News Archives

October/2004

Last month students of Ifa and Orisa in Ukrainia, Moldovia and Russia held a workshop in Odessa. It was illuminating to see folks from this part of the work involved in such a serious effort to gain a better understanding of our faith. As a result of this training Awo Study Center will soon be available in Russian. It was especially meaningful for me because Odessa is a half days drive from my ancestral homeland.

Thanks to the folks who helped last month in the initiations in Georgia and New Orleans. In October I will be traveling to Columbia to meet with communities there that are interested in learning traditional Yoruba forms of Ifa and Orisa spiritual practice.
ire
Awo Falokun

September/2004

Egbe Ifa Ogunti Ode Remo did its first Ifa initiations in Mexico City in addition to four Orisa initiations. The Iyawos are engaged in serious study and making plans to assist in the next group of scheduled initiations. There is an unconfirmed rumor that my Spanish is becoming marginally comprehensible and I remain fascinated and intrigued by the history of the pyramids both inside and outside the city.

ire
Awo Falokun

August/2004

A big thank you to the elders of Mexico City who joined hands to assist me with several Orisa initiations, a dupe pupo. I would also like the thank the many initiated elders who turned out to participate in workshops. Working with serious students of Ifa and Orisa is always rewarding. The interest, the enthusiasm and good will among those who came to study makes the worship of Ifa a real joy.

ire
Awo Falokun

July2004

The Ifa Festival in Maracay was a resounding success. We were expecting 500 and were blessed with over 5,000 participants. Seeing Ifa and Orisa worshippers from Brazil, Cuba, the United States, Nigeria, Columbia and Venezuela singing and praying together was the manifestation of everything positive about our faith.

Seeing Chief Bolu Fatunmise, the chief drummer for the Oni of Ile Ife, on stage with Lazaro Ross, the premier singer from Cuba, with Djalma Correa, the elder orisa drummer of Brazil, and Orlando Poleo from Venezuela was an unforgettable inspiration.

The participation of Chief FAMA brought the issue of the role of women in Ifa to the table and the sincere dialogue between different lineages made it clear that we can put our differences aside to pray for peace abundance and good health.

The event was so successful the Government has agreed to sponsor the festival as an annual event.

A special thanks to Baba Fatalami for his unbelievable organizational skills in bringing this event together.

a dupe pupo.

ire
Awo Falokun

Mid-June/2004

Congratulations to Iya Aboyade for the inspired job she did of initiating six iyawos. A special thanks to the various Orisa families that came together to support igbodu. As a result of the networking that occured at this event there will be praise singing for the Orisa in Chicago once a month, a woman's healing circle, and classes on ancestor reverence, Orisa and Ifa. Please contact Iya Aboyade at

aboyadeomobola@prodigy.net

for more information.

My family in Caracas is sponsoring an international Ifa festival during the last weekend of this month, they anticipate 500 participants, Chief Adebolu Fatunmise and Chief FAMA will be featured speakers. The event will include Orisa music from Africa, Brazil, Trinidad, Venezuela and Mexico.

On July 27 and 28 I will be meeting with Orisa Worshipers in Odessa, Russia who have requested initiation, the details will be posted on the website soon..

August 15th I will be doing Tefa in Mexico anyone interested in receiving Ifa in Mexico City can contact me through the awostudycenter website e mail.

ire
Awo Falokun

June/2004

I would like to thank the elders who came together from Texas, Lousiana and Mississippi to meet in New Orleans and share their insights and understanding of Ifa and Orisa. As special thanks to Iya Oshunlade from Nigeria who shared some extremely informative insights into the traditional political roles of women in West Africa. New Orleans is one of the few places that openly embraces adn celebrates a rich history of African spirituality and any visit to that part of the world is always an inspiration. It was great to see elders reach across divergent lineages to actually do some hands on work together, may this example continue to inspire the rest of the country, to all those who participated I say; a dupe pupo

ire
Awo Falokun

May/2004

I am proud to announce that Iya Aboyade Omobola has completed all the initiations, and demonstrated the necessary skills to be promoted to the position of Oloriya Igbodu Orisa in Ile Iwa Pele. Congratulations to Iya for her diligent study and her steady progress over the years. She passed the last of her tests during a series of initiations in West Virginia and showed competence in all areas related to Orisa initiation and initiations associated with Egbe Obinrin. She is now the senior Chief in charge of Orisa initiations in the Ile and is responsible for coordination of the initiations into the women's mysteries. The tradition is in good and competent hands.

Ire lona Oloriya.

Awo Study Center was blessed with a message from
CHIEF ADISA TUNDE MAKORANWALE AWORENI
(Chief Priest of Ifa Temple, Oke itase, Ile Ife, , Nigeria)
giving us the details on the upcoming Ifa festival in Ile Ife. Many thanks to our elders for keeping us informed of important annual celebrations.

Aboru boye Gbogbo Awo rere.

Before the new year started the homage to Osara shrine to celebrate
with her for her festival this is to mark the relationship between her and
Orunmila.This festival is conducted in Ile Ife and it will go like this.

7/5/04 homage to osara- osara festival(agbon festival)

31/5/04 Awo olodumerindinlogun first trip to odo osara to gather ifa
leaves, for oonis ifa join by apetebis .

1/6/04 feeding of ifa oloja

2/6/04 eating the feast

5/6/04 climbing the okeitase

6/6/04 coming down from okeitase and pay homage to ooni palace

14/6/04 Olokun festival (bean cake offering)

15/6/04 second trip to Osara shrine for ifa leaves by Olodumerindinlogun
and the iyanifa,apetebi.

16/6/04. General feeding of ifa (all the olodumerindinlogunfeed their
ifa on that day)

17/6/04 eating the feast

17/6/04 all the awo elegan feed their ifa that day

18/6/04 eating the feast

20/6/04 a special day for Araba festival called ILEFIN (the ifas take
ase on that day)

20/6/04 each babalawo will hear the message their ifa have for them
personaly for the whole year by casting their ikin individually

22/6/04 The awo olodumerindinlogun feed their odu that day individually at
home.

24/6/04 bringing ifa and odu together in front the compound for
celebration, its full of dancing and drumming with singing.(not all babalawo but awo awo olodumerindinlogun.

AUGUST and SEPTEMBER. Awo idi egigun feed their ifa.

this how the festival will go in ile ife, the month june is the month
for the orunmila full of program.

may olodumare guide and protect us from all the nagativities of life and
also grant us long life to see this year peacefully and see many more.ASE.

ase iji
ase aja
ase aworo sasa to n foju ba edu
ikin dudu ikin funfun.

Ogbo Ato.
Chief Adisa Tunde Makoranwale Aworeni
(Chief Priest of Ifa Temple, Oke Itase, Ile Ife)

ire
Awo Falokun Fatunmbi

April/2004

I will be doing an two day workshop on Ancestor Reverence in the mountains of West Virginia. Anyone interested in attendance please contact:

bambouladrumesoterica@yahoo.com

for details and directions. The workshop will be on April 17th and 18th and I will do divination between the 19th and the 22nd. There are hotels in the area and plenty of camping space. It is an opportunity to practice Ifa in Nature which is as good as it gets.

Many thanks to the good people of Mexico City for their support and participation in the creation of Egungun masquerade. I also want to thank the elder mothers of Egbe Ogunti Ode Remo who traveled to Mexico City to install the mysteries of the Mothers.

A dupe pupo.

While in Mexico I was blessed to visit the pyramids in outside the city. The experience confirmed my belief in the pre Columbian presence of African elders in the Diaspora.

ire
Awo Falokun

Mid-March/2004

A big thank you to the folks in Indio for the successful initiations that took place at the end of February. The next group of initiations will be taking place in June. Please check with the Initiation button to the left periodically for updates.

Awo Falokun will be in Mexico City for a workshop on the Ifa Conept of Ancestor Reverance on March 20th and 21st. He will be available for consulations on the 22nd, 23rd and 25th or March. For further information please contact Paco or Patricia Chapa at 56390427; 19957369 or patochapa@yahoo.com

Awo Falokun estará en la Ciudad de México, para un taller acerca del concepto Reverenciando a los Ancestros el 20 y 21 de marzo del 2004, el estará disponible para consultas el 22, 23 25 de marzo. Para mayor información favor de contactar a Paco o Patricia Chapa en el 56390427 o 19957369, patochapa@yahoo.com.

