Ile-Ife gets new Araba Agbaye

A 35-year-old Ifa priest has emerged new Araba Agbaye and got the approval of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Eniitan Ogunwusi. TUNDE BUSARI reports on how Owolabi Aworeni succeeded his late father.

 

Though it was not a show in the category of public debate or quiz competition, the selection process that threw up the new Araba Agbaye, His Spiritual Eminence Owolabi Aworeni in Ile-Ife, the acclaimed cradle of Yoruba race, passed the test of traditional standard followed by his predecessors.

The dateline was August 19, 2018, a Sunday, special day when Christian faithful troop to their different denominations for weekly service. But as the followers of Jesus Christ were going about their services, so were the Ifa adherents engaged in filling the vacuum created by the transition of the immediate past Araba Agbaye, His Spiritual Eminence Adisa Aworeni Awoyemi.

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Like every contest to high position of authority, it was a fierce exhibition of Ifa knowledge among the contestants. The selection committee, which was headed by the reigning Baale of Oke-Itase, Pa Jonathan Olajolo, had a tough assignment in ensuring the right candidate won the race.

In the end, however, the 35-year-old outran his opponents in the race and earned unanimous nod of the committee as the successor of his father.

The selection has since been ratified by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Eniitan Ogunwusi and Ife Traditional Council on August 30, 2018.

Coming out of the venue, the new Araba Agbaye could not but control his emotions in the midst of his well-wishers whom he thanked for their faith in him. “I was elated because it is the dream of all of us to attain such great height. I am humbled,” he remarked.

Mr. Toye Adelaja, who is familiar with the process, attested to the transparency of the exercise and added that unlike political contest, traditional elections are still done in accordance to the standard laid down by the forefathers.

“There is no room for any form of manipulation in the process. It is a contest that shows the piety of our traditional religion. And with my contact with the new Araba Agbaye, he is round peg in round hole given his experience and exposure and exploit in the art. I can only wish him successful reign,” Adelaja noted.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the new Araba Agbaye learnt the rope from his father right from childhood and showed traits of making it to the apex of the priesthood with his many exploits that earned him accolade within and outside the country. He has his presence in countries such as USA, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, UK, Paraguay, Venezuela, Argentina where has received awards in propagating Ifa, Yoruba history and Cultural heritage.

He is the last son of his parents and partly a student of Oluwo Fawole of Agesinyowa compound of Ile-Ife in the late 1990s. The passion of the new Araba Agbaye over the years was all about propagating traditional religion in face of the expanding influence of Christianity and Islam in Yorubaland.

“We are as old as the world. Why should we go to Mecca, Jerusalem when we can come to Ile Ife for the World Ifa Festival Day? In 2012, I have over 2000 people from Europe, America, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Peru to mention few that came to Ile-Ife during the yearly festival.

“We should cherish and adore that which is ours. Above all, all religion preaches same tenets-love. Let us live in peace and love. No religion preaches hatred, violence and war.”

Despite his depth in Ifa knowledge, he is educated starting from Sijuwade Nursery and Primary School, Road 7 and later First Quality Nursery and Primary School Mokuro road, Ile-Ife for his primary school.

Thereafter, he attended St. John Secondary School, Oke-Atan and Seventh Day Grammar School after which he proceeded to Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo.

It was learnt that his journey to Awo Olodumerindinlogun started in December 2013, when he became member of the Awo Olodumerindinlogun and was installed Olori Iwarefa.

In April 7 2018, he emerged as the new Afedigba Awo Olodumerindinlogun due to the death of late Afedigba and Baale Ile Oke-Itase, Pa. Olujide Omopariola.

He is the founder of Orishada Ifa Cultural Foundation. He is happily married with children.

It was also learnt that the title of Araba Agbaye is restricted to Oke-Itase compound, Ile-Ife. The first Araba Agate was one Agiri a.k.a. Baba Oke-Itase. It was his descendant that has been reigning as Araba Agbaye. Some of his successors were Olumodan, Gbagalaala, Adoosioke, Agarawu, Lamilooye, Ijala, Awoyeju Ipeti Nagunnaja, Fafore Omopariola, Awosope Awosade, Fasuyi Omopariola, Adisa Aworeni, and the newest Araba, Owolabi Awodotun Aworeni.

Furthr findings also revealed that not all male child of Oke-Itase is qualified to hold the title of Araba Agbaye. It is exclusive to only child who has been initiated to Awo Olodumerindinlogun cult under the headship of Araba Agbaye.