength with intelligence.

Otura: In Ire (positive statement): The representation of a wise person, able to use the experience in the day.

Joining these Irunmoles: In Ire (positive event): The healthy maintenance of our relationships as a result of honesty

FLAG: white trim with yellow and black

REFLECTION: Health (mental and physical), war, slavery, and servant

MAFEREFUN: Olodumare, Sango, Ogun, Oshun

EBO: four legs to Ogun, 2 Roosters to Sango, 2 Hens to Oshun, Ewe baths,

SPEAKING: Olodumare, Orunmila, Opele, Esu, Osanyin, Iyami Osoronga, Ogun, Oshun, Sango, Oya, Orishanla, Obaluaye

VODUN JEJE: Mami, Lisa, Dan, Ke, Tohosu, Hevioso (Sango), Gu (ogun), Ososi (Obatola),

“The last will become first”

“Turtle face was so passive Olodumare could not manipulate”

“From the sky you see everything”

“Marks the beginning of a turbulent time”

“Marks a significant change – ultimately positive after trial and tribulation with change and proper ebo ”

THINGS BORN IN THIS SIGN:

o Slavery – slave trade

o Religious boredom

o Esu Obuko

o Hypochondriac

o Hypocrite

o Betrayal

o Exploitation

o Robbery

o Anger

o Wars and battles

o Sacred crowns

o Ile koro – the city of spirits

o Embarrassment of Sango hanging himself, accompanied by this faithful servant Aba

o Must take good care of Ogun and Sango

o A spirit called Kalawao – white person

o The mark of mental and physical illness by enemies – suicide

o Palm oil is taboo for Esu

o The declarations of Ifa to Sagbagiriyan

o Those who are honest

o The support of the deities

o Being responsible and reliable Ako kiye! A bird of infinite beauty is in charge of the Kingdom of witchcraft

PROHIBITION:

o Alcohol

o Do not use force

o The fraud

o Abstinence

o Manipulation

o Carrying things on the head

TABOO:

Palm oil is taboo for Esu (Elegba) in this sign. Use peanut oil for all the orisha and Esu Use Palm Oil for Iyami only

STORY: Adikun the mother of Olufon was taken as a slave and she became the wife of Oduduwa and later gave birth to Eshu Olankin. She would bathe him with palm oil. Olankin used to become enraged. This is the reason why Oya is called Adikun since the palm oil is called adi and this is TABOO, for ÈṢÙ. DO NOT GIVE PALM OIL TO ÈṢÙ THIS YEAR! USE PEANUT OIL (Groundnut oil)

ODU RECOMMENDATION

o The honesty

o Good character

o Humility

DESCRIPTION:

• Respect the physical and spiritual mothers
• People will be leaving the religion because of weariness – abandonment
• Learning things that is not true from godparents
• Godparents abandoning the children – outgrow each other
• There will be wars between families, neighbors, friends, countries and governments
• People will take care of their ori
• People have to avoid getting involve in other people problems
• People have to reframe from gossip, arguments and hearsay
• People have to make sure they are getting proper help to not fall into big trouble; if you are not a initiated priest…there are things that you should not be doing
• Have to make sure people are doing the right thing that they don’t become slave to the spirits and can’t escape their problems • This odu talks about assassination – self destructions
• This odu talk about witchcraft from other pagan religions
• This odu talk about not giving esu and orisa palm oil, leave the palm oil for Iyami
• This odu talk about being careful in signing contracts or doing things in 3’s
• This odu talks about not opening and holding other people’s mail
• This odu talks about not buying stolen items or the police will arrest you
• The people need not lie
• People who carry weapons- be careful that the weapon don’t be use against you and you see your own death….just put it away
• People need to not keep birds caged in their home
• Here is where people are leaving Olodumare out of their prayers
• Here is where people are cursing for the lack of things, always thinking that others may have it better than themselves….worry about self.
• Be careful where you walk so you bring no harm to yourselves.
• People must take care of their mothers both physically and spiritually
• Women have to take care of their internal organs…a lot surgeries for women and their wombs
• Women being with jealous men can cause struggles and physical abuse issues and situations
• Women who are single and are surrounded by suitors are in a great position to be married. Orunmila should be consulted to decide on the one
• Back pains and headaches from stress
• Talks about the spiritual cleansing that is done at the sea; Orunmila is talking about the ceremony to Olokun to stay clean
• People have to be careful with their siblings who may have bad feelings and it turn into war and loss of life
• Children leaving home for apparent reason
• Ifa says that emotional depression indicates that many people are not aligned with their destiny

