The Osun State Government has announced a comprehensive plan for the state’s secondary school students to study Ifa as one of their subjects.

The state Governor, Ogbeni Raufu Aregbesola, said the schools’ computer tablet had application for Ifa studies.

Aregbesola made the relevation yesterday during the special prayers session to usher in the New Year, organized with clerics from all religions praying for the peace and growth of the state.

Clerics who offered special prayers for the state included the President General, League of Imams and Alfas in the South-West, Alhaji Mustapha Ajisafe; the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye; and frontline Ifa priest, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, among others.

The special prayer affected official functions in the state secretariat and other government offices, as top civil servants across all parastatal agencies graced the occasion held in the premises of the Bola Ige House, state secretariat, Abere, Osogbo.

Bishop of Osogbo Diocese of the Methodist Church, Bishop John Bamigboye, advised the government to compensate those whose property were demolished as a result of the ongoing road dualization in the state.

Bamigboye enjoined the government to return Christian and Islamic Religious Studies to all primary and secondary schools in the state.

Governor Aregbesola, in his remarks at the ceremony, declared that 2013 would be a year of total freedom for the state, stressing that the year would be for the people of the state a year of total turn-around and liberty.

According to the governor, the government’s major desire for the state in 2013 is to ensure the fulfillment of the desires of the state’s founding fathers, stressing: “Osun State will be freed in 2013 from hunger, mystery, poverty and under-development.”

He said his government has paid over N600 million as compensation to owners of demolished structures, even as he assured that those who were yet to receive their compensation would get theirs soon.

Aregbesola also disclosed that his government had returned religious studies to all public primary and secondary schools in the state, adding that the free computer tablet tagged ‘opon Imon’, which the government would present to secondary school students had an application for Ifa studies.

He also prayed for peace and development of the state in 2013 and urged all the people to support his government and the country with prayers, saying: “Nigeria needs prayers for an end to come to the security problem confronting the northern part of the country.”

Aregbesola added that his desire for the year was to make the state the envy of other states in the country, saying he had come to the state to do the works of God.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/osun-students-to-study-ifa-aregbesola/

Gosh

the free computer tablet tagged ‘opon Imon’, which the government would present to secondary school students had an application for Ifa studies

If one doesn't have the patience to read the whole article, one would ßξ mislead by the title....

How does having an APP on a PC translates to studying the subject??

Did he say IFA studies would be a part of the school curriculum??

Nice article all the same. Worthy of note also is the fact that all religious interest groups in the state are united...

I see nothing wrong in studying Ifa, It's one of UNESCOs heritage culture. This is highly commendable.
Note: This is not an advertisement


The Ifa Heritage Institute, Nigeria is the only Higher
Education institution in the world that specializes in
the study of all aspects of Yoruba indigenous culture.
In November 2005, UNESCO (United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
proclaimed Ifá as one of the 86 traditions of the world
to be regarded as Masterpieces of the Oral and
Intangible Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO then
enjoined all nations and peoples of the world to give
their unflinching support to these traditions so that
they would not perish.

The Ifa Heritage Institute is a post-secondary
institution in Oyo Town, Oyo State, Nigeria, sponsored
in part by UNESCO and endorsed by the Federal
Government of Nigeria. The objective of the Institute
is the preservation and propagation of Ifá as an
indigenous African body of knowledge within the
settings of a modern and contemporary educational
system.

In the past three years, the Ifa Heritage Institute has
developed programs on Ifa and other aspects of
Yoruba culture, and taught those programs
successfully to three sets of students, two sets of
which have already graduated.

The Institute is grateful to the Japanese Government
for their donation which has enabled us to acquire a
VSAT, video satellite capability. We are hoping to be
able, during the coming academic year, to develop
online programs which will facilitate participation of
interested students from around the world. This will
not preclude international students from coming
physically to Oyo to enroll in our diploma program,
but will be an additional way interested persons can
participate in the program.

FACULTIES of the IFA HERITAGE INSTITUTE are as
follows:

1.Department of Ifá Studies The vastness of the
knowledge contained within the Ifa divination system
is almost unfathomable. In this department, students
will be taught the rudiments of Ifá divination, focusing
especially on chanting and interpretation of Ifá
stories. We would like to preserve the orality of Ifá;
therefore the primary focus of the Faculty of Ifa
Studies is the oral memorization of Ifá literary verses
and the interpretation of the same. There are 256
Odù of Ifá. Each Odù contains 800 stories, yielding a
total of 204,800 stories that deal with different
aspects of Yoruba mythology, history, medicine,
philosophy and other ideas. Each Odù can be
regarded as an oral or unwritten "book" of this
comprehensive compendium of knowledge. Students
will learn verses from each of the 256 Odu, their
meanings and practical application.

