A GRANDE SAÍDA DO ALAAFIN PARA O REINO DOS ANCESTRAIS.

Postado por Paula Gomes Aduke Em 04/05/2022, acessado em 06/05/2022 às 20:33

I saw the shocking news first on Folorunso Fatai Adisa's wall around 3:45am on the 23rd of April,that the elegant bàtá dancer with every steps that speaks Royalty has left the stage and bowed elegantly into Egúngún realm. Paaga this hook is too big to swallow, this news can't be true I thought.

With my doubts, I quickly went to the wall of Arewa Omo'ba I saw nothing that indicate the demise of Àtàndá Ọmọ Ibironkẹ, then I quickly browsed through the page of Olubunmi Olabiyi and found nothing about the grand exit of Ikú, but I remembered that my dear Sister Olubunmi shared a picture of Bàbá & Iya on her page, I remember having a strange feeling when I saw that picture about a day or 2 days before the exit of Aláàfin, I remember looking at the post about 3 times and moved on without commenting or reacting to the post.

Then I began to wonder if what I felt days ago has become a reality.

It can't be true I concluded and went to the Facebook page of Bàbá's Cultural Ambassador Dr Paula Cristina Gomes, lo and behold the unimaginable has happened, Ọsan tí ja, Bàbá tí fi ọwọ osùn balẹ̀, Ikú tí wọlé ikú

The news has spread like a wildfire on all social media platform including that of the news agencies.

My doubts became reality, I couldn't sleep again, I started thinking do I leave Ifẹ and head to Ọ̀yọ́ to pay my last respect or head to Osogbo where I've been billed for an assignment for the day?. Reluctantly I left for Osogbo while I awaits update about the burial rites and all that, and I started making mental calculations on how to summon one of my colleague to stand in for me in Osogbo but I decide against that and continued my assignment since I was unable to get any update about the rite.

While I was contemplating leaving for Ọ̀yọ́, I saw the news and picture of Islamic Clerics paying on the body of Bàbá, which sealed my decision not to embark on the journey to Ọ̀yọ́ again, but I was disturbed, I couldn't really focus on my assignment for the day, I couldn't give the assignment my 100%.

Eventually, I put a call through to Ààrę Awóníran IfámúyĬwá and he promised to call back to intimate me how the whole thing will proceed, then I decided to go see my sister Ajoke Olobi as promised days before the sad news of Bàbá's demise. Finally the call came through from Àare, he said are you on your way? I answered no, that I was waiting for his confirmation and he said the rites of passage will hold that I should start coming.

I started contemplating again if I should go because of Mobility coupled with the fact that isede (curfew) has been declared for that night in Ọ̀yọ́. My sisters Adelere Ayelabola Ojediwura Apeke & Ajoke Olobi gave me the needed encouragement to go on time.

I finally left Osogbo around 5:30pm with another passenger, his little daughter & the driver, the driver was moving as fast as he could so that we can get to Ọ̀yọ́ before the commencement of the curfew.

The journey to Ọ̀yọ́ seems to take forever, I was thinking of getting to Ọ̀yọ́ on time, I was thinking about the last conversation that I had with Iya Mi Arewa Omo'ba that I wish to take photograph with Bàbá and she promised to facilitate that whenever I come to Ọ̀yọ́, but that will never happen coz Iku tí wọlé Ikú.

My mind drifts again to Aláàfin's speech at the last African Drum Festival held in Abeokuta in 2019, where he urged whoever that emerge as the Governor to continue with that beautiful tradition that was gradually becoming a World event.

I was lost in thought again as the picture that was circulated earlier on the internet kept coming, I was asking myself that silent question if this is actually the end of core Yoruba tradition, why the unnecessary aggression to the Yorùbá long existing traditions.

With all the aforementioned, I brought out my camera from the bag where I sat beside the driver, I decided to just create something in honor of the departing Icon Atanda Oro Ọmọ Atiba, Alówólódù bìí ìyere Ọmọ Ibironkẹ.

The entire breeze in Dẹhurẹ via Ifẹ Ọdan hits hard on my face as I struggled to create the memorable image of the sunset that was in my view from the moving vehicle as I journeyed to Ọ̀yọ́ Aláàfin to pay my last respect & experience the traditional rite of passage.

I joined Ààrẹ and host of Babaláwo at Alliance Owode immediately I arrived safely in Ọ̀yọ́ around 7:30pm. Activities were shutdown, and I watched as everyone hurried to get home or to their various destinations before the curfew hour began.

The convoy left Alliance straight to Olúáwo Aláàfin's compound where the procession starts from and head straight to the Palace, Oritamẹta was referenced as the procession continued to the Palace where other agba agba Awo were waiting, including the Sango devotees, the Ogboni, Egungun and other High ranking Ọ̀YỌ́ traditional chiefs including Paola the Cultural Ambassador of Iku Baba Yeye.

Akande Onifá Awóníran Awótúndé Abíódún with other Babaláwo rendered iyẹrẹ Ifá at the Palace while the elders were busy doing all necessary rites accordingly in the Palace before the procession to Baara the final resting abode of Aláàfin where the body of his ancestors also dwells.

The historical procession was a long silent, yet the echo of ohun aro traveled through the darkness of the night across the ancient Ọ̀yọ́ town.

The scared Ilu KÓSÓ (KÓSÓ Drum) graced the night, a powerful drum that is not like any other drum, a drum with it's own unique message that no one can dance to at that moment lead the Royal Body to the final resting place. Se itọsẹ lo ni ilu Ọ̀yọ́, àwọn agba iṣoro tọ bí wọ́n ti ń tọ, Bàbá wọ ka ilẹ̀ lọ, Ó tún di bí ẹni ba n jọ ẹni.