We mourn the passing of the Obakilale of Ile Ife Chief Falaju Fatunmise who was a respected member of the Awoni of Ile Ife the diviners for the Oni of Ile Ife. I met Chief Falaju in Nigeria on several occassions and he was always gracious and of tremendous assistance in the effort to insue that I received proper instruction and training while in Nigeria. On my first visit to Ile Ife the Obakilale gave me to the name Fatunmbi and welcomed me into his family. His nephew Chief Adebolu Fatunmise asks that we remember his uncle well when calling on our ancestors to support our work in Ifa.

ire lona iponri atiwo orun
Awo Falokun Fatunmbi

Ela moyin Aboru, Aboye Abosise, giving honor and praise to Olodumare,
Ori, Irunmale, and Our Ancestors.

Oloye Fama and her family wish to thank all those wonderful people internationally, who have prayed, sent letters, called in support of the effort to seek justice for her son Ayobami Abayomi who was victimized by the San Bernardino Police brutally and viciously on February 19, 2004 while running an errand for his mother.

On Monday, March 15, 2004, 7:00Am, we are asking those who can attend to come out to a Vigil on the Court Room stairs support a "mother in anguish" and to protest the continued Police Brutality and intimidation that is and has been an assault on our people for far to long.

Join us and protest at Municipal Court House, 351 North Arrowhead Avenue, San
Bernardino California. Please call for those who need directions at 909.886.6023.
For those who can wear white.

Ire
Iya Fayomi Falade
Ifa Gba Wa O

March/2004

The next round of initiations will be in May please check the initiation section of Awo Study Center for more details. Anyone interested in becoming a member of the extended family of Egbe Ode Remo please contact Iya Aboyade Omobola at aboyadeomobola@prodigy.net

Thanks to everyone who has supported Awo Study Center by buying books. I am pleased and grateful for the extent of the response and I appreciate the positive feedback from those who have used the books as study material for their communtieis. To make the books easier to purchase you may now buy them by sending a cashier's check or a money order to:

Awo Study Center
80734 Desert Spur Dr
Indio, CA 92202

Please make the checks payable to David G Wilson. We are currently selling five booklets on oriki for $20 plus $2 for shipping.

Next month Awo Study Center will anounce four new titles.

I will be giving lectures in Mexico City the last two weekend of March please watch for details and contract numbers. Other workshops will be announced shortly.

ire
Awo Falokun Fatunmbi

I have known Chief FAMA and her family for many years. They are all good and blessed people who have and continue to be role models for iwa pele in our community. We need to support Chief FAMA in any way she deems appropriate.
I have some ideas for political action and will pass them on once I have met with Chief FAMA and her family for their approval.

In the mean time please remember them well in your daily prayers. For those who have agreed to do prayers on the first sunday of each month for the entire community, I am asking that we do prayers to encourage the offending parties to admit their mistake and to publically apologize.
ire
Awo Falokun

Ela Aboru,Aboye,Abosise,

On the 19th of February 2004, Oloye Fama's son Ayobami Abayomi was accosted by the people here in the San Bernardino area and brutalized. He is being lied on in the arresting record as being charged with accosting the arresting officer. His crime was in going to the store for his mother and asking the officer his charges. He has multiple contusions, brusing and scars.

It should be enough that our children are being harm by the police in this country and killed. How many more Amado Dialo children are we going to tolerate?

We are asking that the information be send out and abroad to inform and to support Chief Fama and her family in this dilemma. It could be our own children.

Anyone who know Ayobami knows that he is a mannerable young man and and wonderful personality. And he is an Ifa priest born into this religious tradition called Ifa. We must speak out about this type of treatment and make sure it does not happen to any of our children.

The store number is 909 886.6023, Ile Orunmila Imports www.IleOrunmila.com.

Please post this and send it out. the court date is March 15,2004, San Bernardino, this child is innocent.

Sincerely

Iyanifa Fayomi Falade

February/2004

Based on discussions on the Wind Whispers web site I am asking readers to consider doing prayers of elevation for the entire Ifa Orisa community on the first Sunday of each month. I am suggesting we pray for the road to be open to receive a blessing of good health and abundance. It is my firm belief that our collective effort will result in unexpected good fortune for everyone. Ifa teaches if your life gets better my life gets better. Ire lona iponri atiwo Orun.

A dupe pupo
Awo Falokun

For Immediate Release

New York City, January 15, 2004 Orisha Tales Repertory Radio Theatre Company in association with the Frank Silveras Writers Workshop presents the rarest of opportunities to define and witness genre in the arts: Dance Drama. OBATALA (KING OF THE WHITE CLOTH), a new work written by David D. Wright, is the newest production in the Orisha cycle of plays. OBATALA, opens February 6, 2004 and runs through February 29, 2004 at The Harlem Theatre Company's House of Champions, located at 473 West 150th Street, (between Amsterdam and Convent Aves) New York City

OBATALA, is the history of the white-haired monarch, when he discovers primal love and passion in this tale of creation. It tells the story of the father of the Orisha, who through love, arrogance, obedience, humility, power, greed, innocence and forgiveness sets the tone for modern morality as told through the sensibilities of ancient Yoruba parables.

The role of Obatala, will be performed by the legendary and multiple Audelco and Obie award winning thespian Arthur French.

The dance drama will be directed by Stacy Waring, and choreographed by Baraka De Soleil, who also choreographed David Wright multiple Audelco award winning at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, in 2002. The live audience will play a significant part in the production. Tickets are $15.00. For information and reservations call 718-735-8905 or 212-281-8832. or email:
orisatalesradio@aol.com or playrite@earthlink.net.

In addition there will be the exceptional beadwork of Iya Shona Sloan, on exhibit at The House of Champions on February 6, 7, and 8. with the viewing of that artwork to begin one hour before the performances begin.

See the flyer.

INTERNATIONAL BLACK WOMEN'S FILM FESTIVAL 2004

SAMBA SOUTH OF MARKET WITH THE INTERNATIONAL BLACK WOMEN'S FILM FESTIVAL!

Samba South of Market and Mambo below Mission Street with the
International Black Women’s Film Festival! Join us for a day in The City with a
reception from 1-2 PM, live performance by San Francisco’s renowned world beat ensemble the BOGO QUARTET, food, art showing and screening at the PUNCH Gallery (www.punchgallery.com).

featuring...

BLACK ORPHEUS (Musical, Brazil 1959) - Winner of the 1959 Oscar(r) for
BEST FOREIGN FILM and the 1959 Cannes Palme d'Or. Starring: Marpessa Dawn and Breno Mello; Dir: Marcel Camus

--AND--

WHEN SPIRITS DANCE THE MAMBO / CUANDO LOS ESPIRITUS BAILAN MAMBO (Documentary, Cuba/USA 2003) - Soul-stirring and mesmerizing look into the beauty and rhythms of the Cuban mambo. Interviews with master drummers and performers. Dir: Dr. Marta Moreno Vega, Caribbean Cultural Center

Get Ready for a New Film Experience!
Saturday, February 28, 2004
1 PM – 5 PM, Reception 1 PM – 2 PM
(Light hors d’oevres and entertainment)
@ The PUNCH Gallery, 155 Tenth Street, San Francisco

Earth Mama Healing 2004

Healing with the Power of the Elements

June 30 to July 3rd in Calistoga, CA

For More Details Check out

www.earthmamahealing.com

Save the Date and Pass It On

email us if you would like a Brochure mailed to you!

Peace & Blessings

Mid January/2004

I want to thank those who communicated their positive reaction to the
Awo Study Center Market Place. I am encouraged by the response to add
additional titles during the upcoming year. Our goal is to provide a
reference library for the serious student of Ifa/Orisa. Some reader have
said they prefer to mail money orders rather than work through pay pal.
On Feb 1st we will set up an address for Awo Study Center and it will
be possible to order books through the mail. We welcome any other
suggestions.
ire
Awo Falokun

January/2004

Awo Study Center is starting the new year with an online marketplace to provide printed study material for students of Ifa and Orisa. We have published five books on Oriki:

1. Oriki Egun
2. Oriki Ebora
3. Oriki Orisa Volume 1
4. Oriki Orisa Volume 2
5. Orili Orunmila

Ire Eku Odun
Blessings for the new year

ase
Awo Falokun

A note from Iyanla Vanzant:

Beloved Friends and Family:

On Christmas Morning, my precious jewel Gemmia released her body and moved forward into the light of eternal life. For all who prayed for her, loved her, honored her, my family and I offer our humble appreciation.

