On Ritual Performance: A Practitioner's View

Author(s): Kolawole Ositola

Source: TDR (1988-), Vol. 32, No. 2 (Summer, 1988), pp. 31-41
Published by: The MIT Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1145850
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O n R i t u a l Performa n ce
A Pra ct i t i on er's Vi ew
Kol a wol eO si t ol a
My
con cern i s t o est a bl i sh t he fa ct s a n d t he va l u e of ou r t ra di t i on a l
heri t a ge,
t ha t
i s,
wha t ou rforefa t herbel i eves i n a n d i t s
pot en t i a l i t y.1
As t he
hol y
ora cl eha s sa i d
ri ght l y,
t he whol e l i fe
spa n
of a
person
i s a
jou rn ey.
An d t o ma ke t he
jou rn ey
su ccessfu l -rea l i st i c-a
person
mu st be wel l
i n du ct ed i n t o
l i fe,
i n t o t he
worl d,
so t ha t hi s
jou rn ey
wi l l be
progressi ve.
The
respon si bi l i t y
of i n du ct i on st a rt s wi t h t he
pa ren t s
of a
n ewl y
born
ba by
who mu st kn ow i t s mi ssi on on ea rt h. Thu s we
performIkosewa i ye
t o
kn ow t hemi ssi on or
dest i n y
of t hechi l d who
st epped
i n t ot heworl d. Thi s
we do
by di vi n i n g
a n d
i n t erpret i n g
t he
mea n i n g
of wha t
Ifa sa ys
i n t heO du
[a
set of
person a l
di vi n a t i on
t ext s]
t ha t comes wi t h t he
n ewl y
born
ba by.2
Wei n formt he
pa ren t s
a n d
gi ve
t hema sen seof how t ot ra i n t he
chi l d,
how
t o i n du ct or
prepa re
hi mor herfor a
progressi ve,
su ccessfu l l i fe.
Ikosewa i ye [kosew'a i ye
t ra n sl a t es a s
"st ep
i n t o t he
worl d"] provi des
u s
wi t h some fa ct s a bou t t he
n ewl y
born
ba by.
As
you ma y
ha ve
hea rd,
t here
a resome
peopl e
who
ju st
come t o t he worl d t o t ea se t hei r
pa ren t s,
l i ke
a bi ku
[chi l dren
"born t o
di e,"
bi
oku ].
When we l ea rn morea bou t
t hem,
we
kn ow how t o
perform
ri t u a l st o
cha n ge
some of t hei r
u gl y
i n t en t i on s. Ifwe
fa i l t o do
t hi s,
t hen t he mot her wi l l be
goi n g
a rou n d wi t hou t
gi vi n g
bi rt h
t oa
si n gl e
chi l d
[who su rvi ves]
a n d wi t hou t
kn owi n g
how t o
con qu er
t hi s
obst a cl e. When we do
Ikosewa i ye,
we kn ow t he obst a cl es a n d t he
prog-
ress. Wekn ow how t o
prepa re
t he
pa ren t s
fort he
progress,
how t oca n cel
t he
obst a cl es,
how t oma kel i femore
mea n i n gfu l
a n d rea l i st i cfort hechi l d.
We i n t rodu ce t he
n ewl y
born
ba by
i n t o t he worl d
(pl a t eI).
He i s
st ep-
pi n g
i n t o t he worl d. Hi s feet wi l l t ou ch t he fl oor or t he ea rt h a n d a t t he
sa me t i me wi l l t ou ch t he Iken
Ifa [pa l m
n u t s u sed i n
di vi n i n g]-t he
medi a t or t ha t wi l l fi n d ou t more a bou t t he chi l d's mi ssi on or
dest i n y
on
ea rt h.
As soon a s
somebody
comes t ot he
worl d,
heha s st a rt ed
a jou rn ey.
An d
we wa n t hi mt o
go t hrou gh t hejou rn ey su ccessfu l l y.
Fromwheredoes t hi s
you n g
ma n orwoma n come? When we kn ow hi s mi ssi on a n d hi s
dest i n y,
we kn ow more a bou t hi m. We wi l l con t i n u e t he u n fi n i shed
job
of
Ikosewa i ye.
Does he come for a n ew
project ?
Is he a t a l l a n ew ma n ? We
ha ve t he bel i ef t ha t l i fe i s a con t i n u ou s
exerci se,
or a con t i n u ou s
jou rn ey.
You
go,
ret u rn ,
you go,
ret u rn .
Nobody
ca n
ju st st a y
a da ma n t a t a
pl a ce.
31
32
Kol a wol eO si t ol a
1. O si t ol a t ou chesa
ba by's
feet
t ot he
fl oordu ri n g
a n
Ikosewa i ye
on 26 O ct ober
1986
a t Imodi i n
O gu n
St a t e, Ni geri a .
(Phot o
by
M. T.
Drewa l )
You ha vet ocome t ot heea rt h a n d
go
ba ck. Tha t i s
why
we a sk wheret hi s
ma n comes from. Is heon eof ou rformera n cest ors fromt hemot her's si de,
or t he fa t her's si de? Thi s we ca l l Imori O mo
[mo
ori
omo, mea n i n g
"kn ow
t he hea d of t he
chi l d"].
