GREETINGS AND SALUTATION IN AFRICA CULTURE AND SPIRITUALITY BY BABALAWO OBANIFA-Obanifa extreme documentaries (vol 2)

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GREETINGS AND SALUTATION  IN AFRICA CULTURE AND SPIRITUALITY BY BABALAWO OBANIFA-Obanifa extreme documentaries (vol 2)

                                     

Greeting is a traditional African trait. In a stiff cultural environment like the African society where one's character is constantly being examined; greeting can brighten one's chances of making a good first impression. To the elderly, greeting plays a role in evaluating one's level of morals. It also creates the opportunity of discerning in a few seconds, the quality of a child's parental upbringing. In fact, greeting is non-negotiable in Africa!

Although, culture varies across the continent, but whether you are Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, Swahili, Somali etc.  we're unified in a way as regards our approach to elders, religious leaders and other prominent individuals. Greeting an elderly or influential person in Africa, is more on the side of showing honor than exchanging pleasantries. As a result, it isn't complete without bowing, kneeling, squatting, prostrating, receiving a handshake with both hands, etc. (depending on the varying cultures).

When we are talking of Greeting within the context of this work, I am referring to something friendly or polite that you say or do when you meet or welcome someone. So, greetings are essential in our daily interactions either for social or spiritual reason. It is as a result of this that Babalawo Obanifa will in this short work explain in brief details what are correct mode of greetings in  African culture and Spirituality. I will examine them and their meanings. Correction will be made also where necessary to pin point some wrong greetings method that is fast becoming popular in Ifa and Orisa  especially on the part of our diaspora devotee of Africa tradition.

Firstly before I proceed to this discussion I will like to correct the wrong notion of using the word Alafia or Alaafia as indigenous Africa mode of greeting in Ifa and Orisa tradition. The words is fast become popular to the extent that when some of the diaspora Babalawo and Orisa devotee want to greet a fellow initiate what they will say is Alaafia, to them this mean 'peace be upon you'  with due respect this mode of greeting is UN-African and the word Alaafia original meanings itself doesn't actually means peace, it means health as you will see later in my further explanation. In Yoruba language we have certain group of word that we do use in every day in our informal interactions that those word does not have their origin or etymology in Yoruba language and culture. Such group of words are what we refer to as ORO AYALO(THAT IS BORROW OR LOAN WORDS). one the words that fall into this category is Alafia from Arabic word al  afya , we also have other words like Adua tabi Adura  from the Arabic word Du'a which mean prayer, the original Yoruba words for prayer is Iwure tabi Isure. We also have the word like Wahala from the Arabic word whala, which mean problem or trouble, the original Yoruba words for this is Isoro Tabi Idaamu.  We can continue on and on, but I am majorly concerned with the mistake of using the word Alafia  tabi Alaafia in place or right Greetings in Ifa and Orisa tradition in modern time. As I said earlier Alafia is not a Yoruba word at all, it is a borrow word from the Hausa people to Yoruba language to mean sounds health. The origin of the word is traceable to Arabic origin. Although the Hausa who have inter- ethnic relationship with Yoruba wish bring the word to Yoruba language as a borrow language adopt the word 'Lafia' which mean health or sound health 'the original origin is from Arabic language

; Andalusian Arabic al afya ultimately from “Classical” Arabic afiyah (عافية) “health”

So the original meanings of Alafia tabi Alaafia in Yoruba, Lafia in Hausa, al afya in Arabic actually mean health, not peace be upon you as some people do use it wrong in Ifa and orisa circle especially in USA or other part of diaspora. Even the Arabs where the word originate use other words to greet their fellow to tell them that peace be upon them. They will prefer to say. As-salāmu ʿalaykum (Arabic: السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ‎‎ [asːaˈlaːmu ʕaˈlaikum]) that is peace be upon you. So, you can see vividly that the word Alafia doesn't mean peace be upon you as many as mistakenly thought and use. In Yoruba language we have our own indigenous word for Alafia (health),such word are 'Ara lile tabi ilera' (sounds health ')  having clear
It is  erroneous  to use of the word Alafia as official or formal Greetings in Ifa and Orisa tradition among devotee and practitioner, although it can be used for Greetings in informal setting.

Now let examine briefly some of the acceptable greetings in Ifa and Orisa tradition in Yoruba land. So, what I will discuss here are: Greetings of your Ikin Ifa, greeting a Babalawo or a fellow Ifa and Orisa devotee. Greetings in the gathering of Ifa and orisa devotee, greeting of a king, greeting  of paramount chief and the elderly, greeting of people according to their professional career and general daily miscellaneous greetings. So I will explain each in turn.

