The Life And Achievements Of Araba Ifayemi Ayinde Osundagbonu Elebuibon As An Ambassador Of Yoruba Culture and Tradition.
Nevertheless, he authored several books and fifteen " ewi" recordings (traditional poetry)
Join the voyage as Yusuf Olatunji takes you on a smooth and jolly sail with Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon as the doyen of Yoruba traditions and culture shares his history and lfa experience. It promises to be a worthy reading of an amazing revelation and appreciation of History and tradition of the Yoruba "World".
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 were renowned great men. History has it that they were the founding father of Osogbo. I am from a royal family which is obvious because my forefathers were the founder of Osogbo. As a result of this, they became ruttier chiefs of Osogbo city . 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 encountered 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 usually died at infancy.
ELEBUIBON AND CHILDREN :
"I have many children, two are in overseas. Presently, OGUNDEJI AJANI ELEBUIBON, he is also an Ifa priest. He travelled to Brazil to conduct Ifa worship for the people out there in Brazil".
Also, AWOYINFA ELEBUIBON, he is based
in London, studied there and also an 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 trio 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 as the only resort to the predicament.
He was foretold that the new born child would be a male child who would live to appreciate and proclaim the customs and traditions of his forefathers. The baby boy eventually came to being as predicted and was christened on the third day, given the name {Osundagbonu} meaning Osun supercedes any form of medication or herbs.
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 fond 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 had no passion for education . In 1957, I was taken to another chief priest in person of Chief Ifaniyi Agbongbon in Ejigbo for further training. My love, passion and zeal for western education made me learn from
friends who had the opportunity to attend schools, noting my thirsty to acquire formal education , 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 my heart bled as our culture began to fade away, going into extinction each day. I wrote a thirteen episode synopsis of "Ifa Olokun Asorodayo." For NTA Ibadan in 1980. I tried severally to persuade the management to consider my synopsis 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 the Ifa Olokun to lime light. This made me became familiar with Susan Wenger (AKA) Adunni Olorisa and we went on an exhibition in Togo along side her adopted son Sangodare Ajala.
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 countries such as 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 alerted me of some gun men in my main building and my premises. I was shocked to hear this but still summoned courage to deal with the situation but to my surprise,
they were the NDLEA men 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 novels 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 the recitation buttresses the preaching of the two religious groups , 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 the 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" Good ones are scarce" Olori to dami", I am a special being. "Ema jaya Iku" don't be scared of Death. "Aye di jagbanrudu" The world 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'S SORJOURNING IN ABROAD :
My first experience as a traveler to western countries 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
I have travelled to so many countries such as Belgrade, Yugoslavia, United Kingdom, United States of America, Cuba, Havana, Port of Spain, Trinidad &Tobago and many more.
ARABA IFAYEMI ELEBUIBON'S DESCRIPTION OF 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 25 chapters and enormous verses, describing 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 mythology at the Chicago state university. He lectures at universities abroad, saying, “I am a teacher in some places overseas where I teach African Philosophy. I have delivered lectures both at home and abroad.
WHICH NIGERIA UNIVERSITY YOU HAVE TAUGHT?
"I am an associate lecturer at OBAFEMI AWOLOWO University, ILE-IFE (OAU), the Department of Yoruba language used to bring their students for seminar.
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 times, our government will be in good shape if our leaders use tradition object to inaugurate our leaders when they assume political office. We should stop using Qur’an and Bible, they are foreign objects; the use of the duo objects to inaugurate them into offices give them the room to misbehave or rule recklessly without minding the masses.
YOUTH AND CULTISM :
“I have said it on several occasions , cultism is not part of Nigeria culture and traditions; it has no trace in our land. It's origin has been traced to Europe. Parents should go to tertiary institution to check their wards' 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'S 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 EAT 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 PROSPECT OF YORUBA LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND TRADITIONS?
"Hmm, I have been an advocate, on this for 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 heritage . Yoruba culture and tradition had faded away, meanwhile Yoruba culture has priceless 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 ASORODAYO. We must not be ashamed of our social cultural heritage. We have no respect for our culture, even some Yoruba children cannot speak fluent Yoruba; this does not augur well for our culture. Yoruba 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 cultural heritage. I have been spending money on every project I lay my hands on. Nobody gave me money, all my books, films were funded by me. No fund from the government.
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 PRIEST IN THE WONDER LAND
WATER SPIRIT OF YORUBA LAND IKU THE FEARFUL SPIRIT
FILMS :
· OBATALA IN PRAISE DOCUMENTARY
THIS FILM 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 AND AWARDS :
· MEMBERS OF ROTARY CLUB OSOGBO
· MEMBER OF YORUBA CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
· TROPHY SECOND PLACED AT 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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