The body was committed to the mother earth as custom demand without any HUMAN SACRIFICE the Sango initiates put him to rest, Ṣe Sango kúkú ni Aláàfin, bẹẹni Aláàfin náà ni Sango. He was committed to the Earth among his ancestors and no human being was buried with his body dead or alive.

It gladdens my heart to read the announcement of Oyotunji Village in North Carolina faraway USA closing their gates in honor of Aláàfin & Brazil as well also declared three good days in honor of the Memory Alaafin Oba Adeyemi III Lámídì Ọláyíwọlá Àtàndá.

Your exit gave me an opportunity to tour the homes of few high traditional chiefs in Ọ̀yọ́ in company of Aare Awóníran IfámúyĬwá as we embarked on a journey of telling the truth and clarification of people's misconceptions about the traditional rites of passage for the King, duly endorsed by Iṣẹṣe Assembly.

From Olóyè Ikúsàánú Ifálẹ́yẹ (Olúáwo Aláàfin Ọ̀yọ́'s house, to the house of Olóyè Ifáníyì Ọmọ́yẹni Àyìnlà ( Ajítẹnà Awo Aláàfin Ọ̀yọ́), to the house of Olóyè Oyètúnjí Oyèdèmí ( MỌNGBÀ ALAAFIN Ọ̀YỌ́) at Koso, and the home of Olóyè Ifaniyi Ọna Ilémọlẹ̀ ( Ọ̀nà Ilémọlẹ̀ Ìlú Ọ̀yọ́ ), one of the chiefs whose part of his primary assignment is to oversee the burial rites of Aláàfin.

Bàbá Onalémọlẹ̀ said the departure of Aláàfin Adéyẹmí III happened to be the third his privileged to experience and he clearly stated how the rites has always been done, saying emphatically that from the 1st to this last burial of Aláàfin that no HUMAN was buried or sacrificed as part of the rite and finally to the Office of the cultural Ambassador to Iku Bàbá Yèyé at the Palace where she gave her account all in beautiful memory of Ọláyíwọlá ìgò.

Lóòótọ́ ni Ẹni soju ó da bí ẹni ṣe ẹyin, Ṣùgbọ́n Bashorun, àwọn Ọ̀yọ́mesi gbogbo àwọn àgbààgbà awo n'ilu Ọ̀yọ́ ṣe ojú wọn tún ṣe ẹyin, wọn ṣe gbogbo oro bí wọn tí ń ṣe. Ẹẹta, aarun & oro Ìjè were duly observed as the custom and the tradition demand.

Ko si àní àní lóòótọ́ Ọ̀yọ́ lo ni Ọba, Bẹẹni ajisebi Ọ̀yọ́ làá rí, Ọ̀yọ́ kí ṣe bí Baba ẹnìkan kan.

The traditional (Isese) community at large diligently played their part from the day the news broke, to ẹẹta (3rd day rite) to oro ije the 7th day rite of passage held at Baara in company of Bàbá's children led by Arewa Omo'ba on the 29th of April.

The rite was done accordingly without spillage of any human blood, While Princess Adedoja led the eulogy as Arewa Omo'ba Folashade, Olubunmi Olabiyi and Òṣùmàrè served as her backup, they all referenced Aláàfin Ikú Bàbá Yèyé. Wọn pe Bàbá bí wọn tí ń pe Bàbá just like Princess said "Ẹ jọ ẹ jẹ ki n pe Bàbá Mí bí mo ṣe máa ń pe" (let me call my father how I used to call him).

The procession from Baara to the Palace was smooth, before the commencement of other activities at Palace as part of the oro where the traditionalists did their rite accordingly. Sango devotees displayed in honor of Aláàfin, Olúáwo Aláàfin and some other elders did the final rite by dancing round ILU ÁRÀN seven times in honor of Aláàfin Lámídì Ọláyíwọlá Àtàndá Adéyẹmí III.

Lecture (Ọrọ Itaniji) was delivered as part of the day's program by Babaláwo Oluawo Awogbile Agbojulefa Awolowo ( Oluawo Ilu Ìka). He laid emphasis on the importance of the traditionalists in the town and implore all involved to select the next King based on merit and counsel of indigenous divination system. Bàbá further stated that it is the traditionalists that still holds true and core Yorùbá values.

He warned that the society especially the Ọbas in Yoruba land should embrace the traditional religion as the traditionalists are the only one that still reference, honor and accord the Kings thier due respect in a core Yorùbá way with emphasis on how ifa was used to established various Yorùbá towns.

Aláàfin Lámídì Ọláyíwọlá Àtàndá Adéyẹmí III it is painful that you left with the entire knowledge & pure Yorùbá wisdom in you, more painful for me that I couldn't have that one on one photo ops with you.

But it is an honor to share the procession with the elders as the entire Yoruba race and the world at large bids you farewell, You will dearly be missed by everyone that respect the culture, the tradition and of course the language, we will miss your stories as one of the finest orator that graced this world, you will be missed for those bata steps and your boxing sparing skills.

Goodnight the biggest custodian of Yorùbá Culture & Tradition and the longest reigned Aláàfin ever.

My sincere condolences to Arewa Omo'ba

Olubunmi Olabiyi Don Kuliminatti Princess Adetoun, Princess Adedọja, the entire royal family and Ọ̀yọ́ Aláàfin at large.

Ẹ ku asẹyinde ó! Baba o ku, Baba pa'ipo da ni.

Iku Bàbá Yèyé Ọba Aláàfin Lámídì Ọláyíwọlá Àtàndá Adéyẹmí III (Oct 17, 1938 - April 23, 2022)

Year of Reign (18/11/70 - 23/4/22)

Adegoke Adedotun M/ @myblackfestivals

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