ORISA KORIKOTO BY BABALAWO OBANIFA-Obanifa extreme documentaries

ORISA  KORIKOTO BY BABALAWO OBANIFA-Obanifa extreme documentaries

In this work Babalawo Obanifa will make comprehensive documentaries about Orisa Korikoto. Orisa korikoto is one of important Orisa in Yoruba land that there are dearth of information about. In fact I have not come across the work of any Babalawo of Yoruba descent that write or  document any comprehensive information about Orisa Korikoto, Because the adherent of this Orisa are scanty . The few information make available on Orisa Korikoto by few Babalawo from cuba which is available on internet about Orisa Korikoto is absolute distort version of real Information about this Orisa. I can authoritatively state in this work that as at the period that I am writing this work there  are no any original or genuine information about Orisa Koriko in any printed or online information  format. The death of information about this Orisa is due majorly to the lack of detail information about this Orisa by many prominent Babalawo who ought to have bring this information limelight. The major focus Of Babalawo Obanifa in this work is to document original version of information about this Orisa as well point out the erroneous misleading information out there that should not be pass over to the next generation.

Original version of Information About Korikoto As Document By Babalawo Obanifa

Koori  which is popularly known as korikoko in Yoruba land here, some part Of Cuba refer to this Orisa as Korin-koto. The actual names of this Orisa is Koori. Korikoto which is the popular name of this Orisa is derive from her habit of gathering and playing with children. Konto(children  mode of playing). Koori + konto = Korikoto.Korikoto  is an Orisa whose gender is female and  he is main areas of spiritual coverage is healing the sick, maintenance of children, taking cure of infertile and protection of a family,town,community a nation etc. from diseases. Korikoto is not an Irunmole .Korikoto is an Orisa because she lives as human being who later undergo posthumous deification as an Orisa due to her extra ordinary humanistic life style.

I have ransacked myriad of different Odu Ifa available both the one in print and Oral form, I have made series of personal investigation to know about the birth and parent and Koori.  No living Babalawo of this generation as well and oral information pass down to us was able to give us the name of the mother and father of koori. Due to lack of documentation in the past this fact might have get lost. Every information on Koori start from when he was about age sixteen.

In ancient time .Koori is said to one of the subjects of Oba Olofin. No body regards Koori as anything because he was from very humble background. She is described by elders as a very humble and timid person who can easily get afraid at the instances of anything. She loves to be in company of children and take good care of the children. Other said she lost his parent when she was still young hence nothing is known about her parent. The only noticeable thing about this young maiden name Koori when she was young was that she was very compassionate about the infirm and the sick. And she remains virgin who publicly refuse to have sexual affairs with any man. Hers name was originally known as Koori. She assume the name Korikoto when her habit of gathering youngster and children together telling them fairy tale in the moon and even entertaining them with her own resources.

Korikoto come to limelight due to pestilence that struck the city and the Aremon Olofin (prince) was also part of the victims. The herbalists in the city have become very oppressive, domineering, and fraudulent as oral tradition . It is worsen health condition of the town that make  Olofin to send for Babalawo who make Ifa consultation for the them.Odu Ifa Iwori meji appear.Ifa reveal to them that they should empower a virgin that have never have sexual intercourse with any man before with healing power of water. This is what bring attention to Koori. She was choosing and spiritually empower and consecrated for healing. The only thing she demand in return for this great service is annual children festival. Which Olofin Obliged. She perform incredibly well as a healer, healing children both young and old. Oral account have it that healing power of Koori-kooto is massive that all other healer in the city begin to lose relevance. This is what make them conspire to bring Koorikoto down. They know she is a lover of children and a lot of parent do allow their children to stay with her,play with her and eat with her. Her enemies spiritually attack some of the children that eat food from her and these children begin to die in quick succession. This make  a lot of parent accused her that those children eat from her. This event sadden her and he had no option than to seek counsel ,unknown to her that she is seeking counsel from enemy who knows that children is her strength. He was advised not to feed other  people children anymore .She should be eating whatever she have  alone.

The first year she carry out this advises. She killed an hen and singlehandedly eat it.To her utter surprise when she is going to stream for annual celebration of Odun ewe(children festival) no children follow her. He repeats the same method for three consecutive year. It on her way back the third year that the that the consecrated pot she carry fell which is a taboo ,It must not fall. She went straight to face the wall and earth open to cover her up. Though some authority in the tradition believe that he did not enter ground but enter inside wall hence her shrine is always set against the wall She was later deify as Orisa..

Symbol or Icon of Korikoto

The symbol Of Orisa Korikoto is usually a big calabash  containing owo eyo(cowries) digi/awoji(mirror) Igbaja (babay straper/belt) Osun(camwood) powder) Aso omo(babies clothe) . These icon if you want to set it up as shrine it must be placed against the wall. Nothwistanding I see that Afrocuba are using Horn as Icon of korikoto.I cant explain their basis for that.

Brief Correction of Some information about Orisa Korikoto

 My correction will start from the work of some prominent Babalawo of Yoruba decent who have write some erroneous information about korikoto. For example in the work of  Chief Dayo Ologundudu he write that, Korikoto was a barren woman who become Orisa to bless women who seek to have children. She is the orisa of the children she disappear into the wall looking for her children.

Commentaries and Correction

With due respect to the person concern that work is misleading. Korikoto never become a grown of woman before she enter the ground.Korikoto never marry not to talk of whether she will be childless. It is true that he disappear into the wall but it is not as  result of looking for her children. You can  read and revises my earlier narration about her fall.

 There is also an Afrocuban tradition  which narrate that Kori is barren woman who in attempt to have a child give birth to a defective baby with horn on his head. And she went to ide the child in the forest ,but in her attempt to find the child back she loss her life. This is also misleading. She remain virgin as shell never marry through . The cuba tradition version of myth about Korikoto is also not valid.

To been sincere with you in my research I have never come across any initiated in the priesthood of Korikoto here in Yoruba land. Though I learn that In Cuba tradition people do receive her crown. Korikoto I will say have more followers in the new world than home here.

Copyright: Babalawo Pele Obasa Obanifa, phone whatsapp contact : +2348166343145, location Ile Ife osun state Nigeria.

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