Araba is speaking at the Port of Spain's City Hall

Araba is speaking at the Port of Spain's City Hall

Araba doing lecture on October 8 on Obatala

Join Araba Elebuibon on Tuesday, October 13 at 4pm at the Port of Spain's City Hall (Knox street)

Traditional religions thriving in T&T

Traditional religions thriving in T&T*

Visiting Ifa priest...

• Published on Oct 10, 2015, 9:02 pm AST
• By Verdel Bishop
  
  
  

  RICH CULTURE’: The Araba of Osogbo, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon. —Photo: VERDEL BISHOP

• 
  
• The Araba of Osogbo, chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, is in Trinidad as part of celebrations to mark the first National Isese Festival (a celebration of this country’s African spiritual traditions). Chief Elebuibon, a renowned traditionalist and foremost Ifa priest in Nigeria said Ifa and Orisha (traditional religion derived from West Africa) spirituality in Trinidad is very rich.  He has called for more tolerance and understanding of traditional religions like Orisha to prevent its deterioration. 
• Following on the heels of a successful Isese Festival at the Centre of Excellence, yesterday, Chief Elebuibon will participate in the annual Ogun Festival at Ile Isokan, Niles Trace, Febeau Village, San Juan. Chief Elebuibon will also be the feature speaker at a lecture on the creation story of the Yoruba people which will be held at City Hall, Knox Street in Port of Spain, on Tuesday October 13 at 4 p.m.
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Araba's Visit to Trinidad and Tobago

Araba's Visit to Trinidad and Tobago

Araba visits Ile Egbe Yemoja Iba Ase Olakun in Laventille on October 1, 2015

Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon, The Araba of Osogbo Land, pay a visit to Mother Vera head of The Shrine of Orunmila, Sangre Grande. October 2, 2015

Araba attends Tea Party and Fashion Show In Aid of Cancer Survivor Hosted by Erule Egungun Ati Orisa on October 3, 2015

Araba Elebuibon visit to Ile EKp Sango/Osun Mil'Osa Little Oyo and Iretegbe Temple on October 5, 2015

Blessings flow as The Araba of Osogbo land return to ILE EKO Sango/Osun Mil'Osa - IESOM/Little Oyo & Irentegbe Temple for an Obatala Bembe and Lecture on October 8, 2015

A visit to the South of Trinidad,by Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon, The Araba of Osogbo to Iya Dolores Dennie of The Yemoja Shrine, Point Fortin October 10, 2015

October 13, 2015 Araba had a visit with the mayor of Port of Spain, Mayor Raymon Tim Kee.

October 13, 2015 Araba visited Yoruba Village in Port of Spain

ABIADNA ILE OGUN (The Fire House) Belmont, Port of Spain bid farewell to The Araba of Osogbo Land October 14, 2015

Why Trinidad and Tobago citizens value Yoruba culture.

Araba at Piarco international Airport in the International VIP Lounge  on the day of his arrival to Trinidad and Tobago. (Artwork by Leroy Clarke)

Why Trinidad and Tobago citizens value Yoruba culture — Elebuibon

November 19, 2015

Written by: Tunde Busari 

Originally posted at:Tribuneonlineeng.com

THE renowned Ifa Priest and Araba of Osogbo, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon has revealed why the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago appreciate Yoruba culture and struggle to propagate it.

Recalling his experience during his recent journey to the West Indian country, Chief Elebuibon said what he saw in the people delighted him and also gave him hope that Yoruba culture would survive the current threat. 

In September, the Araba, on invitation, traveled to Trinidad and Tobago just after he had rounded off his annual Ogbeyonu festival held in Osogbo, his hometown. 

He was in the country to attend the Isese festival where he delivered lecture and also mentored some Yoruba culture enthusiasts.  

Araba at the home of the host while he is in Trinidad and Tobago, Artist Leroy Clarke.

Elebuibon spoke on two topics, Role of ancestor in affairs of mankind and Messengers of Orisas. His audience was enthralled so much that they urged him to always honor them at the festival.

“I was equally impressed by their appreciation of our culture. At every compound, we were welcomed with drums and dance. They said they had been anxious to see me. It is another experience, which is unique in its own way. 

“Although the country is not that rich, in terms of economy, the people are very warm and promoting their faith. Before I left, they had started making effort to impress it upon the government to set aside a day as Isese day. They are also working on their unity to achieve the goal. I told them that doing so is the only way to convince the incumbent government which seems to be indifferent to their demand,” he said. 

The soft-speaking priest who was scheduled to travel to London and Brazil after the Ogbeyonu festival said that the Trinidad and Tobago invitation was considered satisfactory to the organizers of the Isese day. 

