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Ifa Advisor
 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
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