Ifáyẹmi Ọ̀ṣundàgbónu Elebuibon (born 1947) is a
Yoruba
The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...
and Nigerian writer, poet, author, linguist, and a world-famous
Ifa
IFA or Ifa may refer to:
Organisations
Economics
* Independent financial adviser, a type of financial services professional in the UK
* Index Fund Advisors
* Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, representing actuaries in the UK
* Institute of Ac ...
priest. His plays and films have received worldwide acclamation for his pursuit of the preservation of
Yoruba culture
Distinctive cultural norms prevail in Yorubaland and among the Yoruba people.Kola Abimbola, Yoruba Culture: ''A Philosophical Account'', Iroko Academic Publishers, 2005.
Art
Sculpture
The Yoruba are said to be prolific sculptors, famous for t ...
and heritage. He also serves as a traveling lecturer in several institutions including at the department of African language and literature at the
Obafemi Awolowo University
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal government-owned university that is located in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife ...
and Black Studies at the
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University (commonly referred to as San Francisco State, SF State and SFSU) is a public research university in San Francisco. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers 118 different b ...
and at the Wajumbe Cultural Institution in California.
Early life
Elebuibon was born in 1947 in Osogbo to Akínrìndé Àkàndé Ẹlẹ́búìbọn (c. 1885 – 1957) an Ifa priest and hunter, and Ṣíjuwọyá Abeje Ẹlẹ́búìbọn (née Awóníyì). Elebuibon comes from a long line of hunters, priests, herbalists, and warriors. His father was claimed to be a descendant of the legendary warrior Olutimehin, one of the founders of the city of Osogbo. His mother was born into a family of priests who worshipped Oya and Ifa. The title "Araba" is given to the chief Ifa priest of Osogbo, and this title was held by his maternal grandfather, Kẹ̀hìndé Adéyẹmi Awóníyì, the longest serving Araba of Osogbo.
His maternal grandmother was Oyawenu Awoniyi. The names of Elebuibon and his parents are clear in describing the origins and traditions of the family. Elebuibon's mother's name, Sijuwoya means "Open your eyes to see/worship Oya," showing her parents worshipped Oya. "Elebuibon" originates from a nickname of his father's meaning "Owner of many guns," showing that he was a hunter. Elebuibon's mother's maiden name Awoniyi means "The Oracle is valuable," the oracle referring to the Ifa.
Elebuibon's father was a polygamist who had 6 wives, and Elebuibon's mother was the youngest wife. His father had many children, but at the time many of them had died in infancy. This phenomenon is known in the Yoruba culture as
abiku
Abiku is a Yoruba word that can be translated as "predestined to death". It is from (abi) "that which was born" and (iku) "death".
Definition
Abiku refers to the spirits of children who die before reaching puberty; a child who dies before twelve ...
. Elebuibon's father and Elebuibon's maternal grandfather (Awoniyi) were close Ifa contemporaries and it was revealed that to solve this problem, Elebuibon's father would have to marry a female child of the Araba chieftaincy family. This girl was Elebuibon's mother. However, when he married Sijuwoya, she still had the Abiku problem, and had 2 children who died in infancy. To figure out a problem with this, he consulted the Ifa and it was determined that she would have to use water and give offerings to the goddess Osun (in the river Osun). Soon later, she had her only surviving child, Elebuibon. The circumstances of his birth can be seen in the names Elebuibon was given. His first name Ifayemi means Ifa befits me
and his other name Osundagbonu refers to the goddess Osun, who they believed gave them Elebuibon.
Career
Elebuibon began training as an Ifa priest by his father in 1951 when he was 4 years old.
He continued this rigorous training in the traditional arts until his father died when he was only 10 in 1957. He was then put under the guidance of Chief Faniyi Ajani (the Agbongbon-Awo of Osogbo), another well trained Ifa priest who most likely was a contemporary of Elebuibon's father and grandfather. After training for another 10 years, he became an official
Babalawo
Babaaláwo or Babalawo in West Africa (Babalao in Caribbean and South American Spanish and Babalaô in Brazilian Portuguese) literally means 'father of the mysteries' in the Yoruba language. It is a spiritual title that denotes a high priest o ...
in 1967. He did not attend formal schooling but self-educated himself. He then became an actor for
Duro Ladipo
Durodola Durosomo Duroorike Timothy Adisa Ladipo (December 18, 1926 – March 11, 1978), more commonly known as Duro Ladipo, was one of the best known and critically acclaimed Yoruba people, Yoruba dramatists who emerged from postcolonial Africa. ...
's famous plays including
Ọba kò so
''Ọba kò so'' (''The King Did Not Hang'') is a play by Duro Ladipo depicting the mystical and ambivalent personality known as Shango of Yoruba mythology.
Historical and Cultural Significance
Duro Ladipo's revolutionary play, Oba Kò So, was ...
.
He then became associated with the
National Black Theatre
The National Black Theatre is a non-profit cultural and educational corporation, and community-based theatre company located on 5th Avenue in Harlem, New York.
History
The National Black Theatre (NBT) is a non-profit cultural and educational co ...
, in which he currently serves a cultural advisor. He then began to publish several books and papers in both Yoruba and English. He also wrote many traditional Yoruba plays based on Yoruba figures (known as èwí in Yoruba). His traditions morality drama ''“IFA OLOKUN ASORODAYO”'' (a popular phrase praising
Ifa
IFA or Ifa may refer to:
Organisations
Economics
* Independent financial adviser, a type of financial services professional in the UK
* Index Fund Advisors
* Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, representing actuaries in the UK
* Institute of Ac ...
and
Orunmila culled from Odu-Ifa was presented as a series on Nigeria national television network.
In an effort to conserve Yoruba history and culture that he felt was being lost to Western influences, he established several cultural institutions in Nigeria, including Ancient Philosophy International in Osogbo, a centre dedicated to teaching African Traditional Religion and Performing Arts. He was appointed the Vice Chairman of Board of Traditional Medicine, Osun State, and he is presently the President of International Congress of Orisa Tradition and culture, Nigeria Chapter. Through his efforts, the
Osun-Osogbo Grove was named a UNESCO World heritage site and in 2005, UNESCO declared in its third proclamation of World Masterpieces that the
Ifa Divination System in Nigeria was one of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity to be preserved and protected. He continues to go on lecture tours in addition to practicing his traditional religion.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elebuibon, Yemi
1947 births
Living people
Babalawos
Yoruba-language writers
Yoruba dramatists and playwrights
Yoruba linguists
Nigerian expatriate academics in the United States
San Francisco State University faculty
Academic staff of Obafemi Awolowo University
Yoruba academics
People from Osogbo
Linguists of Yoruba
English-language writers from Nigeria