Ifa Priestess DARES Tradition
By: Jide Iyanda

This phrase is believed to find its origin in the practice where a king designate must eat the remains of his predecessor as part of the rites he must undergo to become king. Historically, this practice finds a European parallel in Spain amongst a religious sect called Aztec in the days of Christopher Columbus. But Ayonrinde contends that such practice has no place in the Ifa (Yoruba) cosmology. “There is no shred of evidence in the Ifa which recommends that…” she insists, adding that it was the invention of those perpetuating the act. According to the priestess, obas, while ascending the throne, are compelled to be initiated into an obas’ cult. Though obaship is not meant to be a cult, oba-elects, she notes, still find themselves being coerced into the dark worlds they know little or nothing of, just for the kingmakers to have the upper hand over the kings. “The kingmakers think they own the throne; they think they are the town and impose themselves having not been democratically elected by the people,” observes Ayonrinde. Besides not having the backing of Ifa, the practice of cannibalism, the former magistrate also says, is unconstitutional. She cites Section 38 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution which confers on every citizen “the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion”.
She also quotes Section 17(2b) which declares that “the sanctity of the human person shall be recognised, and human dignity shall be maintained and enhanced.” She thus wants the authorities to enforce the rights of kings as prescribed by the constitution. She is also pressing for a special legislation to give all monarchs the freedom to opt out of customary rituals during installation and funeral rites, as well as curtail the powers of kingmakers who are bent on perpetuating the crude tradition. Ayonrinde has also been rallying the support of notable Yoruba traditional rulers like the Osile Oke Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, who has on several occasions expressed his disdain for the practice of cannibalising obas’ remains, as well as renouncing all forms of fetish practices associated with the throne. Ayonrinde also took the campaign to a recent meeting of Osun State Council of Obas held in Oshogbo, the state capital, which was presided over by the influential Ooni of Ile Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade.