APOSTASY (RENUNCIATION OF FAITH) IN AFRICA SPIRITUALITY BY BABALAWO OBANIFA- Obanifa Extreme Documentaries
“I am not endeavoring to change
the future but to free the present, I am not codifying any cannon to fetter the
coming generation, but I am breaking the fetters that some of our fathers mistakenly made for us , from my practice and
experience over the years, I have concretely come to conclusion that it is better to investigate yourself, than to repeat a creed ‘’ Babalawo
Obanifa
In this work Babalawo
Obanifa will explain the concept and consequences of Apostasy (renunciation
of faith) in Africa Spirituality. Note, I used the word Africa Spirituality,
because the scope of this current work is to cover every aspect of indigenous
spiritual practice in Africa. From personal experience, observations and research
over the years. I can authoritatively write and lay down rules and regulations on
this concept under discussion for present and future practitioners of Africa Spirituality,
be it Ifa practitioners and any Orisa and divinities devotee Indigenous to
Mother Africa. It is instructive to note that author of this work (Babalawo
Obanifa) is a practicing diviner and an authoritative leading Ifa and Orisa theologian.
The positions explain in this work can be rely upon as authoritative practicing
guide for practitioners of Africa Indigenous faith of this generation and
future. This work will examine inter alia; What is Apostasy? Reasons that
can give rise to Apostacy, Consequence of Apostasy in Indigenous Africa
Spirituality, , Prevention of Apostasy. The future practitioners should follow
the lay down procedures I explain in this work, whenever they face or handling
any issue related to Apostasy.
What is Apostacy (Renunciation
of faith)?
Literately Apostasy simply
mean the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief or principle.
When you refuse to no longer follow or practice certain creed, that is what I mean
by Apostasy within the context of this work. Wikipedia the free Encyclopedia give
an all -encompassing definition of apostasy thus: “Apostasy (/əˈpɒstəsi/; Greek:
ἀποστασία apostasia, "a defection or
revolt")
is the formal disaffiliation from, abandonment of, or
renunciation of a religion by a person. It can also be defined within the
broader context of embracing an opinion that is contrary to one's
previous religious beliefs.[2]
One who undertakes apostasy is known as an apostate. Undertaking
apostasy is called apostatizing (or apostasizing – also spelled apostacizing).
The term apostasy is used by sociologists
to mean the renunciation and criticism of, or opposition to, a person's
former religion, in a technical sense, with no pejorative connotation.
Occasionally, the
term is also used metaphorically to refer to the renunciation of a non-religious
belief or cause, such as a political party, social
movement, or sports team.
Apostasy is
generally not a self-definition: few former believers call themselves apostates
due to the term's negative connotation.
Many religious
groups and some states punish apostates; this may be the official policy of a
particular religious group or it may simply be the voluntary action of its
members. Such punishments may include shunning, excommunication,
verbal
abuse, physical violence or even execution.[3]
Examples of punishment by death for apostates can be found in the Sharia law and
they are currently imposed on apostates in certain Islamic countries. As of
2014, about a quarter of the world’s countries and territories (26%) had anti-blasphemy
laws or policies,[4]
of which 13 nations, all Muslim-majority, have the death penalty for apostasy.[5]
”
What will be
deem as Apostasy In Africa Indigenous Spirituality?
Abandonment of priest/priestess
hoods- In many lineages in Africa community
back then, when a child is born. There is a ritual known as Esentaye/Ikosedaye (the
first Ifa divination conduct for new born baby to ascertain his/her life path).
During that rite it may be reveal that such child is a priests/priestess of certain
deities, such as been a Babalawo, Orisa priests/ priestess of any kind. Many
are time when such child grows up, he/she may choose to deviate or chose not to
take up such calling. Such act will be deemed as apostasy. It usually attracts consequence
and punishment, The Maximum punishment for apostasy of this nature in Indigenous
Africa spirituality is that such child will be struggling financially and be experiencing
unconsummated fortune in his/her life pursuit. He /she may be in other very
lucrative and prestigious profession, but he/she will have nothing to show for it.
