An interview with Sweet OMITONADE IFAWEMIMO: I Was Initiated Into Ifa Religion At Age 5”

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•22 Yr Old YEMOJA Priestess, IFAWEMIMO Explains 

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+How She Combines This With Her Studies \

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Nothing about her portrays her deep involvement in African Traditional Religion. In fact with her gentle mien, and unassuming disposition, she easily cuts the picture of a beautiful babe, next-door, and ‘Omo Mummy’ (Mummy’s Pet), to use the popular Yoruba cliche. But in reality, Ifawemimo Omitonade Egbelade is a thoroughbred Ifa Priestess cum Yemoja Priestess. This 22-year-old lady was initiated as an Ifa devotee/adherent, at age 5. “I was born into an Ifa religion worshipping family.

I got initiated into Ifa religion at age 5. At a young age I started getting conversant with the referred ‘Opele’ (stringed cowries) and ‘Opon Ifa’ (sacred tray for divination). Subsequently, I took more interest in worshipping Yemoja and I grew up to become a Yemoja Priestess. I have been consulting for people for long. I offer sacrifices on their behalf as well as several other sacred and spiritual things”.
Ifawemimo is a 300 level student of Economics at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Osun State.
Inspite of her deep involvement in Ifa, and Yemoja worshipping, she copes well in school and never allows her traditional religious practices to take her focus off studies. Just as Christian and Muslim students on the campus go to churches/fellowships and Mosques for prayers, and meetings Ifawemimo fellowships with fellow traditional religious devotees at a popular shrine at Oke Itase, adjacent the Ooni of Ife’s place, in the University town of Ile-Ife.

She revealed that her choice of Yemoja out of all the gods and goddesses was borne out of a personal informed judgement. “If anyone chooses to be a devotee of Yemoja, she must learn a lot of things before becoming Iyalorisa (Priestess). Basically, to become an Iyalorisa, it takes a lot of deep knowledge, especially about sacrifices learning about Yemoja is a continuous process.
Is there any difference between a Yemoja Priestess and an Ifa Priestess? “Yes, there is a world of difference. My father is an Ifa Priest and also a Yemoja Priest. I chose Yemoja as my Orisa (god). Though I am very conversant with the 256 Ifa Corpus, but I chose Yemoja to be my deity.
Ifa is the voice of Olodumare (the supreme being) and it is like the Holy Bible, Quran, it has 256 Corpus (Chapters) with many verses, Yemoja is an Orisa (deity) that is worshipped.

With her obvious deep knowledge of the deities e.t.c., Ifawemimo is always bombarded with questions, consultations from several people, who regularly want her to tell them what Olodumare has to say about their problems or future. Her words “I have to be careful so that my divinating for people will not tell on my academics. I am doing my bit and I am thankful to Olodumare”.
When asked of an insight into the Yemoja deity the dark complexioned, slim-built lady said, “Yemoja is among the deities our forefathers worshipped before Christianity and Islam were introduced to them. Yemoja nurtured 3 Orisas: Dada, Sango and Obaluaye”.

Yemoja is known to take care of babies and passed the tradition of baby sitting onto the Yoruba people, all other deities respect Yemoja. Yemoja is called ‘Arugbo Odo Aya Obinrin Okere’ (the eldest woman of the sea). Yemoja is also referred to as Yemoja Otete Ari Eyin Pon Sango (the caring deity who bore and nurtured Sango). Yemoja was Sango’s mother and Sango was her dearest son”.
So what is the difference between Yemoja and Osun? The soft-spoken young lady who wears traditional beads typical of traditional religion priests said, “Yemoja is Sea goddess while Osun is River goddess. They are both deities. Findings have shown that Yemoja was Osun’s mother-in-law.
Sango married Osun while Yemoja was Sango’s mother. To be able to deliver spiritual messages one needs to be pious and live a holy life. Ifatomide said, “only Olodumare knows those that are his true worshippers. Not all traditional worshippers or Church or Mosque goers are good Christians or good Muslims”.

Has Ifatomide ever been wooed by guys for romantic relationship? “Yes, several guys come to me but once they discover I am a traditional worshipper they back-off”. Is Ifawemimo in any romantic relationship now? “I am not in any relationship. I am totally dedicated to my spiritual activities and academics”. The Yemoja cum Ifa Priestess possess spiritual powers. Has she ever been provoked, or had cause to using such powers? “I don’t fight anyone, I live at peace with everyone. If I claim to be powerful, there is someone more powerful than all human beings. What if Eledumare does not allow me to succeed in using such powers? Ifatomide was born to Chief Olukunmi Omikemi Egbelade, the Aare Isese of Oyo State and his wife, who is a practising Christian. The family hails from Ibadan, Oyo State.

As you read this, a world Yemoja Festival is scheduled for October. According to Ifawemimo’s brother, Ewatomi Egbelade, the festival will include activities such as sacrifices, dance and cultural display. Not only will Yemoja worshippers benefit from the festival, Ifawemimo, her elder brother and dad will also reach out to motherless babies’ home, give aids to the needy, visit prison yards and do community services. There will also be lectures by popular traditional worshippers to shed more light on Yemoja. The 17-day event is excepted to be attended by Yemoja worshippers from all parts of the world.