Who greets?  

There is also no hard and fast rule about who greet first. However, it is preferable for the young person to initiate the greetings. In most situations, it is the first person to see that greets first; either young or old. However, when the younger ones are greeting the elders, the boys will prostrate- full stretch with their chests and chin on the ground while the girls will knee down with their two knees. They, then, greet as circumstance demands. They will be in the position until the elders complete their own part of the greetings. The process of the greeting can be between three to five minutes. It is forbidden for the younger ones to look into the eyes of the older ones in the process of greeting. While the younger ones are on their knees or prostrating (as the case may be) the elders will be saying all his/her oriki or praise and attributive names, both personal and family ones. It is also forbidden for the younger ones to say the oriki of the older ones.

What are honorific pronouns?

These are so called here because of their function as marks of respect and honor in the Yoruba language and culture. These are the plural forms of regular Yoruba pronouns that are used, out of deference, to refer to a single older or senior person. It will be regarded disrespectful and rude if a young person or junior fails to use the ‘honorific pronouns’ in addressing or in referring to an older person or senior. The use of these pronouns is crucial in greetings but it applies to speech in all aspects of life. The ‘honorific pronouns include: E ‘You (plural),’ won ‘they/them’ and yin ‘you (plural).’

           

Kaaro o           ‘good morning’ to an age mate or colleague ’   

E kaaro o’        ‘good morning’             to an older person or more than one person

            Kaabo              ‘welcome’

            E kaabo           ‘welcome (sir/madam or more than one person)’

What are the types of Yoruba greetings?

Greetings in Yoruba are countless. There is no occasion that does not have its distinct and peculiar greeting. For days and seasons, there are greetings for very early morning, morning, mid-day, afternoon, evening and night. There are also special greetings for the seasons and the different festivals when there is food drought and when there is plenty to eat. All occupations, trades, and professions have different greetings peculiar to each of them. Some of these include, among others, farmers, hunters, black smith, traders, teachers, the diviners, hair dressers, etc. In addition, different states of health have their own greetings. For instance, a person that is seriously ill has one, someone recuperating has too. There are also greetings to be offered at funerals. The age of the deceased determines the type of greeting. For instance, there are different types of greetings for deaths that are considered premature and deaths that are considered to be matured. There is a type for greeting when one is embarking on a journey, another when you are right within the trip and another upon arrival. There are separate greetings for barren women, expectant mother, immediately after delivery and in the process of breast feeding and weaning of the baby.

 What are the roles of greetings in the family?

Within the family setting, both nuclear and extended, greetings are crucial. Young people are trained to learn and offer greetings for each appropriate time or occasion. Leading by example, the Baale or family head wakes up very early in the morning and greets everybody within the compound. In the process of greeting, he mentions their names individually, no matter how young or old. In this process, he makes enquiry about the state of their health, work, and even progress. Since he is the Baale, he knows the oriki or praise and attributive names of everybody within the nuclear and extended family. As the greetings progress, he laced them with individual’s attributive and praise names. This early morning greetings are particularly important in the Yoruba setting. Any Baale that does not do this is regarded as irresponsible and ignoring his duty to his family members. This opportunity of early morning greetings is also used acquainting himself with state of affairs of everybody within his ‘community’.

BASIC CASUAL GREETINGS IN YORUBA

• Good morning – Ekaro/E kaaro  - This is the  greeting use to greet people about morning
• Have a bright morning – E ku Ojumon – This is the greeting use to greet about been bless to see the brightening of new day, especially early in the morning.
• Good afternoon – Ekasan/E kaasan – This is greeting use to greet people about the afternoon

·         Good evening – Ekurole/ E ku Irole – This is the greeting use to greet people about Sundown