It is instructive to note that there is no death penalty either physically
or spiritually for any form of apostasy in Africa spirituality. For any practicing diviner who did not know
how to conduct Ikosedaye or anybody who want have general knowledge on it should
vide my previous work on it via this link:https://www.babalawoobanifa.com/2019/04/meanings-of-esentayeikosejayeikosedaye.html.
Spate of modernity and coming of colonial religion such as Christianity and Islamism
to Africa have increases the spate of apostasy of this nature. This has also knowingly
or unknowingly cause untold hardship in the life of many.
Abandonment of
Family rites- In many communities in Africa,
some family have rites and ritual they perform on their children at birth, some
for their pregnant woman and some for bride and groom that are about to marry.
Due to the spate of modernity and westernization many people deliberately abandoned
this rite, some parent known of those rites, but because they have received western
education or they are now a Christian or Muslim they will ignore it. I have seeing
in many instances were people will say the blood of Jesus has set me free from
custom and tradition ,but in actual fact the consequence of such negligence
still hunt their life in various form
such as experience protracted illness that devoid medical diagnosis, inability to
get marry despite been fit and proper, infertility and inability to maintain financial
equilibrium.
Abandonment of Indigenous
spirituality and covert to other Religion : This is referring to renunciation of one's faith and believe ,which eventually
result in conscious abandonment of practice of Africa Spirituality by any practitioners
both in word or through deed This when you have been practicing indigenous Africa
spirituality and you suddenly decided either due to social pressure,stigima or
where people of other religion manage to convince you either with education,
gift, or you face ostracizations ,or people you practice same faith together
are doing thing that are detrimental to your well being which pressurize you to
dump your believe. In such instances you
now stop any form of activities relate
to indigenous practice, some will even bring their paraphernalia or instrument
out or take it to churches or mosque to burn it. Some will throw them in the
river etc. Ifa wisdom which is the guiding compass of Africa Spirituality state
clearly that in such circumstance there is usually consequence. The maximum punishment
for this kind of Apostasy is physical suffering, economic and financial hardship,
loss of job and trade, sometime protracted ailment. But there is no death
penalty for any form of Apostasy in Africa spirituality.
For example, from
personal experience of the author of this work, in many years back despite having
the revelation from birth to practice as priest, I choose not to, at certain
stage when I am growing up. My own case is partial repudiation then. I still
practice for myself, but I chose not to attend to anybody such as attending to clients,
I love to be a corporate man, I even adopt Christian name known as Joshua which
is still on most of my record till date.
But the consequence is not sweet, the western education I want to abandoned the
practice for come with a lot of challenges for me despite the fact that I know
myself that I have a very bright and smart cerebral. I quickly retrace my steps
that year, before I started to get thing right in term of my education back then.
My own case was still good, I did not renounce totally, I just choose not to practice
fully and be attending to clients as require of me. But immediately I retrace my
steps despite the mistake, I start to use the gift and knowledge I have acquire
to help people, I did not only do that alone I even propagate. Things change for
me. I was able get thing right in term of my western education and other sphere
of my life that catch my interests. My own case is good, If some do what I did,
it may be more devastating for them.
Abandonment of Ifa or Orisa After Initiation- There
are instances where people get initiated to Ifa or certain Orisa . But due to
certain reason, such as :
Failure to meet
their need: Some do get initiated to
Ifa to acquire certain need such money, position, power, fame, to get marry or
have children etc. But due to mis application or incompetence on the part of their
Oluwo,god father or mother etc. They will grow weary and decide to dump the practice.
Social Stigma – To some up till today anything relating to Africa spirituality
is evil. Due to this misconception some will decide to drop the practice after
they have achieve their purpose with it.
Anachronistic
and Unimproved Nature of practice of Some Practitioners: Some practitioner can due to ignorance still have the
stone age practice, Intimidation of the novice and creating unnecessary tense
and scary atmosphere and looks to intimidate people. Due to spate of advancement
in human civilizations in this century, people can no longer cope with anything
that have no aesthetic essence. This has made a lot of people to renounce indigenous
faith.