Thi s en a bl es u s t o kn ow i f t he chi l d i s on e of t he
pa ren t s'
a n cest ors
comi n g
t o
begi n
a n ot her
jou rn ey
on ea rt h.
O r,
i s i t a
n ew
person en t i rel y
who comes t o
pa rt i ci pa t e
i n t he
jou rn ey
of l i fe?
In t hi s
wa y,
we kn ow hi s
mi ssi on ,
a n d t hi s i s
progress.
Bu t we a rest i l l
i n du ct i n g
t he
n ewl y
born
ba by
i n t ot heworl d. An d i f hei s
n ewl y
i n i t i a t ed,
t hen we ca n kn ow how t o t ra i n a n d edu ca t e hi ma n d est a bl i sh hi s feet
fi rml y
on ea rt h. Those who ha ve
gon e t hrou gh
t hi s
i n du ct i on ,
we
bel i eve,
wi l l be a bl et o l i ve
u n di sru pt ed.
Some
peopl e ma y
ha ve obst a cl es i n t hei r l i ves.
They ma y
ha ve been
en ga ged
i n a cert a i n
bu si n ess-ma ybe t hey
shou l d ha ve been hu n t ers or
di vi n ers,
bu t i n st ea d
t hey
become
l a wyers
or wha t ever el se. Then
t hey
ma y
n ot be a bl et o con t i n u e t hei r
jou rn eys su ccessfu l l y
beca u se
t hey
ha ve
been mi sl ed.
Nobody
ha s
brou ght
t hem
u p properl y. Nobody
ha s
gi ven
t hema
proper
i n i t i a t i on i n t o l i fe. Thi s
i s,
I a m
sorry
t o
sa y,
on e of ou r
con cern s:
by l osi n g
t hi s
i mport a n t heri t a ge, ma n y peopl e
a re
l i vi n g
di s-
t u rbed l i ves. An d we
pra y
t ha t
t hi n gs
a re
pu t ri ght .
As t he
jou rn ey
con t i n u es,
a s
you
ha ve
properl y
i n du ct ed
you r
chi l dren ,
t hen
you
ca n kn ow how t o t ra i n
t hem,
how t o edu ca t e
t hem,
a n d how t o
est a bl i sh t hem. Aft er
est a bl i shi n g
a
person
on
ea rt h,
you
kn ow who t hi s
hea d i s a n d who t hi s a n cest ori s. In
Imori ,
we fi rst of a l l i n formt he
spi ri t s
of t he a n cest ors t o come a n d di rect u s. We u se kol a n u t s a s a medi u mof
commu n i ca t i on bet ween t hose on ea rt h a n d t he
peopl e
a bove. We com-
mu n i ca t ewi t h t hea n cest ors. A cert a i n
pl a ce
i n fron t of t hedi vi n er's hou se
i s
a rra n ged
for commu n i ca t i on bet ween t he
l i vi n g
a n d t he dea d.
A Pra ct i t i on er'sVi ew 33
An d t hen we i n t rodu ce t hechi l d i n t o t heworl d
by t ou chi n g
hi s hea d t o
t heea rt h
(pl a t e2).
We wa ke t he hea d
u p
for t he
ceremon y (pl a t e3).
Ifa i s
t hemedi a t orbet ween l i fea n d l i fe
a bove,
a s I ca n
pu t
i t . When we fi n d ou t
more a bou t t he
chi l d,
we wi l l kn ow whi ch of t he ri t u a l s wi l l be more
pu rposefu l
for
hel pi n g
hi morherl i ve a bet t erl i fe. In t hi s
wa y
we con t i n u e
t o edu ca t ea n d est a bl i sh t he
you n g boy
or
gi rl .
An d t he
jou rn ey
con t i n u es. You kn ow i t i s t he
pa ren t s
who hol d t he
respon si bi l i t y
t o con t i n u e
prepa ri n g, edu ca t i n g,
or
est a bl i shi n g
t hei rchi l -
dren fora su ccessfu l l i fe. Therea reot herceremon i es
t hey
a rebou n d t o do
for t he
boy
or for t he
gi rl .
An d t hi s i n cl u des
Isefa
[se
Ifa
mea n s "ma ke
Ifa "]-t he prel i mi n a ry st a ge
on e
u n dergoes
before
rea chi n g
a n
a ge
of
u n derst a n di n g,
when he wi l l t hen be
properl y
est a bl i shed i n t he worl d.
Isefa i s
ju st
a ri t u a l of
a ssoci a t i n g
a n ew
person
wi t h a
gu i de
ora wi t n ess.
O ru n mi l a
[t he dei t y
of
di vi n a t i on ,
hi msel f a
di vi n er]
i s a
very
wi se,
edu ca t ed ma n . He ha d t he
kn owl edge
of crea t i on . Then we ha ve t o a s-
soci a t et hechi l d wi t h Il eri
Ipi n [on e
i n
cha rge
of hi s own
person a l , spi ri t u a l
i n n er
hea d], somebody
who wi l l be hi s wi t n ess a n d
gu i del i n e,
whom he
wi l l be
fol l owi n g
sot ha t heca n be
progressi ve,
sohedoesn 't
get
di st u rbed.
