OAU scholars hail Elebuibon as a treasure trove of Yoruba cultural heritage

Renowned scholars from Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, in Ile-Ife, Osun State, have praised Ifayemi Elebuibon, a distinguished Ifa priest, as a treasure trove of Yoruba tradition, at a maiden annual lecture held in his honor by the university's Institute of Cultural Studies.

n

The event, which took place at the Oduduwa hall on Tuesday, featured a lecture titled "Osundagbonu Ifayemi Elebuibon: The Man, The Myth and the Messenger of Ife", delivered by Professor Adebisi Ademakinwa, who highlighted the Araba of Osogbo's pivotal role in preserving Yoruba cultural heritage.

n

According to Professor Ademakinwa, Ifayemi Elebuibon's knowledge of Yoruba tradition is instrumental in safeguarding the people's culture, and his work in this regard is revolutionary, making him a pillar against the erosion of Yoruba history and culture by Western influences.

n

Through various cultural organizations, such as Ancient Philosophy International in Osogbo, established by Chief Elebuibon, the Ifa priest is advancing learning and culture, fostering a connection with Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

n

Professor Ademakinwa noted that Chief Elebuibon's relationship with the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, where he served as a Visiting Scholar, and the Institute of Cultural Studies, as a resource person, is laying a solid foundation for the preservation of Yoruba cultural beliefs, cultures, and traditions.

n

The Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, proudly celebrates Chief Ifáyẹmi Ọ̀súndàgbonù Elebuibon as a colossus and an outstanding light on the path of promoting an indigenous knowledge system, according to Professor Ademakinwa.

n

Earlier, the Director of the Institute, Professor Olusegun Oladosu, described Elebuibon's temple as a university without walls, where diaspora researchers visit for academic purposes, and praised Baba for representing many positive aspects of Yoruba culture.

n

Professor Oladosu highlighted that Chief Elebuibon is a scholar-practitioner who bridges the ancient and the modern, and has shown that indigenous knowledge is not antithetical to scholarship, but rather a form of scholarship itself, as evident in his work from Obafemi Awolowo University to San Francisco State University.

n

Chief Elebuibon has written plays and films for television, with every line rooted in the verses of Ifa, and has also worked to preserve the worthy legacies of the ancestors, such as when Osun Osogbo faced encroachment and neglect, and he contributed to its declaration as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

n

Additionally, when Ifa was dismissed as superstition, Baba carried its verses to international conferences, proving that it is philosophy, science, and ethics, and has trained students, promoted Ifa studies, and initiated a new generation of Yoruba epistemic devotees, earning him recognition as a teacher.

n

The Ogbeyonu Temple in Osogbo, established by Chief Elebuibon, is a university without walls, where researchers from Nigeria, Europe, and the Americas come to learn from the well of Yoruba wisdom, according to Professor Oladosu.