Interrogating the Influence of <i>Babalawo-Ifa</i> Priest’s Lifestyle on <i>Omo Awo</i>-Neophytes as Found in <i>Irete-Okanran</i> in <i>Ifa</i> Divination and the Lessons for the Contemporary Society

Abstract

Leadership, the ability to lead by good example, is universal and it cuts across every aspect of human life, be it political, social, economic and religious. Leadership quality must be displayed by the people at the top so that their followers/disciples will not be led astray. However, not all leaders are leading by good examples, the effects of which are felt by the led at the receiving end and the society at large because the disciples or the followers tend to emulate some of the characters of their leaders. Therefore, it is imperative for a leader to demonstrate quality examples for the followers to imitate as demonstrated by Ọ̀rúnmìlà in Ìrẹ́tẹ̀-Ọ̀kànràn and other similar tenets of Ifá divination system. This is found in the lifestyle of the Babaláwo-Ifá priests that followed the teachings/lifestyle of Ọ̀rúnmìlà, the custodian of Ifá and by extension their neophytes, particularly, in the aspect of greed. Greed is evidently displayed in leadership especially in contemporary third world nations. Conversely, how has the lifestyle of Babaláwo been able to curtail this among their followers and of what benefits to the contemporary generation? The study proffered answers to the questions from the data generated from fifteen Babaláwo-Ifá priests and twenty Ọmọ Awo-trainees/ neophytes and their views content analysed. The study was able to discover that Ifá priesthood is a service to humanity (not a money-making venture) and discipline against greed is their watchword for them to achieve this. If the contemporary generation could imbibe this culture, it is going to be the best antidote against many social vices particularly the get-rich quick syndrome that is rampant among the youths nowadays that is responsible for their early death.