By Gbenga Sodeinde
In an enriching live session, OBA ISORO APETU – Willer de Almeida from Ilé Ègbé Efúnlàşé and Araba Olatunji Somorin from the Ketus Ifá Institute, Nigeria, shared extensive knowledge about Olokun and Yemonjá. The live session, broadcast in three languages—Portuguese, English, and Yoruba—took place directly from Miami, USA, celebrating ancestral and spiritual wisdom.
The live session began with Oba Apetu and Araba Somorin paying tribute to Olokun, praying, and offering water, an essential symbol of purity and life. The conversation delved into the significance of Olokun, exploring its essence and manifestations in the natural world.
Oba Apetu and Araba Somorin clarified a common doubt: Is Olokun an Orisa or an Irunmole? Olokun is an Irunmole, a divine essence of the ocean. Different cultures may have various names for bodies of water, but for the Yorubas, the essence of all seas is Olokun. Verses from the Odu Ifá were cited to explain this profound relationship with the waters.
Before continuing about Olokun, Araba Olatunji Somorin provided teachings about Ifá: “Ifá is a body of information that helps us understand life and much more beyond life. Ifá explains everything—about life, nature, and all things. It is the voice of God, the Creator, the essence of everything.”
During the live session, Araba Somorin cited a verse from Ifá that explains how the sun rises from the sea and sets in the sea, making way for the moon. Even the moon, called Osupa, rises from the depths of Olokun and returns there.
Olokun does not have a defined gender, presenting both masculine and feminine polarities. The Odu such as Otura Ogbe and Irete Ogbe were discussed to illustrate Olokun’s journey from a small body of water to a vast ocean recognized worldwide.
In the Odu Otura Ogbe, it is said that “from a very small body of water, it grew little by little, becoming larger and larger. This was the Awo who consulted Ifá for Olokun. When Olokun consulted Ifá, it was a small body of water, and Olokun wanted to become a huge body of water, recognized worldwide. Olokun followed Ifá’s advice and grew larger and larger.” This Odu Otura Ogbe, which emerged in Ile Ifé, Nigeria, for the Odu of the year, speaks about Olokun being a very small body of water that became a vast ocean.
A very interesting explanation comes from Odu Otura Meji, which speaks about the waters of all rivers flowing into the sea. In this verse, Olokun wanted to be the leader of all waters and, after a grand feast, unified all waters through celebrations with plenty of food and drink, symbolizing abundance and generosity. This is one of Olokun’s main essences: to celebrate, provide food and drink, and unify. Therefore, Olokun and Yemonjá’s boat must have plenty of food and drink.
Olokun’s essence also involves celebration and unity, aspects highlighted in Odu Otura Meji. The tradition of offering food and drinks in rituals symbolizes Olokun’s abundance and generosity, unifying all waters and their essences.
Araba Olatunji Somorin and Oba Isoro Apetu – Willer de Almeida cited other verses from different Odus that explain more about Olokun, including the reasons behind specific rituals for Olokun.
The live session, filled with wisdom and teachings, OBA ISORO APETU – Willer de Almeida from Ilé Ègbé Efúnlàşé and Araba Olatunji Somorin from the Ketus Ifá Institute, Nigeria, brought to light profound knowledge and spiritual traditions.
