Tuesday, 10 November 2015

summary

We must note that the concept of trading, doing business, or selling in the local market is the province of Aje. The average individual consults the Babalawo who in turn consults the Ifa oracle on behalf of the individual. The individual’s ‘ori’ literally head, but really spiritual entity, is also consulted to see if the person is suited for business as opposed to say working in a government office.The appropriate Ifa verse will evolve to tell the person if he or she could proceed with the business plan. For example, a person may be suited for selling clothes and not food stuffs in the open air market. This is how specific Ifa could get in its conversation with Aje- the goddess of wealth, profit, and wealth sustenance. The goddess Aje is propitiated and the individual offers sacrifice as directed by Orunmila. At this point sacrifice will also be offered to Aje for a successful venture in business and trade. The emphasis here is that of destiny. The belief in the principle of pre-ordination among the Yoruba is intrinsically related to ‘Ori’- (head).
That is, one’s fate or destiny. Are some individuals destined to be wealthy and others destined to be poor?  It is the Yoruba religious and philosophical idea that whatever one would be in life has everything to do with what kind of ‘Ori’ or head the person has selected prior to appearance here on earth valid?  Is this why some people are referred to as “Oloriburuku” literally meaning “one with a bad head,” that is, a person with bad luck or bad fate? Essentially, that person has picked a bad head prior to coming to this earth. Within the concept of Aje, could this goddess reverse bad luck?  For example, a person with a bad ‘Ori’ might find favour with Aje and perhaps bad luck would be turned into good luck. Technically, when a Yoruba god or goddess like Aje is propitiated things should go well in the arena of business and trade. Some individuals are referred to as ‘Omo Alaje’ these are people who seem to have Aje as their patron goddess. Any business venture or trade they engage in automatically brings profit and wealth. I remember when I was only a young boy that a woman, who was my father’s tenant and who sold clothing materials at Gbagi, in Ibadan, would not touch any money early in the morning unless I take the money and give it to her. She would want me to hand the money to herso that Aje would follow her throughout the day in her clothing business at Gbagi. Any day I perform this act for her first thing in the morning before she departs for her shop at Gbagi, she would make a profit in her clothing trade.

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