- Safiu Kehinde
Media entrepreneur and Ovation Magazine publisher, Dele Momodu, has cautioned Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, over his criticism of Yoruba traditional religion.
Momodu left a note of caution to the Iwo monarch while reacting to a recent video of the King where he called the attention of government and security agencies to a new deity demanding human sacrifice.
The publisher, who was installed as Aare of Iwo, pointed out to series of alleged attacks on yoruba religion by Oba Abdulrasheed including claims of him describing the religion as idolatry and dangerous.
In his reaction to the video on Instagram, Momodu maintained that every nation, tribe, or people has its own religion with none inferior to the other.
He claimed that there is nowhere in Yoruba religion that human sacrifice is recommended or condoned.
“You’ve been accused of attacking Yoruba religions as being idolatry and dangerous.
“As a Yoruba scholar Sir and as your Aare, who I know you love so much, and it is reciprocal, I wish to humbly place this in public domain.
“Every nation, people, race or tribe, has its own religion. Yoruba is not, and cannot be an exception.
“I attended Religious Studies at the University of Ife as part of my elective courses and studied world religions. Sir, no religion is inferior to the other.
“This is why despite the global popularity of certain religions, traditionalists have continued to thrive.
“There’s nowhere in Yoruba religion that human sacrifice is recommended or condoned.” Momodu wrote.
He further explained the concept of Ifa, Babalawo, and Onisegun, which he related to the Chinese tradition.
“Ifa is regarded as a science and BABALAWO is nothing other than an Oracle who plays the role of what is known in the so called civilised world as Medical Doctor who’s versed in diagnostics.
“The ONISEGUN is a pharmacist who specializes in prescribing traditional herbs/medicine.
“The Chinese acupuncture is very popular and efficacious yet the majority of Chinese are neither Christian nor Muslim.
“They are not labelled IDOLATRY in any sense or form. All medicines come from HERBS and God gave every community what it requires to protect its people. Our herbs have been powerful forever.” Momodu continued.
While agreeing with the King that the Yoruba religion has been infiltrated with bad elements, the businessman, however, maintained that it is not limited to Africa or Yorubaland.
He admonished the Iwo monarch to also promote the good side of the religion, stressing that religion is very intentionally personal and not attempt should be to cast aspersions against any religion.
“You’re right, Sir, that many things have been bastardized and banalized in the guise of religion but it is not limited to Africa or Yorubaland. We should all promote the good sides and condemn the bad habits of some evil people.
“But no attempt should be made to cast aspersions on what is ours which was handed over to us by God almighty long before the coming of white colonialists and missionaries and Arab invaders.
“We should all be free to worship our local or foreign deities without casting aspersions on anyone.
“Religion is very intentionally PERSONAL.
“Thank you Sir for speaking boldly against the terrible vices that seek to consign Africa into the dustbin of history… ALLAH AKBAR.” Momodu concluded.