Wi t h t hi s we
perform
Isefa a n d
Imu gegel i fa [empower
t he
Ifa ],
a more
el a bora t e
ceremon y prepa ri n g
for t he
proper
est a bl i shmen t of t he
person
i n t o t he worl d. Then we
performIt efa [t eIfa
mea n s "est a bl i sh on e's
Ifa "],
whi ch I wi l l t a l k more a bou t .
You
see,
a s i n t he
ea rl y ora cl e,
i t i s
compu l sory
a n d essen t i a l t o a l l ow
somebody
t o
go t hrou gh
a n It efa
ceremon y
i f we don 't wa n t hi mt o be
di st u rbed-on e.
Two,
we don 't wa n t hi s
fa mi l y
t obe
di st u rbed,
beca u sei f
somebody
i s n ot wel l est a bl i shed or
prepa red
t o l ea d a
progressi vel i fe,
he
2. In a n Imori O mo on
27
O ct ober
1986,
O si t ol a
t ou chesa chi l d'shea d t ot he
di vi n a t i on
t ra y
on t he
fl oor
t oa ssoci a t ei t s hea d wi t h t he
worl d.
(Phot oby
M. T.
Drewa l )
3.
O si t ol a
spra ysgi n
t o
wa ke
u p
t hechi l d'si n n er
hea d.
(Phot oby
M. T.
Drewa l )
wi l l be a bu rden t o
hi msel f,
t o t he
pa ren t s
a n d t he
hou sehol d,
a n d t o t he
soci et y
a t
l a rge,
beca u sehe wi l l mi sbeha ve.
It i s n ot
on l y
n ow t ha t we a reca rel ess. Si n cea n ci en t
t i mes,
peopl e
ha ve
mi sbeha ved
ca rel essl y.
O n ce O ru n mi l a t ook hi s t hreechi l dren for
gra n t ed.
He wa s ma rri ed t o a woma n ca l l ed
Ba mi gberu n .
He ha d t hreema l e chi l -
dren .
Bei n g
ca rel ess,
hedi dn 't edu ca t e
t hem;
hedi dn 't est a bl i sh t hemwel l .
An d he wa s a wi se ma n ! Bu t he t ook
t hi n gs
for
gra n t ed.
He a l l owed t hem
t ol ea d t hei rl i ves wi t hou t
bei n g properl y brou ght u p
orest a bl i shed.
They
were di st u rbed.
They
di dn 't kn ow whi ch
wa y
t o
go.
In st ea d of
bei n g
a
ma n a gemen t
con su l t a n t ,
on e beca me a
l a wyer.
An d t hi s di st u rbed t he
whol e
fa mi l y
a n d t he
commu n i t y.
You
see,
a mi sbeha ved ma n ca n
ju st
do
wha t everhel i kes. Bu t he wi l l n ot be
ha ppy.
Yet
t hey
a re
compl a i n i n g,
a s
everybody
i s
compl a i n i n g,
"t he
cou n t ry
i s t oo
ha rd,
t he
cou n t ry
t oo
ha rd!" When
t hey
a ren ot
brou ght u p properl y, t hey l a y
t hebl a meon t hei r
l ea ders. An d i t i s a ccu ra t e.
Wel l ,
t he l ea ders t o me a ret he
pa ren t s,
who
shou l d ha ve
brou ght
t he chi l dren
u p
fora
progressi ve
a n d su ccessfu l l i fe.
These t hreechi l dren deci ded t o t a ke
O ru n mi l a ,
t hei r
fa t her,
a n d t hrow
hi mi n t he bu sh before
t hey
were redressed. Then O ru n mi l a ret u rn ed t o
a sk Ifa wha t ha d
ha ppen ed
t ha t hi s chi l dren mi sbeha ved. An d Ifa a sked
hi m,
"Why
ha ve
you
n ot edu ca t ed or
prepa red you r
chi l dren
very
wel l ?
You bet t er
go
a n d doi t n ow." Si n cet hen i t ha s become
very i mport a n t
t o
est a bl i sh,
or t o
reborn ,
or wha t ever
you ma y
ca l l i t -I a mn ot
good
i n
En gl i sh,
don 't mi n d
my voca bu l a ry-gi ve
rebi rt h t o a chi l d. It efa i s a re-
bi rt h t o a
progressi ve
l i fe. An d i f n ot
don e,
i t ca n ca u sedi st u rba n cet o t he
whol e
soci et y
a t
l a rge.
It i s essen t i a l t oedu ca t et he
you t hs
t ot he
wa ys
of l i fea s i l l u st ra t ed i n t he
hol y
ora cl e. Tha t i s t he i n forma t i on we revea l t o
a n y pa rt i ci pa n t
a t t he
begi n n i n g
of a n It efa
ceremon y.
Wha t I mea n
by pa rt i ci pa n t s
i s t heobserv-
A Pra ct i t i on er'sVi ew
35
ers,
t he
i n i t i a t es,
a n d t heBa ba l a wos
[Di vi n ers]
a s wel l . TheDi vi n ers
u su a l l y
remembert hi s. An d i f t hi s i n forma t i on i s
presen t ed con cu rren t l y-I
t hi n k
I a mcorrect ?-t hen
n obody
ca n
forget
t hi s
heri t a ge.