IRE POINT VIEW:

• Increasing family
• Promoting prevention against diseases
• Recognizing the power of nature and respecting the orisha
• Avoid being disrespectful to our environment
• Work on understanding self
• Working with ogun for financial gain
• Working with ogun in spiritual houses so the house is not empty
• Everyone must work together with ogun in their spiritual house to reap the benefits
• Give Mami WATA sweets, perfumes, sweet powders for money gain
• Give our egbe a lot of sweets pastries for money gain
• Oyu being the deity of fate always indicates that a good attitude must be implemented to avoid negativity that harms life
• Combine Orunmila beads on the eleke of oshun and add coral inside ifa
• Good relationship with the mother provides spiritual protection

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Take care of your health
• Take care of your ori (head)
• Take care of your children so they don’t leave home to soon
• Don’t get into wars and battles that are not yours
• Be careful what you say to people which can turn into arguments and fights
• Avoid fraudulent activities and fabrications that turns into lies
• Don’t wear a lot of things around the neck – void being hung
• Take care of Ogun and Sango
• Wear as much white as possible
• Put Olodumare in all prayers
• Respect yourself to respect others
• Develop good character
• Be honest
• Have humility
• Work a lot with ancestors and spiritual guides
• Work a lot with your Egbe and Mami giving them sweets, so-on
• Get close to Ifa- Fa- Afa
• Keep yourself spiritual and physically clean
• Pay attention to business contracts
• Don’t buy hot or stolen items
• Void arguments with family, friends, neighbors, and so-on
• Being responsible and reliable
• To balance the emotional state and gain hope, face the inner fear that does not allow the determination, since it is the negativity that ties us to despair
• Do not waste time fighting the enemies, as this action will cause diseases
• The justification is characteristic
• The hypocrisy is often seen only to people who allow this type of attitude in their lives to fill the inner emptiness of what they are

EWE:

• Ceiba
• Hala Hala
• Jobo
• Curujey
• Guasina

Odu Ogunda Tura oracle 207:1 : by Ifa international foundation Sakamba (I am quite clean) was divined for Ota (stone) in the water, We gear sickness, Ota-Omi was told not to be afraid of sickness And was asked to offer sacrifice so that he might not be sick Ota-Omi was further asked to offer sacrifice so that he would remain stationary The sacrifice: a snail, a pigeon, 3200 cowries and ifa leaves He heard and sacrificed and was free from sickness

Oracle 207:2: Ogundata-tura, it is good that enables one to overcome enemy. An ill-favored person can be easily entrapped by his enemy. Who gave birth to me? An ill-favored person is one whom most people believes to be turned and yet he thinks that he is much loved. In strong winds, egbee plant fall upone another; in lie manner, my enemies will die one after the other. they will never befriend one another; the male lizards do not befriend one another in a short time. (this is said when cleaning with ifa leaves and irosu powder)

Commentary:

The odu came with Ire (good) however Ogunda is always a difficult sign to live with that why it is necessary to list the Ibi (bad) or negative aspects of this sign. If we only look for the good in the ODUS and do nothing to stop the bad things, we might as well not even pay attention to any of what is said about the good. Life is about balance and duality.

We of American Ifa-Fa-AFA wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous year ahead. Àṣẹ!

TRAINED: A VALIDATION AND INVALIDATION TOOL
By Ayaba OchaBi Ifabuluje-Ifaseye and Ayaba-Oloye Erelu-Abiye Unsi-Tassinon
Nov. 27, 2015

TRAINED; conformed, conditioned, brainwashed.
Among Ifa/Orisa Initiates, it means VALIDATED.

UNTRAINED; not conformed, not conditioned and not brainwashed Among Ifa/Orisa Initiates, it means INVALIDATED, FAKE AND FRAUD.

