The Araba of Osogbo Land, Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon, has condemned the verbal attacks on traditionalists by adherents of foreign religions, including Islam and Christianity.
He made this statement on Thursday while hosting members of the Ọmọ Yoruba Atata Socio-Cultural Initiative (OYÀSI) at his residence on Elebuibon Street in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.
The visit was part of preparations for the upcoming World Headdress Celebration, scheduled to hold in Ibadan on December 28, 2025, following the successful first edition in 2024 at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, the first event of its kind worldwide.
Elebuibon, who is globally renowned for his profound knowledge of Ifa divination and Yoruba spiritual practices, explained that the Yoruba had a well-developed traditional system long before the introduction of modern science by Europeans.
He emphasized the need for people of all faiths to coexist in peace and harmony, saying “People should learn to live together with love and mutual respect, irrespective of religious beliefs.”
Speaking on the cultural significance of the headdress among the Yoruba, Elebuibon noted that the people had their own methods of determining a child’s paternity long before the advent of modern medical tests.
According to him “Head adornment is very important for both men and women in Yorubaland, especially the tradition of wearing caps and head-ties, which the Ọmọ Yoruba Atata group is now promoting.
The Yoruba have a complete and unique civilization; it is not true that Europeans came to teach us how to be civilized.
The practice of wearing caps and head-ties, which you are now reviving, is very significant, especially for the younger generation, many of whom no longer know the difference between right and wrong.
In the past, caps (fila) were sometimes used in traditional rituals to determine a woman’s faithfulness or to ease prolonged labour. It worked only for a woman who was truly faithful to her husband. In a way, that practice resembles what we now call DNA testing.
Did you know that the Yoruba had their own ways of verifying a child’s paternity in ancient times, before modern blood tests existed? That was how our ancestors confirmed a child’s true father.”
Elebuibon commended the Ọmọ Yoruba Atata Socio-Cultural Initiative for their efforts in promoting Yoruba culture and traditions, particularly through the World Headdress Celebration.
He also pledged his support for the organization and expressed hope that the annual festival would soon gain recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), making it an officially recognized global event.
Earlier during the visit, Mr. Olawale Ajao, Chairman of OYÀSI, explained that the Yoruba people use caps and head-ties for numerous cultural and spiritual purposes.
Ajao, who was accompanied by Mr. Adeyemi Oloriire, Mr. Kolawole Olatunji, and Mrs. Yetunde Olalere, praised the veteran Ifa priest for his unwavering dedication to promoting Yoruba culture around the world.