An d
everybody
wi l l
be
rea dy
t o
prepa re
t hemsel ves t o
ga i n
t hesen seof
t hou ght
a n d
refl ect i on ,
a s we Ba ba l a wos a n d t hose who a rea bl et ocome n ea ru s do. Tha t i s t o
sa y,
t he whol e It efa
jou rn ey
serves a s a
gu i del i n e
foron e's
l i fe,
fort he
i n i t i a t e,
a n d for t he
prepa ra t i on
of on e's sou l for a smoot h a n d
progressi ve
l i fe.
Let me t a ke t he
wa y
t o t he
hol y l a n d,
t he
Igbodu [forest
of t he
dei t y
O du ],
a s a n
exa mpl e.
Wema ke
every pa rt i ci pa n t
bel i eve t ha t we a re
goi n g
for a
pu rpose;
we a re
goi n g
t o be
progressi ve;
we sha l l be su ccessfu l . In
on e's l i fe a s i t
ha ppen s
i n t he
It efa ,
t herea reobst a cl es. There a redi ffi cu l -
t i es. There a re a l l sort s of
u ps
a n d
down s,
a s
a l wa ys
i l l u st ra t ed i n It efa
ri t u a l s. O n e of t he Ba ba l a wos i n forms t he ot hers of t he
n ecessi t y
of
per-
formi n g
t heIt efa ri t u a l s. He revea l s how O ru n mi l a
ga ve
bi rt h t ot het hree
chi l dren . An d a l l t he
pa rt i ci pa n t s
a re
l i st en i n g
a n d ha ve
a mpl e
t i me sot ha t
t hey mi ght
refl ect for t hemsel ves.
We t el l t he Iken Ifa
[pa l m
n u t s u sed i n
di vi n i n g]
t o
go a l on g
wi t h hi m
a n d
gi ve
hi ma rebi rt h. O n e of t he di ffi cu l t i es of l i fei s t ha t we ha vet o
go
u p
a n d down t he hi l l s. An d when hi s hea d
get s
cool ,
when
everyt hi n g
i s
refl ect i ve,
we
go
t ot he
hol y
l a n d
(pl a t e4).
An d we i n formt he
spi ri t s
of t he
a n cest ors t ol ea d u s
ri ght
a n d
prot ect
t heBa ba l a wos' hou ses fort hemu n t i l
t hey
ret u rn fromt he
hol y
l a n d.
They
a reen t hu si a st i c.
They
a re
rea dy
t o
go
on t he
jou rn ey wi l l i n gl y
beca u se
t hey
kn ow
t hey
a re
goi n g
fora
progres-
si ve
pu rpose.
Tha t i s t he
mea n i n g
of t he
da n ci n g. They
kn ow
t hey
a re
goi n g
on a su ccessfu l
jou rn ey.
A woma n ca rri es t he embl em of O du
[dei t y/wi fe
of
O ru n mi l a ,
who
t a u ght
hi mhow t o
performIt efa ].
Some
pa ren t s
mou n t t hei r chi l dren on t hei r ba cks beca u se
t hey
a re st i l l a bi t
you n g.
Tha t i s a sort of
pa ren t prepa ra t i on
orest a bl i shmen t . It i s t he
du t y
of t he
pa ren t s
t o
prepa re
t hei r chi l dren . An d when t he chi l d n eeds a ssi s-
t a n ce,
t he
pa ren t
mu st ren deri t
wi l l i n gl y,
wi t h en t hu si a sm.
The
hol y
l a n d i s kn own a s
Igbodu .
It i s a
prepa red pl a ce
wherewe
go.
A
chi l d
performs
t hi s ri t u a l a t a n
a ge
of
u n derst a n di n g,
a rou n d
fou r, fi ve,
or
si x,
when heha s n ot
yet
been mi sl ed
by
ot her
peopl e's
cu l t u re,
by
Isl a mi c
or Bi bl i ca l cu l t u re.
You
kn ow,
on
everybody's wa y t hey
mu st
expect
di ffi cu l t i es a n d obst a -
cl es. An d we mu st be
rea dy.
Wei n cu l ca t ei n t ot hesen ses of t hei n i t i a t et ha t
hemu st
a l wa ys
be
prepa red
a t a l l cost s. We
don 't ju st got hrou gh
a smoot h
pa t h.
We kn ow t here mu st be
di ffi cu l t i es,
bu t we mu st n ot su ccu mb t o
t hem. Wemu st
t ry
t ocross
t hem,
wha t ever
t hey
a re. Li fei s a
cha l l en ge.
As
ri ght l y pu t
i n on e O du
Ifa ,
whi ch t hedi vi n ers reci t eon t he
wa y
t o
Igbodu ,
t hedei t i es t hemsel ves overcome di ffi cu l t i es. I a msu re
everybody
ha s
expe-
ri en ced su ch
di ffi cu l t i es,
bu t wi t h det ermi n a t i on a n d
prepa redn ess,
a n d
by
t a ki n g every
obst a cl e a s a
cha l l en ge,
i t i s n ot a mi sfort u n e. A
cha l l en ge
bu i l ds
you u p.
An d i f
you
ha ve
en du ra n ce,
when ever
you
meet
obst a cl es,
ma ybe
oi l
gl u t -t hey
a re
sel l i n g
oi l a t a bou t Io Na i ra
per
ba rrel
[a pproxi ma t el y
$2.