The family will host a public memorial service in her honor on Friday, January 2, 2003 at Union Temple Baptist Church, in Washington, DC. If you would like more information please contact:

Almasi Wilcots at (202) 276-8102 or by email:
awilcots@innervisionsworldwide.com.

Gemmia spent her entire life supporting the work of Inner Visions Worldwide . In lieu of flowers we are asking that donations be made to:

Gemmia Lynnette Vanzant Memorial Scholarship Fund
Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development
926 Philadelphia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Once again, I humbly thank you for your support of Gemmia,
who was in this life, my best friend.

Iyanla Vanzant

Iya Aboyade Omobola's mother, Ernestine Perry, made her transition on December 29, 2003. Condolences or offerings toward assistance with funeral arrangements, as her insurance policy had unknowingly lapsed, can be sent to:

Iya Aboyade Omobola
7445 S. Evans Ave.
Chicago, IL 60619

Mid-December/2003

After a couple of unexpected turns in the road, and after climbing over a few exasperating obstacles I am excited to announce that Awo Study Center has starting a book publishing house. We now have five titles in stock ready to sell through the web site. The titles to date include; Oriki Egun, Oriki Ebora, Oriki Orisa Volume 1, Oriki Orisa Volume 2 and Oriki Ifa. Additional titles will be announced on a monthly basis and we anticipating having the market place on line on January 1st 2004.
It is my hope that the printed volumes will be a valuable reference resource for serious students of Ifa/Orisa. Thanks to Iya Aboyade for her tireless technical assistance, to my brother for keeping me focused, and a special thanks to Iyanla Vanzant for blessing the project in way that guaranteed its success.

A dupe pupo.

Ire
Awo Falokun

Orisha initiations will be taking place in San Diego during the last part of February. Those wishing to participate in a learning capacity, please contact Iya Aboyade Omobola at AboyadeOmobola@prodigy.net.

HISTORIAN RUNOKO RASHIDI LIVE IN PHILADELPHIA

Elder Baba Runoko Rashidi, world famous lecturer, historian, and editor of African Presence in Early Asia and contributor to African Presence in Early America and African Presence in Early Europe will be featured in a dynamic slide presentation and question/answer session. He will discuss his world travels, the accomplishments and plights of Black people around the planet and his upcoming group tours to Africa and South America.

PLEASE SHARE AND PASS-ON

Elder Baba Runoko Rashidi has been in some of the Philadelphia Public Schools all this week and he'll be in many more next week presenting his dynamic lecture to participants in the African Rites of Passage Systems. He'll be wrapping-up his visit with an Open Community Presentation being held on Friday, December 19, 2003 from 6PM until 8PM.

Here are the details:

"Global African Presence: A Journey Into History"
and a discussion about "The Education of Our Youth"

John F. Kennedy Center

734 Schuylkill Avenue

(Across the South Street Bridge)

6th Floor, Conference Room B

Friday, December 19, 2003

6:00PM until 8:00PM

FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC

For inquiries and/or vending, please contact Percy White at 877.532.5717.

Street parking will be available. Elevator and handicap accessible pathways are also available.

WHO WILL HEAL THE HEALERS?

The bottom line is, healers need healing. You are probably familiar with the popular story about Oshun, who, after healing the multitudes, looked down at her soiled dress and inquired, "who will heal me?" It is in this line of thinking that we are launching a Healing Retreat for Healers. We are off to a modest start and plan to gather in a suite at a hotel in the Chicago area. Cost of the suite will be divided up between us. There are no other fees.

Whether our healing and refreshing comes from the Water, Wind, Fire or Air, we will be able to offer each other the rejuvenating ase that we need in order to remain effective and viable healers in our
communities.

This retreat is limited to women with at least eight years of service as an initiate in an indigenous African religion. We plan on holding the first gathering from Friday, 30 January 2004, to Sunday, 1 February. We'll begin working on removing unwanted and debilitating energies at the very Dark of the Moon and on Sunday the 1st, when the New Moon appears, we'll celebrate and head back to our respective lives renwed and ready for the new year on a New Moon vibe.

Sister healers, we must take care of ourselves, we must heal ourselves. The tremendous weight and responsibility we carry as diviners, ritual leaders, community elders, etc., is a blessing, but it can be dangeorus and burdensome if we do not maintain our own spiritual health. We can best do this by assisting each other.

If you'd like to join us in our weekend healing getaway, (sorry, my brothers - better luck next time) you can contact Iyalosha Oshunkoya at NJackson@ima-art.org or Iyalosha Aboyade Omobola at retreat@windwhispers.org.

December/2003

I just finished reading Ifa The Key to it's Understanding by Awo Fasina Falade. This book is a must read for any serious student of Ifa. Baba Falade has gathered together some important information including some insightful commentary on prayers used for ebo that I have never seen in print. Some years ago Baba Falade did the divination that opened the road for my first trip to Nigeria. His website is listed in the links section of awostudycenter.com. Awo Fasina Falade is one of the early pioneers involved in the process of bringing African Ifa to the Diaspora. For this book and many years of hard work I say, a dupe pupo.

After some unexpected delays, and after some serious challenges, I am grateful to Ifa to be able to announce that awo study center has successful published three volumes of training material; Oriki Egun, Oriki Ebora and Oriki Orisa. The books will be available on line by the end of the month and we are making arrangements for extended families to buy the books in bulk at a discount rate. A very special thanks goes out to Iya Aboyade for making the publication of training material possible. Awo study center has five more titles in production and we are making steady progress in the journey to make these books easily accessible to students of Ifa/Orisa. To Iya Aboyade for her tireless effort I say; a dupe pupo.

Ire
Awo Falokun Fatunmbi

The Interfaith Center of New York in cooperation with Disaster Spiritual Care Service of NY (a Red Cross partner and provider of spiritual care services at disaster sites) will be hosting a special half-day seminar entitled

Religious and Community Leaders As Caregivers During Crisis

You are invited. This program is designed to affirm religious and community leaders in their role as caregivers during times of crisis and disaster and to enhance assessment and referral skills. It is part of a multi-faith effort supported by the 9/11 Fund. The Program has been presented to about five hundred people so far with excellent reviews.

The seminar is open to religious leaders of all denominations: Rabbis, Cantors, Imam, Priests, Reverends, Oluwo, Awo Ifa, Awolosha, Akpon Ocha, Olosha, Espiritiistas, Educators and Religious Institution Administrators -- synagogue , churches, temples, Ile Ocha and so on.

It is free and includes a kosher / halal lunch.

Participants will receive a certificate from NYBR and DSCS.

Date: Sunday, December 7
Time: 11:30-4
Place: 70 West 36th St. (between 5th and 6th)
RSVP: 1-718-638-9879

For more information contact:

Baba A. C. Mondesire
Ile Obatala Oya
Ile.Obatal.Oya@att.net
1-718-638-9879

Details of the Program

First Session

Empowering Religious Leaders to be more effective in their role as trusted caregiver

Understanding the difference between care and counseling and one's own limitations

Building a network of support and care

Second Session

Understanding the Religious or Community Leader's role in assessment and intervention in disasters and other crises

Learning the signs and symptoms of anxiety and grief responses in disaster

Practical skilled care

Recognizing severe symptoms of anxiety and grief that need referral for professional treatment

The Cultural Exchange Presents

The 1st African Women's Conference

Theme
Celebrating, educating and empowering women of Africa & the
Diaspora

Location
Club 20 Grand
6149 Old National Highway
January 31 (11 AM to 8 PM) & February 1(12 PM-5 PM), 2004

Keynote speaker is author: Chief/ Ms 'Farounbi Aina Mosunmola Adewole-Somadhi (Chief FAMA)
&
Mistress of Ceremonies is the star of Award winning movie Sankofa:
Ms. Oyafunmike Ogunlano

For more information contact Osaremi O. Lanloke by phone at
(404) 384-2484 or by email at
osaremi@theculturalxchange.com. Website come soon.

