Where to post and discuss every issue relating to native doctor and complimentary medication is not on Nairaland, why? If we were Chinese there would be a section for Acupuncture.  Mr webmaster we need a section where native doctors can share ideas and help the nation. If all native doctors in Nigeria were to help Nigeria we would no longer have any problem.
Haba you did not put it in the Health section or the religion section why? What is going on here, are we not Africans. Please lets all make webmaster to give us a subsection so we can talk and share tricks of the trade. I come from a long line of family of native doctors and I would like to continue the tradition but information is hard to come by.  Please I don't want any contributions from black witches etc. If you're black witch start your own topic. Thanks for your contribution.

Even Brazil now have more native doctors than Nigeria. Sad that we forget where we come from.

LAW OF DEMAND AND SUPPLY OPERATES EVEN ON NAIRALAND.

Go and find more of your babalawo type, adertise yourselves and your business, maybe there are waiting market and customers for you guys.

But I can advise you that you may succeed as a FAKE 'PASTOR OR IMAM' than being a babalawo even though people patronise them. They are no more trendy

You black witch please go to your people.
Am not hawking trade here. Am looking advice thats all.

I propose that Nairaland's Native Doctor Forum should be subdivided into child forums where like-minded practitioners of Good Juju, Bad Juju, Self-Defence Juju, Teleportation Juju, De-Materialization Juju, Money Making Juju, Bullet Proof Juju, Car Accident Prevention Juju, Seduction Juju, Calamity Avoidance Juju and Future Prediction Juju can meet to discuss recent developments and try out curses on one another via the uber-Juju modality of the Internet.

Soothsayers like the gentleman in the photograph above have used flat-screen future-ometers for DECADES before flat screens ever began to see widespread use in the West, Africa bashers take note .

I have said it b/4, Africans were brainwahsed by the European for us to think our Religion, culture, believes are inferior to theirs. When are we going to be free of mental slavery?

European  -  Christianity

Arabs       -   Islam

Hindus -     Indian

Buddist  -   Asian

Africa  -     ??




The Yorùbá religion comprises religious beliefs and practices of the Yoruba people of old before the Yoruba community encountered Islam, Christianity and other faiths. It originated from Africa (chiefly in Nigeria and Benin Republic), and in the New World, where it has influenced or given birth to several Afro-American religions such as Lucumí in Cuba and Umbanda and Candomblé in Brazil in addition to the transplantation of the homeland religions. Though specific numbers are unknown, it is possibly the largest African-born religion in the world. Though claims are made for an ultimately Egyptian/African origin to Judaism, Judaism was finalized as the religion of the Hebrew people of the Levant. Christianity and Islam also have long histories in Africa, but neither of those can claim to be African in origin in their present state like the undoubtedly African religion of the Yoruba. While much of Africa has increasingly adopted foreign religions, many indigenous faiths remain. The lack of proselytizing or establishing written "rule books" prevents these religions from spreading as much as Islam or Christianity. Regardless, they survive, both in Africa and the Western Hemisphere.

Yoruba religious beliefs are part of itan — the complex of songs, histories, stories and other cultural concepts which make up the Yorùbá religion and society.

Contents [hide]
1 Yorùbá, In Brief
2 Deities and other entities
2.1 Olódùmarè
2.2 Irunmole
2.3 Egun
2.4 Other concepts
3 Àjòdún / Festivals
4 Reincarnation
5 Twins in Yoruba society
6 Yoruba religion in the New World
7 See also
8 Notes
9 Other references
10 External links



[edit] Yorùbá, In Brief
It is in Yorùbá philosophy the indication that all humans have Ayanmo (manifest destiny) to become one in spirit with Olódùmarè (Olòrún, the divine creator and source of all energy). Each person in Ayé (the physical realm) uses thought or action energies to impact the community of all other living things including the Earth, and so to move towards destiny. As such, one's destiny is in one's hands. To attain transcendence and destiny in Òrún-Réré (spiritual realm of those who do good and beneficial things), one's Orí-Inu (spiritual consciousness in the physical realm) must be elevated to unify with one's Iponri (Orí Òrún). Those who stop improving are destined for Òrún-Apadi (spiritual realm of the forsaken). Life and death are cycles of habitation in physical body and spiritual realms while one's spirit evolves toward transcendence. This evolution is most advanced in Irùnmolẹ (oní irun, of the unique hair that distinguishes humans from beasts; imo, enlightened of destiny, ilẹ on the land)

For most people, iwapẹlẹ (well-balanced), meditation and sincere veneration sufficiently strengthen one's Orí-Inu. Being well-balanced, it is beleived, that you are in prime position to make positive use of the simplest form of connection between eniyan and Olu-Òrún in the form of adúra (petition;prayer) for divine support.