5o]-t hen
don 't
sa y,
"O h!
Ni geri a
i s
dyi n g."
It i s a
cha l l en ge,
a n d
you
ha vet o
prepa re
t oovercome i t . An d t he
pa rt i ci pa n t s
wi l l overcome i t n ow.
They
wi l l a rri vea t t he
ga t e
of t he
hol y
l a n d.
The Ba ba l a wo
performs Iju ba [homa ge].
You don 't
ju st
en t era commu -
n i t y,
oren t era
di a l og,
oren t er
a n ypl a ceju st
l i ket ha t a n d
sa y, "Wel come,
good morn i n g"
a n d t ha t i s a l l . You ha ve t o
pa y homa ge
a n d a sk for
permi ssi on .
You
kn ow,
a s we a reon
ea rt h,
t herea resome i n vi si bl e
spi ri t s
su ch a n
a n cest ors, dei t i es,
a n d ot her
spi ri t s
t ha t
ma y
even be
di st u rbi n g.
A
4. Thejou rn ey
t o
Igbodu
a t
t he
begi n n i n g
ofIt efa on t he
n i ght
of
2 November
1986.
A di vi n eri n t hel ea d ca rri es
t heO su n
st a ff, fol l owed by
a
woma n
ca rryi n g
t heshri n e
of
t he
dei t y
O du on
t op of
her
hea d. Thechi l dren a n d t hei r
mot hersfol l ow
wi t h t hei r
ri t u a l l oa ds.
(Phot oby
M. T.
Drewa l )
homa ge
i s cha n t ed
by
on e of t he Ba ba l a wos. The
ga t e
i s
very bea u t i fu l ,
decora t ed wi t h
a pa ko[l ea ves
of t he
Cl ei st ophi l i s
Pa t en s
(An on a cea e),
see
pl a t e8].
It i s a
hol y
l a n d. We a re
goi n g
t o t hea n ci en t worl d. You
see,
we
prepa re
i t i n t hesa mema n n era s i t wa s
prepa red
i n t hea n ci en t l i fe. Wea re
goi n g
t o t he
hol y
l a n d of
Igbodu -a prepa red pl a ce,
whi ch i s
a bsol u t el y
a
Ba ba l a wo's con cern .
Even i f
you
were a l l owed t o seei n si de t he
Igbodu , you
wou l d see
on l y
t he
i mpot en t pa rt
of i t . The
kn owl edge
i s t he
pot en t i a l i t y,
t he
kn owl edge
you
mu st
su st a i n ,
t he
kn owl edge you
mu st l ea rn -n ot t hema t eri a l s. Ift he
ma t eri a l s a re
exposed
t o
everybody, t hey ma y ju st
ba st a rdi ze
i t ,
a s when
school chi l dren doO ri sa
[t hedei t i es'] da n ci n g
a s
t hea t re,
t ryi n g
t oba st a rd-
i ze a l l t he t ra di t i on s
by t a ki n g
i t
ju st
for t he fu n of i t . Bu t when
you
a re
u n a bl et o see
i t ,
t hen i t wi l l
gi ve you
a sen seof
rea son i n g.
It wi l l become a
cha l l en ge
t o
you
so t ha t
you
wi l l wa n t t o
go t hrou gh
t he
ceremon y
i n
ordert o be
prepa red
t o kn ow more a bou t wha t we do t here. So we don 't
ju st
a l l ow
peopl e
t o see i t .
If
you
were t o see
i t ,
you
wou l d kn ow i t i s a
st ra n ge pl a ce.
It i s n ot
common . It i s n ot t he
ga t e
t oMecca ort ot he
ba rra cks,
bu t t ot he
hol y
l a n d
Igbodu .
I ha ve
my
own
Igbodu .
You ca n
prepa reyou r
own
Igbodu
a t
you r
pl a ce
a s wel l .
An d I a msu re
every pa rt i ci pa n t pa sses t hrou gh
obst a cl es. As I ha vet ol d
you ,
l i fei t sel f i s a
cha l l en ge.
You mu st be
prepa red.
You mu st l ea rn a bou t
t hedi ffi cu l t i es i n l i febeca u se-a s
pu t exa ct l y
i n on e O du Ifa -i f
you
wa n t
t ol i ve a
su ccessfu l ,
progressi ve l i fe,
you
ha vet oovercome di ffi cu l t i es. Let
me
gi ve
a
l i t era ry mea n i n g
t oi t . You
kn ow,
i t i s t he
hei ght s
t ha t
grea t
men
rea ch a n d
keep
whi ch ca n n ot be obt a i n ed
by
su dden
fl i ght .
The
you n g
i n i t i a t eha s t o
ca rry
t he
O pa
O su n
[a n
i ron
st a ff,
symbol
of
O ru n mi l a ] on
hi s
hea d,
wa l ki n g
on hi s
kn ees,
whi l e hi s comra des
sl eep.
Bu t we en cou r-
a ge
hi mt o
ca rry
on ,
n ot t o
get
t i red
(pl a t e 5).
He shou l d
go t hrou gh
t he
jou rn ey.
It i s a sen se of
cha l l en ge.
