It is quite alarming and disturbing the developments in the Ifa community in this last two weeks. Or when elders choose to dance naked in the market square, will that not remain a puzzle for the wise and the novice? Meeting Chief Solagbade Popoola for the first time was in 2008, Ikeja to be precise, at a public lecture on African Culture organised by the Late Ambassador Olusegun Olusola of blessed memory. For the first time in my life, I saw a babalawo who is a natural bridge between the old and the present generation. He is equally relevant even in the future! His mastery of the subject was superb. I cannot but marvel at the way he delivered the lecture that day. The second opportunity was in Abeokuta during the International Council for Ifa Religion 10th anniversary. On both occasions, he proved to be somebody who knows his onions. To be candid, Chief Solagbade Popoola is versed in Ifa. He deserves a professorial chair! Shocking was the news when I read his letter to one Adams Peretz, hereinafter reffered to as Amosun Fakayode; accusing him of stealing his intellectual property. To an inquisitive mind, I asked myself some salient questions: 1. The first question was “how come?” Can a stoke of fire pass through the ocean without something propelling it? Can Amosun Fakayode get hold of such document without a mole in Chief Solagbade’s “house”? 2. Is this Chief Popoola’s first line of communication to Amosun? And if yes, why did he choose this medium? 3. Are other peaceful and amicable means of retrieving the document(s) from Amosun been explored to no avail? 4. Will Amosun be so daft to the extent of purchasing such “priceless property” without proper investigation as to the authenticity of ownership? 5. What is the role of Chief Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, Amosun’s Oluwo in Nigeria on the whole issue? Deep down me something told me that there is more to this thing than the eye can see. Pride..? Ego..? Personal vendatta..? Only Olodumare knows, but there and then I knew, this is just the beginning. Then came Amosun’s response, through the same medium, claiming he legitimately purchased the said property. As expected of a honourable Awo, I was a bit relieved when I read Fayemi Fakayode’s release, instructing Amosun to return the said documents. Thinking the end was in sight, the events of this past week proved me wrong. Not yet done with this, then came the Oba Ogboni and Ayo Salami. Oba Ogboni accused Ayo Salami of false representation and other vices. For heaven’s sake, where will all these lead us to? Sincerely, I see the advent of these social media as a great opportunity to all Olorishas to right the wrongs of donkey years, and create a positive impression about our religion cum belief. Is this how we want to move Isese forward? Did Ifa not teach us that it is only in unity that we will reach our goals? Hear what Ifa says: (Kitikiti laa l’emo, katakata laa l’ejo, ai-k’owo l’owo ejo ni iku se npa won lokookan. A daa fun Adejumobi tii s’omo oye Alaketu, nje ki oka o saaju, ki paramole o te lee, ki ere baba won maa wo bo leyin, tani je duro de omo ejo? Nje Ife lajulo, gbogbo isoro ope ko soun to da bi Ife, Ife lajulo.) Systematically, we pursue Emo rats, helter- sketer we run after snakes. It is because snakes do not move together as a team that death pick them up one after the other. The revelation for Adejumobi, the heir apparent to Alaketu’s throne. If pythons lead the way, closely followed by cobras, while the mammoth anaconda stealthily crawls behind them, who will ever dare to trample upon the snake? Love is the ultimate, believers of the sacred palm, there is nothing like love, love is the ultimate. Where then is the love Ifa preaches? On a parting note, Ifa teaches us in Otura Ose about 16 elders who are on a mission to Efon-Alaaye. They were advised to be open minded to one another if they want to be successful in their mission. (Ina ta pere pere ina jo’gbo, oorun ta pere pere oorun j’odan… daa fun agbaagba merindinlogun ti won nse awo lo si ode Okiti Efon, gbogbo won lo nse dukuu si ara won….). Otura and Ose went to consult for Alaaye. Otura says Ifa foresees good fortunes, Ose says Ifa forewarned bad omens, while both were interpreting the same Odu for the king. The king provided each of the duo with the requested ebo. But he later disgraced them and banish them from his kingdom. They are not disgraced because they are not versed in Ifa, but because they fail to speak with one voice. As I observed earlier, this issue is beyond what we see on the pages of facebook, there is more to it than the warring factions will reveal on the net. But my prayer is whatever score the gladiators need to settle, they are free to do that. It is part of their fundamental right. They should however, while exercising their right, think about the collective image of babalawos. They need to think twice.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 21:31:13 +0000
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