I want to thank Baba Solagbade Popoola for starting this conversation. He is very clear that he believes that Ese Odu speak against Tolerance. With the horrors being expressed by governments and mobs, imprisoning and killing people who have hurt nobody, this topic DOES need to be discussed.
Ifa is a living tradition. There are old Ese Odu which guide both Slaves and Slave Owners in how to be effective in their lives within a living institution of African Slavery. There are Ese Odu which speak of Social Dynamics which do not exist anymore. There are even Ese Odu which speak of how Men took over Egun Dance from Women with claims that women abused their power.
The responsibility of Awo to write Ese Odu is the technology which separates the living tradition of Ifa from dead traditions like Christianity and Islam. We have both a personal and cultural responsibility to our ancestors and grandchildren to learn, grow and change. That requires being willing to look at what we learned, and decide that it is not longer acceptable. Decide that because we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, we can do better.
The institution of Slavery dishonors the humanity of both the Slave and Slave Owner. It took us over 200 years, but the majority of the world has collectively realized this fact and has ended the practice. Ifa has adjusted. New Ese Odu are being told with stories about how to live in the modern world and this is NECESSARY.
How can communities deal with corporate invaders stealing their resources?
This deserves Ese Odu.
How can Egbes deal with Ifa after the British outlawed Indiginous Ogboni which has now been replaced with reformed Ogboni?
This deserves Ese Odu.
How can communities maintain healthy Egbe Ifa and Egbe Orisha when young people are attracted to Western Culture and study that rather than the lessons of their forefathers?
This deserves Ese Odu.
What is the responsibility Awo have to find medicines for corruption in political leadership?
This deserves Ese Odu
How can a community watch nature to learn that homosexuality exists in the natural world?
This deserves Ese Odu
How can a community see and hear science's evidence there is a genetic and hormonal component to homosexuality?
This deserves Ese Odu
Being able to support an opinion with Ese Odu does not make the opinion fact. It is the responsibility of Awo everywhere to listen to spirit while reciting Ese Odu so that we may uplift ourselves and our community.
I am going to write a story we learned in America on the topic of Homosexuality in the structure of Ese Odu:
Distrust a right hand waving to keep your attention
Because the left hand is stealing your money
Cast divination for homophobic culture
when homophobic culture was facing
organized theft of their homes and money
The thieves had just stolen from the people
and the people were calling for justice.
Homophobic Culture was told to make sacrifice
to find justice and have their wealth returned
but the thieves started passing laws against homosexuality
Homophobic Culture focused on these laws
and failed to make sacrifice.
The thieves used this time to hide what they stole.
Homophobic Culture realized it got distracted
and would never receive justice.
Homophobic Culture belatedly praised their Babalawos
Their Babalawos were Praising Ifa
It was exactly as the Babalawos had predicted
Distrust a right hand waving to keep your attention
Because the left hand is stealing your money
Cast divination for homophobic culture
when homophobic culture was facing
organized theft of their homes and money
I choose to accept people who are different from me
Focusing on hate never bring healing
I choose to accept faiths who are different from mine
Focusing on hate never bring healing
I choose to accept cultures who are different from mine
Focusing on hate never bring healing
I choose to accept positions who are different from mine
Focusing on hate never bring healing
Ase,
Awo Fagbemiro Falokun
