Our spiritual family

Among the Yoruba, different traditions and various ways of Òrìṣà worship have been preserved. All of the Òrìṣà worshippers who are members of the Spiritual Community of the Òrìṣà – Energies of Nature have been consecrated by priests and priestesses from Nigeria. We regard them as our spiritual parents, and we constantly turn to them in our search for knowledge and wisdom. They are:

Priests and priestesses

Adéṣínà Síkírù Sàlámì - Bàbá King, Ph.D., bàbálórìṣà

Bàbálórìṣà Bàbá King, our spiritual father, mentor, and orientator, was born in Abéòkúta, Nigeria. He has dedicated his life to the Òrìṣà and has become a notable priest and an eminent academic researcher of the Yoruba culture, philosophy, and theology. He is a specialist with regards to all the Òrìṣà, a master of the divination with 16 cowries, and an authority in the traditional Yoruba medicine and magic. He is a respected member of the Ògbóni society and olúwo Ìyá-mí.

Kàrímù Tájùdínì Ayóníléefá - Bàbá Ààrẹ, bàbáláwo

Priest Bàbá Ààrẹ was born in Abéòkúta, Nigeria. Because of his exceptional talent, he was selected by Ifá to become a bàbáláwo when he was a child. He is highly qualified and extremely respected in the bàbáláwo community and serves as a mentor to many Ifá students. Besides practicing Ifá initiations and rituals, he is a healer and a specialist in the Òrìṣà Orò. He is a respected member of the Ògbóni society.

Ṣómádé Ìdòwú Ifákúṣìmọ́ọ̀ - Bàbá Alárá, bàbáláwo

Priest Bàbá Alárá was born in Abéòkúta, Nigeria, in the family of Ifá priests. His destiny was to become a bàbáláwo, and he started his training when he was a child. He is highly qualified and extremely respected in the bàbáláwo community, serving as a mentor to many Ifá students. In addition to performing Ifá initiations and rituals, he is a master of traditional healing procedures. He is a respected member of the Ògbóni society.

Ayégbajẹ́jẹ́ Ifáfẹ́mi - Bàbá Àjàgùnmàlè, bàbálórìṣà

Priest Bàbá Àjàgùnmàlè was born in Abẹ́òkùta, Nigeria, and was trained to become an Òrìṣà priest since childhood. He is a specialist in Àjàgùnmàlẹ̀, Egúngún, Momo, Orò, and other Òrìṣà. He is a healer and has many apprentices who are studying under his tutelage to become Àjàgùnmàlẹ̀ specialists and masters of traditional medicine. He is a respected member of the Ògbóni society.

Dìísù Sáùdátù Èṣùfúnmiláyò - Ìyá Èṣù, ìyálórìṣà

Priestess Ìyá Èṣù was born in Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria, and was trained to become an Òrìṣà priestess since childhood. She is a specialist in Èṣù, Ọbalúwayé, Erinlẹ̀, and other Òrìṣà. She is a master of healing procedures and initiation processes. She is also a respected member of the Ògbóni society.

Akíbọ̀ Mojisọ́lá Àbẹ̀bí - Ìyálóde, ìyálórìṣà

Priestess Ìyálóde was born in Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria, in the family of priests and priestesses devoted to the Òrìṣà Ọmọlú Burùkú. She has been acquiring the knowledge related to Ọmọlú Burùkú and other Òrìṣà ever since childhood. She is a notable member of the Òrìṣà community and practices the divination with 16 cowries as well as all types of Òrìṣà initiations. She is also a specialist in the traditional Yoruba medicine and a respected member of the Ògbóni society.

Àyìndé Rísíkat Ìyáruka, ìyálórìṣà

Ìyálórìṣà Ìyáruka was born in Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria, in the family of Òrìṣà priests and priestesses. She is an Òrìṣà priestess specialized in the Òrìṣà Egúngún and has ascended to the highest hierarchical level of ìyá-àgan. She practices the divination with 16 cowries and performs all types of Òrìṣà initiations. She is also a specialist in the traditional Yoruba medicine and a respected member of the Ògbóni society.