DO YOU NEED TRAINING OR TEACHING IN ORDER TO DEVELOP SPIRITUALLY WITH IFA AND ORISA?

According to the military, training is brainwashing, e.g. soldiers, military or police dogs. A dog is trained to sniff out illegal drugs; attack individual; or fetch the newspaper. “Training techniques, brings NO spiritual substance; no spiritual development; and no spiritual elevation is attainable.” It does not afford you the ability to walk your own spiritual path towards your destiny.

In the past few years, the word training has been applied continuously in relationship to the status of Ifa and Orisa priest. Why? It is an undoing of ones initiations and years of development. It is to ruin people’s reputations. It is an effort to bring about your downfall. Some people are pushing the idea that having no training is the reason to invalidate a person’s priesthood and initiation(s). In Ifa and Orisa life, training means to follow policies and protocols of those who demand it from you; It means buying books read on how to follow those policies and protocols, and it means paying for membership that says you are a VALID practitioner by a certificate of completion. NO, YOU ARE NOT TAUGHT, TO CONDUCT ANY RITUALS. DO CEREMONIES, MAKE MEDICINES. OR TO DIVINE FOR OTHERS. In other words, it is a groupthink attitude that says, “if you are not conditioned by us or validated by us then your years of study means nothing.” To these Ifa/Orisa advocates who push for validation, any person is considered fraudulent and fake if they are not TRAINED, yet you are not TAUGHT.

TRAINED, TRAINING TRAINS:

1. to coach in or accustom to a mode behavior or performance; 2. to make proficient with specialized instruction and practice; 3. to prepare physically, as with a regimen; 4. to cause (one’s hair) to take a desired course or shape, as by manipulating; 5. to point or direct (a gun or camera) at something; 6. to discipline and instruct (an animal), as in the performance of tasks or tricks; and 7. a number of followers; a procession; a succession of things, persons or animals.

TRAINING IS ALL ABOUT OBEDIENCE FOR LIFE

From a psychological standpoint training implies being DOMINATED. To train is to stress the development of a desired proficiency or behavior through practice, discipline, and instruction such as a trained dog, servant or slave may be. For example, in Training = Dominance therapy (TDT), Dr. Sophia Yin, DVM, MS (2015) stated that “Traditional training techniques are based on the idea that we must become the dominant leader and rule our pets the way a wolf would rule a pack [or the slave master dominance over his slaves].

In order to evaluate whether this reasoning in valid, we must understand dominance….In animal behavior, dominance is defined as a relationship between individuals that is established through force, aggression and submission in order to establish priority access to all desired resources (food, the opposite sex, preferred resting spots, etc). In species where strong hierarchies exist, this hierarchy is important evolutionarily because having a high rank confers a greater ability pass on one’s genes. Rank is maintained through ritualistic aggressive acts on the part of the higher ranked individual and appeasement or deference on the part of the lower ranked individual

TEACH, TAUGHT

1. to impart knowledge of or skill in; give instruction in, and 2- to impart knowledge or skill to; give instruction to. In other words, to teach is to furnish a person with skills or knowledge e.g. teaches you how to divine, make medicines, and how to conduct rituals and ceremonies.

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

Steve MS (2012) stated that “milieu control is destructive religious groups have an ‘us vs. them’ mentality.”

How does TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION fit into Ifa and orisa practice? Several workshops are advertised for “TRAINING of Ifa” followed by certification. Are the words being used, out of context? What can the certification do? For example, does the certification save lives? Does the certification develop and elevate someone spirituality? Or does the certification assure that the trained priest holder is well conformed top spot in a PYRAMID SCHEME to make money? Is it us (conformed) vs them non-conformed)? Where will you fit in the Trained Pyramid Scheme of things planned for Ifa/Orisa devotees?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

Will you as a trainee and/or conformer accept the invalid certification over teachings, spiritual development and elevations?

Aboru Aboye Abosise and Greetings

This is an open letter to those looking from the outside in and to those antagonists, adversaries, nemeses, and fabricators.

