by Awotunde Yao Faseyin© 2001-2004
As many of the Elders of the tradition have pointed out, one of the greatest benefits and advantages of Ifa is that there is no guesswork. Olodumare has lain down a complete system, and cultural frame for us to follow. This is why it is so important that we ardently follow the advice and counsel of Ifa, and that we clothe ourselves in the traditions of our own Ancestors. We want to avoid the inevitable pitfalls that result from our creating something outside of what Olodumare planned for us by way of our Ancestors; for Oldumare has set an order for our lives so that our lives may be long and beautiful according to righteousness.
Yet, there came a time when Man made her/his own course, and attempted to create his/her own destiny that was devoid of the commitments made in the Orun (the heavens) before coming to our sacred Earth (Onile). Thus, Man created a chaos for himself by not remembering that it is those very commitments that are the true judges of his/her successes and/or failures. Thus, as we can see evident today within many of our communities, Man has created his own culture, his own religion (one example being the “blackenizing” of biblical religion), and even his own Creator! All this he/she has done with only the vaguest of hints of the wisdom of Olodumare. Therefore, throughout the world you will find only glimmers of understanding, wisdom literature, proverbs and the like. You will find spiritual traditions that show some similarities with African spiritual teachings. Yet, in most places you will find these understandings twisted for ego-gratification, the docility of the masses and power attainment. Often times they are disconnected from common sense, logic, or experience to attain these goals.
So, as with the government that we live under, we see other governments not informed by spiritual principles, religious systems unmindful of the experiential laws of the cosmos, and cultures that have forgotten how to sustain a people. Our people have rejected Olodumare and set others (people and things) in Its place. But a true understanding of Ifa and all Afrikan spirituality will show clearly why our people are in the state they are. We used to speak of the greatness of Olodumare and Its omnipotence, for we never claimed that the Orisa/Vodun are equal to Olodumare/Nyame/Mawu-Lisa. But during our enslavement by the Europeans we learned other ways that were contrary to our original ways. We were taught that we could not approach the Creator, our Essence through our Orisa, our Vodu, or our Nkisi anymore and that Olodumare now had a son that had assumed Its power and authority.
But one has to ask: How can Olodumare, the soul essence of Authority, abdicate Its throne; How can Olodumare have an heir when the Creator is deathless and eternal? Odu Ifa Ogbe Oyeku clearly states that Olodumare?s death would never be heard of!!
We were also told during our enslavement that the Creator had to sacrifice Its “son” to: (a) affirm the son’s worthiness, and (b) that the sacrifice of this “god-man” would expiate the “sins” of all human beings. The problem is that that concept is not only inconsistent with the teachings of African spirituality, but equally inconsistent with the teachings of the Old Testament itself. It is said in the Old Testament that the Hebrew God decided not to accept the sacrifice of Abraham’s son, but the New Testament goes on to say that this same god sacrificed his son. Is there not something troublesome in that?
Of course, there is the concept of ebo (sacrifice) within Afrikan spiritual practices. Though this is not a practice of all persons within Afrikan spirituality, I wish to make some central points. There are those that have another understanding of animal sacrifice in Afrikan spirituality and chose to not practice it. At the same time they respect those that do. Those that practice animal sacrifice understand that sacrificial blood has the ability to transform lives, circumstances, and even people themselves. So, in African spirituality we shed blood often as a corrective, and use the meat as food and the hides for a multiplicity of things. We always share with the Orisa. But if we look at the concept that the enslavers taught to our Ancestors as pertaining to the sacrifice of “Jesus” problems arise. This is in no way to say that the two religions share any great or significant similarities, but Ifa and the Old Testament agree that spiritual beings, whether Orisa and/or the Creator in some way enjoy the sacrifice being given. Orunmila is offered fish in Ifa, Sango loves ram, and Esu shares in goats. Are we then to say that the Creator of all actually enjoyed the sacrifice of Its supposed son; that It partakes of the sacrifice of Jesus? Now, that’s barbaric!!!
Ifa teaches that we are all children of Olodumare and that Olodumare takes no pleasure in our deaths.
Secondly, a major point is that the sacrifice of Jesus does not follow the order or methodology of an expiatory sacrifice. Every expiatory sacrifice must have at least three basic components: a sacrifice, a sacrificer, and one to whom the sacrifice is given. Let’s just say that Jesus was a sacrifice. But we cannot say that the Romans who supposedly executed him were sacrificers themselves. For one thing, they were not of the same religion as the Jews, nor were any of them a part of the priesthood that was ordained to do such sacrificing. Also there must be an intention of a sacrifice on the part of the sacrificer. The Romans clearly did not intend to offer a sacrifice to the Hebrew god.
It is quite amazing how the Christianity that Paul created avoids the sacrifice of animals and advanced the sacrifice of a man! Ifa teaches that there is no righteousness in murder for murder is a taboo to all humans as set forth by Olodumare. So, we seek to live well in Ifa. Odu Ifa Ogbe Meji tells us to do good always, do no evil ever, and harbor no evil thoughts. Ose Otura teaches us that we are blessed by the divine when we speak the truth and tell nothing but fact.