Araba at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival

According to him, the journey was worth its while as he was also taken to a place named Yoruba Village, a settlement that depicts Yoruba cultural heritage and historical materials, especially the slave trade that separated the forefathers of Elebuibon’s hosts from their root in Nigeria.  

The visit ended with his visit to other important places in the North and Southern part of the country. 
“They took me to the Mayor who also appreciated my visit. It is an eye-opening trip and the reason we must not stop to tell our people back home that our culture should not be toyed with because there are so many out there who are trying their best to identify with it,” he said. 

The Araba is not only an Ifa priest, he is also a theatre practitioner and in fact, former vice-president of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) during the tenure of Adebayo Salami, otherwise known as Oga Bello. 

Also, he is an author of books such as Poetry Voice of Ifa; Apetebii: The Wife of Orunmila; Adventures of Obatala 1 & 2;The Healing Powers of Sacrifice; Ifa, the Custodian of Destiny; The Invisible Powers of the Metaphysical World: A Peep Into the World of Witches; Iyere Ifa (Tonal Poetry, the Voice of Ifa): an Exposition of Yoruba Divination Chants; Irinajo Eda; Ogota Ewi Ogota Ajodun orikadun, New Series of Works; Soul Journeys of a Priest in the Wonderland; Water Spirit of Yorubaland; Healing Power of the Prayer and Iku, the Fearful Spirit.

Egungun: Dweller of Heaven

EGÚNGÚN, DWELLER OF HEAVEN

Egúngún is regarded as collective spirits of the Ancestors who occupy a space in heaven hence they are called ará òrun (Dweller of heaven). These Ancestral spirits are believed to be in constant watch over their survivors on earth. They bless, protect, warn and punish their earthly relatives depending on how their relatives neglect or remember them.

Egungun Doorogbo

The Ancestral spirits have collective function that cuts across lineage and family loyalty; they collectively protect the community against evils spirits, epidemics, famine, negative witchcraft and evildoers. Generally, they ensure the well being, prosperity and productivity of the whole community. The spirits could be invoked collectively and individuals in times of need.

Their place of calling is usually either on the graves of the ancestors (Ojú Oórì) otherwise known as Ojú Eégún in some other parts of Nigeria, the family shrine (Ilé run) or in the community grove (Ìgbàlè or Igbó Eégún), in essence the Yoruba keep in constant communion with their ancestors whose spirits are believed to be closer to them than Òrìsà.

The Ancestral spirits may also be invited to visit the earth physically in Masques and such masquerades and they are also being referred to as Egúngún. There are several categories of Egungun (Masquerades) in Yorubaland. In the past, some Egungun led their community in war, this type of Egungun are capable of exposing and executing wicked witches and other evil doers in the society.

The herbalists have their own Egúngún, they are calledEégún Olóògùn in order to demonstrate their magical powers, the guild of hunters also have their own called Láyèwùaka Egúngún odę (Hunter’s Egúngún).

Some principal Orisa also have Egungun E.g. Egúnguún Oya (Oya’s Masquerade), Eégún Egbé (Peers of Heaven’s Egungun), we also have Egúngún Olóré for the Youths, Egúngún Alárìnjó, they are entertainers, this Egungun dance, sings and sometimes display acrobatics skills, they also act dramas to amuse their audience, they sing ancestral lineage Oríkì.

We also have Egungun display at funeral rite of passage, this Egungun will mimic the lifestyle of the departed soul, the will walk like the deceased and even wear the costume of the deceased so as to demonstrate to the family that the departed had rose from the dead and dwell in heaven with other ancestors.

Layewu or Eegun Ode, the hunter's masquerade

ÌWÚRE ODÚN

Odún l’awo Eséji.

Ìro l’awo Afàkàn.

Àsèyí sàmódún níí se s’awo Àró -òsunko.

Adífá fún Òrúnmìlà.

Babá se odún yìí.

Wón ni kòní se èèmí.

Babá gbó títí ó rín won-rín won.

Odún làá rórógbó.

Odoodún làá róbì.

Odoodún ni ìyèré so.

Odoodún làá rí ata.

Odoodún làá rí yonmotè lórí Egúngún.

Àkànnàm àgbò oko kìí podún je àì mo hù.

TRANSLATION: PRAYER

Odun is the priest of Eseji.  Chimpanzee is the priest of Afakan.  Continuity is the priest of Aro that doesn’t sleeps at farm.  Ifa divination was made for Orunmila.  Baba was alive to celebrate a new year.  People said he wouldn’t be alive to celebrate the next ones.  Baba heard them, he laughed.  He said the bitter Kola produced seeds annually.  He said the Kolanut produced seeds annuall.  He said the Climbing back pepper reproduces annually.  He said the pepper reproduces annually.  He said we always meet the shrine of Egungun on their head on annual basis.  Àkànnàmàgbò leaves always sprout on each and every year.