Sponsors: Egbe Moremi Atlanta, Institute of African
Civilization, Lush Life Café, Mentaltainment,
www.goddessdolls.com, www.yeyemi.com,

For Immediate Release

For more information contact:
Osaremi O. Lanloke
CEO of The Cultural Exchange®
Chair of African Women’s Conference
PO Box 2181
Marietta, GA 30061
November 28, 2003

The Cultural Exchange would like you to join us for our First Annual African Women's Conference at The 20 Grand at 6147 Old National Highway in College Park on Saturday, January 31 & Sunday, February 1, 2004. Our theme this year is Celebrating, Educating, and Empowering Women of Africa and the Diaspora.

We are inviting all to come out to our African Market Place, hear our exciting speakers, join us during our round table discussions, experience the taste of some delicious meals, and enjoy the sights and sounds of African drumming and dancing all while celebrating the of meaning of African womanhood.

We hope that all will come out and celebrate with us. Advance ticket price is $75 per adult over the age of 15, and $25 for children 5-14, $65 for groups of ten or more.
This price includes over 10 Speakers, entertainment, three meals, which include a continental brunch, and dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday. Tickets sold the day before or during the conference will be $85. Ask for lodging information if needed.

November/2003

The Ifa system of astrology is called Gede, it is more about identifying times when ase is moving through the portals of the sacred groves than about identifying personality types typically found in newspaper horoscopes.

For reasons that were partially explained in the series of articles on Odu and the Ifa Concept of History on the awostudycenter web site it is possible to identify times when the veil between this realm and the realm of spirit is thin. When the veil is thin Spirit speaks clearly and can be seen and heard with minimal effort. November 8th through the 13th is a very strong time to make contact with Orisa. The divination I have been doing in relationship to this opening says Ofun sa and Irete iwori. The odus suggests to me that the calabash of life in America in about to be badly broken. We will need the guidance of Spirit to fix the crack in existence that is looming in the shadows.

Ifa says a cool head and patience will bring abundance and good health to those who
honor the ways of our ancestors. To those who do not honor the old ways the contradictions of unresolved conflict could become a serious challenge. The 8th through the 13th is a very good time to pray for peace, abundance and long life, ire
alafia, ire owo, ire agbo ato. If anyone has direct communication from Orisa during this time frame they want posted please e mail the web site.

ire
Awo Falokun Fatunmbi

I was blessed to participate in an Orisa initiation in San Diego on the weekend of October 25th where the birth of Oya, Yemoja and Obatala was supported by lineages from Cuba, Belize, Brazil and Africa. The coming together of extended families to work across lineage lines is an important trend in the Ifa/Orisa communities in the Diaspora and I want to thank the good people of San Diego for the humility of their dedication to Orisa.

On August 23, Oloye FAMA and Baba Ifabowal Somadhi held the second annual Southern California Ifa Festival in San Bernardino California, by all accounts it was a successful event.

At the first of the year Egbe Ifa Ogunti Ode Remo will do Tefa in the United States, those who are interested in receiving Tefa can contact Awo Falokun through this website.

ire
Awo Falokun Fatunmbi

From the desk of Iya Ta'Shia Asanti

Alafia Conscious Community:

We are proud to formally announce the launching of the Karade Institute for Ifa & Comparative Studies in Denver, Colorado. Executive Director, Iya Ta'Shia Asanti (Iya Ayoola Omikunle Karade) sends her love and gratitude for the positive support received during the kick-off celebration held on October 12, 2003 in Denver. The event included some very historical and epic events including a pivotal lecture by the organization's Chief Priest, President and Chair, The Oloye, Baba Ifa Karade.

The Oloye, Baba Ifa Karade Lectures About Ifa in Denver

Many of you were present for Baba's pivotal lecture last Sunday in Denver. He spoke candidly about the role Ifa can play in empowering and uplifting conscious communities. But he spoke too about ancestral connections found through Ifa needed for the purpose of healing and cultural affirmation. Baba Ifa Karade made a strong statement about the importance of embracing and bringing light and affirmation to our African legacy in particular. The Oloye encouraged devotees and the initiated to make use of the media as a tool for educating worldwide communities about the rich tradition of Ifa, "We must blast the media outlets with our stories, our history and our legacy. We must enlist the journalists and media professionals within our temples to shed light on the work Ifa has come to do."

The Oloye spoke too about the vast beauty and power of Kemetic civiliations but made an important statement in terms of the European's organized attempts to demean our African history, culture and spiritual practices by uplifting and commercially exploiting the altered version of what we know as the sacred Kemetic experience and what Europeans created as the Egyptian experience. In addition, he spoke about our ancestral connection to West Africa and the sacred city of Ile Ife and that how ancestrally speaking, our connection to Africa is much stronger than our connection to Kemet as in Kemet (the place Euros call Egypt) there is no traditional African practice that remains alive and thriving.

Baba spoke about the differences between Black American culture represented as Blackness and African culture in the traditonal sense, and the historical misdirection of the Black liberation movement. Baba said, and I am strictly paraphrasing here, that [we must begin to fill our (metaphoric) hollowed pencil points with accurate information and a brand of spiritual liberation that will empower ALL of us as a global people of African descent.]

Baba shared that while Ifa does not demand that one discontinues any other religious or spiritual practice, it does command a commitment to developing one internal self-image as a person of African descent and a commitment to unifying and empowering Afri-native centered communities nationwide. He was inclusive of Native Indigenous communities when he spoke of our quest for global healing as people of African desent. Baba spoke of our utilizing the study of African culture, spiritual traditions and historical understanding as tools for healing our families and communities as a whole. "Self-love," Baba encouraged, "gained through historical understanding and spiritual wholeness, is a major proponent in learning to cultivate community. Loving ourselves deeply and completely, especially the self that reflects our inner African essence, will aid us in learning to love, celebrate and preserve others who reflect the inner us." Baba Ifa Karade was clear that, "While ritual initiation is important, ritual initiation and ceremony in and of itself is not what will redeem us as a people. Implements of the Orisa are not some magical objects, they are "tools" from which to cultivate the love and desire to preserve that which is "us" as African people, African history and African community. Internal evaluation, personal enrichment, inter-dimensional healing and cultural education are keys to our collective empowerment." Ase.

Baba Ifa Karade Named as a Prophet of Orunmila

During the lecture presentation in Denver, temple members surprised the Oloye by presenting him with a custom designed framed picture of him created to celebrate Baba's role among the world spiritual community as a "prophet." He was also presented with a sacred blade symbolic of his work in helping to remove the obstacles to uncovering our rich African spiritual legacy in traditional Ifa. While Baba was clearly moved by the sentiments and honors bestowed upon him by his temple members he was quick to point out that such an honor was not about him. That it was not about him being some spiritual giant or icon. That the honor was instead to uplift the community of those who practice Ifa as a way of life and to celebrate fact that there are those among us who are the mouthpieces of our African sages and who are being prolifically used by the African sages in this day and age. "It is highly important that all of the known images of prophets in this country are not European and this is why such a statement like this is important."

So, on October 12, 2003, Baba Ifa Karade has been proclaimed as one of our African prophets of modern times who is continuously used by ancient African sages to help uplift, empower and unify our communities worldwide. As we recognize Hare Krishna, Dalai Lama and many others, we will now have an African brother born in America that we uplift among our other prophets. We don't have to wait until he is 99 years old, we don't have to wait until he goes back to the sacred dust. We celebrate and honor Baba Ifa Karade and many other leaders in the Ifa tradition for his unwavering commitment to Ifa and the ways of our African ancestors and for leading so many of us back to ourselves. Ase. In the words of our beloved Brother Jeff, if not now, when? If not us, who? Maferefun Orunmila.

The Karade Institute for Ifa & Comparative Studies Jobs and News

The Karade Institute has been formally launched and is now operational. We are currently planning several events and gatherings. Forthcoming correspondence will provide details on registration for various events.

The Karade Institute is seeking a Grantwriter. The right candidate will have at least 3 years experience and must have gotten at least 2 projects funded in the last 5 years. Call Iya Ta'Shia Asanti at (303)799-0506 for more information or send your resume to karadeinstitute1@aol.com as a word attachment or cut and paste it into the body of the e-mail.

