High Chief Ifayemi Ayinde Osudagbonu Elebuibon is a vibrant 76 year old Ifa priest. He has been spiritually incline right from a tender age has he has no formal education whatsoever. Nevertheless, he authored several books and fifteen ewi (traditional poetry) records.
Stay glued to your phone and Pcs Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon shares his history and lfa experience with citynews.com.ng It promise to be an eye opener to the reader and also the appreciation of History and tradition of the Yoruba would not be found wanting.
EARLY LIFE
“I was born into the Oluode Aturuku Owo Ope Olutimehin family, Osogbo, the present capital of the state of Osun. I am a direct descendant of Olutimehin Oba to mu erin wolu; the king that brought elephant to the city. My forefather Oluwatimehin and Larooye are renowned great man. History has it that they were the founding father of Osogbo. I am from a royal family which is obvious because my forefather were the founder of Osogbo. As a result of this they became ruttier chief city of Osogbo. My immediate family was polygamous because my father married six wives. My mother was the last.
“Akinrinde Akanbi Elebuibon was my father. He was an herbalist. This probably instilled the love of ifa in me. My parents face a lot of challenges before having children; there was high rate of infant mortality (Abiku) because as soon as my mother gave birth, the child died".
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YUSUF OLATUNJI WITH CHIEF IFAYEMI AYINDE OSUDAGBONU ELEBUIBON |
ELEBUIBON AND CHILDREN
"I had many children, two were in overseas. Presently, OGUNDEJI
AJANI ELEBUIBON, he too is an Ifa priest. He travelled to Brazil to conduct Ifa
worship for the people out there in Brazil". Also, AWOYINFA ELEBUIBON. He
too was based
in London, studied there and also Ifa priest.
MYSELF AND MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY
My mother gave birth
to four children, three male and one female. ALHAJI MOROHUNKOLA ADIGUN
ELEBUIBON, ARABA IFAYEMI ELEBUIBON (myself), ALHAJA AJITOONI AMOKE ELEBUIBON
and ADEWALE ADISA ELEBUIBON. The trios were Muslim while I was the only Ifa
worshiper among them.
LIFE AS TRADITIONALIST
The need to consult an Ifa oracle became the next choice.
My father was told to stop any form of medication and give nothing but "Osun"
water to my mother. He was also told that the new born child will be a male
child who will live to appreciate and proclaim the customs and traditions of
his forefathers. The baby boy eventually came to being and was christened on
the third day given the name {Osundagbonu} meaning Osun supercede any form of
medication or herbs in quote. He was also named Ifayemi which means Ifa suits
me or the oracle suits me.
Life as a traditionalist has been splendid from the oracle
to the present days I have received a lot of favours. My mother was found of
singing a particular lullaby that goes thus
"O ni n ma kiagbomo Osundagbonu"
“The oracle has warned against any form of medication. Osun supercedes
herbs".
EDUCATION
“I had no formal education at the early stage except as an
ifa apprentice under the tutelage of my father within 1951-1955. It was like a
dream come true when Late Chief Obafemi Oyeniyi Awolowo introduced the first
free education in western region but unfortunately my father was passionate
against it. In 1957, I was taken to another chief priest in person of Chief
Ifaniyi Agbongbon in Ejigbo for further training. My love and affection for
western education made me learn from
friends who had the opportunity to attend schools. Seeing
this, I was advised by one of them to take a correspondence course.
THE ADVENT OF OLOKUN ASORODAYO
“As a man cannot go against his/her destiny no matter how
hard he/she tries, made any heart bled as our culture began to fade away, going
into extinction each day. I wrote a thirteen episode synopsis is "Ifa
Olokun Asorodayo." For NTA Ibadan in 1980. I tried severally to persuade
the management to give my work a look but to no avail. Until one day, I was
lucky enough to meet the General Manager in person of Yemi Faronbi who went
against all odds and brought my work to lime light. This made me became
familiar with Susan Wenger (AKA) Adunni Olorisa and we went on an exhibition in
Togo along side was her adopted son Sangodare Ajala.
The
exhibition was transmitted in Ibadan Nigeria and this made NTA appreciate my
work better and they requested for more episode as against the thirteen
episodes requested.
RELATIONSHIP WITH SUSAN WENGER
I had a good relationship with Susan Wenger and her
adopted son. My relationship with her was like a blessing because it took me to
several like Togo, Germany, England, to mention but a few.
MY ENCOUNTER WITH NDLEA
"It happened on
July 4, 2004. I just returned from my annual tour when my wife, Oyelola Asonde
Elebuibon alert me of some gun men in my main building and my premises. I was
shocked to hear this but still summoned courage to set to the situation. Surprisingly
they were NDLEA agents requesting for my presence at their office after
searching every corner of my house and carted my valuables like western union
form, American savings book and some of my novel and poems which are priceless.