Olodumare (God) have never said that one person was greater than the other. Over time,  humans’ ego have taken control of the Ori (head).  In the sacred odu, EjiOgbe, Ifa teaches us that every human being had a fair start in Orun (heaven) but upon coming to earth, the ego, id and super ego stepped in. As a result, we as human beings have become, competitive irrational, illogical, and war like.  It is the ego that causes one to stray from the agreement made in Orun at the foot of Olodumare. In the mean time, some of us in Ifa neglect our own destinies by trying to control other people’s destinies. If the antagonists, adversaries, nemeses, and fabricators really knew Ifa, they would not be what they are. Instead they would be learning Ifa and working on their own individual destiny. They would be doing all they could to promote the love of Ifa. Ifa teaches us that when we have serious problems, we should take it to Ifa so that we can live comfortable, with love, long life, a good mate, children and material wealth. By following Ifa, we acquire all of those mentioned above. We do not take it upon ourselves to destroy the destiny of another person.

It says so in Ofun Meji-Orangun meji:

Ifa says, Powerful Ifa must be used to resolve serious issues (life issues)
A powerful medicine must be used to counter another powerful medicine;
A fortune must be used to resolve Sere’s issue.
What If we have no money,
How will we resolve it (the problem)?
Cast Ifa for OLOKUN when all of the bodies of waters became her enemies.

Olokun’s plight is the very scenario that has befallen us, (Ayaba OchaBi Ifabuluje-Ifaseye Ika Meji, Ayaba-Oloye Erelu-Abiye Unisi-Tassinon (Ika Ofun) and the idea of American Ifa-Fa-Afa.  Our message is in regards to the lesson in Ofun Meji and other Sacred ODUS mentioned here.

The tree that Olorun has planted, nobody can rip from its roots (Ogbe Ate). Here is no winner(s), because ALL priests of Orunmila should not conspire against one another; all priests should think carefully about his/her life and behave well (Irete meji).

As our antagonists, adversaries, nemeses, and the fabricators continue their path to destroy us, we thank Odi Meji for revealing what was hidden.

A din di odi, A din di Odi – what and who that hides the messages of heaven, Ifa will reveal it on earth; no matter what you say about us, it will be shown to the world (Odi Meji).

1. “WHEN YOU SPIT IN THE SKY, IT FALLS IN YOUR FACE”

Life is a journey. Love is the main attribute of Olodumare. As a famous mythologist once said, “Mythology is the womb of mankind’s initiation to life and death” (Joseph Campbell, 1990).  We all are born to die like the seasons, e.g. Fall, Winter and so-on. Nothing will stay the same…not me and not you.

We (Ayaba and Ayaba) started a spiritual journey, together. We worked and prayed hard, while making small slips and falls along the way. We raised our children and paid our way through school. We even paid for each of our initiations and made it through difficult lessons as we continued to develop with our ancestors, orisa, ifa and God. When people believe that, they are mighty and taller than anyone else, they have spit at God and will have return into their own faces. When our antagonists, adversaries, nemeses, and fabricators took out what seems like 100 fraud pages on Facebook to destroy us, they were splitting in the sky; they are spitting in the face of God. They forgot millions of other people on facebook were reading. As they hid their identities and we blocked them, our friends and family on Facebook are still reading all their nasty comments and being affected by it. While everyone else read the nasty remarks of the antagonists, adversaries, nemeses, and fabricators and their blatant abuse, WE, continued to take the injustices to Ifa and Ifa advice is that we continue along our paths as we are on the right path and that is spreading the awareness of the goodness of Ifa in all of its variations. It is because of Ifa that we have continued living and walking our destinies today despite, the curses, threats and the many attempts to belittle us.

We speak to you all with love and concern and we pray that you too have love and are concerned for us since we are all children of God. It could have been you and if it were you what would you do?  So we ask, why are these things still manifesting? Is it because we are continuously working Ifa?

2. “DO FOR DO, AIN’T NO OBEAH”

This means, do unto others as they would do unto you, literally.