The Karade Institute will offer courses in Core Ifa Studies and Ifa and Comparative studies at this our first intenstive institute beginning in August 2004 in Denver, Colorado. We are currently seeking to confirm paid instructors for the following courses:

1. Akan (filled)
2. Santeria
3. Lucumi
4. Obeah
5. Christianity (Historical Origin)
6. Catholicism (Historical Origin)
7. Ifa Literary Studies
8. History of African Art
9. Role of the Media in African Communities
10. Culturally Competent Parenting
11. African Holistic Mental Health Healing
12. Islam & the Nation of Islam in America

The below classes will be instructed by the following teachers:

A. Ifa Core Studies

Chief Priest, the Oloye, Baba Ifa Karade & others TBA

B. Comparative Studies

1. History of Kemet-Iyawo Oshara Ifayele Karade & others TBA
2. Candomble-Dr. Rachel Harding
3. Native Indigenous Practices-Aborisha Fatu Judy Henderson
4. Vodoun-Aborisha Meri Tahset
5. Buddhism (Asian/Africa Studies)-Debra "Pepper" Massey

C. Complimentary Comparative Studies

1. African Feminism-Iya Ayoola Omikunle Karade
2. African Images in Film-Iya Sijuwola Karade & Aborisha Ashara Ekundayo
3. African Dance-Aborisha Senakhu Karade
4. African Drumming & Music-Aborisha Fatu Judy Henderson & others TBA
5. African Art-Our first Installation will be on the work of Aborisha Li Hardison
6. African Yogic Systems-Iyawo Oyalade Karade
7. Martial Arts-Baba Ifa Karade and others TBA
8. African Wholistic Living-Nutrition & Exercise-Aborisha Senakhu Karade & Aborisha Ayanna Karade
9. Natural Healing-Ewe-The Sacred Herbs-Aborisha Fasina Karade
10. Traditional Families in Non-Traditional Communities and Culturally Competent Parenting-(Consulting for this program) Apetabi, Iya Sokoya Karade (Instructor TBA)

Upcoming Activities & Events

December 2003

Tawede Celebration on the night of Nia. Denver, Colorado. In collaboration with Brother Jeff's Cultural Center and the Kwanzaa Committee of Denver, Ile Tawo Lona will offer Tawede. Members to come forth in the spirit of Nia to manifest our purpose in our respective communities. More info soon to follow.

January 2004

Aborishas' intending to initiate to the priesthood level are required to turn in Temple Ascension Papers (see baba's book Imoye) and write their intention letter ( a letter stating their intention to be initiated into the priesthood in the Karade order in July 2004 and why). Letters must be received by January 4th.

March 2004

Seattle Weekend Retreat for Karade Temple Members and those seeking to learn more about Ifa in the Karade tradition.

April 2004, Ifa Conference, Los Angeles, California-Location TBA

July 2004, Priestly Initiations, East Orange, New Jersey.

August 2004, Karade Institute, 4 Week Intenstive Study, Denver, Colorado

October 2004, Karade Women's Retreat, Featuring Oloriya Aina Olomo, Author of The Core of Fire (Athelia Henrietta Press)-Keynote Speaker, Denver, Colorado-Location TBA

Call (303)799-0506 for more information or write to karadeinstitute1@aol.com

October/2003

I want to recommend an important book called Core of Fire by Aina Olomo published by Athelia Henrietta Press. Oloriya Aina is one of the elder mothers in Lucumi tradition and brings a wealth of experience, insight and knowledge to her discussion of important issues that are at the foundation of establishing healthy extended families in the Diaspora. Her ideas about core personal beliefs are an essential element of any productive dialogue on issues related to spiritual growth and the progressive development of our communities. I hope the book becomes the basis for serious discussions on issues related to reclaiming the full spectrum of belief and practice that are a part of our faith. Congratulations for a book well done and we look forward to future projects coming from the oloriya's inspired pen.

A dupe pupo.
Awo Falokun Fatunmbi

SUBJECT: DIRE NEED FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST IN SPECIAL CEREMONIES & REBURIAL AT AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND, OCTOBER 3- 4, 2003

The world-renowned Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is pleased to announce special tribute and memorial ceremonies in New York and the appropriate reburial of 419 coffins containing the human remains of 419 enslaved African men, women and children to the African Burial Ground site in New York City. The ceremonies will be held in New York City (Lower Manhattan) beginning FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3 AND CONCLUDING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2003. Thousands of interested individuals celebrities and dignitaries from around the world are expected to attend these ceremonies. We are in dire need of volunteers and we invite African-American organizations and/or individuals to volunteer if it is practical to do so.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND

In 1991, during the construction of a Federal office building at 290 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, excavators unearthed the largest colonial-era cemetery for enslaved Africans in America. Archeologists carefully exhumed human remains and artifacts from the construction site for scientific and historical research. For the previous 200 years, other parts of the five-acre burial ground, where approximately 20,000 Africans were buried, had been disregarded while buildings, streets and parking lots were constructed over the site.

The remains and artifacts exhumed in 1991 have been the subject of scholarly research by noted archeologists, anthropologists, historians and the community of interested individuals. Scientific and historical studies lost mom! entum du ring the 1990s causing the reburial to be eferred. In 2002, an effort was made to reinvigorate the studies and facilitate the timely and dignified return of the human remains and artifacts to their final resting place at the African Burial Ground.

The scientific and historical studies have documented the important stories of the life, culture and heritage of these enslaved Africans whose labor contributed to the building of New York and other American cities while being forced to cope with the most oppressive conditions.

Now, in accordance with the rich traditions of African culture, the ceremonies for the Rites of Ancestral Return will be conducted, concluding with the solemn reburial at the African Burial Ground. The ceremonies will be held in New York City that are representative of the experiences and contributions of enslaved Africans in America.

Below is the following information:

a) volunteer needs from African-American organizations and/or individuals to actively participate in this important event (Please volunteer as soon as possible!!!),

b) contact information, and c) the agenda for the 2-Day ceremony in New York City (in Lower Manhattan)

Hope to see you at this prestigious event!!!!

A. NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is in dire need of African-American organizations and/or individuals to volunteer and actively participate in this important event (for a few or many hours) in the following areas:

i. MARSHALS: responsibilities entail 1) participating in the funeral procession by directing pedestrian traffic flow and ensuring order and safety from the corner of Wall and South Street to African Burial Ground located at the corner of Duane Street and Broadway 2) ensuring the barrier is mainta! ined fro m the audience and stage area during the ceremonies at the Wall Street and African Burial Ground (ABG) site areas

ii. USHERS: responsibilities entail 1) distributing programs at the ceremonies, 2) directing dignitaries and others to the VIP seating Area 3) collecting tickets for the seating area iii. WATER STATION REPRESENTATIVES: responsibilities entail providing water bottles to pedestrians in specified areas along the funeral ceremony walking traffic route

iv. FLAG CARRIERS: carrying flags that represent each country that is part of the African Diaspora on the ceremonial walking route and during the actual ceremonies at the Wall Street and ABG site areas

PLEASE NOTE: GROUP ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ARE WELCOME TO VOLUNTEER AND CAN VOLUNTEER FOR ONE OR MULTIPLE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

B. TELEPHONE CONTACT INFORMATION

To find out how to participate in this prestigious event or volunteer,

call: 212-491-2040

C. AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND CEREMONY AGENDA

The funeral procession will transport four coffins containing the remains of one adult male, one adult female, one male child, and one female child (which are representative of the 419 deceased) as follows:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2003 NEW YORK, NEW YORK

11:00 a.m. Flotilla Arrival Ceremony, embark at the foot of Wall Street,

New York's colonial slave market

12:15 p.m. Procession to the African Burial Ground Memorial Site

1:00 p.m. Viewing and Vigil at African Burial Ground Memorial Site

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2003 NEW YORK, NEW YORK

10 a.m. Vigil ends

10:30 a.m. Procession from Surrogate Courthouse to Foley Square

11:00 a.m. Tribute Ceremony at Foley Square

1:00 p.m. Reburial Ceremony at! the Afr ican Burial Ground Memorial Site

September/2003

Based on instruction from Ifa I have been guided to take direct action regarding the publishing and distribution of my books. I will release a series of eight books over the next sixteen months that will provide an overview and foundation for the spiritual practice of Ifa/Orisa worship. The titles will include:

1. Ori, The Ifa Concept of Consciousness
2. Iponri, The Ifa Concept of Higher Self
3. Egun, The Ifa Concept of Ancestor Reverence
4. Ebora, The Ifa Concept of Warrior Spirits
5. Orisa, The Ifa Concept of Nature Spirits
6. Orunmila, The Ifa Concept of the Spirit of Destiny
7. Ebo, The Ifa Concept of Making Offerings to Spirit
8. Iwa, The Ifa Concept of Character

Ifa has advised me that I need to become directly involved in the book distribution process. I am asking readers of awostudycenter to assist me set up a distribution network. If there is a botonica or bookstore in your neighborhood that would be interested in carrying my books please send the name, address and phone number of that store to me through the e mail address at this website. If you are a member of an ile that would like to purchase my books directly from the publisher in bulk at wholesale prices please contact me through the e mail address at this website. This offer will be available to any group interested in buying ten books or more per order.

