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Attend Ifa Festival 2009 |
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Welcome to the African Shrine; home of the authentic Ifa religion and the roots of African Percussion.
ABOUT THE IFA PRIEST Chief Adebolu Fatunmise, affectionately called Chief Bolu, was born and
reared in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, the cradle of Yoruba civilization and the
birthplace of the Yoruba religion. The Yoruba religion -- called by various
names including Ifa Orisha, Lukumi, Santeria, and Condomble -- is now
openly practiced internationally by spiritual people of all races and
in such diverse nations as Nigeria, Benin, Germany, England, Cuba, Argentina,
Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, the United States, and Brazil. The Yoruba
religion has claimed its birthright and joined other major religions as
an institution that can solve the social ills of today's world. Chief Bolu was born to a Babalawo, traditional healer, and to spread the word of Ifa Orisha through music and education. Upon his death, Chief Bolu's grandfather - the Araba, Chief Agbongbon Fatunmise - willed the Kekere Awo (young Babalawo-in-training) a handwritten manuscript of hundreds of Ifa verses with their accompanying invocations; African herbs and roots; and spiritual solutions to heal all manner of physical, mental and societal ills. When his agemates were playing or tilling the farms, the young Bolu was carrying the Ifa bag for his father and sitting at the feet of the Elder Babalawos in his family. Chief Bolu is the senior offspring of the late Princess Jolaade (who hails from the Lafogido ruling house in Ile-Ife) and Baba Olaifa (the Omo Amosun of Ife). His late uncle Falaju Fatunmise was the Obakin of Ife. Out of his father's 65 children with 30 wives, 40 of them are Ifa Priests. As the eighth generation of Babalawos in his family, Chief Bolu stands on the shoulders of great men and women whose legacy he must uphold. Likewise, he must fulfill his great destiny and leave an indelible spiritual mark on the world. Out of the sixteen most senior Awo in the world, two of them come from Gidiogbo's Compound, where Chief Bolu was born. As noted by the renown scholar, William Bascom in his masterpiece, Ifa Divination; Page 93: "There are two notable houses in Ife where Araba, the spiritual head of all Babalawo came from, Araba Oketase and Araba Gidiogbo." Because of his outstanding job in promoting the traditional Yoruba culture and religion, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, bestowed a chieftaincy title on Chief Bolu as Gbawoniyi of Ife, also known as Gbawoniyi Agbaye (of the universe). The Gbawoniyi Agbaye serves on the Council of Chiefs who advise the Ooni on matters related to preservation of the Yoruba civilization. Chief Bolu also carries the title of Sekinda Awo (Pelenfa) of Ile Ife which is number 3 to the Araba of the sixteen most senior Babalawos. Chief Bolu has had two other titles bestowed upon him--The Baapitan of Iragbiji and The Bobaselu of Osogbo Land. His contributions to promoting Yoruba culture in the U.S., South America and elsewhere include initiating and training men and women into Ifa and various Orisha ceremonies; performing marriage and naming ceremonies; conducting Ifa divination and providing in-depth counseling; and performing healing workshops. Among his illustrious spiritual children, Chief Bolu counts Awo Falokun Fatunmbi, author of Iwapele; Luitash Teish author of Jambalaya: Carnival of the Spirit; Osuntokun and Nia Osunbunmi, Dr. L. Groatte Fasuyi; educators, Dr. Wayne Falonipe and Professor Awoyemi Fatunmise; entrepreneur, Carl Fabukola; and Osunniyi, Fawole, Fasina, Jomo Obafemi, Sango Obafemi, Fakayode, Mariam, Olaji, Efunade (Falade), and Baba Fagunwa were his god children as practicing Babalawo. Chief Bolu has initiated over a hundred god children. He performs initiations in both Nigeria and the U.S. as well as other parts of the world. Chief Bolu also owns Roots International Hotel in Ile Ife for those who wish to visit the motherland. Iba A Se O! |
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