Yoruba has a very rich oral tradition. Information, myths, history, folktales, folklores, norms, music, philosophical beliefs and values are passed from one generation to the other. A typical Yoruba family (parent) cherishes creating time to sit their offspring down and teach them about their own cultural heritage.
In Yoruba Land, when a grandmother or grandfather passes on it is symbolically synonymous to a library getting burnt. These elders are loaded with a series of obscure folks that help shape morals of the Yoruba descendants.
I can always attach the dearth of this great practice to westernization. Until the invasion of the Global West , - like the Ancient Greeks, Han Dynasty, Ashantis Mughal empire and the Assyrians, Yoruba among other African tribes had stories on art, love, heroes, villains. This has helped shape their worldview and this mythology has in some ways influenced the world.
I claimed whoever possess Good Character (Ìwà) has everything.
"Ìwà Pẹ̀lẹ̀, Aya Ọ̀rúnmìlà"
Ọ̀rúnmìlà is the Yoruba deity of wisdom, knowledge and omniscience according to Yoruba myth. Ọ̀rúnmìlà was a man of valour. He is a respected and significant symbol in the history of the Yorùbás. The custodian of the Ifá Corpus is loved by all because of the high level of knowledge and divination he possesses.
Orunmila baba Àgbọnmèrègún had once lived on earth and aided mankind with his infinite wisdom. He presides over divination, information and knowledge. Esu presides over the crossroad and Ìwà pẹ̀lẹ́ presides over character. Esu was Orunmila's best friend, while Iwa was Orunmila's wife.
These relationships are arguably the two most important in Yoruba cosmology, and they are not superficial.
Iwa Pele was the daughter of Sùúrù (Patience) and the most beautiful lady in town. Everybody cherished her and wished to have her as their wife. Meanwhile a special sacrifice was required to select who marries this young angel.
Ọ̀rúnmìlà as the custodian of knowledge and Ifá Corpus was able to realize the needed materials for the sacrifice and won the offer to marry her.
Becoming the husband of ìwà, Ọ̀rúnmìlà increased in Wealth, Respect, Dignity, and Riches. He is loved by everyone and people wanted to associate with him.
In Yoruba land, many things are bound with a condition. When Ọ̀rúnmìlà did the sacrifice, what was revealed to him was that he must not maltreat or raise his voice at wife.
Years into the marriage, one day, Ọ̀rúnmìlà returned home and food was not ready. Tricked by Èṣù Èbìtà (not Ọ̀dàrà) - Ọ̀rúnmìlà was upset and he yelled at Ìwà angrily. Iwa accepted the abuse and patiently cooked the food which they later ate together.
Ìwà was sad and cried a lot, Èṣù Èbìtà came to her and tricked her that Ọ̀rúnmìlà didn't love her, and he didn't value her to have yelled so angrily, Èbìtà tricked and advice she leave his house.
Very early the next day, Ìwà packed her belongings and returned to heaven. (remember I said Iwa was a demi - god of Character).
When he realized Ìwà had left his custody, Ọ̀rúnmìlà searched for her and didn't find her. He visited 7 towns, and 7 kings (Alárá, Ajerò, Ọwáràngún àga.... etc) for 7 days and Iwa was nowhere to be found.
In a very short time, Ọ̀rúnmìlà started losing his respect, he lost his dignity, his riches, and he started attracting hatred. Special historical archives revealed Orunmila's white regalia was stained during the search. Strange things began to happen.
After days of fruitless search, Ọ̀rúnmìlà was to consult another Ifá priest to get solutions to his problem. He later realized Ìwà had returned to heaven, He apologized and appeased that Ìwà should return to his household but she insisted she would never come back in human form.
Ìwà Pẹ̀lẹ̀ later resolved to be with him in the spirit. Gradually, everything he had lost came back to him and he regained his dignity, respect and riches.
This folkloric and yoruba mythological narrative extols the virtues of a patient man. It reveals the importance of patience and good character and creates a mental picture of the life of man who possesses patience and the one that doesn't.
A man who lacks patience would lose a lot of things. patience and good character work together. Having good character will make people move close to you. Èjì ogbè and Ogbè Ogunda are among the odù(s) that speak a lot about the virtues of Ìwà (good behavior).
Ìwà pẹ̀lẹ́ is a concept that could be translated as “gentle and balanced character”. It is a behaviour expected of all initiates. Iwapele is ultimately the basis of moral conduct in Yoruba culture and a core defining attribute of an omoluabi.
Kẹ́hìndé Àyànbọ́ádé is a multimedia Journalist and a young media entrepreneur and the Managing Publisher of Naija Metro News (naijametro.com.ng).
He has covered notable government functionaries, Oyo State House of Assembly, Oyo State Police Command, Nigeria Customs Service to mention few.
He started journalism in 2016 and has bylines with notable news organizations including The Punch Newspapers, The Nation Newspaper, Inside Oyo etc.
He is a graduate of Mass Communication from The Polytechnic, Ibadan and one of the best graduating students of his set.
Kẹ́hìndé who loves to write about Yoruba culture and tradition have many articles to his name.
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