Ahead of the forthcoming International Congress for Ifa and Orisa Spirituality (ICIOS), the President of International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR), Oluwo (Dr) Solagbade Popoola has underscored the need to lay more emphasis on spirituality than religion. Religion,
Unveiling the logo for the global event billed to hold in Ekiti, Oluwo disclosed that the organization was not just a new initiative borne out of mere frivolity; but an organization whose birth was necessitated by several compelling needs .
Accorfing to him , through spirituality, it is possible to preach the similarities in faith and understanding and downplay differences with all other spiritual bodies all over the world. This lessens undue rivalry and promotes mutual co-existence and love.
“International Congress for Ifa and Orisa Spirituality (ICIOS) is not a new platform. It was registered in October, 2017 with the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism, Arts and Culture. However, the Founding Fathers agreed to hibernate it while pre-empting the possibility for its full activation as an intervention against any future conflict that might arise as a result of divergence of thoughts and ideology.” Oluwo clarified.
Oluwo Popoola said, with the above, it would be possible to build a global family where everyone is happy, hopeful and compassionate with the other. This goal, he explained, was the sixth reason that justifies the existence of the global platform being currently unveiled.He hinted that that the World Ifa/Orisa Pilgrimage and Festival would now be organized under the banner of the new platform, International Congress for Ifa/Orisa Spirituality.
One of such reasons, according to him, was the need to lay more emphasis on spirituality than religion. Religion, he explained, is the story of all the prophets of old. Spirituality, he said, “is what each individual or group derives from the lifestyles of these leaders”.He described Religion as a specific set of organised beliefs and practices, usually shared by a community or group, while ‘Spirituality’, on the other hand, is more of an individual practice and has to do with having a sense of peace and purpose. It also relates to the process of developing beliefs around the meaning of life and connection with others.
Also ,another reason is to avoid conflict, distractions and confrontation with any other group. He said, judging by the fact that the International Council for Ifa Religion is an organization that embodies people with diverse thoughts, aspirations and opinions on what should be the organizational focus and target, the imminence of conflict could not be ruled out. It therefore became necessary to have another global platform that will accommodate people with shared spiritual aspirations and focus.
Oluwo Popoola also revealed that the third reason was to avoid distraction and enhance focus towards meeting and achieving set targets and goals.
The fourth reason, he revealed, was “to lay the foundation for a true IFA/Orisa Pilgrimage where people from all walks of life will converge in designated sacred places in Yoruba land to venerate the Supreme Being”. He said Ifa does not approve of deceit hence it became necessary that truth and openness must be pursued, observed and sustained diligently.
Dr. Popoola therefore took time to interprete the logo in details so ‘that the general public can fully comprehend it’.
The round circle represents the world. The inner circle represents “Opon-ifa”, the consultation slate. In between the opon-ifa there is the all-seeing eye of “Esu” .
After that we have the sun at the right-hand side of the logo. The sun represents “Eji-Ogbe”which also represents light. The sun-ray could also be seen radiating through-out the world, representing knowledge, intelligence and energy. On the right hand side, we have 8 “ikin”, (the divination palm seeds) representing ifa. On the left hand side we have 8 cowries representing Orisa. Below, on the right hand side we have (iroke) representing the Staff of Office of both Babalawo and Olorisa. Below on the left hand side is “Irukere” (horse tail) which is for both Babalawo and Olorisa. This is to show that the organization is for both Ifa and Orisa devotees.
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