Osa otura says, what is truth?
We say what is truth?
Orunmila says, truth is the laws of heaven, guiding the earth;
the wisdom of Olodumare is using great wisdom.
Truth is the word that cannot fall;
Ifa is truth, truth is the character of Olodumare,
Truth is the word that cannot spoil
Mighty, power, surpassing all,
Everlasting blessing
This was divined for the earth,
They said the people of the earth should be truthful.

Up until now, none of our antagonists, adversaries, nemeses, and fabricators has been truthful about their activities as sons and daughters of Orunmila should be. They have spread propaganda while acting as if they are protecting people as a charity and their motive to destroy us. Are we not people too? When did God tell them to be destroyers of other people when all ODUS are remedies to HELP man along. The ODUS do not tell us to take matters into our own hands, or there would be no need for Ifa, period.

3. “TRY TO BE WISE AND YOU END UP OTHERWISE”

As it have been clearly stated from time to time, Lucumi is Lùkù mi, or Olùkù mi, meaning “My friend” in Ife dialect. There has not been any spiritually friendly and loving development by our antagonists, adversaries, nemeses, and fabricators who says that they are Lucumi and/or respect the teachings of Lucumi.

A well known professor stated that; as African peoples and their Diaspora peoples living within and outside the continent, we will explore 100 Theses, one by one, for the need to orchestrate the Full and Unmitigated Reformation of Ifa and Other Orisa Based Agencies of African Divination, Worship, Belief Systems, Philosophies, Theology, Ancestral Adoration and Religions. Slavery, the most central tool used for the subjugation, confusion and control of peoples of Africa and its Diasporas has remained neglected, ignored, silenced and subordinated by cultural custodians, including Obas, Ijoyes, Babalawos, Iyanifas, Babalorisas, Iyalorisas, Oniseguns, Adahunses, and other indigenous spiritual leaders of Africa and its Diasporas–although these cultural custodians know fully well, or they are abjectly ignorant that without a full recognition, discussion and treatment of this historical cancer, it is impossible for peoples who look up to them to understand or fully benefit from indigenous systems of divinity (Moyo Okediji, Ifa University).

In other words, no one person have the monopoly on Ifa and another person destiny within the propagation of Ifa and orisa.

4. “WHAT SHOE YOU BUY, YOU WEAR, EVEN IF IT HURT YOUR TOE”

Odu Iwori Bosa says this is where you’ll find the wars in the world; Obatala (Ayaguna) the creator of wars; and
where one is not to be allowed to sit at your table with dirty hands. Meaning, if you don’t respect me, how do you want me to respect you; if you want me to give you something, what are you giving me. It is all about trust and not trickery.

“THIS ODU CLEARLY SPEAKS OF THE NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIVITIES”

It’s heartbreaking, that in our present times, there are those who point to their own interpretations of the ifa and governmental laws, who break the very rules they want to enforce. As the world continue to spin and conflicts escalate, pathology besets the orias/ifa communities and their families, more and more. What would Orunmila say about this? We have been falsely accused as frauds by once distinguished priests of this tradition whom by their actions against us removed their own distinctions. We find this particularly disturbing and hard to understand because Ifa is Ifa, we are ifa and they are ifa. We are not electing people to govern their destinies but they want govern ours.

5.  “NO MATTER HOW FAST THE MOONLIGHT RUN, DAY LIGHT CATCHES UP”

Every one of us sat down before Olodumare (God) prior to coming through to earth. We all made and accepted out destiny contract. Some chose to be president of the United States while others chose to be simple people in the world. Regardless, every one of us made an agreement with God. Traveling on the road to fulfilling that contract has been a challenge, from raising children to just living in the world but we are fulfilling our destinies to complete our contracts with Olodumare.  Out of love for Ifa, we pray that our antagonists, adversaries, nemeses, and fabricators will come to the conclusion that their activities are incorrect behavior for Ifa priests. That Ifa-Fa-Afa will forgive them and elevate their ori and spirit.

We can not say often enough, if we had a million of your tongues supporting us that it would still not be enough to able to thank Ifa for the love, the guidance and the strength gained from doing good by Ifa

Ase ire o
Ayaba Ochabi Ifabuluje-Faseye IkaMeji

Ayaba-Oloye Erelu-Abiye Unisi-Tassinon (Ika Ofun)