Nigerians React As Oluwo Urges Ifa-Worshippers To Keep Idol-Worship Separate From Yoruba-Traditions (Text)

Nigerians React As Oluwo Urges Ifa-Worshippers To Keep Idol-Worship Separate From Yoruba-Traditions (Text)

The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdurosheed Akanbi, has called on Ifa worshippers to separate their religious practices from the cultural and traditional heritage of the Yoruba people.

In a statement provided to Daily Sun by his spokesperson, Alli Ibrahim, Oba Akanbi emphasized his role as the guardian of Yoruba customs and traditions and stressed the need to preserve these elements distinctly from religious practices.

“Nobody is saying you should not worship idols, but for a person to say that idol worshipping is a culture of Yoruba, you have me to contend with,” the monarch asserted. He added, “Christianity is not culture and it is not tradition. Islam is not a culture or tradition. Idol worship is not a culture or tradition. It is a way of worship. Let everybody worship what they want but don’t mix it with the beautiful, great Yoruba culture and tradition.”

Oba Akanbi made it clear that his position as a traditional ruler obliges him to reject idol worship, stating, “I can not tolerate idol worship because of my office. I hate idols with passion. I advise those that are worshipping it to desist.”