- By Ajani Adebayo, Ado-Ekiti
Founder of Iyawo Onisin Foundation in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Chief Mrs Iyabode Ifadunsin Adedayo, has said that Yoruba race is one of the most blessed and endowed tribe in the entire continent, charges to embrace the heritage of our forefathers.
She added that no fewer than three hundred million people within the six continents of the world are harden believer in “Ifa” deity and choose it to worship as a religion.
Chief Ifadunsin who also doubled as the Women Leader International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR), gave the assurance in chat a with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, as part of the preparation for her forthcoming annual “Ifa Orisa Festival”.
According to her, the week-long programme which will be organized in conjunction with her foundation “Iya Awo Onisin Foundation” is the 19th edition to be celebrated since she chooses Ifa deity to be worshiping as god and religion.
She explained that Ifa worshipers who were up to three hundred millions were spread across all countries of the world including some notable men within and outside the shore of Africa also built temples in their various abode where they chooses to be be worshiping.
She explained that the aim of the annual celebration of “Ifa and Orisa festival” is targeted towards appeasing to the gods, to wade away evil and to rejuvenate and move closer to the gods of “Ifa and Orisa” she served.
Speaking further on the week-long annual Ifa and Orisa festival, the ICIR Women Leader, explained that the ceremony slated to begin on the 10th of July, 2004 would commence with “Ibo Orisa Oko, Esun, Ogun the god of Iron, Obatala and Sango among other deities.
Narrating “Ifa deity” as the most widely celebrated in the world, the Ifa Priest said during the ceremony the aged-long Aje Ori, Osun, Olokun, Yemoja among other deities incantation and worshipping will also take centre stage during the celebration of the annual festival.
As part of the celebration, Chief Ifadunsin said on the 12th and 14th of July 2024 respectively the “Ifa diety will be worshiping and consult widely popularly reffered to as “Bibo Ifa and Gbigbohun Ifa”in local parlance, these aspects of the ceremony which is always delighted to watch will be widely participated by the various Ifa worshippers and Priest who have been invited from within and outside Ekiti State as well as other parts of the world.
The annual ceremony according to Chief Ifadunsin, will be climax on 13th and 14th of July with a colourful reception and entertainment of guests at the office complex of the “Iya Awo Onisin, located at the expansive Irosun Onisin Temple Oke-Ajo, Oke-Ila area of Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State.
She also revealed that the Irosun Onisin Temple, Oke-Ajo in Ado-Ekiti, when it was established, has continued to promote Ifa Religion and profer solutions to spiritual challenges of many people including the white men.