Pópóọlá Áyíojútù - Ìyáṣọlá, ìyálórìṣà

Ìyálórìṣà Ìyáṣọlá was born in Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria, in the family of Òrìṣà priests. She is an Òrìṣà priestess specialised in the art of sacred spiritual markings on the body. She practices the divination with 16 cowries, performs initiations, and is a master of healing with plants. She is a respected member of the Ògbóni society. In 2022, the council of Ọmọlú Burùkú priests chose her as the ìyálórìṣà Ọlọmọlú ìlú Ìjeùn in Abéòkúta, where she manages the spiritual community and provides spiritual guidance to society. As a priestess of the Òrìṣà Ọmọlú Burùkú, she occupies the highest post. Ìyálórìṣà Ìyáṣọlá is also Ìyá Ṣìgìdì, responsible for performing the ritual of protection with the blessing of Èṣù Ṣìgìdì. She uses her vast knowledge to prepare the body for receiving the Àṣẹ, to shield the body against any kind of attack, and to ensure the body has the ability to reject any type of negativity from spiritual or human enemies.

Ọ̀ṣunfúnkẹ́ Àṣàní - Ìyá olósùn, ìyálórìṣà

Priestess Ìyá olósùn was born in Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria. Her father, who was called Ọnà, was born with the Àṣẹ of the Òrìṣà Ọbàtàlá, which she inherited. From her mother’s side, she inherited the Àṣẹ of the Òrìṣà Egúngún and Ọ̀ṣun. She has been practicing the art of sacred spiritual body markings since childhood. Although she is a young priestess, she has over 30 years’ worth of experience with initiations into Òrìṣà, and it is her distinct privilege to assist the grand ìyá. She is a respected member of the Ògbóni society. In 2022, the council of all the Egúngún priests of the Ogun state in Nigeria chose her as the ìyá-àgan for the Ogun state, the state of over six million citizens. This is the highest post a woman can occupy within the Egúngún cult and philosophy. She thus became the guardian and custodian of all the Egúngún priests, customs, norms, and rituals in the state and is ultimately responsible for absolutely everything in the state related to Egúngún. Whenever there is a problem or something needs to be done, she holds the authority with regards to the rituals and the promotion of anything related to Egúngún, including the promotion of societal peace and harmony.

Àmínù Àkànkẹ́ Òbíkẹ́mì - Ìyá Ẹgbẹ́, ìyálórìṣà

Ìyálórìṣà Ìyá Ẹgbẹ́ was born in Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria, in the family of Òrìṣà priests. She is an esteemed priestess of the Òrìṣà Ẹgbẹ́ and Ìgúnnukó Momo and is known as Ají gbé ìdà (which translates as “The one carrying the sword”) of the Ìgúnnukó society of Abéòkúta, boasting considerable experience in healing with plants. She also has over 40 years’ worth of experience with initiations into Òrìṣà and is a respected member of the Ògbóni society.

Tijani Ràṣídá Ifárìyíkẹ́ - Ìyá ẹlẹ́fun, ìyálórìṣà

Ìyálórìṣà Ìyá ẹlẹ́fun was born in Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria, in the family of devotees to the Òrìṣà Ọbàtàlá and Ọ̀ṣun. When she was a child, Ifá instructed her parents to initiate her into Ọbàtàlá and use the power of ẹ́fun to make sacred spiritual markings on her body. Any other means could be used to make body markings; however, her Àṣẹ originates with ẹ́fun. Even though she is a young priestess, she has over 30 years of experience with initiations into Òrìṣà, and it is her immense privilege to assist the grand ìyá. She is a member of the Ògbóni society.

Mọ́ríyá Òjẹ́yínká - Ìyá Ọ̀lọṣun, ìyálórìṣà

Ìyálórìṣà Ìyá Ọ̀lọṣun was born in Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria, in the family of Òrìṣà priests. She is a specialist in the Òrìṣà Ọ̀ṣun, Ọbalúwayé, Ìyá-mí, and Egúngún. In addition, she masters the art of sacred spiritual markings on the body. She has over 30 years’ worth of experience with initiations into Òrìṣà, and it is her distinct privilege to assist the grand ìyá. She is a respected member of the Ògbóni society.

