YORUBA TRADITIONAL RELIGION SITE
Prince ( Babalawo ) Adigun Olosun, MA MA PGDJ PGCR is a famous high Priest of the Yoruba Traditional religion. He is a born leader of YTR. He was born as a high Priest and to a well known high Priest, Prince Iyanda Olayiwola-Olosun and Priestess, Anike Olayiwola-Olosun in YTR. He also lived with an Austrian woman, Susanne Wenger, who is also a strong devotee in the religion. When he was born, as the tradition among YTR practitioners demands, his parents divined (Esentaye) to know what nature had in store for him. It was revealed that he was born a high Priest of Ifa. Ogun, Sango, Obatala, Osun, Oke, Ori, and Egbe, etc: And that he must recieve western education to the highest level and in order to prepare him for the modern challenges in YTR.
His father initiated him immediatly to all the Irunmoles as a new born baby. And the father made sure that the son received adequate knowledge to equip him in his future roles as the high priest of YTR.
PRIEST'S PROFILE
The father also implanted in him, the LOVE of western education and receiving of knowledge. He studied Ethnology, Education, History, Journalism, Media and Yoruba in the Universities in Nigeria, Germany and the United Kingdom. He is also a trained Yoruba teacher and worked in some schools in Nigeria teaching Yoruba and he continued the same thing in Germany, Europe and other parts of the world.
He published the first Yoruba religion language magazine "Akede Asa" in the early eighties, and today he still the publisher and editor-in-chief of Ase magazine. The YTR magazine aims to simplify YTR to practitioners and non-practitioners. The Ase is presently being published in German and in English. He led his group to work for the recognition of YTR as one of the official religions in Germany.
He is a great teacher of the YTR. He discovered in his early years that what YTR is missing was interpretation in a simple way for practioners and non-practioners alike, to be able to follow. He took up this challenge and he has set this aim for himself to continue to learn and teach interested people the YTR according to the ways of Irunmole. He set up Ibile Faith Society in 1984, a YTR organisation to foster his aim of teaching the people without compromise. Members of the Ibile Faith Society can be found in Africa, Europe and USA.
He is having Irunmole Temples in Nigeria- the home base where he does initiation for qualifyed learners of Irunmole ways annually, (July to August) and Germany his international headquarters.
Some people call him Irunmole fanatic, the name he likes as long as it is not used negatively.
He is also a family man with many children. All members of his family are ardent followers of Irunmole (YTR).
Personal Information
· Name: Bola Adigun Olayiwola- Olosun
· Nationality: Nigerian
· Place of Birth: Osogbo, Nigeria
Background
Born and brought up as High priest of Yoruba religion. The son of High priest of Yoruba religion. Born to Iyadudu Royal Family, Osogbo, Nigeria. Brought up by Suzanne Wenger.
Achievements
He led the team that work for the official recognition of Yoruba religion in Germany.
Education
1. Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria (1985-1988)
2. Adeyemi College of Education, Nigeria (1988- 1990)
3. Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Nigeria (1991- 1993)
4. University of Lagos, Nigeria (1992-1995)
5. Westfälischen Wilhelms Universität, Münster/ Germany ( 1995-1998)
6. Southampton Institute, Southampton, UK (2000-2001)
7. Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK (2001- 2003)
Summary of Qualifications
B.A (1998) Ethnology
M.A. (1995) - Yoruba
P.G.D. (1993) - Journalism
B.A.Ed. (1990) - Yoruba
N.C.E. (1988) - History, Yoruba
M.A. (2001) - Media
PhD (2003) - Media
Professions
Yoruba traditional religion priest, teacher, journalist, producer, artist, poet, publisher, editor, dancer and drummer
Teaching Experiences
1. Teacher in History and Yoruba Language, Culture and History
a) Mayflower Secondary School, Ikene, Nigeria (1990)
b) Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Lagos, Nigeria (1991-1992)
c) Aunty Ayo Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Lagos, Nigeria (1993)
d) Falomo High School, Lagos, Nigeria (1994)
2. Teacher of young artists and musicians in Germany and Nigeria
Papers Presented in Conferences / Seminar Participation
1. Seminar on Orisa tradition and -culture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria (1981, 1986)
2. J.F. Odunjo Memorial Lectures, Nigeria a) Ibadan (1984, 1990, 1992) b) Ile Ife (1986) c) Lagos (1988)
3. Karonwi Memorial Lectures, Lagos (1993)
4. Interkulturelle Woche, Münster (1998)
5. Nigerian Solidarity Project, Stuttgart (1998)
6. Religion Understanding, Lagos (2000)
7. Southampton Institute, Southampton. UK (2001)
8. Trauma and Healing, Healing Processes in Traditional Yoruba Religion, Frankfurt, PSZ, Germany, (2001)
9. Orisa World Congress, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, (2001)
10. Yemanja - Her power in Yoruba traditional religion, CCAFRO, Pai Adao, Brazil, (2001)
Books
1. B.A. Thesis: The Role of Different Bodies in the Controle and Management of Education in Osogbo.1990.(unpublished).
Present research projects
2. M.A. Thesis: Contributions of Suzanne Wenger to the Advancement of Yoruba Culture.1994.(unpublished).
Books on research
1. Philosophy in Yoruba Religion
2. Symbols in Yoruba Tradition
3. The View of an Insider on Bascom’s „Sixteen Cowries"
4. Ifa and the Presence
5. Irunmole- The Voice of the Past Today
6. Definition of Yoruba Religion
7. Yoruba Religion and other Religions
8. Trends of Batik and Adire in Yorubaland
9. Yoruba Art and Modernism (PhD Dissertation)
Memberships
1. Director of Adigun Olosun Gallery and Cultural Centre, Osogbo, Nigeria
2. Director - IYA DuDu - Centre for Yoruba Art & Culture, Ostbevern, Germany
3. Founder of Yoruba Heritage Club
4. Founder and Spiritual Head of Ibile Faith Society
5. General Secretary of Yoruba Students Association of Nigeria (1989-1990)
6. Member of Yoruba Teachers Association of Nigeria
7. Member of Nigerian Union of Teachers
8. Member of World Trade Center of Nigeria
9. Publisher/Editor, Ase Magazine.
10. Member, F A G O e.V. Ostbevern, Germany.
11. Member, English Club International, Münster, Germany.
12. Member, Heimatverein e.V. Ostbevern, Germany
13. Member, Ethnologie in Schule und Erwachsenenbildung e.V., Münster, Germany
14. Member, Ethnic and Disciplinary Committee, Orisa World Congress
15. Member, National Geographic Society
Exhibitions, Performances, Workshops (Art, Dance and Drumming)
Nigeria:1978, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996
Togo: 1983
Switzerland: 1978, 1983
Germany: 1980, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
India: 1987
U.S.A.: 1991
Austria: 1979, 1995
Art Technics
· Batik, Collage, Drawing, Painting
Productions
- Irúnmolè Music 1, 1999
- Irunmole Music 2, 2001
Awards
- Best Student Award, St. James Sec. Mod. School Osogbo/ Nigeria, 1980
- Yoruba Student Asssociation Merit Award, ACE Ondo, 1989
- Historical Student Association, Merit Award, OAU ACE, Ife 1988
- Ateyese Awo of Ola, Nigeria, 1999
- Who’s Who in the World 1999
Publications
- Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Akede Asa Magazine, 1983
- Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of ASE Magazine, since 1997