The first book to be released will be Ori, The Ifa Concept of Consciousness. Exact release date will be announced at the end of the month. I appreciate all the support and encouragement I have received in the process of making this happen. To my friends, students and extended family I say a dupe pupo.

Awo Falokun Fatunmbi

The premiere issue of Oya N'Soro: Oya Speaks! is now available on Iya Aboyade Omobola's site, www.windwhispers.org. It can be found here:

The future issues will appear first to subscribers only, with some of the articles appearing online a month afterwards. She is offering subscriptions to members of this site as well. You will find directions for subscription within the ezine.

August/2003

Ifa in the Diaspora

Lecture presented by Awo Falokun Fatunmbi at the 8th Orisa Conference in Havana Cuba July 2003

To my elder mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, I thank you for this tremendous opportunity and I am really grateful for it. It is especially good to be able to speak here in Cuba, one of the few places where Ifa survived in the Diaspora, and really developed during many, many years of adversity and extreme difficulty. Cuba is one of the few places that managed to do that. In some ways, the complexity of the tradition and the years of training that go into Ifa made it difficult for this aspect of the religions to survive in the Diaspora. We are grateful to those Cuban Awo, those ancestors, who were able to preserve the tradition in spite of tremendous obstacles and tremendous opposition.

I would like to take this opportunity to trace Ifa's journey to the United States. I want to do this because I feel blessed to have known some of the elders who brought the tradition of Ifa to the United States in a way that made it accessible to those who were interested in African forms of spirituality and religion. I am grateful to them for the work they did that helped me and man others, aquire an understanding of the tradition and what it is we need to do as awo.

When I first became aware of Ifa in the late 80's the main houses in the United States were in New York, New Jersey and Miami. They were largely associated with the Santeria and Lucumi traditions of Cuba and they had very clear and specific communal functions and obligations. Ifa did the ebo entrada or opening divination for Orisa initiation and they fed the pots during initiation. Ifa also has a function of doing divination, especially divination to determine a person's primary Orisa. Ifa also presents warriors and, along with warriors, usually presents a hand of Ifa. The hand of Ifa is known by various names; it is now commonly referred to as Awo'fa'kan.

In the mid seventies Oba Oserjimen and Baba Medahochi went to Benin and were initiated into Ifa. They were two of the first Americans to make the journey to Africa and to bridge the gap. They started to study and assimulate the traditional African form of Ifa. They began a process of what I would call re-claiming some of the ancient wisdom and sacred technology that did not survive the middle-crossing. To both of them I say mo dupe pupo. Baba Medahochi has subsequently devoted much time and attention to what I would call the ethical principles of Ifa as well as giving guidance and training in proper behavior and the development of good character. Oba Oserjimen has developed the concept of extended family and re-claimed the African model of a wide range of African spiritual traditions.

In the mid eighties a group of my elders and peers traveled to Ode Remo. The first person to do that was Awo Fagbemi. He made the connection to Ode Remo through William Bascom the anthropologist who wrote a book on Ifa divination. Baba Fagbemi contacted Bascom, who put him in touch with the Epega family who introduced him to Araba Adesanya Awoyade. The Araba had a vision of seating Ifa in America. At the time that Awo Fagbemi made his first trip to Ode Remo, it was very uncommon for anybody to receive Ifa initiation from any place other than the village where they were born. This meant the initiation was essentially unavailable to anyone not born in Nigeria. The vision of the Araba of Ode Remo Ifa to people who are not from the Yoruba speaking regions of West Africa, and to insure that those initiated received training, instruction and guidance while taking the lineage of Ode Remo back to the United States. Awo Fagbemi was followed by Awo Irawo and Awo Alafia who recently crossed over. I know that two other Americans traveled to Ode Remo shortly after Awo Alafia was initiated and I am sorry to say I do not remember their names. At about the same time Awo Fasina from Los Angeles traveled to Ile Ife to receive Ifa, as did Ed James who also recently crossed over.

Among this group of early pioneers, who made the journey into the mysteries of Ifa, there was a collective effort to understand the function of Ifa as a system of divination, and to begin to put the pieces together so that we could study Odu. In the early days we had type written copies of the manuscript that Baba Epega's grandson eventually published. In the fifties those pages were available in Nigeria as a correspondence course. We gathered some of that material and started the process of teaching each other the process of divination.

Since then I have personally witnessed a real increase in the interest in Ifa and a significant increase in the numbers of people who have initiated who worship Ifa as their primary spiritual focus. Because I have watched this growth take place, I would like to make a few comments about some of the trends I see developing and say something about some of the things that we need to perhaps be aware of. I want to identify places where we can join hands in order to make things happen, and to initiate dialogue and to deepen our understanding of what we do, and what we believe.

The first thing I want to share is that it is really clear from the elders I have mentioned that Ifa is more than just divination. I see people going to Africa, getting initiated, coming back home, buying a book on divination and setting up shop as diviners. This reduces an ancient oral tradition to a book, and I know that books are extremely limited vehicles for preserving the inner mysteries of our faith. As awo we have certain communal responsibilities that transcend the task of performing divination and simply fixing personal problems. I learned from Awo Fagbemi, specifically, that Ifa has a prayer cycle that is fundamental to the health and well-being of the community. The Egbe Ifa gathers every sixteen days and every ninety-one days to do specific prayers and rituals that invoke good fortune for the community. These invocations change with the seasons and change with the different requirements for survival, all to insure the manifestation of ire.

As the number of Ifa worshippers increases I see a trend which, (I believe), is hopeful, and gives me optimism about our future. Members of the various Ifa Egbes in specific cities are starting to join hands to do the prayer cycles that are the foundation of our faith and the foundation of our sacred technology.

Another trend I see developing is our relationship with Osanyin. There is a trend towards using the herbs located in our communities. I believe this is consistent with the ancient teachings of Ifa. We need to begin to study and understand the nature and function of plants in our own backyards, moving from there into the rest of the community, the city and the state. In many areas this work is yet to be done. The sacred technology needed to initiate this endeavor involves the invocation of the Spirit of Osanyin, the ingestion of the Odu from the Ifa tray, and the sincere effort to communicate directly with plants. The spirit of every plant has a voice, and that voice can be heard by those who take to the time to listen, and that voice will tell us what purpose and function a specific plant has in the sense of harmony and balance that makes the earth a good place to live.

A process closely associated with understanding plants, is the location and identification of igbodu. There are sacred portals that give us access to the invisible dimensions of Being. These sacred portals exist in Nature. Because many of us are city dwellers sometimes it is difficult to locate and make use of igbodu. Even if we know where igbodu is located in or near our cities, frequently it is impossible to access these power portals for religious ritual. The search for igbodu and the struggle for access to igbodu continues to enhance the connection of community to spirit.

I think one of the most important issues to come up, in the past five years, is the issue of balance between male and female Ifa worshippers. This is a subject that is still in process and causes a fair share of controversy. It is an area where the worship of Ifa is going through a shift in structure, a shift that relates to specific circumstances within our community. It is my experience in Ode Remo that there is absolute balance between the male and female Ifa worshippers. This balance is social, political, and spiritual. Traditionally the female component of Ifa was shrouded in taboo so it was not discussed and not easily understood. As a result of the hidden nature of the female component, Ifa was brought to the Diaspora with an emphasis on the male component. In Ode Remo the female aspect of Ifa comes under the influence of Iyaami Osorango. In the Diaspora there is a tendency to replace this influence with the influence of the position of Iyanifa. The effect of this shift is to make the role and responsibilities of women in Ifa more apparent. I believe that THE way this issue develops is going to have a major impact on the health and growth of Ifa in the Diaspora, so I encourage continued study, dialogue, divination and communication with Spirit as we move towards assimilation of this fundamental principle of worship.