“I immediately informed my lawyer Barrister Awomoolo who encouraged me to
visit them at their office in Osogbo. The NDLEA director tendered apology for
the conduct of the institution and told me that they acted based on the
information that was given to them. That I was into drug trafficking and some
illegal business instead of teaching. Creating awareness and elevating the
culture of the black race that I claimed to be my major interest. I was
eventually set free and this brought about my poem "Elenini Aye"
meaning "The Antagonist".
The Poem goes
thus;
"Elenini
Aye, Elenini Orun
Elenini Aye o, Elenini Orun
Ko so ohun ti
mogba lowo yin"
"Ema se Ika laye Tori a o roun
Bi aba de
bode Ao ro jo"
"Ara
igba hin da Ara igba hin da Iba se pa ayi ku o Ara Igba ani daa"
The
antagonist, the antagonist
I am not
indebted to you"
Don't be mischievous on earth
Death is inevitable
Each man
shall be judged
According to
his deed
Where are our predecessors?
Where are our predecessors?
If man could avoid death
Where are our predecessors?
The three stanzas of recitation buttress the preaching of
the two religious group, Islam and Christianity on judgment after death.
BOOKS POEMS AND RECORDS WAXED
I have written about eight books in which the first was
"Apetebi Aya Orunmila" followed by Adventure of Obatala, Ifa
custodian of destiny, Healing power of sacrifice, poetry voice of Ifa, the
invisible power metamorphosis and sixty poems when I turned sixty in 2007. I am
currently on healing power of prayer. I have waxed some of Ewi albums, fifteen
records precisely. My first record was "Eeyan won" Goods ones are
scarce" Olori to dami", I am a special being. "Ema jaya
Iku" don't be scared of Death. "Aye di jagbanrudu" The worlds
become a mistery". "Elenini Aye" The antagonist" Epe enu
won", "Oriki Asala", "Akosejaye",
"Iku
joyi omo otero", "Won ko ise ree le", "Omo lookun",
"Eje ki a se bi won ti se n se" mention but a few.
ELEBUIBON SORJOURNS ABROAD
My first experience as a traveler was with Late Duro
Ladipo National Theatre in 1973 to Paris, Nancy in France, between 1974 and 75;
we travelled to Brazil and USA. After this, I travelled to Sao Paolo in Brazil.
El-salvador in 1977 and after the FESTAC 1977, I started my solo travelling on
my personal business and will.
I have travelled to so many places like Belgrade,
Yugoslavia, United Kingdom, United States of America, Cuba, Havana, Port of
Spain, Trinidad &Tobago and so on.
ARABA IFAYEMI ELEBUIBON DESCRIBES IFA
Elebuibon
Eulogised Ifa as the light of the world, Ifa as the word of God, The wisdom of
the world and the source of human knowledge. He describes Odu Ifa as the book
of Knowledge with 256 chapters and enormous verses. He describes Orunmila as a
prophet and messenger from Eledumare "The fashioner", The supreme
being Orunmila means "The Guarantor". That is, heaven knows those
that would be saved.
LIFE AS A TEACHER IN ABROAD
Surprisingly, Elebuibon is a visiting lecturer of Ifa a
mythology at the Chicago state university. He lectures at universities abroad.
He said “I am a teacher in some places overseas where I teach African
Philosophy. I have delivered lectures both home and abroad.
WHICH NIGERIA UNIVERSITY YOU HAVE TAUGHT?
"I am an associate lecturer at
OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY ILE-IFE (OAU), Department of Yoruba language they
brought their student for seminar.
Also University of Ilorin, department of language, they invited me
annually to deliver. I deliver lecture on African Religion Contemporary that
was April 28, 2016.
ARABA IFAYEMI ELEBUIBON AND
SPORTS
He
founded Elebuibon Babes of Osogbo. The football club has participated in
various tournaments such as the SOJ Cup, Governor Aregbesola Golden Cup, Surad
Soccer Tournaments, Annual Unique Soccer Championship Ede, Osun State FA Cup,
Sunday Set Golden Cup Osogbo and Taofiq Ola Cup. The football Club has the
chief priest’s son. Mr. ELEMDY ELEBUIBON as the team manager.
ADVICE TO NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT
I
have said it several time, our government will be in good shape if our leader
use tradition object to inaugurate our leader into political office. We should
stop using Qur’an and Bible, there are foreign object; the use of the duo
objects to inaugurate them to thrive in Nigeria.
