Odun Ifa, 2013 By Chief FAMA Ti a ba da ojo, ojo a pe Ti a ba da osu, osun ako Ti a ba da odun, odun a jo When an event is set for a few days ahead, the short term date always come to pass When an event is set for one month ahead, the one month short distance will come to pass When an event is set a full calendar year ahead, the year usually spins in full circle; it, too, come pass. So it was with the 12th Odun Ifa that was just concluded on Saturday, August 31st, 2013, in San Bernardino, Southern California, USA. Our respected, octogenarian, master drummer Baba Felipe Garcia Villamil led the drumming for the Odun Ifa. Babalawo Ifatola Julio Cesar Vasquez’s singing support added glamour to an already established Orisa drumming practice of Baba Felipe. The combination of the drumming and singing was ecstatic! Awos from different Orisa backgrounds, including few iyawos, celebrated Ifa and the Orisas with beautiful dance steps, and in regalia dresses of our Orisas. So also was a representative from Orunmila Youngsters in Benin City, Nigeria, Awo Augustin Osawemwenzee. Friends of Awos, particularly from the Yoruba Community in Southern California, were also present in support. They included, but not limited to, Mr. & Mrs. Iyabo Olatunji and family, Dr. Ronke Ogunleye, Ogbeni Olanrewaju Ifagbemi Quadri, and Ogbeni Tokunbo Ifakorede Obafunwa. To them, I say, “Mo dupe pupo o (“Thank you very much,” “Muchas gracias.”) Above all, the Orisas ensured coolness for our typically sunny Southern California around this time. Sango started with thunder and lightning a few days before the beginning of the Odun Ifa; Oya complimented with drizzles of rain and soaked the ground, Oya did not stop the drizzles of rain until the morning of the day of the Bembe for Ifa. To IFA itself--Egungun Nla ti nkeyin Igbale (baba of the Orisas), baaaaaaaba o!!! The Odun Ifa was a huge success. We praised the Orisas, particularly Ifa, with songs, chants, dance, smiles, respectful hugs, kunles, and dobales. The food were delicious, the drinks were blessed by Osun, Obatala, Yemoja, Oya, Sango, and Esu. The dance floor was guided by Ogun and every one danced graciously for all the Orisas. Babaluwaye was charged with health and he preserved good health for everybody. Ogun was in charge of safety; therefore, the journey from various places and distances to and from San Bernardino that day were safe. Sango switched off his thundering and lightening the night before the Bembe. To Sango: Ka woo, ka bii ko si (Kabiyesi) o!. Osun spread her sweat honey on everybody and everyone felt renewed. Yemoja ensured that all her children—Omo Orisa--were under her watchful protection. Ori (destiny) ensured that all ese omo Orisa (feets) present at the Odun Ifa were spiritually aligned with individually chosen good destinies. The Egunguns ensured that the common thread among all of us Omo Orisa—our Orisa blood line (DNA)—was further strengthened. Esu was dedicatedly with Orunnmila throughout the Odun Ifa for the circular success. Of course, all channel led to Odumare (the same universally acknowledged Energy known as God to many) who crowned our efforts with spiritual success, via Ifa’s ancient prescribed, multiple ebos for the Odun Ifa--before—during—and after. So, good people, thank you all for the support in kind and in gifts. Thank you also for the positive vibrations: positive vibrations that were really felt. To Agba Awos, who continue to have me under their wings of wisdom, among whom is Baba Adeboye Oyesanya, I say, "Ogbo and Ato.” To contemporary Awos, who also continue to have me in their iwures, I say, "Aboru aboye." To younger Awos, who are no doubt experts in the practice, I say, Ifa a ma se egbe Ire--may Ifa bless you in wisdom, wealth, ogbo, and ato. To members of the Odun Ifa Planning Committee (Damilola Samantha Cole, Ifatayo MonaLisa Whitaker, Ifayemisi Adrian Gardner, Ademola Ogunde, Totin Oladokun, Ayobami Abayomi, Titilayo Olagunju, Princess, Tifase Somadji, Korede Abayomi, Baba S. Somadhi, and Noel Hernandez, Ifa says, “A ko ni pa odun je / Odun ko ni pa wa je” (Ifa will continue to guide us, guard us, protect us, bless us with wisdom, bless us with the resources with which to continue to praise Ifa and the Orisas, bless us with “Ogbo” and “Ato” for an everlasting service of Ifa, ase). Our “Thank You” also goes to Baba Eugene Ifalola Crosby and Baba Fasina Falade. Well, this is Odun Ifa season, therefore, to the many odun Ifa coming up, I say, "Ojo a ko Ire" (may Ifa seal the days with abundant IRE): • Baba Ifakola Olayiwola, Alakija Awo of Ilu Ede (Ede town), will start his Odun Ifa on September 14th, 2013 in Ede, Osun State. Before then, however, Ilaju for all Babalawos in Ede and iboja for Ede’s own Ifa—Osa rete—will begin on the 8th. The Ilaju/ibofa ritual will be followed with a night long iyere Ifa by Babalawos in Ede. Propitiation of all the Orisas will continue on the 9th of September 2013 until the13th. By the 14th of September, Baba Ifakolade’s own ikunle ibofa will begin at the Akoda Awo’s Compound in Ede. Jije and mimu (social) will follow the next day, so also will other necessary rituals. Agba Awo/baba Awo Ifasayo Ifadamitan Alabi, Oba ninu Ifa and also Ejemu Awo Agbaye, will start his Odun Ifa on September 27th. This will be followed with jije mimu (social) the next day, September 28th, 2013, in Ilobu town, Osun State. Baba, ope e wa po o (thank you very much), aboru aboye. Further details will be posted accordingly. • Agba Awo Ifatayo Awogbile, the Akogun Awo Agbaye and the Aseda Awo of Ilu Ola (Ola town) will start his Odun Ifa in Ola on October 13th, 2013; details will be posted as necessary. Aboru aboye ni ile Ifa o, baba Awo. Conclusively, Ifa says, Ti a ba se eni ni oore, ope ni a nda (show gratitude for help or blessing received) Mo wa a dupe e temi (I say “Thank you)…. In this respect, I hereby say, "THANK YOU," good people. May the love and blessings you constantly send this way, and which are always thankfully received, be everlasting, ase. Lastly, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, the present governor of the State of Osun, deserves a second term in office. Remember, he is spiritually omo Ifa, omo Orisa, and omo Oduduwa ni toooto (truthfully). Therefore, a ti fi oro re ko Ikin l’orun o, eyin Agba Awo (please, include him in your iwures). As prescribed by awon Ogbo Awo isaaju (past Egunguns in Ifa) in the 1950s, and according to Araba Ijeta Ife, Baba Awosade Awosope, Ogbeni Aregbesola has actually added to past and current combined efforts of taking Ifa and the Orisas to the next level of universal presence, with his official declaration of August 20 of every year as Ojo Isese (Isese Day). Ela, aboru; Ela, aboye. Ileorunmila
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 20:59:14 +0000
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