Priests, masters of the talking drums

Ifádìímú Mòrúfù Àjàní - Ọkọ Ilémoṣú, Bàbá onílù

Onílù Ọkọ Ilémoṣú was born in Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria, in the family of drummers. He was initiated as a child and has trained to be an Òrìṣà priest ever since. He is a highly skilled drummer and singer and a specialist in invoking all the Òrìṣà, including Ọbàtàlá, Egúngún, Momo, Orò, and Ìyá-mí. As a master of his trade, he is passing the knowledge down to his apprentices, thus helping them become specialists in this art field. He is a member of the Ògbóni society.

Akíǹbílé Ràṣídì Àyàntúndé, Bàbá onílù

Onílù Àyàntúndé was born in Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria. He was initiated as a child and started to practice drumming early because Ifá revealed to his parents that he was blessed with the Àṣẹ of the Òrìṣà Àyàn. He is a highly skilled drummer and singer and a specialist in invoking all the Òrìṣà, particularly Egúngún, Momo, Orò, and Ìyá-mí. As a master of his trade, he is passing the knowledge down to his apprentices, thus helping them become specialists in this art field. He is a member of the Ògbóni society.

Abídèmí Ìdòwú Gbóríso, Bàbá onílù

Assistant priests and priestesses

Kàsímù Kúyẹ̀ - Ṣóńṣó – an assistant to the priest in various rituals, aṣogun

An assistant to the priest in various rituals, aṣogun Ṣóńṣó was born in Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria, in the family of devotees to the Òrìṣà Ìbéji, Ọ̀ṣun, and Ṣàngó. He is initiated into Orò, Egúngún, Ifá, Ògún, and many other Òrìṣà and is a highly skilled singer for the Òrìṣà as well. He is a member of the Ògbóni society.

Kọ́láwọlé Wàsíù Adéoyè - Bàbá Bólá – an assistant to the priest in various rituals, aṣogun

An assistant to the priest in various rituals, aṣogun Bàbá Bólá was born in Abẹ́òkúta, Nigeria, in an Ọbàtàlá family. He is initiated into Orò, Egúngún, Ifá, Ògún, and many other Òrìṣà and is a highly skilled singer for the Òrìṣà as well. He is a member of the Ògbóni society.

Olúkẹ́mi Sàlámì - Ìyá Ifá Kẹ́mi, ìyálórìṣà

Ìyálórìṣà Ìyá Ifá Kẹ́mi was born in São Paulo, Brazil, as the fourth generation of Òrìṣà priests on her paternal side. She was initiated into Ifá and Ìyá-mí soon after birth, and she has been developing her spiritual devotion ever since. With her inherited spiritual prestige and on the basis of spiritual orientation and preparation, she decided to follow the path of ìyálórìṣà. After decades of showcasing spiritual devotion and assisting her father, bàbálórìṣà Bàbá King, it was her own decision to accomplish her spiritual mission following the conclusion of her studies. She is a medical doctor, specialised in ophthalmology.

Olúṣade Sàlámì - Ìyá Ayédùn, ìyálórìṣà

Ìyálórìṣà Ìyá Ayédùn was born in São Paulo, Brazil, as the fourth generation of Òrìṣà priests on her paternal side. She was initiated into Ifá and Ìyá-mí soon after birth, and she has been developing her spiritual devotion ever since. With her inherited spiritual prestige and on the basis of spiritual orientation and preparation, she decided to follow the path of ìyálórìṣà. After decades of showcasing spiritual devotion and assisting her father, bàbálórìṣà Bàbá King, it was her own decision to accomplish her spiritual mission following the conclusion of her studies. She is also an entrepreneur with a bachelor’s degree in business.

Traditional Yoruba artists

Chief Adébísí Àdìsá - bàbálórìṣà, traditional Yoruba artist

Chief Adébísí Àdìsá is a bàbálórìṣà, who was born in Òṣogbo, Nigeria, in the family of priests. He was destined to become a priest and follow in the footsteps of his father, chief Àkànjí Adébísí, and he started his training when he was still a child. He is a respected member of the Ògbóni society. His artistic career began in 1980 under the mentorship of his father. He is the co-author of the magnificent buildings that are part of the Odùduwà temple in Abẹ́òkúta as well as the mastermind and author of all the original Yoruba architectural adornments in Odùduwà temple in Mongaguá, Brazil. He serves as a mentor to many young artists.

Our spiritual family