Ìrántí (Tributes)

Bàbáláwo Ayọ̀ Sàlámì Ifálóore 

(Chief Sokinloju Awo of Ìlóbú)

Friday, 24th October, 2014.

On behalf of the entire members of “Èjìòdí Home of Tradition”, I commiserate with the entire family of Ayọ̀ Sàlámì Ifálóore (Chief Sokinloju Awo of Ìlóbú), who slept yesterday, Thursday, 23rd October, 2014. May Olódùmarè give you the heart to bear the loss. Ayọ̀, rest in peace with the Òrìṣà. Bye till we meet at the feet of the Òrìṣà. Ó dìgbà!

 

"Ogberi onigbagbo ma fiku yo wa

A ki i  waye alailo

A ri Onigbagbo to n re Soosi

Ti iku n pa won

Let the Christians mock us not for untimely death

Nobody will escape death

We have seen Christians going to the Church

And got caught by death

Ogberi onimale ma fiku yo wa

A ki i waye alailo

Aimoye eniyan to n ti Meka bo

Ti won bo sowo Iku

Let the Muslims deride us not for untimely death

We shall all return to Heaven

Many people when coming from the Holy land of Mecca

Are being killed by death

Ota e ma fiku yo wa

Ko seni tiku o le pa

Egbeji to jewe jegbo

Iku lo pa won

Let the adversaries jubilate not over the death

Nobody will escape death

Even, the most powerful medicine men who ate all leaves and herbs

Were all conquered by death

Ayo o so poun o se mo

Iku lo yowo re ninu awo

Ifaloore ti fowo ide lele

Ayo did not wish to stop doing things

it was the death who stopped him

Ifaloore has laid down his hand adorned with beads

Ko gbowo

Owo la ba fun un

Ojise Orun ko gbowo

He did not take ransome

We would have given him ransom

The God Emissary did not accept ransome."

 

In fact, no amount of wail can help. We shall all return to the ancestors one day. Ayọ̀, rest in peace with the Òrìṣà. Bye till we meet at the feet of the Òrìṣà. Ó dìgbà!

 

Ọdúnọlá Àríkẹ́ (Ìyánlá mi)

Sunday, 2nd November, 2008.

My grandmother, Ọdúnọlá Àríkẹ́ passed on today.

 

“Odunola Arike.

Mogun Ire.

Omo Abulesowo.

Omo ahuko gbinrin bi erin fon.

Omo agunfe giri bi ojo ku nire...”

 

May your soul rest in peace.

 

Àgbà Awo Ifáyẹmí Awópéjú Bógunḿbẹ̀

(Ọbaìwà Ifá of Ọ̀yọ́ State)

Monday, 9th June, 2008.

Àgbà Awo Ifáyẹmí Awópéjú Bógunḿbẹ̀, the founder of Ògúndáméjì Temple, Ìbàdàn, died yesterday, Monday, 9th, June, 2008. Burrial Arrangement will be anounced later.

 

“The useful tree does not last in the bush.

The useful palmtree does not last in the forest.

Awópéjú has gone to become chief priest of another land.

He did not accept ransome.

It is ransome we would have given him.

The Heavenly Messenger does not accept ransome.

Both you sellers and presenters of pigeons.

Both you sellers and presenters of fowls.

Awópéjú has gone to become chief priest of another land.

From a far distance, we hear the voice of great bird.

We call Ogogo, the king among its people.

Fáyẹmí the great priest does not answer.

From a far distance, we hear the voice of great bird.

Parrot! A wise bird!

Parrot! A knowledgeable bird!

A knowledgeable priest has gone.

Ifá priest, an active soul.

Awópéjú Bógunḿbẹ̀ has gone home.”

 

He was a pillar that holds the Ifá/Òrìṣà tradition; he was one of the backbones of the International Council for Ifá Religion. He was the Ọbaìwà Ifá of Ọ̀yọ́ State, Nigeria. Bàbá was the Founder of the Ìjọ Ọ̀rúnmìlà Atorise, Àgbalá Ifá (Ògúndá-méjì Temple), Àpàtà, Ìbàdàn. He rose, before his death on Monday, 9th June, 2008, to the position of Onto (7th position to the Àràbà) Awo of Ìbàdànland.

His death is a great loss in Ifá/Òrìṣà community.

Ifáyẹmí Awópéjú Bógunḿbẹ̀ does not die.

It is to home he has gone.

The dead who leaves great legacy behind!

Who said that Ifáyẹmí Awópéjú Bógunḿbẹ̀ has died?

Fáyẹmí Oyèníyì Awópéjú, child of Fáṣínà, grandchild of Bógunḿbẹ̀, you came, you saw, you conquered. May your soul rest in perfect peace.

Kí Awo rere je ni more. Àṣẹ.