𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐬 Ìṣẹ̀ṣ𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 “𝐈𝐝𝐨𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬”? Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not just a tradition—it is the wellspring of our identity, the foundation of our essence, and the soul of our people. According to Odù Ifá Ògúndá Ọ̀wọ́nrín, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe refers to one’s origin—our source—symbolised by our biological father... and mother, our Òrì (destiny), and the sacred Ikin of Ifá. Before the intrusion of foreign religions, our ancestors held their indigenous faith in the highest esteem. They honoured Olódùmarè and the Irúnmọlẹ̀ through sacred rituals, guided by wisdom passed from generation to generation according to Ifá. Sadly, a deep misunderstanding rooted in colonial indoctrination and foreign arrogance has led many to mock or vilify our way of life. They call us “idol worshippers” without understanding what that term truly means. But who, in truth, are the idol worshippers? Is it those who, in reverence to their ancestors, pour libation, recite Odù Ifá sacred verses, and honour the divine spirits of nature and the universe—Or those who bow five times daily to a land they've never seen, kissing a black stone in Mecca, chanting foreign tongues, and spending billions yearly to perform rites around lifeless monuments? Is it those who visit Jerusalem to weep before a wall and return home to worship “men of God” who manipulate, extort, and enslave them emotionally and financially? Let it be clear: we who uphold Ìṣẹ̀ṣe do not worship lifeless objects—we venerate living principles. We worship through the Òrìṣà, the manifestations of divine energies. We honour the ancestors who walked before us. That is not idolatry. That is Yorùbá indigenous religion integrity. To call us “idol worshippers” is to parrot the voices of Arab and European colonisers who labelled our Irúnmọlẹ̀ as demons to justify their own domination. It is mental slavery—nothing more. What many call “idolatry” is only a reflection of their ignorance—programmed by centuries of colonial manipulation and Arab indoctrination, crafted to strip us of our truth. We who practise Ìṣẹ̀ṣe are not ignorant. We are not cannibals. We are not demon-worshippers. We are the custodians of a sacred system that predates any Abrahamic text. Our worship is built on Ọ̀sẹ̀, Ìtadógún, Ìbọ, Ìwúre, Ètùtù, and Ìṣègùn. For too long, we have encouraged religious tolerance—not because we are weak, but because we hold 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒐𝒏. But now, we must speak boldly: 𝑻𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍. We will no longer accept discrimination, humiliation, or condemnation on our ancestral soil. We reject any attempt—be it social, political, religion or spiritual—to silence or erase Ìṣẹ̀ṣe from our communities. No child of the soil should spit on their own heritage while bowing to foreign altars. Let us remember: A society that mocks its own roots while glorifying the myths of others is already halfway buried. In contrast, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe encourages knowledge, discipline, accountability, justice, and alignment with nature’s laws. It respects the balance of life, unlike systems that incite bloodshed in the name of “faith” or promise imaginary heaven rewards for violence. Let’s revisit our sacred texts. Ìrẹ́ńtẹgbè warns: Ohun abí wọn bí kìí wù wọ́n Ti ẹni ẹlẹ́ni níí yá wọn lára A dífá fún Ìwọ̀dẹ̀rẹ̀, tí ó salábarìn ẹja Ire tí mo wá tí ọwọ́ ọ̀ mi ò tó Ìwọ̀dẹ̀rẹ̀, Ifá ni ó fàá fún mi Meaning The things they were born with never fascinated them But become fascinated by the culture of the strange land These were Ifa’s declaration to Ìwọ̀dẹ̀rẹ̀, the Hook Who would become the fish’s companion. The riches I am looking for, that my hands cannot reach Ìwọ̀dẹ̀rẹ̀ Ifá please make it possible for me > “A town that forgets its roots will perish.”show more

BABA AJISEFA

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