Some feel it also binding to make a petition or prayer to one's Orí Òrún as it is said to yield quick and descisive pockets of joy. Ẹlégbara (Eṣu, the divine messenger) who, without distortion or partiality for good or for bad, negotiates communication to Òrún and navigates them to Ayé; deliverer of àṣẹ. It is thought that Ifá is called upon whilst in times of major decision making; whatever the 'offering'; the line of advice is commonly used to draw conclusions that would not have been first thought. Call Orunmila,Ifa; or try vice-versa; it is said that all communication with Òrún is energized by invoking àṣẹ.


In the Yoruba Theogany, Olódùmarè has àṣẹ over all.


[edit] Deities and other entities
Yòrùbá Orishas, literally, owners of heads, are the means to get into contact with the supernatural. The term is often translated as deities[1].


[edit] Olódùmarè
Olódùmarè is the most important entity. Olódùmarè is so important, that there can be no gender assigned, for Olódùmarè is seen mostly as a spirit. Olódùmarèis therefore more correctly referred to as an IT. IT is the owner of all heads, for during human creation, Olodumare gave the emi, or breath of life to humans. To the Yorubas, Olódùmarè is Supreme. If there was a conflict among the other Orishas IT would take over and the fight would end.


[edit] Irunmole
The irunmole were spirits sent by Olodumare to complete various tasks, often between Orun (the invisible realm) and Aiye (the physical realm). Some were acknowledged as Orisha for their accomplishments. The orishas help to create and maintain order on earth. (see Orisha article)

"Everything wrote are okay but Orisa is different from Irunmole. Human beings can become Orisa if they performed extra ordinary tasks in the world before they are gone to heaven. Examples are Jesus, Mohammed, Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa etc. But Irunmole are numbered, they are not more than 401. The number cannot increase. They are the ones Olodumare (Supreme Being) gave the rights to care for the earth before the human beings came to the world. And they also thought us how to live life as we are living today. We are worshiping God through them. We are not worshipping Orisas, they are human beings like us. In Yoruba belief, human being cannot be worshiped but they can be honored. We are honoring Orisas and our Ancestors. The number of Orisas would continue to be increasing as the world is existing. There is no English word for Irunmole, better to leave it as Irunmole, the servants of Olodumare, God, the Supreme being. - by Prince (Babalawo)Adigun Olosun MA MA PGDJ PGCR. (www.yorubareligion.org)


[edit] Egun
The egun are ancestral spirits who made transition, but are still placated to assist and guide one throughout life. (see Egungun article)





[edit] Other concepts
Ifá dafa as well as merindinlogun or (cowrie shell divination) are important element of Yòrùbá religious practices.

Eledua is Olodumare the Pantheon of the - Yoruba theogany: In this,Olodumare is the supreme being;creator of night and day; the final recepient of all creation
'Emere' as well as 'akuda' is another manifestation of the yoruba belief in reincarnation is the belief in the emere.


[edit] Àjòdún / Festivals
This schedule, as determined by the Yoruba calendar, is illustrative for 10050 year (2008 A.D.) Note the actual dates may vary.