ORÍKÌ EGÚNGÚN

Eégún Bàbá mi òfe o,

Òòsà Bàbá mi òfe,

Eégún yìí ma le tété.

Ó mà dàbí osù.

Onígborí omo kúlódò.

Omo kúlódò awubi.

Egungun Ibeji

Omo kúlódò awusi èyò.

Omo ikú kan tí mbe lódò tó tì ìgbórí wá.

Taa ní nso pé Onigbòrí kò lódò.

Wípé omi ikú ni wón ńpon.

Ta lóni Àasà.

Ta lóni Ękoro.

Ta lóni dòbòdé omi ìpakùn.

Ta lóni afúnlété omi ayaba.

Dòbòdé ò demi lórun ęsè mó.

E wo afúnlété bó ti ntú ayaba láso.

Èrò Ìgbórí omo kúlódò awubi.

Ará Ìgbòrí omo kúlódò awusi èyò.

Onígbórí won ò lagba.

Gbogbo won ní ńjé baba.

Omo Ajé baba maję arúgbó.

Ará Ìgbòrí e kú ma ko apinni.

Níbi o ko ìdí rę si.

Níbi o ko ìdí rę lo.

Ęni arakan tii jijo awo.

Omo arùku rojà ma tà.

Òkú ta gbe rojà tí ò tà.

A gbé òkú òhún padà wálé.

O wá yóyó ó ku bi okinni.

Okinni náà wá ńbe léyìn Òòsà Akire.

Òun ni Molufon fi nse iwín bo.

Ará Igbori omo Isin lojude ìjan.

Osan rèrèrè lójúde Ìwòyè.

EGUNGUN: PRAISE NAME

My father Egungun: Ofe o.  The deity of my father ofe.  This masquerade is beautiful.  It is beautiful as a new moon.  Onigbori, son of Kulodo.  The son of Kulodo Awusi.  The son of Kulodo Awusi eyo.  The son of one strong personality (the spirit of the dead) at the brook who came from Igbori.  Who says that Onigbori has no brook?  That says they drink from the water of death?  Who owns Aasa River?  Who owns Ekoro River?  Who owns Dobode, water of Ipakun?  Who owns the clear water, the brook of the Queen?  Dobode River is now only a few inches deep.  Look at how the clean brook is also stripping the Queen naked.  Dweller of Igbori, the offsprings of Kulodo Awusi.  Citizens of Igbori, the offspring of Kulodo Awusi eyo.  People says that the people of Igbori have no elders.  Everybody now proclaims himself or herself as the most senior.  All of them are called fathers.  They are called fathers yet they are not aged.  The son of those that carried a corpse to the market for sale but nobody bought.  The corpse that was taken to the market for sale but nobody bought.  The corpse was carried back home.  It began to dissolve gradually.  Until it was reduced to the size of a needle.  The remains is now at the shrine of Orisa Akire.  It is this remains that the children of Molufo ade worship as their deity.

Orisa Esu Elegbara Documentary

Orisa Esu Elegbara Documentary

Baba Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon at Ogbeyonu Temple in Osogbo Osun State, Nigeria, World Culture Education Alliance (U.S.A.) & Children of the World African Diaspora (World) have partnered to make information on Traditional African Culture and Spirituality more accessible to the World by using multi-media sharing.  This documentary on "Orisa Esu Elegbara: Facts vs. Fictions" is our first collaboration project.  We hope that you will support us in educating and sharing Sacred African Tradation with the World.  Adupe & Thank You~

This Project is Directed By: 
Baba Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon, 
IFA Priest, Author: Poet, Playwright, Cultural Icon and Traditional Yoruba West Afrikan Cultural Educator & Preservationist

Our goal is to raise $6,000 by August first.  To make a donation please go to http://www.gofundme.com/74bxu0

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BEWARE FAKE FACEBOOK PAGE!

BEWARE FAKE FACEBOOK PAGE!

This is to inform all my fb family and all and sundry that one OSHIYEMI OLAYEMI is a fraudster that created a false Facebook profile with my name with the aim of defrauding people. Unfortunately this has worked on some people. His account number is 0050157065 at GT bank. Recently, He took money from one of my client and that was how i got to know . Do not fall victim for his plot .OSHIYEMI OLAYEMI is nothing but an impostor trying to extort the innocent . This is my only official Facebook page .

Thank you,
Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon





ARABA'S ONLY OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE!

Things to look out for:

1.  Look under recent-  Araba started this page in 2009!

ONLY OFFICIAL FAN PAGE OF ARABA!

Things to look out for:

1. Started in 2013