World Ifa Festival 2009

Posted on 09 June 2009 by Babalawo Aworeni

feedingopearaba

The Orunmila Barami Agbonmiregun, the World Ifa Festival was held Saturday June 6, 2009 at Oketase the World Ifa Temple, Ile-Ife. This festival celebrates the New Year for all the traditional Yoruba practitioners.

In the odu Oyeku Irete the festival is referenced:

Opokun Babalawo onigeti lo se Ifa fun won nigeti, oreku Babalawo ileri lo se Ifa fun won nileri, ati opoku ati oreku Babalawo onitase lo se Ifa fun onitase.
This passage tells of Orunmila’s decision to reside at Oketase where all the world will come to worship him. As a result the Ikin of Orunmila to this day continues to be held at Oketase where once a year at the Ifa New Year all the babalawos around the world gather to say adura and feed the Ikin of Orunmila. Each town in Yorubaland and from around the world send their singers, dancers, high chiefs and Ifa priests to represent their
town at the festival.

owooketase

The festival began in the early morning on Saturday. All the babalawos gathered and traveled around Ile-Ife to all the Orisa shrines.

When they returned the Babalawos joined the Araba Agbaye at Oketase and proceeded to the palace of the Ooni.

arabaapetebii

arabaowomarch2

arabamarchpalace

At the Ooni’s palace all the Awoolodumerindinlogun (highest order babalawo), the Araba Agbaye and other priests from other cities and countries fed the Origi located in the palace.

chiefsadurapalace

ojubonapalace2

After they finished all the rituals at the palace, they returned to Oketase. Many more rituals took place at Oketase, the World Ifa Temple.

feedingifa

Following these rituals the babalawos consulted Ifa. After they consulted Ifa each babalawo from different towns recited Ifa verses with regard to the Odu that fell.

odu_reciting

After this, everyone present said their own personal adura.

In the morning the all the babalawos and priests proceeded to the palace to personally greet the Ooni in the New Year and recite the meaning
of this year’s Odu. The Ooni discussed with those gathered the Odu and what the New Year will bring. The Ooni also gave advice and participated in the morning’s festivities.

After they left the palace, they returned to Oketase and made the sacrifice for the New Year.

The Odu for the New Year is : Etura Ofun (Ire Aje)

This Odu says that money will be coming. There will be assistance for those in need. One needs to look for that which will assist them to gain money in the new year.

According to this Odu:

Etura ra fun ra fun Babalawo lo se Ifa fun owo (hand)

Ifa is saying in this Odu that no one will suffer in this year.

Wo wo wo awo ebi do Babalawo meriyeri lo se Ifa fun meriyeri to sawo lo si oko oloburo. Alukin fun orogun re

Ifa is also saying that we need to be careful not to be envious of other, not to be jealous. We should have patience and endure whatever hardship. We should be careful about that which is too shiny, too beautiful. Do not be so prideful that you cannot take advice, be open and heed the advice given. This odu is telling us to following instructions and rules.

According to the Yoruba proverb:

Sa bi Ologun se wi

The meaning is to follow the instructions given, don’t add or delete, endure and do what you are told.

All those that hinder growth and are envious and jealous (ilara) will meet their demise.

Each indivudal should make a sacrifice for Ifa, Aje, Iyaami and Esu. For more specific details please write us at orishada.com

9 Comments For This Post

  1. Shami Gur Says:

    Aboro Aboye!

    Thanks for the helpfull information,
    I wish to know more intrpetations and recomendations for Etura ofun and this new year.
    I wish to know as well the details of the Ebos recomended.

    Thanks in advance and Happy new year,

    Babalawo IfaLoLore

  2. Babalawo Aworeni Says:

    Aboru Aboye,
    We will send you a private email with the details of the ebo recommended.

    Ajolo

  3. julio gutierrez Says:

    Aboru, Aboya, Abosise
    I would like to know what is recommended and if the EBO EBO is a riru

  4. ogbe ate Says:

    aboru aboya abosise, Thanks for the helpfull information. I wish to know as well the details of the Ebos recomended.

    agbo ato

    Caracas-Venezuela

  5. Ifa PaaMu Tokun/ bea guerire Says:

    ABORU ABOYE: HELLO & THANK YOU. PLEASE TELL ME THE EBBO I HAVE TO DO. IFA PAAMU TOKUN. IYANIFA. OKARAN-ASE.OMO SANGO. beaguerire7@hotmail.com THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOU TIME. BeaG.

  6. AdeFunmilayo Ayodele Herring-Hunt Says:

    Aboru Aboye
    Ase oo
    Thank u o so much! I thank u Ifa/Orisa/Egungun….
    I was searching to teach my mother about Baba Obatala and how cripples were created because my sista has no arms….Your webpage provide me with the info i needed to help my mother. Once i finished allowing momma to read, i noticed that this page was from Ile Ife…Ase o….I no longer get any work done in America my husband and I choose to seek spiritual guidance and help from the Yoruba in Ile Ife…I was so blessed this morning to no what the Odu for the year was..I even read it out loud so mama can hear it. My husband and I are returning to Nigeria prayerfully we can come to Ile Ife to get some works done….Ire o

  7. Ifalami Aworeni Says:

    Aboru Aboye my awo. it’s great to read such information as we in the diaspora lack the true knowledge of Orisa and Ifa. We are hungry and in need of clarification of the massive confusion that has been created by those who have tried to hide the purpose of being a true Awo. I am a great follower of our faith and I am blessed with your share of knowledge
    Modupe
    Iyalode Ifalami

  8. John A. ( Ifadamilare)Watson Says:

    Aboru, Aboye,
    I would like to know the process for becoming a member of this site. I read your guidelines and accept them.
    I was initiated in 2000, in Lagos. My Oluwo is Chief, High Priest Ifagbenusola Atanda.
    Thank you.

  9. diego lopez Says:

    Thanks for the helpfull information,
    I wish to know more intrpetations and recomendations for Etura ofun
    I wish to know as well the details of the Ebos recomended.

1 Trackbacks For This Post

  1. World Ifa Festival 2009 | Roots and Rooted Says:

    […] Orishada.com reports that  [Orunmila Barami Agbonmiregun], the World Ifa Festival was held Saturday June 6, 2009 at Oketase the World Ifa Temple, Ile-Ife. This festival celebrates the New Year for all the traditional Yoruba practitioners. […]

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