Ṣèrè / January

Erele / February
Olokún = Oríṣà of Okún, the deep seas or oceans, patron of sailors, and guardian of souls lost at sea Erele/Feb 21-25

Èrèna / March
Annual rites of passage for men Èrèna/March 12 – 28

Oduduwa (odudu, the dark pigment; ni ewa, is the beauty) / Iyaagbe (iya, mother; agbe, who receives) = Oríṣà of Earth and matron of the Ayé. Oduduwa endows the ebony dark skin pigment that accords greatest gifts of spirituality, beauty and intellect to the bearer. The essence of procreative love. Èrèna/March 15 – 19

Oshosi = Oríṣà of Adventure and the hunt Èrèna/March 21 – 24:

Igbe / April
Ogun = Oríṣà of the metal and war crafts, and engineering. The custodian of truth and executioner of justice, as such patron of the legal and counselling professions who must swear to uphold truth while biting on a piece of metal. Igbe

Oshun = Oríṣà of Fertility and custodian of the female essence. who guides pregnancies to term. Igbe starts last Saturday of April, for 5 days-

Onset of wet season (Spring)

Ebibi / May
Egungun (Commemoration of the Ancestors, including community founders and illustrious dead. Èbíbí: starts last Saturday of May, for 7 days

Okudu / June
Yoruba New Year Okudu 03: Onset of the Yoruba New Year (2008 is the 10,050th year of Yoruba culture)

Shopona (Oríṣà of Disease, shopona, small pox is a virual disease) and Osanyin (Oríṣà of Medicine and patron of the healing professions: osan, afternoon; yin, healing) Okudu 7 - 8

Annual rites of passage for women Okudu 10 - 23

Yemoja = matriarch of the Òrún-Rere). Oduduwa gave birth to a boy Aganju (Land) and Yemoja (Water) from marriage to Ọbàtala. Yemoja in turn birthed many other Oríṣà. The old Ile-Ife kingdom arose on her burial site. Okudu 18 - 21

Agẹmo / July
Ọrúnmilà / Ifá = Oríṣà of Divination and founder of the Ifá sciences, whose divination is with 16 palm nuts. Mass gathering of the yoruba Agẹmo: first and second weeks in July

Oko (Agriculture) Harvesting of the new Yam crop.

Ẹlégba-Bara (Ẹlégba, one who has power to seize) / Eṣu (shu, to release eject from; ara, the body) = Oríṣà of male essence and Power, who is the great Communicator and messenger of the will of Olódùmarè. No woman should bara (ba ra, to rub with, have intercourse with) a man who has not done Ikola (circumcision: ike, cutting; ola, that saves) in sacrifice to Ẹlégba. Agẹmo second weekend of July

Ṣàngo (shan, to strike:/ Jakuta:ja, fight; pẹlu okuta, with stones. The Oríṣà of Energy – Ara (Thunder) and Manamana, make fire (Lightening) whose divination is with 16 cowries and whose messenger and water-bearer is Oshumare (the Rainbow). Agẹmo: third week of July

Ogun / August
Ọbàtálá = (Obà,to possess; ti ala, of visions or Oríṣà-nla, the principal Oríṣà). Patriarch of Òrún-Rere, the heaven of goodly spirits and beneficial ancestors. As Olódùmarè is too powerful and busy to be pre-occupied by the affairs of any one living being. Ọbàtálá functions as the principal emissary of Olódùmarè on Aye, and is the custodian of Yoruba culture. The aso-ala (white cloth) worn by Ọbàtálá initiates is to signify need to be pure in intent and action: A recurring punishment for social misfits was to try to keep white cloth clean in Africa's tropical and dusty climate. The misappropriation of aso-ala connection to Ọbàtálá was/is a major weapon against the Yoruba in their psychological resistance of foreign invasion, as Christian and Islamic converts were/are indoctrinated that anything considered 'white' is pure: a notion that has also become a key tenet of racialist supremacy Ogun: last weekend of August

Òwéré / September

Ọwaro / October
Oya (Oríṣà of the odo Oya (river Niger) whose messenger is Afefe (the Wind), and guardian of gateway between the physical realm (Aye) and the spiritual realm (Òrún). Ọwaro

Oṣun (Oríṣà of the odo Oṣun and patron of the (sovereign) Ijebu nation Ọwaro third weekend of October

Onset of the dry season (Autumn)

Shigidi (Oríṣà of Òrún-Apadi, the realm of the unsettled spirits and the ghosts of the dead that have left Aye and are forsaken of Òrún-Rere. Custodian of nightmares and patron of assassins. Solemn candlelight to guide the unsettled away from your residence, else they settle in your dolls or other toys. Ọwaro 30 World Slavery Day?