This issue is important to me because it is addressed in my ita. To a large extent I believe Ifa initiation is designed to give men access to what I would call their female ase through the use of Odu which means womb, and through the use of ikin which are the seeds of that womb. Through the use of ritual process men are able to give birth to Orisa and insure the survival of an essential aspect of communal worship. I also feel that the same ase is accessible in women's secret societies approached from the point of view of women's access to male ase. The joining together of these two groups is the foundation of power within Ifa. When I first started studying Ifa more than twenty years ago, the concept of gender polarity was not discussed at all. I have seen the dialogue slowly emerge and now take a position near center stage. Based on my own study of Odu, it is very clear to me that some form of gender cooperation is essential to the processes that form the basis of Ifa ritual.

It is also clear to me, based on my work with clients, that Ifa in the Diaspora has a responsibility to write, and create new Odu. In my experience some of the problems we face in the Diaspora are different than the problems commonly encountered in Africa or in Ode Remo specifically. At times, trying to get guidance from my elders on how to fix certain problems is difficult because they are not familiar with the way the problems manifest in our communities here. Consequently, many solutions are only found as the problems are addressed, as we speak directly to Spirit in an effort to find guidance and resolution. I believe it is important to begin to record these solutions, to record events and to begin to understand we have both an obligation and responsibility to preserve the information given to us by Spirit. For example there are no Odu that I am familiar with that address serious issues of pollution, none that provide a solution to nuclear waste, there are no Odu that provide clear guidance to the community for stopping the spread of certain communicable diseases.

I am of the firm opinion, based on my experience, when certain problems arise Spirit will come and provide a solution. When Spirit comes and gives us information that is not in the Odu we have a spiritual obligation to record that information. This is the way Odu originally developed and it is the reason why there is a wide range of different Odu from village to village throughout Nigeria. This is the way we pass on information and wisdom to future generations.

I would like to conclude by saying that Ifa has a responsibility to preserve the tradition. As awo we are keepers of the secrets, meaning we hold the tradition and make sure it is passed on to the next generation. I am going to express an opinion here based on my experience. Sometimes there is a mistaken notion that Ifa initiates are somehow either better, or more spiritually evolved, or more powerful than Orisa initiates. This perspective misses the point. Every Orisa, and every religious society is made up of those who approach a particular spirit through what I call the path of least resistance. The awo I know and work with have a particular aptitude for being able to memorize things easily. They have a responsibility to make sure the tradition does not die; because is an oral tradition, we must have good memories to do our job as awo.

In Nigeria the oral traditions are related to specific villages with specific traditions and long histories of doing things a particular way. In the Diaspora many of our cities have become homes to dozens of different traditions some of which communicate well with each other, some of which don't. I am of the opinion that as awo we have a responsibility to begin to understand the different traditions, to make sure we are able to preserve them, to make sure we have the tools and resources to keep them alive under whatever circumstances we face in the future. Giving elder status to Ifa is not always supportive of this process. I met Oshungere this week, he has been an ori ate for over forty years. He has probably forgotten more than I will ever know about Orisa initiation. In our interaction he has deferred to me as an elder. In many ways that makes no sense to me. An elder is someone who knows more, someone who we can turn to as a teacher, someone who can guide us with their experience and wisdom. If we are going to begin a dialogue about preserving tradition we might need to be more flexible in terms of how we determine who is the elder and who is the student. Being flexible is consistent with my experience in Africa. In Ode Remo Ifa may appear to be senior to Orisa, but once one is behind closed doors and starts doing serous work, the seniority shifts depending on the ritual. For example, when Ifa participates in Ogboni, the Obatala elders direct the work.

I have an Ogun brother. When I am at his shrine and he is making knives, he is the elder. When he comes to Egbe Ifa he is one of the junior members of the society. My point is that we need to dialogue the issue of protocol and not simply assume that because we have received Ifa we should place our selves in a position of authority and leadership. This is true if for no other reason than the simple fact that Ifa teaches humility.

Ire
Awo Fa'lokun Fatunmbi

From the gele of Ta'Shia Asanti (Ayoola Omikunle Karade),
Priestess of Yemoja -

Greetings Family/Friends:

Please spread the word about these important events. All are connected to the well-being of our community and global African nation. The first two events will be in Los Angeles, the third is a conference held in Seattle, Washington with award-winning actor, AIDS/Africa activist and all out phenomenal brother-Danny Glover. Check it out! Hope to see you in the house!

Community Forum on Black SGL Issues and the Black Community

Saturday, August 2nd, 10 a.m.-12:00 at Coley's Restaurant off Florence and La
Brea in Inglewood, California, author and columnist, Earl Ofari Hutchinson will host a panel discussion on Black SGL ( same gender loving) people and the Black community as it relates to tolerance, inclusion and embracing diversity. Panelists include Macarthur Flournoy-Publisher of Arise Magazine, Jewel Thais Williams- founder and owner of Jewel's Catch One Night Club and The Village Health Clinic, Jasmyne Cannick--President of Bamboo Media, Eva Georgia--General Manager KPFK, Ta'Shia Asanti--Activist, Award-winning Journalist, Filmmaker and Poet.

This event is co-organized by Bamboo Media Productions and Sister Jasmine Cannick.

Ta'Shia Asanti on 90.7 KPFK Radio, Los Angeles

The same weekend, on the radio show, "Some of Us Are Brave" on 90.7, KPFK Los Angeles, an interview with Ta'Shia Asanti will air on the subject of SGL people of African descent and their inclusion in Traditional African Religious Healing Societies. Call Pacifica Radio in Universal City, California for more information.

Danny Glover, Baba Ifa Karade, Iya Ta'Shia Asanti to Speak at Conference and Panel in Los Angeles

September 25 & 26th, 2003 at Antioch University and LaQuinta Inn & Suites Hotel in Seattle, Washington, Northwest Writers Corporation and NSpirit Magazine hosts a conference and symposium on "The Psychological Impact of War on Culture and Film," featuring none other than the distinguished actor and activist, Danny Glover. Also featured will be best-selling author of four books on the cultural studies of Ifa, Baba Ifa Karade, and award-winning journalist, activist and poet, Iya Ta'Shia Asanti. Ta'Shia will speak on the impact of war on women and girls and the war on America's girls and women of color. Go to http://www.nwwriters.com/files/frames_files/glover.asp for more information.

THE ANNUAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IFA FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD IN SAN
BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2003 FROM 10:00AM UNTIL 8:00PM.

THE EVENT IS FREE!!! THE FOOD IS FREE!!!!
INDIVIDUALS, DANCE GROUPS, OR MUSIC GROUPS WISHING TO PARTICIPATE
SHOULD CONTACT ILE ORUNMILA COMMUNICATION IMMEDIATELY AT:
909.475.5851

EVERYONE IS CORDIALLY INVITED TO CELEBRATE IFA WITH US.
COME DANCE FOR THE ORISA; COME AND DANCE TO GOOD OLD FASHION
TRADITIONAL AFRICAN ORISA MUSIC. AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A BABALAWO OR IYANIFA TO ATTEND.

LET US MAKE IT A FAMILY AFFAIR! PLEASE CALL FOR VENUE AND DIRECTION:

CHIEF FAMA 909.886.6023
BABA IFABOWLE SOHMA SOMADHI 909.684.4752
AWO TOYIN OLADOKUN 310.277.27027
AWO SEGUN OLADOKUN 310 680-7488
AWO ADEMOLA OGUNDE 818. 431.4242

THIS IS A WONDERFUL TIME FOR ORISA WORSHIPERS WORLD-WIDE COMING TOGETHER AS FAMILY SHOULD IN THE NAME OF OLODUMARE, IRUNMALE AND
OUR ANCESTORS...

L.C.O.'s TRIP TO SANTIAGO DE CUBA

will take place from September 6th until the 13th, 2003

A TRAVEL PACKAGE & SCHEDULE OF EVENTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS SOON AS IT IS FINALIZED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY. THIS IS A LEGALLY-SPONSORED TRIP AS A CULTURAL ORGANIZATION.

+++

Mass for the Virgin of Charity of Cobre followed by Tambor for Oshun on September 8, 2003 * PLUS * other activities of interest to the Diaspora on an air-conditioned I.C.A.P. tourbus w/ driver.

Sponsored by-
L.C.O. Afrolatino Center
I.C.A.P. of Santiago de Cuba &
Casa del Caribe
Flight- New York- Miami - Santiago TBA
Hotel- TBA

Interested in going?
Contact Tour Organizer- Hiáli Quiñonez
afrolatino@lukumichurch.com

Many, many thanks to Iya Aboyade and Baba Fayemisi for all the good work setting up the new site. I am looking foward to more frequent updates, a working market place and an ebook section in the near future.