A Pra ct i t i on er'sVi ew
37
In on e
ri t u a l ,
t heIboO su n
[sa cri fi ce
a t t heO su n
st a ff],
we
gi ve
a sa cri fi ce
t o t he
spi ri t s
of
di st u rba n ce,
t he
Ajogu n s[e.g.,
Dea t h, Il l n ess,
In fi rmi t y,
Loss,
Li t i ga t i on , Debt , Di sa st er,
Con fl i ct ].
Weoffert hesa cri fi cet o
pl ea se
t hese
spi ri t s
sot ha t
t hey
wi l l n ot di st u rb u s
(pl a t e6).
It i s n ot
ju st
t hemere
ki l l i n g
of cocks or
a n i ma l s,
bu t i t i s t o
pl ea se
t he
spi ri t s
sot ha t
t hey
wi l l n ot
di st u rb u s.
O r,
i t i s t o ma ke t hem
hel p
u s t o
progress
i n ou rl i ves. When
you pl ea se
t he
spi ri t ,
i t i s
ju st
l i ke
en t ert a i n i n g
a
gu est .
Then t he
gu est
wi l l
be
pl ea sed
t o
st a y
wi t h
you
a n d
gi ve you
a ssi st a n cebeforehe
goes.
Bu t i f
you
don 't a i mt o
pl ea se,
t hen
you ma y
be di st u rbed a n d
you ma y
n ot
get
t he fu l l a ssi st a n ceof
you r gu est .
In
[doi n g] t hi s,
we don 't even
forget
t he n on bel i evers. We kn ow
t hey
don 't
bel i eve,
bu t we
t ry
t o
prot ect
t hemfromt he di st u rba n ces of evi l
spi ri t s.
So we u se t he cock t o cl ea rdi st u rba n ces from
everybody's
l i fe,
whet her t he i n i t i a t e's or t he observer's. So
everybody get s
a sen se of be-
5.
Thechi l d wa l kson hi s
kn eesdown t he
pa t h
t o
Ig-
bodu ,
ca rryi n g
t heO su n
st a ff
on
t op of
hi s hea d. Thi s
i s
on l y
on e
of
t heri t u a l
ha rdshi ps
hei s
expect ed
t o
en du re. O n e
of
t hedi vi n ers
a ssi st sa n d
en cou ra ges
hi m.
(Phot oby
M. T.
Drewa l )
38
Kol a wol eO si t ol a
l on gi n g
t ot he
ceremon y.
Wedon 't a ba n don orel i mi n a t eort a ke
peopl e
for
gra n t ed.
Al l t he
pa rt i ci pa n t s
a rei n cl u ded: t he
i n i t i a t es,
t he
observers,
a n d
even t he Ba ba l a wos t hemsel ves.
O n t he i n si de
pa rt ,
i n t he
hol y
l a n d,
t ha t i s where t he i n i t i a t es a re
properl y
est a bl i shed i n
wa ys
of
t hou ght
t ha t
provi de
more
t ra i n i n g.
Thi s
mea n s
t hey
a re
goi n g
t oa n ew worl d.
They
a re
goi n g
t ot herebi rt h worl d
(pl a t e7).
Wecl ose t hei r
eyes
a s a
symbol
of
goi n g
t o a n ew worl d beca u se
t hey
a re
goi n g
t o be
properl y
est a bl i shed. There
t hey
wi l l be
gi ven
more
ri gorou s
a n d
i mport a n t
ri t u a l sa n d ceremon i es t o
perform. By t a ki n g
t hem
t ot hei n n er
pa rt
of
Igbodu ,
we show t hei n i t i a t es t he
repl i ca
of O du -t ha t
i s,
a ft er
t hey
ha ve
gon e t hrou gh ri gorou s
ceremon i es. It i s i n t hei n n er
pa rt
of
Igbodu ,
t he
prepa red hol y
l a n d,
t ha t
t hey
ca n seeO du
O l ogboje [dei t y/
wi fe of
O ru n mi l a ].
There we
prepa re
t hem.
6. A di vi n er
sa cri fi ces
a cock
t ot he
spi ri t sof
di st u rba n ce a t
t heO su n shri n e
ju st
ou t si de
t he
groveof
O du
(Igbodu ).
(Phot oby
M. T.
Drewa l )
A Pra ct i t i on er'sVi ew
39
[Aft erwa rd] you
wi l l seet hem
very
n ea t i n a n ew worl d
(pl a t e8). They
ha ve
gon e t hrou gh
a rebi rt h. You see t hose
di rt y peopl e-a ft er t hey
ha ve
gon e t hrou gh
t he
ceremon i es,
u n dergon e
t he
ha rdshi ps,
di ffi cu l t i es,
u p
a n d
down t he
hi l l s-you
wi l l seet hemn ow i n a
joyfu l
a n d est a bl i shed worl d.
They
ha ven ow been
prepa red,
a n d
t hey
ha vet hei rIken Ifa
[t hei r
person a l
set of
prepa red pa l mn u t s],
t hei r
gu i de
i n t hei r
l i fe,
whi ch wi l l be
l ea di n g
t hem. If
you
see t hem
t oda y you
wi l l kn ow t ha t
t hey
ha ve been
properl y
est a bl i shed i n a
progressi ve
l i fei n whi ch
t hey
ca n con t i n u e
t hei rjou rn ey
on
ea rt h.