Bèlu / November

Òpé / December
Obajulaiye (Oríṣà of Ṣòwò (Commerce) and owo (wealth). Òpé 15

Onset of the second dry season (winter solstice)


[edit]

walata44:

I have said it b/4, Africans were brainwahsed by the European for us to think our Religion, culture, believes are inferior to theirs. When are we going to be free of mental slavery?

European  -  Christianity

Arabs       -   Islam

Hindus -     Indian

Buddist  -   Asian

Africa  -     ??

My brother this is why we are backward, we too folow folow. Anything that is African science they try and bring it down. I don't like to do bad by cussing the people, for instance the above post by Jakumo is bringing African science down.
I refuse to curse people because it is not my nature to see people suffer.

DD Brown,keep it coming,if it is of interest to anybody,they will respond.

African Traditional Religion is not in anyway different from christianity or islam,infact ATR is more realistic and practical than all the bogus foreign religions that were impose on us.

I am in support of this. I come from a clan of Ogun worshipper. The whole Jesus and Mohammed thing is over rated to be honest.



Oogun lakaye, osunmole. Olomi n'le fi eji we. O la sho nle fi mukumu bora.

Why don't u use the term "Alternative Medicine" i think that should be a more appropriate term,except u mean vodoo,ouija boards,seances and okija shrine like activities,then i hav my misgivings.

Now u come.

cold:

Why don't u use the term "Alternative Medicine" i think that should be a more appropriate term,except u mean vodoo,ouija boards,seances and okija shrine like activities,then i hav my misgivings.

Say what? Alternative medicine is something totally different. It is a complimentary to Medicine. [Medical sciences]

African traditional practices is beyond voodoo,it is more complex and harmonious system.

Hahahaha jazz people don enter NL, Blood of jesus

ElRazur:

Say what? Alternative medicine is something totally different. It is a complimentary to Medicine. [Medical sciences]

that's xactly wat i meant.I hav misgivings about diz so called african religions.It's always abt how to eliminate evrythin and everyone around them,stinks of evil-bite me.

olabukola:

Hahahaha jazz people don enter NL, Blood of jesus

Bleep you and Bleep blood of Jesus. You didn't have to come in here to post.

Do you see how easy it is to whip up controversy? What makes you believe in what you believe? Gosh. Please leave like-minded people to get along. Go to the Christian section and go and pray or something.

cold:

that's xactly wat i meant.I hav misgivings about diz so called african religions.It's always abt how to eliminate evrythin and everyone around them,stinks of evil-bite me.

But you cannot call it that is what am trying to say. African religion may have elements of alternative and traditional medicine to them, but there are not exclusively "Alternative medicine". They are beliefs system, Spirituality etc that one have to consider.

Sometimes we forget that all big pharmacetical companies are out there in african bush exploiting the herbs and plants,and the same herbs and plants the african native doctors use but because it's african as always ,it is regarded as primitive and unworthy,

Chinese medicine market is a multi-billion dollar industry and it purely native

ElRazur:

Bleep you and Bleep blood of Jesus. You didn't have to come in here to post.

Do you see how easy it is to whip up controversy? What makes you believe in what you believe? Gosh. Please leave like-minded people to get along. Go to the Christian section and go and pray or something.

If you want to practice ATR why not come back home, or are u going to get shrine in Lewisham/Catford? U are in UK advocating for ATP.
Hypocritics

Bite me and say more of you Bleep word. As if babalawo know what Bleep u is.

that's xactly wat i meant.I hav misgivings about diz so called african religions.It's always abt how to eliminate evrythin and everyone around them,stinks of evil-bite me.

Talking about elimination, Church was involved in slavery of Africans, who is eliminating who? Islam was imposed on who be Muslim tru sword.

Checkout this Yoruba names:

Fashola  
Ogunmola
Awoniyi
Oshuntokun
sangodeyi etc

All these names are all names after yoruba gods.

olabukola:

If you want to practice ATR why not come back home, or are u going to get shrine in Lewisham/Catford? U are in UK advocating for ATP.
Hypocritics

Bite me and say more of you Bleep word. As if babalawo know what Bleep u is.

You are a person.

I do not have to come home to practice what I believe in. That is why it is called a[b] belief system[/b] you fool.