• Good night      – Ekale/ E kale—This the greeting use to greet people about the evening or night
• We will meet again in tomorrow morning/ Till tomorrow morning – Odaaro/ Odola/O da ola—This is the greeting use when you want to depart from a person late in the night, especially when you will see the following morning
• Farewell/Goodbye – Odabo—This is a greeting use to say good bye to people when you want depart from them.
• Accept my complement on yesterday activities – E ku ana – This the greeting to greet people about yesterday
• My complement about today activities—E ku oni -This is the greeting to greet people about today
• Greeting to you in this house –Ekule/ E ku Ile – This the greeting use to greet people in house or household when you visiting them or you a living there but you are coming from outside.
• You are welcome – Ekaabo/E ku abo --- This the greeting use to answer to a visitor visiting a household or some living there who is just coming from outside.
• Accept my condolence -- E ku Araferaku- This is use to greet a person who just loss love ones
• Happy facilitation—E ku odun --This is the greeting use to greet people when they are felicitating certain seasonal festival which may be religion in nature or not.
• My regards to you taking time to organize this --- E ku Eto – This is the greeting use to greet the organizer of certain event or program.
•  I felicitate with you on your acquiring of new house—E ku Isile---- This is the greeting use to greet people on housewarming
• I felicitate with you for having new baby: E ku owo lomi/ E ku ewu omo – This the greeting use to greet people who just begat a new born baby.

GREETINGS OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PROFESION

Casual greeting as explain above is a bit different way that can be adopt in greeting people from different walks of life. The greeting of people in relation to their job is usually to seek the guidance of Olodumare to protect them from hazard from their business and to make the job easy and fulfilling for them. In most cases the implement use by such professional will usually be the target of prayer to be use.  Below are some of the way different professional are greet in Yoruba .

1.   Agbe(farmer) – Aroko bodun de oo (May your farming effort yeid bountful havest at harvest season)

2.   Olode ( hunter) – Arepa Ogun o(Ogun(god of Iron) will grant you more game/prey to kill

3.   Onidiri (hairdresser) – Ooya a ya o( the comb will part the hair well)

4.   Akope/adape (Palm tree climber/Palm wine tapper) --- Igba  aro oo(You climbing belt will remain tough and not be broken)

GREETINGS YOUR IKIN IFA

                        

When ever you go out and come back or you wake up in the morning you want greet your IFA or you visit an initiate you want to greet his Ifa. The first thing to do before Greetings ifa is greeting the Ifa by using your head to touch the ground and lie down or prostrate flatly in front of your Ikin or alter you set up for it. Then you can say :

Ifa ori mi re
Opele gba oro mi yewo
Agbaye ni ko gba mi oo
Ifa ma gba mi ni Agba pa

Translation

Ifa  I bow down my head
Opele examine my issue
Save me to life
Don't save me to death.

Alternatively you can say

Ifa ori mi re oo
Odudu ti do ori elemere
Kori elemere o ma ba fo
Eleri ipin
Opitan Ile Ife
Atori Eni ti ko suhan se
Ifa ba mi tun ori mi se

Translation

Ifa I pay homage to thee
The orisa who try to save people who are destiny to die prematurely
Withness of fate /destiny
Ancient arch historian of Ife city
One who reshape bad bad destiny to good
Help me shape my destiny to good one.

It is not necessary you said this you can just use your head to touch ground and pray in the name of Olodumare and Ifa.

It is instructive to note that when greeting ifa, you can remove you cap or head tie as sign of honor.

GREETING A BABALAWO OR FELLOW IFA AND ORISA DEVOTEE

This is where in most cases the using of Alafia mistakenly usually occurs. I have explained that above. Make amendment where necessary.

If you want to greet a Babalawo the appropriate words to use is Aboruboye tabi aboru aboye or aboru boye bo sise, which can simply be interpreted to mean may your sacrifice  make us live and be blessed and accepted the babalawo on his part reply thus Ogbo Ato asure iworiwofun, which mean may you live long  and blessings of Iwori wofun come to your life. Iwori ofun is and odu ifa that contains alot  of Ifa verses that do turn bad fate to good one. Hence the invocation of iwori ofun blessings in the greeting. In santeria and Cuba these Greetings has been corrupted 'Iboru iboya' and the babalawo will reply Ibo che che. It mean the same thing as what I explain above. But the appropriate Greetings is Aboruboye or aboru aboye in which the babalawo will reply ogbo ato asure iworiwofun. Although in some part of yoruba land like Ekiti and Ondo Greetings simple such as the Aboruboye in which babalawo will just reply o bo sise is very common.