YOUTH AND CULTISM
“I
have said it in several occasion, cultism is not part of Nigeria culture and
traditions; it has no trace in our land. It has trace to Europe. Parents should
go to tertiary institution to check their ward well being and advice them
morally. Nigerian youths who are into one cult or the other should shun cultism
for the sake of their future and the reputation of their family members”
JOYFUL TIME AND REGRET TIME
“I
have no joyful time and regret in my life: in one of my tradition poetry (EWI)
EJE KI A SE BI WON TI SE N SE” mean “ LET DO IT AS IT SUPPOSE TO BE” I said “TI
A BA N WO’SO, KI A MA RANTI AKIISA” “TI A BA N JERAN, KI A MA RANTI EEGUN”
means “WHEN WE PUT ON CLOTH, WE SHOULD REMEMBER TORN ONES” WHEN WE ATE MEAT, WE
SHOULD REMEMBER BONE” WHEN THINGS IS GOING ON SMOOTHLY FOR ONE; THAT PARTICULAR
TIME ONE MUST BE CAREFUL” “NO JOYFUL
TIME NO REGRET TIME IN MY LIFE”
WHAT IS THE FUTURE PROSPECT OF YORUBA LANGUAGE,
CULTURE AND TRADITIONS?
Hmm,
I have been advocate on this several years ago ODU IFA SAYS “MO DURO MO FI APO
RO, MOBERE MOFI APO RO, ADI IFA FUN ODERE TI NSE ALABARIN EJA OUN TI WON OUN
WON OUN OLOUN NI J’OUN LOJU WON, OUN ABIWON KI WUN WON, TENI ELENI NI J’OUN
LOJU LOJU WON” simply
means
“WE NEVER APPRECIATE OUR CULTURAL VALUE” We have to act fast to prevent
deteriorating of Cultural. Yoruba culture and tradition had faded away
meanwhile Yoruba culture has unpriceable value. “E JE KI A MO IBI TI A TI WA”
means we must trace our origin. We need to promote our culture, as I said
earlier about IFALOKUN ADORODAYO. We must not be ashamed of our social cultural
heritage. We had disrespect or lack of value for our culture some Yoruba
children cannot speak fluent Yoruba; this is not well being for our culture.
Yoruba we are very, very rich in culture.
WITH WHAT YOU SAID SO FAR ARE YOU RICH OR FAMOUS?
“You see anyone in our field should not
look for money. The main point is to promote our culture heritage. I had been
spending money on every project I laid my hand on. Nobody gave money, all my
books, films were funded by me. No fund from the government.
MEMBERSHIP AND AWARDS
ARABA
IFAYEMI ELEBUIBON member clubs such as Rotary club Osogbo, Yoruba centre
of excellence also won some awards to his kitties trophy second place BAUCHI
NAFEST 89 merit award, justice of peace, government of Osun State, merit award
Osogbo progressive union, silver trophy government of Oyo State by SASA ENIYAN
ORESANYA an honorary decorated degree of tradition religion upon recommendation
(USA 27-7-93).
BOOKS
·
POETRY
VOICE OF IFA
IYERE IFA (TONAL
POETRY, THE VOICE OF IFA): AN EXPOSITION OF YORUBA DIVINATION CHANTS
IRIN AJO EDA
SOUL JOURNEY OF
THE PRIESTIN THE WONDER LAND
WATER SPIRIT OF
YORUBA LAND IKU THE FEARFUL SPIRIT
FILMS
·
OBATALA
IN PRAISE DOCUMENTARY
THIS FIL
DEMONSTRATES THE POSITION OF THE OBATALA HIS (ORIKI) PRAISE
NAME AND
SACRIFICE.
EKO ELEKO, DRAMA
BASED ON ODU IFA ALI DESE FROM SERIES OF WEEKLY PRESENTATION OF IFA OLOKUN
ASORODAYO.
PLAYS
NNKAN MI NI,
OMOLOKUN, OORE PE, ODE AFAWON YANYAN AFOJUDI
·
AGBA
AJIN ABOMU
ADOMU MOOTO IGUN
DALE
MAFORO YA
ORO-EBO JU AGBA LO, ANIKANJO PON
RECORD
·
OWONRI
SOGBE
MEMBERSHIP
AWARDS
·
MEMBERS
OF ROTARY CLUB OSOGBO
·
MEMBER
OF YORUBA CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
·
THROPHY
SECOND PLACE BAUCHI NAFEST 89
·
MERIT
AWARD
·
JUSTICE
OF PEACE, GOVERNMENT OF OSUN STATE, MERIT AWARD OSOGBO PROGRESSIVE UNION,
SILVER TROPHY GOVERNMENT OF OYO STATEE BY SASA ENIYAN ORESANYA
·
AN
HONOURARY DECORATED DEGREE TRADITION RELIGION UPON THE RECOMMENDATION (USA
27-7-93)
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