Interview with Chief Ayo Salami; & the Oba Oriate Accord (Part 1 of 7)

This is a seven part interview with renowned author and Babalawo, Chief Ayo Salami. Chief Salami is the author of "IFA: A Complete Divination"; and trilogy entitled "Yoruba Theology & Tradition -- (1) The Worship; (2) The Genealogy; and (3) The Man & Society." Chief Salami currently resides in Ilobu Nigeria; and is currently working on several books about IFA that will be published in the near future. The interview with Chief Salami took place in Isara Remo, Nigeria on April 17, 2011; and some of the topics covered during the interview are as follows: (1) The controversy concerning the Oba Oriate Accord of South Florida; (2) Why the common belief in the diaspora that the cult of IFA is separate and apart from the Orisa sect is incorrect and inconsistent with Yoruba theology; (2) Why a Babalawo may ordain a person to an Orisa (other than Orunmila) even though he himself is not ordained to that Orisa; (3) Whether a person can be initiated by idosu (or crowned) to more than one Orisa on different occasions including before or after itefa (Ifa initiation)?; (5) Re-initiation -- What does IFA say about this?; (6) The propoganda in the diaspora (particulary from some priests of the Afrocuban tradition) claiming that the Ifa-Orisa tradition in Nigeria is dead is false—on the contrary, the truth is that today, theYoruba tradition of Ifa-Orisa in Nigeria is alive and strong; (7) The initiation of women to IFA.

Traducción al español:

Esta es una entrevista de siete parte con reconocido escritoro y Babalawo, Jefe Ayo Salami. Jefe Salami es el autor de "IFA: Una Completa Adivinación"; y trilogía titulada "Yoruba Teología y Tradición: (1) El Culto; (2) La Genealogía; y (3) El Hombre y la Sociedad." Jefe Salami reside en Ilobu, Nigeria; y actualmente está trabajando en varios libros de IFA que se publicará en un próximo futuro. La entrevista con el Jefe Salami tuvo lugar en Isara Remo, Nigeria, en 17 de Abril 2011. Algunos de los temas tratados durante la entrevista son las siguientes: (1) La controversia sobre el Oba Oriate Acuerdo del Sur de la Florida -- Jefe Ayo explica por qué los Oriates están equivocados en su creencia de que la tradición Afrocubana es una religión separada y distinta de la tradición Yoruba; (2) Y por qué la creencia común en la diáspora que el culto a IFA es separada y aparte de la secta Orisa es incorrecto e inconsistente con la teología Yoruba; (3) ¿Por qué un Babalawo puede ordenar a un persona a un Orisa (aparte de Orunmila) aunque él mismo no se ordenado a el Orisa; (4) Si una persona puede ser iniciado por idosu (o corona) a más de un Orisa en diferentes ocasiones, incluso antes o después de Itefa (iniciación de Ifá); (5) Re-inicio - ¿Qué dice IFA sobre la tema de re-iniciacion?; (6) La propaganda de la diáspora (particularmente de algunos sacerdotes de la tradición afrocubana), alegando que la tradición de Ifá-Orisa en Nigeria está muerto es falso -- al contrario, la verdad es que hoy en día, la tradición Yoruba de Ifá-Orisa en Nigeria está viva y fuerte; (7) La iniciación de las mujeres en IFA

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Ifa;
• Orisa;
• Oba
• Oriate
• Accord

[007Liser]

@AfroNerd5 @ AfroNerd5,Have you listened to what Ayo says & how we help each other.What is wrong with someone of another color studying Ifa? I am white & by a miracle I found about about Santo & Chango led me to my first Madrina.And by another miracle/Orisha I have been led to Ayo.I am truly blessed!! I can not wait to go to Nigeria to the true source of my tradition!! Ashe'

[bxlunar]

@AfroNerd5 iwa pele is very important.you need to mature and learn before you speak.btw, i NEVER said i was crowned.that's you not thinking and pre-judging before you write.Lucumi is more than a religion.it's a culture.respect for your elders is a must.do you get my point?

[AfroNerd5]

@bxlunar And you should get off youtube and refine the skills of an Olorisha instead of arguing with what you deem to be an unworthy aleyo.

[bxlunar]

@AfroNerd5 you need to get off of youtube and out of books and experience the real deal.then,you can talk.

[bxlunar]

@AfroNerd5 hispanics are the face of Lucumi because it is based in Cuba...i would be a total fool if i told you that there aren't bigots in Lucumi.if anyone tries to misuse or thwart any others' attempts to be initiated,they are doomed.i don't care if my godfather were french...if my head says he is the one to follow,then it is what it is....in regards to spirituality..THERE IS NO COLORLINE..!!! if bigots don't want me to join their ile,fine!!their loss.

[AfroNerd5]

@bxlunar when they were the ones to allow outsiders into there mysteries. This is occuring as we speak, Mexicans are going to great lengths to suggest IFA comes from the Aztecs and many are accepting this notion as fact. Go to the religious temples of ANY ethnic/racial group that is none black and look at the people who are the face and voice it is always reflective of that traditions origins. But with all things black we must be inclusive. Sounds like a lil Willie Lynch to me...

[AfroNerd5]

@bxlunar on your head by Europeans go right ahead I'm not stopping you. I find it more then odd that White egun will take one to Orisha before Asatru or another European tradition. Have you heard of black Egun telling someone to initiate into the Druid mysteries? I already know you haven't. But as usually blacks want to include everyone else in everything but then when the whites try and suggest IFA is theres(which will happen eventually) blacks will talk about how whites stole there history

[AfroNerd5]

@bxlunar voice of ATRs. Many with crowns older then yours oppose initiating Europeans both in the diaspora and the continent. Many have the attitude that "The blacks are your godchildren and the whites pay the bills", good or bad it is a reality. I am aware of the European Oshun priestess who built the shrine in Osogbo and other noteable white olorishas and of unscrupolous black priest yes but none of this wavers my opinions. But if you want the Ache of African deities and ancestors placed

[AfroNerd5]

@bxlunar Why I'm I not surprised by the cliched statement "I KNEW you weren't initiated by the way you are speakin". This seems to be the defense in an argument by many Olorisha who encounter disagreement. If you are comfortable with it fine go ahead put the ache of the Orishas on all the Europeans you like. My sentiments are not solely the product of aleyos many initiated priest feel this same way and many only express such sentiments in private because white latinos are now the face and

[bxlunar]

@AfroNerd5 i'm Black and lucumi.i know of Afrikan babalawos that misguide and steal from ppl.did you not hear what chief Salami said about europe?when EGUN or the ORISHAS call,you answer!!!no matter the color.one of the chief priestesses of OCHUN was a european,IBAYE,living in Nigeria.Spirituality is in everyones' blood.it's your ORI that helps decide wth whom you feel comfortable with to study under.btw,i KNEW you weren't initiated by the way you are speaking.you need to SEE and learn more.....