GREETINGS IN GATHERING OF IFA AND ORISA DEVOTEE OR TEMPLE

Greetings in gathering of Ifa and Orisa devotee is usually occurs in Temple, or other gathering of orisa devotee. This type of greeting say to call the attention of fellow devotee or initiate at the gathering that they should pay attention to you that you want to speak.. Such person will say 'ERIWO YA!  3 times. You will say ERIWO YA, ERIWO YA, OMO ERIWO YA. The answer or reply that a fellow ifa and orisha devotee at gathering will be' AYAGBO, AYATO, AYAJE, AYAMU, OMO ERIWO OSIN PE.. The meaning of Eriwoya simply mean my fellow initiate or Orisa devotee pay attention 'it is instructive to note that Eriwoya can also be use when chanting Iyere ifa(ifa  song) the response will be different from that of ordinary Greetings. The response will simply be hinhin. For example :

Eriwoya nile Awo oo
Hinhin
Dudu ni Awo won Nile modudu
Hinhin
Morere ni joba won Nile morere
Hinn......................................................
Ki dudu lo ki imole ode

Translation

Eriwoya  ya Nile Awo (please pay attention to me)
Hinn (reply)

It the black that is their Awo in land of darkness

Hinhin

It is It is illumination that is their Awo in the land of light
Hinhin.................
Darkness should disappeared and light should come.
That is example of Iyere ifa, (chanting ifa melodious song)

The reply to Eriwoya which is AYAGBO, AYATO, AYAJE AYAMU, OMO ERIWO OSIN PE SIMPLY MEAN'WE MEET TO LIVE LONG, WE MEET TO LIVE IN COMPLETE HEALTH, WE MEET TO EAT, WE MEET TO DRINK, WA THE CHILDREN OF ERIWO OSIN HAVE GATHER. After this reply to ERIWO YA to people in the gathering what usually follow is immediate decorum. So the person who offer the greeting will have ground to continue his or her speech.

Although we have situation where some people instead of saying Eriwoya, in other to get people attention, they will just say Atoto arere. this is also use to call people attention. But it is instructive to note that Eriwoya which the reply is Ayagbo, Ayato, Ayaje, Ayamu, Omo eriwo osin pe, is the appropriate Greetings and mean of getting attention or permission to speak in any gathering of Ifa and orisa devotee.

GREETINGS A KING

  

in Yoruba cosmology the king is regarded as the sacred being, they are rank next to OLODUMARE (GOD) hence they are called 'alase Ikeji Orisa)' (the commandant second in rank to God). but the spate of modernity and modern political organization of society have diminished their power, coupled with the fact that some of them have  lose their value due to corrupt behavior and other political actitivities they involved in to pursue selfish economic interest. But The fact remains that culturaly and spiritualy a king must be respected. So the appropriate mode of greeting a king is that men will lie down or prostrate and women will also be on their kneel. The words to say is kabiesi ooo (that one's whose decision or command is unquestionable) although law court has rendered this statement kabiesi oo less valuable in modern day as King are been challenge in law court. Even in Greetings king some can even roll their self on ground to pay homage. They will say kabiesi oo moyika otun, MO yika osi fun ori Ade oo(that one whose decision is unchallengeable, I roll to the right, I roll to the left, for the head that wear the crown. You can continue with 'ki Ade pe lori, ki bata pe lese, irukere o di okinni' (that is may you live long to wear the crown, may you live long to wear sandal, may you leave, may  you live long to the extent that your horse tail wear out till it looks like needle.)
The king too will reply 'ori Ade ki o, Oba ki o, ori Ade a gbe o' (this mean the crown headed is greeting you, the king is greeting you, the head that wear crown will bless you.

It is important to note that when greeting the king, it is important to to remove your cap or head tie as a sign of honor to the king.

Greeting Before Entering  A House or Close Door In African Spirituality

In Africa culture and spirituality, You cannot just enter a scared place of worship when it is close. Even if people are inside. It is believed that the placing of door at the entrance of such place is not just to prevent a thief from entering the place. The door is there to prevent the unwanted person, especially the uninitiate from entering the room when important spiritual activities is ongoing, so if some is coming from outside. There is method of greeting that he/she must adopt at the door to prove to the people inside that he/she is an initiate or not. If he is an initiate the people inside will grant him/her entrance and they can equally continue with what they are doing.

If he is not, they will deny him entrance, or alternatively the may pack and stop what they area doing and clear the whole places before they grant him entrance if such thing are thing are things that are meant not to be seen by novice.

The process is simple. The person coming from outside will knock the door audibly three time. there must be three seconds interval between each knock. If the people inside want to permit him/her to enter. They will say Akanwo(that is he can enter). But if the response is  Awo ni abi Ogberi ( is it an initiate or novice). If there is silence or he did not known how to respond. They may prevent him from entering. But if he says Awo. They will permit him to enter. In which official greetings of Babalawo will be exchange.

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

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