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Chief B. Adeyela Adelekan [1936-2008] was born in Ife in 1936. His maternal grandfather was the late Araba of Ife, who reigned from 1910 to 1934. (The Araba is the head of all babalawos worldwide.) Chief Adelekan's father, Chief Laadin, was descended from the Ooni Ilare Quarters, one of the three royal households in Ile-Ife (the ancestral home of the Yoruba). Chief Laadin was fifth in rank to the Ooni.

Chief Adelekan began his training as a Babalawo in 1944 under Oluwo Akoda Akanni the son of the Araba. He also underwent a Western education, unlike many of his predecessors, in order to prepare him for his work as an instructor in Yoruba traditional philosophy outside of Yorubaland. It is on record that Chief Adelekan was born with a green leaf wrapped around a sixth finger on his left hand, which was a sign that he was the reincarnation of his grandfather, Araba Akanni. The sixth finger subsequently disappeared.

Chief Adelekan holds four titles: firstly, Amulewaye (he who seizes earth upon entering the world), a title which was conferred by the Council of elders in Ife, the Ogboni; secondly, the title of Alatunse Awo in which capacity Chief Adelekan acts as a moderator of all Babalawos worldwide - this is an office conferred by the present Araba and the Council of Babalawos in Ife; thirdly, the title of Orisa Tunwase (the Emissary of Obatala) bestowed by the elders of the Obatala temple headed by Chief Obalesu; lastly the title of Olumesin Oduduwa (the Promoter of the Religion) - this title was conferred by the Council of the Oduduwa Temple headed by Chief Obadio. Chief Adelekan is also the Europe Vice President of the World Congress of Orisa Tradition & Culture, and the Europe & Americas Vice President of the International Council for Ifa Religion.

Chief Adelekan is a sixteenth-generation Babalawo, who has travelled widely outside of Ife for the purpose of instruction and healing, and is celebrated for his knowledge of roots and herbs and his tireless work in healing and in promoting understanding Yoruba religion. He is the founder and patron of Egbe Isese Esin Yoruba (The Root of Yoruba Religion, Science, and Cosmology) a society based in London which is a focus for the practice of Yoruba tradition.

[Profile] Alufa A.S. Umar Sharif, MA


  A Service of Ile Awo Orisa since 2001 Last Revised February 18, 2019