The Ọọ̀ni Ilè-Ifẹ̀, His Imperial Majesty, Dr.
Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II,arrived at Luís Eduardo Magalhães
International Airport in Salvador city, the Capital of Bahia state, on June 8,
2018, The word Ọọ̀ni is a reference to the contraction of words in the phrase “Ọ
ní òrìṣà” which means “He is in Orisha” or “He speaks Orisha” or “He is
Orisha”.
It is up to the Ọọ̀ni Ilè-Ifẹ̀ to primarily
care for the four hundred plus one (400+1) Orisha, as High Priest of the World
Cult of Orisha and traditional Ruler of Ile-Ifè, a city-state in Nigeria that
is recognized as the craddle of the Yoruba people and civilization.
Some Candomblé temples in our
city have direct ancestral links with the kingdom of Ilè-Ifẹ̀ and it was in this sense
that He visited the Ilê Odo Ogé Temple
better known as Pilão de Prata, whose religious leader is Babalorixá Air José
Sowzer, a direct descendant of Bamboshe an important African babalawo in the
history of the African diaspora. Babalorishá Air José Sowzer appears in the
image that illustrate that article, on the extreme right of the photo, while
the author of this post appears on the extreme left.
This image was captured by the
lens of the photographer of Jornal Correio da Bahia (Bahia Mail Newspaper) on June 10, at the emblematic Igreja da
Barroquinha, in our Salvador, Capital of the State of Bahia, when Ooni Adeyeye
declared Bahia as: “Bahia, Yoruba Capital of Americas”. Also appearing in the
photo, in addition to those already mentioned, from left to right, Dr. Arani
Santana, State Secretary of Culture, Dr. Francisco de Assis, representing the
Gregório de Matos Foundation (Secretary of Culture on the city level), the Ooni
of Ilé-Ifé, His Majesty Adeyeye Babatunde Ogunwusi, and Dr Fábya Reis, State
Secretary for the Promotion of Racial Equality.
One of the main objectives of
the visit was to strengthen the existing cultural affinities between
Afro-descendants in Brazil and Yoruba and Yoruba Afrodescendents people in
Nigeria, with a view to using the common cultural heritage in favor of a
cultural and economic partnership that will benefit both countries.
At the official reception on
the same occasion, we had the opportunity to address the Ooni by saluting with speaking
the language of our grand parentes in Ànàgó, saying:
Ẹ
káààsan
Orukọ
temi Ni Professor Adelson de Brito ti ọpọlọpọ ènìyàn mọ si Mawo Adelson. Mo Ki
Kabiyesi ọba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi Ojaja II, ni orúkọ temi ati
lorukọ gbogbo ẹgbẹ Ilê Odo Ogé
Mo
ki gbogbo awọn ọmọkunrin ati awọn awọn ọmọbiri
Kábiyèsí
o, ọba aláṣẹ, ikeji òrìṣà, ki adé pẹ lórí, ki bàtà pẹ lẹsẹ, ki ìrùkẹrẹ pẹ lọwọ,
Ki
ẹṣin ọba jẹ ko pẹ o, Kábiyèsí o"
Odùdúwà
gbe wa o, Baba
Kábiyèsí
oooo!
Ẹ
kàábọ̀!
Translation
Good
afternoon.
Greetings
to all ladies and gentlemen.
Hail,
His Majesty, mighty King (owner of the asé), second person of the gods, Hail
the Crown that adorns Your noble head, Hail the Footwear under Your feet. Hail
the Irukere that you hold in your hand. May your horse have the strength to
carry you / may you have long life. Hail, Oh, Majesty,
My
name is Professor Adelson better known as Mawo Adelson.
I
salute His Majesty King Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi Ojaja II,
Welcome!