2.Department of Languages The languages to be
taught in this department are Yoruba, English,
Spanish, Portuguese and French. This department will
focus on both the oral and written forms of the
Yoruba language so that students who complete the
program would be able to speak the Yoruba language
very well and also be very literate in the subject. The
English language will also not be neglected. The need
to include Portuguese and Spanish is because these
are the two languages which the teeming millions of
Yoruba people in the Diaspora speak, especially in
Cuba and Brazil. Of course, we all know that our
brothers and sisters in Benin and Togo Republic speak
French in addition to the Yoruba language. English
and Yoruba will be compulsory, and each student
should pick one of the remaining three languages.

3.Department of Medicine All the herbs in the
Yoruba floral and fauna are believed to have been
named and categorized by Ifá and his younger
brother Osanyin since very ancient times. In the
Department of Medicine, we will devote our attention
to the study of our indigenous medical practices,
therapeutics and pharmacopia. Time will be devoted
to the identification of medicinal leaves, roots, and
barks of trees, the preparation and administration of
different forms of medicines, and how to diagnose
and treat illnesses in the indigenous African way. The
Ààreèsègùn, chief Medicine Man elected by the entire
community of indigenous healers, will play the lead
role in this department.

4.Department of Performing Arts In the department
of Performing Arts we will teach the music and dance
associated with Ifá in West Africa and in the African
Diaspora, such as bata music, dùndún music, and
music made from iron gongs called agogo, which is
the most favorite dance step of Babalawos and
Iyanifas. Theoretical instruction will be complemented
by real live performances and instruction delivered by
local experts in the respective arts.

5.Department of Indigenous Technology In this
department, we will focus on the mechanisms,
machinery, tools and materials required for the
production of beadworks, metal works/blacksmithing,
calabash-carving, preparation of indigo dye-stuffs,
and other indigenous textile products. Computer
technology and design will also be an important part
of the curricula.

For more information on the Ifa Heritage Institute
please visit
www.ifaheritage.org
or Professor Wande Abimbola's website.
http://www.wandeabimbola.com/ifa-heritage-institute-oyo-nigeria/

Is studying Ifa like studying Dodonbiri and Amadioha in Hausa and Igbo settings?

Odunnu: Is studying Ifa like studying Dodonbiri and Amadioha in Hausa and Igbo settings?

They are the same one shilling and one pence!

Odunnu: Is studying Ifa like studying Dodonbiri and Amadioha in Hausa and Igbo settings?

Ifá is based on two binary orders as in the binomial
theory of mathematics: the binary order of opposition
and the binary order of complimentarity very much
the same kind of binary order from which the
computer is originated.

There are two hundred and fifty-six Odu or books of
Ifá. Each Odu or book is supposed to contain eight
hundred stories yielding a total of 256 multiplied by
800 which equals 204 800 stories.

Each of these
stories(histories) contains the experiences of the people of
West Africa(Yoruba) throughout the whole range of their
history and mythology. In other words even though
most of the ancient people were not literate
they developed the ability to preserve the salient
aspects of their culture and history.

What is even
more they developed a rigorous system for the study
codification transmission and dissemination of this
vast body of literature and knowledge.

I like the idea. Like it or not Ifa is still very much part of Yoruba culture (out in the open or behind closed doors.) Yorubas are the most tolerant people in the World when it comes to religion. You will never see Yorubas arguing in the middle of the street about religion.

I am a Christian and one of the things I hope to learn before I die is the ifa system of divination. Yoruba history is hidden in its interpretation. Some odu revealed ancient Yoruba people and kingdom, ife before the deluge and after the deluge, Yoruba people before arrival of Oduduwa and his sons, ancient people and their ways of life. I am glad aregbesola took this step. Our culture needs to be preserved and passed on to generations after us.

I think I'm starting to like that Ifa of a thing

Not to worship though

Ifa studies. I Wonder what the scheme of work would be like.

Clerics who offered special prayers for the state included the President General, League of Imams and Alfas in the South-West, Alhaji Mustapha Ajisafe; the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye; and frontline Ifa priest, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, among others.

My Lord and my God
So ifa (i suppose idol worship/juju ) is a bona fide third religion in Osun state?
Wonders shall never cease
I hope parents can choose to exempt their children from that and there should be no penalty in doing so
The true Christian (and Muslim) parents ought to be able to choose if they want their wards in ifa studies the same way I and other parents signed to exempt our children from gay social studies discussion.
It should be an elective
You have a right to teach juju,my children should have a right not to be included.

Thanks so much Baba Kabiru...
The logo is already on osun state flag...

Hmmmm this people and juju, now i know why hausa muslim dont regard them as true muslims.

E clearrr!

I had suggested this a few weeks back on a thread about Ife/Benin relationship.

I know some ifa like:.EJI OGBE...
OYEKU MEJI...
IWORI MEJI...
ODU MEJI....
OKANRAN MEJI...
IROSUN MEJI...
OWONRIN MEJI...
OGUNDA MEJI...
OSA MEJI...
IRETE MEJI...