Hypocrisy on
the path of people that people perceive as leader in Indigenous practice- Today many people that come to revere position in indigenous
practice either by hereditary or election are Hypocrite. They are not there to add value
to peoples life, they are there to feed fat on the fear and ignorance of the populace
.Some time they even lack the sound knowledge
the spirituality as show in the
character and their ways of life ,from
my personal observation of their life with what they do to their own family
members not to talk of stranger. In fact
some of them are ignorance of the message of Ifa scripture. When wise and
rational thinker take note of such people, they see the system as sham.
What ever the case abandoning your practice does not always
bring good consequence.
Reasons that
can give rise to Apostasy
Deceptions: Deception is number
one thing that normally lead to apostasy in any religion or spirituality. There
is a lot of fake and false indigenous practitioners,
who hide under the guise of practicing indigenous spirituality to commit fraud,
sexual immorality such as sleeping with other people wife or husbands , Given of false hope and predictions,
Misleading the society .Extortion in the name of Indigenous faith .Having
Oluwo who is there to exploit you or your
family without value in return. Treating people that you will kill or harm them
if they did not give you certain money or if they did not perform certain
ritual that something bad such as death, sickness or loss will happen to them.
This is age of enlightenment society is tired of such nonsense.
Betrayal of Public
interest and Abuse of privilege Position and power- Situation where people who ought to guide society or community
right collect bribe to give misleading information. I.e in the olden day for King to ascend a throne,
divination will be conduct to choose among the candidates. This day once an Awo
collect bribe of millions and luxurious car ,they will go to public to announce a
candidate even though no consultation
was made not to talk of even manipulating it. No reasonable man in his/her
right sense will take such clown personality serious no matter how flamboyant
they appear in playing to the gallery. It shown they don’t even know what they are doing, not to talk of consequence of
it.Hence many intellectual repudiate indigenous practice when the see such rot.
Persecutions- Persecution can be in two forms; External and Internal
persecution. External persecution is from people who adopt colonial religion
such as Christianity and Islam. Due to Ignorance some people in this category do
try to treat anyone who practice indigenous faith with contempt and disdain. Or
see them from perspective of evil or been inferior to them. Some time they even
face ostracization. These pressure from a lot of meaningful but ignorance person who occupy important
position in the society has make a lot of indigenous practitioner to renounce
their believe in African spirituality. But when I am growing up some smart
parent who are ardent Indigenous faith practitioners are smart enough to insert
Christian or any foreign name among the
name on the record of their children. They do this mainly to make them have
comfortable interaction and not face a lot of discrimination when they come in
contact with anybody who is not of same view with them ,but that is mandatory
for them to get his/her favor in one way or the other. In my own
on opinion, I don’t think parent should use this method any more, is of no use.
African names are more meaningful and better. And the world has advance and thing are now better and people are nor
better informed than in eighties and seventies .
Internal persecution- This is persecution by indigenous practitioner persecuting their
self. Hatred, competition. This is common in Ifa practice . That is even why in
Yoruba land as at toady there is no uniform Ifa practice. They persecute one
another. They cannot withstand success of another person. When they see you succeeding,
They want to see your fall so that you will be coming their house to attend to
their client, try to use other people to boost ego, Be their aid that will be
travelling with them around to boost their ego . This act of wickedness have made
meaningful people that can contribute to development of Idegenous Africa
spirituality move to other religion or faith. They did same thing to me but I defeated
them, If you have access to this work in future whether I am still alive or dead
,you should not follow the path of those people ,non of my disciples should persecute
one another ,none of my followers should seek downfall of his fellow devotee,
They should preach love, peace ,they should facilitate the growth of one another. Most importantly
they should learn and imbibe the spirit of given and helping the society by adding value to the life of anybody that
come across their path. They should prove the world that they are advancing personality,
that anybody who associate with them will achieve same. And I assure you they will.
I created entirely new spiritual system
from the Old one ,. I have made it to undergoes expurgation of old defect of
practice of wickedness and greed, threat and fear and secrecy, our goal is
impact and values. Not the old system of business as usual. Never persecute your
fellow devotees . Whenever dispute occur is ether you settle it amicably or
forgive and forget, persecution of one another can scatter you as it is currently scattering the old order. Never persecute
if you belong to this order, You should love and admit merit when you see one.
Temptations:Temptation is part of the thing that is leading to Apostasy.People
can be tempt with wealth,woman,civilasiation ,persuasion and sometime technological
and scientific advancement .
