Araba Awo Ifatunmise Temenu calls for unity among Yoruba Obas
– Steve Ovirih.
The Araba Awo (1) of Ikale Land, High Chief Ifatunmise Samuel Temenu has appealed to the Royal fathers in Yoruba Land to have a common front and allow unity and mutual cooperation in their relationship. High Chief Temenu maintained that the focal point of the unity of the Yoruba nation is best showcased in the warmth and interpersonal relationship among Yoruba Obas and if at a closer look, it is observed that unity of purpose is non existent among the Yoruba Obas, then the idea of unity in Yoruba Land has suffered huge set back.
High Chief Ifatunmise Temenu gave this indication in a personality interview with thepolity.net at his residence in Okitipupa, southern senatorial district of Ondo State. He said the Yoruba society is an egalitarian society , hence the consciousness of equity among Yorubas, adding that among the Yoruba people of the South West , culture and tradition still hold sway though some ‘so called civilised people ‘ are fast showing indifference to matters of African culture , religion and tradition.
The veteran herbalist, who had practiced the trade for more than three decades told thepolity.net that he got the revered title of Araba Awo of Ikale in 2018 and he was crowned by the Abodi of Ikale Land, His Imperial Majesty, Oba George Babatunde Faduyile, the Abodi of Ikale Land. He said he was nominated at Ile Ife, the source , in the committee of “the Arabas of Yoruba Land” as one of the trustee of Ondo State league of Arabas,” adding that one can’t become the Araba of any town without the support of patrons from “Ile Ife” and the title is not meant for beginners or people with shallow understanding of the traditional essence of the cosmos and the corpus of Ifa, “the divining witness to fate and destiny .”
He said the stool of Araba unlike other stools cannot be influenced by money or connection because it is the exclusive preserve of a seasoned Ifa priest who has paid his dues and can stand his ground anywhere , noting that while fellow tradoherbal practitioners can nominate one to become the Araba Awo, other colleagues in the profession across Yoruba Land will have to certify one fit and proper for the position, adding that at his installation as Araba, other prominent Araba
from the major South West states came around to felicitate with him and to equally show camaraderie with one of their own who has been elevated .
When asked to clarify the assertion that ‘Orunmila’ was born at Ile Ife, High Chief Temenu differed, stressing that at no time was it recorded that Orunmila was born by earthly parents, maintaining that Orunmila whose apelation was “atewonro” did climb down to the earth from heaven and the significance of Ile Ife in the narrative of Orunmila was that when he evolved into the world, it was at Ile Ife that he landed and he began his earthly journey there. Debunking further the opinion of Orunmila being born by earthly parents, Araba Awo Ifatunmise Temenu stressed that Orunmila would chose himself parents in any new community he found himself and he traversed different places in Yoruba Land. He said Orunmila had so many disciples who learnt the corpus of ‘ifa ‘ from him among whom were Obatala, Ogun, Sango and many more and these were the ones who projected the teaching of metaphysical divination post Orunmila era.
High Chief Temenu however said the corpus of Ifa are not meant to be documented but memorised and chanted noting that they are recited and over the centuries , those who learnt the interpretations of the corpus had used the divination medium to help solve diverse challenges that had bedeviled humanity.