They
ha ve su rvi ved
di ffi cu l t i es;
t hey
ha ve been t ra i n ed i n t hei n n er
pa rt
of
Igbodu ; t hey
ha ve seen t he
embl ems;
t hey
kn ow more a bou t t he
a n cest ors. You ha ve t o kn ow a bou t
you r pa st . They
kn ow t hei r
pa st .
Ifa
person
i s
prepa red
a n d est a bl i shed wel l on
ea rt h,
hewi l l ret u rn home
joyfu l l y
t o con t i n u e hi s
jou rn ey
on ea rt h. The ora cl e
sa ys,
i f
you
ca n
su st a i n t he
a gon i es
of
l i fe,
you
wi l l
progress.
The resu l t wi l l be su ccess.
You wi l l ha ve t he
joy
of l i fe. You wi l l ha ve
somet hi n g
t o
report .
O n t he
ret u rn ,
we
si n g,
"we a re
comi n g.
fromt herebi rt h l a n d
joyfu l l y,
a l l i n whi t e
a n d wi t h t ru ea n d
open
mi n ds." An d
everybody
wi l l seewha t we mea n
by
It efa .
Gi rl s ha ve t hei rown
ceremon i es,
whi ch
represen t
It efa . We ca l l i t It u de
Ifa [t u
i de
Ifa
mea n s "brea k t he Ifa
bra cel et "].
Women don 't
go t hrou gh
It efa ,
bu t
t hey
ha ve a si mi l a r
ceremon y,
whi ch
t hey
do t o
prepa re
t hem-
sel ves for a
progressi ve
l i fe.
You wou l d fi n d i t di ffi cu l t t o
a ccept
Ewo
[t a boos
t ha t come wi t h on e's
O du
Ifa ,
oft en
speci fi cfoods]
when
you
ha ve
kn owl edge
of t hemt oo l a t e.
Perha ps you
ha ve been
ea t i n g
t hem
u p
u n t i l
I98I,
when
you
shou l d ha ve
been t ol d t ha t
you
shou l d n ot ha ve ea t en su ch food a t
you r
i n du ct i on
a ge,
7.
The
bl i n dfol ded
chi l dren
for
t he
fi rst
t i meen t er
Ig-
bodu ,
a con st ru ct ed sa cred
spa ce
where
t hey
wi l l be
gi ven
a rebi rt h.
(Phot oby
M. T.
Drewa l )
40
Kol a wol eO si t ol a
a t a
very ea rl y a ge,
even before
you
st a rt ed
ea t i n g a n yt hi n g.
If
you
ha ve
gon e t hrou gh
t hese ri t u a l s a t a n
ea rl y a ge, you r pa ren t s
wou l d n ever ha ve
t oi n t rodu cet heseEwo t o
you [t ha t
i s,
l a t eri n
l i fe].
Bu t when
t hey
come so
l a t e,
t ha t mea n s
t hi n gs
ha ve n ot been don e
properl y.
Thi s i s t he fa u l t of
pa ren t s
who fa i l t o
perform
t he ri t u a l s a t a n
a ppropri a t e
t i me. An d i f
you
go t hrou gh
t hese ceremon i es a s a n
a du l t ,
i t i s
u su a l l y
for a rea son .
Ma ybe
you
ha ve ha d some di ffi cu l t i es. We
t ry
t o edu ca t e
peopl e
t ha t
you
ca n n ot
i n du ct
you rsel f,
or est a bl i sh
you rsel f
i n
l i fe,
when
you
a re
a l rea dy bei n g
di st u rbed,
when
you a l rea dy
ha ve di ffi cu l t i es,
when most of
you r
l i fe ha s
been i n ru i n s. You
go t hrou gh
i t [i n a du l t hood] on l y
when
you
ha vesome
st a i n on
you r
l i fe.
Wea ren ow
t el l i n g
ou rl ea ders t ha t t he
you t h
who a re
comi n g
shou l d be
prepa red
wel l
ri ght
fromt he
begi n n i n g.
The
pa ren t s
shou l d t a ke t he re-
spon si bi l i t y
t oi n du ct ori n i t i a t et hei rchi l dren i n t ol i fe
ri ght
fromt heword
8. Al l i n whi t e, a
n ewl y
re-
born chi l d ret u rn s
t hrou gh
t he
ga t e
t o
Igbodu properl y
est a bl i shedfor
a
progressi ve
l i fe.
(Phot o
by
M. T.
Drewa l )
A Pra ct i t i on er'sVi ew
41
go, ri ght
frombi rt h-wi t hi n t he fi rst seven
da ys,
before
t hey
even kn ow
who t he chi l d i s. You
ma y
bea
ki n g, you ma y
bea
hu n t er,
bu t i n st ea d of
fol l owi n g hu n t i n g, t hey ma y ju st
t hrow
you
i n t he Un i t ed St a t es of
Ameri ca t o
l ea r
fi l mi n g
or
vi deoi n g.
Then a ft erwa rd
you ma y
bea
good
pot a t o
ea t er,
bu t
you ma y
fi n d i t di ffi cu l t t o ea t
pot a t oes.