Consequence
of Apostasy in Indigenous Africa Spirituality
The Maximum
consequence for apostasy in Africa Spirituality as point out by Ifa is restlessness and unbalance
life. And it is the deity or divinities their self that have the jurisdiction
to inflict such punishment. In African spirituality it is wrong for anybody to force anyone to practice
certain spirituality or faith or threat anyone physically or spiritually because
he /she did not practice your creed or he /she has been practicing and choose
not to again. You should not force any body to practice or not commit apostasy,
You should not treat bodily harm ,violence or death or any form of physical or spiritual
punishment for anybody to practice or to continue to practice indigenous faith.
But you can always admonish and advise even implore .
I
have seen instance where people say that their Oluwo threatining them with death
or certain disease. There is no any Ifa scriptural stanza to back up such misconduct.
However
in Odu Ifa Irosun Otua . Ifa make it expressly
clear that there is usually a punishment for ardent Awo who commit apostasy . This is what
ifa says on it:
Ponpola
Abaso Jingbini -Jingbini
Dia
fun Ifakolade
Eyi
tii se Elemeso Awo
Ifakolade
Elemeso Awo
To
se tan to ni ohun fe sin ifa mo
Ifakayode
Elemeso Awo
Eese
to lo fe ti Ifa mon
OOsa
to ba gbeni la n isn
To
ba lo sin Ifa mon
Atosan
ati ooru
Igi
ti n gba gab oko ki n sun
Translation
Ponpola
with expensive gorgeous dress
This
was Ifa message for Ifakolade
Who
is Elemeoso Awo
Ifakolade
Elemeso Awo
Who
suddenly decided to commit apsotacy against Ifa
Why
did chose to commit apostacy aginst ifa
It
is deity that favor one;s that one worship
If
you say don’t worship ifa again
Day
and night
The
tree that clear bushes in the wall will never sleep
Remedy
and rehabilitation of life after Apostacy
1.
Many are time when people commit apostasy.
What is it that they need to do? The first things is for such person to have Ifa
consultation and do proper ebo and etutu
2.
Secondly
the Person need to venerate and appeases the divination in question
3.
The
person need to reactivate and reconsecrate the deity in question
Prevention
of Apostasy
1
Peace and love
: Any body in this order should preach
peace, Preach peace and love. Leave an exemplary life that is worthy of emulation . Shun hypocrisy
and deception in your practice. Shun violence of any sort. To achieve this you
must master the psychology of human mind , You must not deny the truth of other
religion ,you must not use violence to pass your idea and creed to other people
.You must not engage in religion or personality persecution of any of your fellow human being .You should know that it utterly impossible to violently
robb man of their opinion.
2.Expurgation
of defect in old Creed- It is high time we Expunge some obnoxious ceremonial
part of our spirituality that we known our self that it is not , serving any purpose
but it is there for the ceremony of
it but it is repugnant to advancement of
human civilization . We should embrace the more practical and scientific solution
and value oriented part of our spirituality and project same to lime light.
3.Exploitation
and threatening of novice and uninitiated through scary dress code, verbal abuse
or writing or in conduct whether express on imply should be avoid.
4.Any
act of internal persecution of one another for sake of money and shameful fight
and defaming of others all in the name
of ego and seeking for cheap popularity and legitimacy should stop.
Anybody who haves access to this work after me and is in the
leading role in this order, should be
able take the time and season and level of advancement obtainable at the time
that he is leading this order and improve on my works, whether this work or any
of my theological thought and writings . I can not teach a man anything, I can
only make them to think.
Copyright
:Babalawo Pele Obasa Obanifa, phone and whatsapp contact :+2348166343145,
location Ile Ife osun state Nigeria.
IMPORTANT NOTICE : As regards the article above, all rights reserved, no part of this article may be reproduced or duplicated in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying and recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission from the copyright holder and the author Babalawo Obanifa, doing so is considered unlawful and will attract legal consequences
IMPORTANT NOTICE : As regards the article above, all rights reserved, no part of this article may be reproduced or duplicated in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying and recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission from the copyright holder and the author Babalawo Obanifa, doing so is considered unlawful and will attract legal consequences
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