IFA INITIATION BY BABALAWO OBANIFA –Obanifa extreme documentaries

IFA INITIATION BY BABALAWO  OBANIFA –Obanifa extreme documentaries

Ifa initiation known as itefa simply mean the  seven days ceremony of rituals and spiritual fortifications in which the initiate received the sacred Ikin ifa (the sacred palm nut of Orunmila). Normally initiation to ifa is usually preceded by Isefa (Isefa is the preliminary 7days rite of getting the sacred palm nut tree from the forest in the name of the person to be initiated. This isefa preliminary stage is what makes genuine initiation to be difficult to be conducted in some countries in diaspora where the  Awo cannot go straight to the palm trees bearing Ikin nuts to collect the Ikin in name of the proposed person to be initiated) it is after isefa that the proper itefa ceremony can then be started. The initiation to ifa is of various types and categories. Anybody in this word can be initiated to ifa provided the person is of sound mind. There is no age or gender discrimination in IFA initiation but with the caveat that women can only be initiated into Elegan categories of initiation in which during her initiation she will be prevented from having eye to eye contact with Odu (Odu has reveal by different odu ifa Odu is a mythical wife of orunmila) odu in modern day is represented in form of sacred calabash use during initiation of Awo olodu which is different from Elegan initiation but women cannot aspire beyond Elegan stage, because aspiring further and see eye to eye with odu can turn them masculine in terms of characters and destiny e.g such as refusing to marry, become infertile and lose some of their feminine trait which is beneficial to them. So Elegan ifa initiation is categories of initiation that is meant for women. It must be stated here it is not everyone that is initiated is a competent diviner. We have Awo olodu, babalawo, iyanifa, iyalase, agbamate. Now I will explain each in turn: the Awo olodu are babalawo (in most cases elderly priests) who is verse in practicing of Ifa spirituality they are usually the Supreme body that preside over ifa ceremony and meetings. The babalawo are initiated practicing diviner who is verse in IFA esoteric knowledge. The iyanifa are initiated into Elegan categories of Ifa initiation they also practice ifa spirituality if they undergo required training of identify and interpreting odu ifa. The Iyalase are also ifa worshipers they are devotee whose assistance is needed in Temple during ifa weekly services (ose ifa) but those who are iyalase have no knowledge of Ifa divination, they need the service of a competent babalawo or iyanifa to guide them. The last but not the least is Agbamate, this is the categories’ of initiate that are initiated they received Ikin ifa (ifa sacred nut) during initiation but they don't learn or acquire full knowledge of Ifa practicing. They can in most cases have knowledge to Propitiate their ifa or maintain their Ikin ifa, these categories’ of initiate called agbamate are people who usually get initiated into ifa not for practicing as a Babalawo or iyanifa but either for protection against enemies, or to be prosperous in business, personal guidance in life pursuit and host of others human needs. These cart of initiate some of them do leave their Ikin with Oluwo who initiate them for proper maintenance and guidance and can have it with their self and seek proper guidance from competent babalawo or their Oluwo from time to time.

Now let me quickly explain type of itefa (ifa initiation that is available) there are three types of Ifa initiation available to my humble knowledge. They are Onirele ifa initiation, Awo Elegan initiation,and Awo Olodu ifa initiation, but Awo Elegan initiation is the most common itefa (ifa initiation) common in modern day because this is the only ifa initiation categories that accommodate the initiation of women. Now I will explain each in turn:

Three Types of Ifa Initiation (Itefa available) as document By Babalawo Obanifa
                               

Onirele Ifa initiation:
 this type of initiation is age long ifa initiations for a group of warriors who are preparing to go to battle. This ifa initiation involves fortifications of these warriors with charms and bring them into covenant not to betray their nation or town in the battle food. Men is the group of people usually initiated into this category of Ifa initiation although some time young women who are Virgin and ready to go to war along with their male counterparts can be initiated as well and fortified. But this category of initiation is not common this day. The type of initiation that would have resemble this age long traditional initiation is Odua people Congress wish equipped youth with some metaphysical power and covenant to protects society from crime but it not done in the way of old because it only done inform of association.

Elegan ifa Initiation :

Elegan initiation is the initiation in which Odu is not present during initiation ceremony (Odu are usually sacred calabash or effigy usually use to represent Odu the mythical spiritual wife of orunmila). The Elegan initiation is they type of initiation that accommodates initiation of women. Although is some places despite spate of some level of flexibility as regards women initiation some Babalawo still think it is not proper to initiate women. Next time may be tomorrow I will explain bases of women initiation and how it evolve. The basis of Elegan initiation itself can be found in Odu Ifa Oturasa

Ka fogbon Jane ni muni pe laye

Inu funfu o ran oran

Difa fun Osofumilayo ti yi bi merin fi won senu ikofa

A bu fun Alapansiki  ti o ni ohun o te awodi nifa

Translation

It is behaving wisely that makes one leave in longevity

Great annoyance don't settle dispute

Cast ifa divination for Osofumilayo who will give birth to four children and devote them to be an ifa apprentice

What actually happen in this Odu ifa is that there is a woman called Osofumilayo she gave birth to four children after many years of infertility. She now devotes the four children to learn IFA from one Awo called Alapansiki, the names of the four children are Agbe, Aluko, Odidere, and Awodi. Alapansiki train the four of them in act of Ifa divination reading any mystical power. Awodi did not wait for initiation when he left Alapansiki and as a result he didn't have details knowledge of initiation. He journey towards Eti okun where they are their needs of babalawo. When he got to ife he started the act of divination, sacrifice, he initiatiated many people using the method that pleases him. When Alapansiki heard of this he sent some of his brother to him to come home to perform his own initiation. The names of his brother that were sent to Awodi that day are Agbe and Aluko. when Agbe and Aluko get to Awodi instead of them to persuade him to come home for initiation, they started to accosted him of present himself as a Babalawo when he is not yet initiated. Awodi who has become influential and rich because he has initiated many people ,order the warrior of the city to killed his two brothers Agbe and Aluko for stain his name. When the news reach Alapansiki and Odidere who is the only surviving brother left, he consult Ifa before visiting Awodi. Ifa instructed him to use persuasion and peace to implore Awodi to come for initiation and not use force or any blasphemy. He did as ifa instructed and he succeeded in bringing Awodi for initiation, truly Awodi get initiated but Awodi never change his mode of initiating people wish he previously used. That was the beginning of Elegan initiation

AWO Olodu initiation :

It is the third categories the details of it is sacred and can't be revealed unnecessarily for the uninitiated.

Purpose or Advantage of Ifa initiation (itefa)

The purpose of Ifa initiation can be one or more of the following:

Ifa initiation allow one to discover one real identity e. g you will know your taboo, what is compatible with your destiny, what colors or food is not good for your star, the kind of women or man suitable for marriage etc.

Having your personal ifa provide spiritual guidance and protection

Initiation to allow the initiate to learn and practice ifa as a diviner if he wants to.

Ifa may demand during divination that some people be initiated to get through difficulties in life.

It brings direct connection to Orunmila and OLODUMARE

It serves as a compass to steer through the ocean called life.

Copyright: Babalawo Pele Obasa Obanifa, phone whatsapp contact : +2348166343145, location Ile Ife osun state Nigeria.

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