Arysexy: Hmmmm this people and juju, now i know why hausa muslim dont regard them as true muslims.

So you mean say, hausa know dey do juju?

youngies: The Osun State Government has announced a comprehensive plan for the state’s secondary school students to study Ifa as one of their subjects.

The state Governor, Ogbeni Raufu Aregbesola, said the schools’ computer tablet had application for Ifa studies.

Aregbesola made the relevation yesterday during the special prayers session to usher in the New Year, organized with clerics from all religions praying for the peace and growth of the state.

Clerics who offered special prayers for the state included the President General, League of Imams and Alfas in the South-West, Alhaji Mustapha Ajisafe; the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye; and frontline Ifa priest, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, among others.

The special prayer affected official functions in the state secretariat and other government offices, as top civil servants across all parastatal agencies graced the occasion held in the premises of the Bola Ige House, state secretariat, Abere, Osogbo.

Bishop of Osogbo Diocese of the Methodist Church, Bishop John Bamigboye, advised the government to compensate those whose property were demolished as a result of the ongoing road dualization in the state.

Bamigboye enjoined the government to return Christian and Islamic Religious Studies to all primary and secondary schools in the state.

Governor Aregbesola, in his remarks at the ceremony, declared that 2013 would be a year of total freedom for the state, stressing that the year would be for the people of the state a year of total turn-around and liberty.

According to the governor, the government’s major desire for the state in 2013 is to ensure the fulfillment of the desires of the state’s founding fathers, stressing: “Osun State will be freed in 2013 from hunger, mystery, poverty and under-development.”

He said his government has paid over N600 million as compensation to owners of demolished structures, even as he assured that those who were yet to receive their compensation would get theirs soon.

Aregbesola also disclosed that his government had returned religious studies to all public primary and secondary schools in the state, adding that the free computer tablet tagged ‘opon Imon’, which the government would present to secondary school students had an application for Ifa studies.

He also prayed for peace and development of the state in 2013 and urged all the people to support his government and the country with prayers, saying: “Nigeria needs prayers for an end to come to the security problem confronting the northern part of the country.”

Aregbesola added that his desire for the year was to make the state the envy of other states in the country, saying he had come to the state to do the works of God.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/osun-students-to-study-ifa-aregbesola/

@ bold:

This Governor must be a clown.

saxywale: I am a Christian and one of the things I hope to learn before I die is the ifa system of divination. Yoruba history is hidden in its interpretation. Some odu revealed ancient Yoruba people and kingdom, ife before the deluge and after the deluge, Yoruba people before arrival of Oduduwa and his sons, ancient people and their ways of life. I am glad aregbesola took this step. Our culture needs to be preserved and passed on to generations after us.

There is nothing like Ifa, enough of all the foreign religions in Yorubaland. We are likely in a period called Oshe - Meji in Yoruba history where they rediscover their history.

Abeg Ifa and JuJu na d same tin?

Ifa programming or Ifa science

saxywale: I am a Christian and one of the things I hope to learn before I die is the ifa system of divination. Yoruba history is hidden in its interpretation. Some odu revealed ancient Yoruba people and kingdom, ife before the deluge and after the deluge, Yoruba people before arrival of Oduduwa and his sons, ancient people and their ways of life. I am glad aregbesola took this step. Our culture needs to be preserved and passed on to generations after us.

It would be more productive if a project to draw comparisons with stories in the Bible and koran can be done.

saxywale:

Ifá is based on two binary orders as in the binomial
theory of mathematics: the binary order of opposition
and the binary order of complimentarity very much
the same kind of binary order from which the
computer is originated.

There are two hundred and fifty-six Odu or books of
Ifá. Each Odu or book is supposed to contain eight
hundred stories yielding a total of 256 multiplied by
800 which equals 204 800 stories.

Each of these
stories(histories) contains the experiences of the people of
West Africa(Yoruba) throughout the whole range of their
history and mythology. In other words even though
most of the ancient people were not literate
they developed the ability to preserve the salient
aspects of their culture and history.

What is even
more they developed a rigorous system for the study
codification transmission and dissemination of this
vast body of literature and knowledge.

One funny thing about Ifa is, he spoke about Jesus and God before Oyinbosa brought xtianity.

We imported islam and xtianity, let's export ifa. Brazilians are learning Ifa already.

This our governor shaaaaa...Anyway, trying to bring up the old days to civilization level.

If there's one thing i like about Aregbesola, it's the fact that he localizes his government. He tackles what is of interest to his citizens. When other governors are planning on introducing French and Chinese to school, Aregbesola is introducing Ifa to the curricular. Nice one.

anonimi:

It would be more productive if a project to draw comparisons with stories in the Bible and koran can be done.

Colonial slave. This ifa not bible or quran.

Ifa ko orunmila ni.