All of us at Awo Study Center would really appreciate any contributions from those who have something to share about their study of Ifa Orisa. Lets reach out and teach each other.

ire
Awo Falokun

July/2003

In June I was blessed to meet Iya Rodney at the Sango Temple in Trinidad. Iya Rodney is the eldest Orisa mother on the island. She was initiated by a man who was born in Africa, sold into slavery and lived through emancipation. He was from Ode Remo which is the
village of my Ifa lineage. Meeting Iya Rodney and feeling the remarkable link between her journey and my own spiritual quest was a deeply moving experience. Anyone who visits the island must visit the shrine of Sango and feel the ase buried in the soil.

Iya Sango Muwi hosted a remarkable rain ritual for Sango and Oya on property purchased by her temple and used as an Orisa training center and initiatory space. I encourage everyone to make the trip to Trinidad and experience one of the many annual Orisa festivals held on this special piece of land.

Baba Fatalami in Caracas performed the first Tefa from the lineage of Ode Remo in Venzuela. Congratulations to Baba and Iya and may Ifa continue to be seated well in their extended family.

Awo Study Center is proud to announce the addition of Iya Aboyade Omobola to the staff. She can hardly be called a stranger to computers. She began working with an Apple IIe (don't groan) in 1982 and has been upgrading, in both hardware and expertise, ever since.
She is currently designer and webmaster for the State of Illinois' workforce development website. A priestess of Oya, she also runs her own site, www.windwhispers.org, which features, among other points of interest, an upcoming new and improved online version of her former publication, Oya's Marketplace, now called Oya N'Soro - Oya Speaks! She will be in charge of maintaining the web site and we are looking forward to some exciting changes.

Click here to see Iya Ta'Shia Asanti's editorial response to Same Gender Love issues

June/2003

Identifying Unknown Ancestors

Ifa teaches that we stand on the shoulders of those who come before us. As part of the spiritual discipline of Ifa we regularly honor the ancestors of our family lineage. Ifa teaches that we cannot properly center ourselves in the world if we cannot call our ancestors going back seven generations.

Descendants of Africans brought to America through the forced migration caused by the international slave trade have serious difficulties tracing ancestors past the time of emancipation. The most detailed records from this period were gathered by the Freedman's Bank. The bank was established by Congress in 1865 to provide services to the African American community. The bank engaged in rampant exploitation, and fraud and eventually collapsed.

However bank officials kept detailed records of the names and relationships of account
holders. These records have been placed on computers through the efforts of the Mormon Church. The records are now available to the public on compact disk. The data base links 480,000 names of Africans living in the United States at the end of the Civil War.

The Freedman's bank records can be purchased from the Mormon Church distribution center at (800) 537-5971 listed in their catalogue as item 50120.

The following resource can be used by those people interested in tracing their Cuban ancestry. This makes a wonderful addition to the above resource, allowing people to research both African and Cuban lineages.

The Ancestors are an important cornerstone in the practice of Ifa, so it with great excitement that we present yet another resource to assist people in tracing their lineages.

For more information, please visit the Cuban Geneology Center website.

The following links are connections to Nigerian new sources and are important resources to keep up with current events in Nigeria and across Africa. We have also provided some links rich with historical information as well. We will continue to expand these resources in the future. If you have a link to share, please contact us for consideration.

Afrikontakt
Nigerian news subscription service

NigerianWEB
Nigerian news articles and more

Nigeria.Com
A great site with current issues and a search engine

Nigerian Government.com
Information on past and current issues in Nigeria, a nice resource

Naijamall.com
A site that deals with all aspects of Nigerian life, very nice site!

Dawodu.com
A site that focuses on the socio-political issues of Nigeria

Motherland Nigeria
One of the largest and most complete sources online for all things Nigerian, a source of many of the news links found here

May/2003

Babatunde Olatunji made the journey home on April 6th, 2003. Baba was seventy – six years old. In addition to being a master drummer, he was one of the kindest men I have every met. His honesty and sense of wonder was a real inspiration to me as I know it was for anyone who was blessed by the sound of his drums. In the early sixties Baba pioneered the introduction of traditional African music into mainstream American culture and introduced Ifa/Orisa songs on many of his albums. In the spirit of Ogun he was a mentor to countless men and women who aspired to learn the awo of the sacred drum. Our knowledge of music used in traditional West African ritual from a variety of cultures was blessed by his open heart and joy in sharing the wisdom of his ancestors. Baba will be remembered well. Ire lona Ikole Orun. For photographs and information on Baba’s career check http://african music.org/artists/olatunji.html.

I received good reviews from a recent Ifa conference in Boston on the role of women in Ifa with chief FAMA as a featured speaker. I would very much welcome a report from anyone who was in attendance so our readers can benefit from the dialogue that took place at that event.

In the bay area Chief Awodiran Okanlawon Agboola recently completed a serious of lectures hosted by Ile Orunmila Oshun in conjunction with Indigene Faithe of Africa (Ijo Orunmila Ato). Baba is an informative speaker and his deep love of Ifa and Orisa is always evident. Information on future events can be found at www. ileorunmilaoshun.org.

Iya Aboyade has set up a website focusing on healing and spiritual development. She has recently completed a book titled Healing the Ancestral Soul: A Collectively Individual Journey back to Spiritual Basics describing her experiences on the ancestral journey of self-discovery and her movement towards understanding the Spirit of the Wind. This is a journey that many of us will identify with and learn from, congratulations on a work well done. For more information check www.windwhispers.org.

Iya Tobe Melora Correal has published a wonderful book called Finding Soul on the Path of Orisa A West African Spiritual Tradition published by Crossing Press. The book expresses fundamental and important ideas in clear language. Good work Iya. This books should be avaliable at most books store ISBN 1-58091-149-8

Baba Max in Los Angeles has regular meetings where he makes use of Sky Circles which is his adaptation of a shamanistic tool used by traditional cultures in South Africa. He is also planning a trip to the World Summit 2003 of Egbe Ifa Obonori in Sao Paulo Brazil on June 7th and 8th. He has also published a book on the concept of Polarity and Odu. For more information you can check http://orunla.org/summit/.

Congratulations to Chief Bolu Fatunmise who in addition to being the Gbawoniyi of Ile Ife, the Baapitan of Iragbiji and the Bobaselu of Oshogbo was inducted as Sekinda of the Awoni council of diviners for the Oni of Ile Ife. Baba has recently moved and can be contacted at 2073 Flatshouls Road, Riverdale GA, 30296 – 28833 – USA, tel: (404) 559-1920 or (770)991-6691,(770)997-7575 Fax, http://www.ifaorisha.com, E-mail: bolu@bellsouth.net.

The First Annual International Ifa Conference “Understanding Ifa: The History, The Tradition, the Ase” will be held on May 16-18th at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado. Registration and more information is avaliable at www.sacreddor.com or contact: Ta'Shia Asanti (Ayoola Omikunle Karade)-(303)799-0506 Via e-mail, write to allthewords@aol. In a letter promoting the conference Iya writes: We greet you in the name of Orunmila and in the spirit of the Orisa, ancient cultivators of growth, expansion and spiritual truth. We are excited to announce that we expect an estimated 200 people to join us in Colorado for this, our first annual Ifa Conference.

Why We're Doing the Ifa Conference

Ifa, which originated in Ile Ife, Nigeria, among the Yoruba, is one of the oldest African cultural and spiritual traditions in the world. During the Maafa (the enslavement of Africans) Africans were prohibited by slave owners to practice their own traditions. The tradition of Ifa, which has an estimated 70 million followers in the world under various other systems and names (Lucumi, Candomble, Santeria, Voudoun and many more) was one of these traditions. Participants will have the opportunities to re-learn and affirm the traditions of the ancient ancestors from teachers, scholars, best-selling authors, priests and priestesses of Yoruba/Ifa tradition, and Ifa diplomats from all over the world. The deadline for early registration has been extended to April 15th at the cost of $50.00. After April 15th, the cost will be $60.00.

If anyone is interested posting listings for events or setting up links with this site please contract me. Adupe pupo.

Ire
Awo Falokun Fatunmbi
Egbe Ifa Ogunti Ode Remo