An d
you r
l i fe
con t i n u es t o
get
st a i n ed, st a i n ed,
a n d i t i s a
probl em
fort hewhol e commu -
n i t y.
A chi l d a t a n
u n derst a n di n g a ge
wi l l
go t hrou gh
It efa t o be est a bl i shed
wel l . We ca n a l soest a bl i sh a n
orga n i za t i on
wel l
t hrou gh
a si mi l a r
process,
n ot
n ecessa ri l y
It efa . We ca n st a rt
i n du ct i n g peopl e
i n t o t he
govern men t ,
ora n
est a bl i shmen t ,
or a n
orga n i za t i on
i n a si mi l a r
wa y
i n orderfort hem
t o kn ow more a bou t t he
bu si n ess,
t o kn ow more a bou t t he
empl oyer
a n d
t he
empl oyees,
a n d t hei r
rel a t i on shi ps. They
ha vet o
ga i n kn owl edge
of t he
work,
t he
kn owl edge
of t hei r
mi ssi on ,
where
t hey
a re
goi n g,
t heobst a cl es
a n d t he
cha l l en ges.
It i s n ot
n ecessa ry
t ha t we con t i n u e t o offer
goa t s
or ra ms a s sa cri fi ces.
We ca n even do
somet hi n g
more con cret e t o ou r own
worl d,
somet hi n g
more con cret et ha t i s
a ppropri a t e
t o t he
orga n i za t i on .
The sen sei s t ha t we
mu st ha vet he
kn owl edge
of wha t we a re
goi n g
t odoa n d kn ow
wha t ,
a n d
wha t
n ot ,
t odo. Wha t a ret he
a ppropri a t e
resou rces? You
don 't ju st go
a n d
i n st a l l a n Isl a mi ct ea chera s t heMi n i st er of Fi n a n ce.
Wel l ,
i t i s
i n a ppropri -
a t e. I a m
sorry.
O r,
i n a n
orga n i za t i on , you don 't ju st
t a kea fu n dra i sera n d
ma kehi mt he
ma n a gi n g
di rect orwhen heha s n ot
gon e t hrou gh
t het ra i n -
i n g
of
ma n a gemen t .
So we ca n
bri n g
ri t u a l i n t o bu si n ess a n d
govern men t
i f we
rea l l y
kn ow
t he essen ce of t he cu l t u rea n d fol l ow i t
u p.
You kn ow t herei s n ow a
ga p
we a re
t ryi n g
t o
bri dge,
t o
cl ose,
i n order t o see t ha t i t doesn 't ext en d.
Beca u se t he more i t
ext en ds,
t he more we
l ose,
a n d t he more we wi l l
con t i n u e t o a sk t he
qu est i on ,
"Then how do we st a rt ?" Bu t n ow t ha t we
ha vel ea rn ed
somet hi n g
of ou r
dest i n y,
or
mi ssi on ,
a n d
ca rry
on t oi n du ct
a n d est a bl i sh ou rsel ves wel l a n d t ra i n ou rsel ves wi t h
vi gorou s
a ct i vi t i es
a ppropri a t e
t o ou r own
orga n i za t i on ,
or
wa y
of
l i fe,
t hen we ca n borrow
fromot her cu l t u res i f i t i s rel a t ed t o ou r own
wa y
of l i fe. An d
t hi n gs
ca n
t hen
get
on wel l . An d fu t u re
gen era t i on s
ca n a l sobe
brou ght u p properl y
ri ght
fromt he word
go.
Not es
i .
Tra n scri pt i on
of a l ect u rea t t heUn i t ed St a t esIn forma t i on
Servi ce,
La gos,
Ni geri a , 25
November
1986.
Thea u di en cewa s
pri ma ri l y Ni geri a n -st u den t s,
professors, bu si n essperson s;
t herewerea l sosome
expa t ri a t espresen t .
2.
Ifa
i s t hen a meof t he
syst em
of di vi n a t i on . O ru n mi l a i s t hen a meof t he
dei t y/
O ri sa i n
cha rge
of t ha t
syst em.
To
sa y
"Ifa
sa ys"
i s a
wa y
of
sa yi n g,
"t he
di vi n a t i on
t ext s,
i n a broa d
sen se,
sa y
..."
Kol a wol e O si t ol a i s a
seven t h-gen era t i on
Ifa pri est
a n d di vi n er
pra ct i ci n g
i n t he
Ijebu
Yoru ba t own
of Imodi , O gu n St a t e, Ni geri a .
O n e
of
hi s cu rren t resea rch
i n t erest si s t het ra di t i on a l
Ijebu
Yoru ba
rel i gi ou s
ca l en da r.O si t ol a ha s l ect u red on
rel i gi on
a n d ri t u a l
pra ct i ce
a t
O ba femi
Awol owo
Un i versi t y
a n d t heUn i t ed St a t es
In forma t i on
Servi ce,
La gos.
He i s a l soa con su l t a n t wi t h F.A.B.
Lon ge
a n d
Associ a t es
Ma n a gemen t Con su l t a n t s, La gos, a dvi si n g
on t he
i n corpora t i on oft ra di -
t i on a l va l u esi n t o
con t empora ry Ni geri a n
bu si n ess
pra ct i ce.