There are plenty of Babalawo around the world - Haiti, Brazil to name a few - only that they do not advertise themselves like your Redeem Church or one of these new age churches. For the record, B Real [House of Pain] is a babalawo. Not that you will know anyway.

I never cease to amaze me when blackman prefers the jewish jesus to his own identity and heritage,at this time and age when we suppose to know the truth.

redsun:

Sometimes we forget that all big pharmacetical companies are out there in african bush exploiting the herbs and plants,and the same herbs ad plants the african native doctors use but because it african as always ,it is regarded as primitive and unworthy,

Chinese medicine market is a multi-billion dollar industry and it purely native

I'm sure u just read el razur's post b4 u posted.This is not abt african herbs but african religions.My reservations with ATR is y are they so barbaric and repugnant.y arent we thinkin of usin diz religion to further ourselves,rather we're retrogressing.what exactly is wrong wit the black man

redsun:

I never cease to amaze me when blackman prefers the jewish jesus to his own identity and heritage,at this time and age when we suppose to know the truth.

That's because people are afraid to challenge what they believe in.

Take this for example, I am yet to see a single Muslim explain to me convincingly as to why their so called Prophet Mohammed [ who is suppose to represent perfection] can marry an 8 year old and then have sex with her at 9. Is this the kind of religion I will wanna follow? I don't think so.

I have asked this question in the Muslim section and guess what? It get locked all the time. Speak of close minded people.

I never cease to amaze me when blackman prefers the jewish jesus to his own identity and heritage,at this time and age when we suppose to know the truth.

Tru talk.

ElRazur:

You are a person.
I do not have to come home to practice what I believe in. That is why it is called a[b] belief system[/b] you fool.
There are plenty of Babalawo around the world - Haiti, Brazil to name a few - only that they do not advertise themselves like your Redeem Church or one of these new age churches. For the record, B Real [House of Pain] is a babalawo. Not that you will know anyway.

Babalawo in Haiti and brazil are from their country or do u want to export Babalawo to England? Elrazur importer and exporter ltd. Keep it up dude. Hope u register your company in company's house. Nice biz. No let BNP catch u with chicken feather.

cold:

I'm sure u just read el razur's post b4 u posted.This is not abt african herbs but african religions[b].My reservations with ATR is y are they so barbaric and repugnant[/b].y arent we thinkin of usin diz religion to further ourselves,rather we're retrogressing.what exactly is wrong wit the black man

The history of the major religions in the world - Christianity and Islam all have element of barbarism associated with them. What Traditional religion needs is a rework and modernization.  Instead of a virgin girl, why not a white goat, chicken or something? If that is too much for some to bear, how about an offering to the poor?

All these things are minor stuff in my opinion that can be easily rectified.

It is mind blowing,the more u look,the less u see,magic.

olabukola:

Babalawo in Haiti and brazil are from their country or do u want to export Babalawo to England? Elrazur importer and exporter ltd. Keep it up dude. Hope u register your company in company's house. Nice biz. No let BNP catch u with chicken feather.

It shows how much you know. Those people are actually from Africa. Outside africa, the biggest collection of black people is in Brazil. What do you know?

There are people from Congo doing their voodoo and what not here. It is well known. For the record, most religion here are registered as charity unit and not a company. You mug. Registering a religion as a company is just telling the world you are after profits.

Let me ask you something. What church do you go to? Or what are your beliefs?

I have no problem with African Traditional Religion. From my observation the practitioners are very tolerant, probably one of the most tolerant religious group. I think most of us have spent so much time running away from or denigrating the ATR that we have not been able to grasp even the minutest speck of the concept. Our lack of understanding is clearly evident in our eagerness to tie ATR solely to the distorted concept of human sacrifice.

ElRazur:


It shows how much you know. Those people are actually from Africa. Outside africa, the biggest collection of black people is in Brazil. What do you know?
There are people from Congo doing their voodoo and what not here. It is well known. For the record, most religion here are registered as charity unit and not a company. You mug. Registering a religion as a company is just telling the world you are after profits.
Let me ask you something. What church do you go to? Or what are your beliefs?

Even congo Voodoo men are charity unit as well They are actually from africa but which country? My friend check the topic it say native doctor which is a profession and not a religion. Why not add babalawo before your name(Babalawo Elrazur).