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The title Araba Agbaye can only be given out of the Oketase compond
in Ile-Ife. No other compound in the world can bear this title.
Odun Elefi Araba Agbaye is the festival of Orunmila, which
commemorates the time when Orunmila was angry with the king of Ile-Ife.
Orunmila changed into a leopard and chased the king out of town. At
this festival, when the reigning Araba changes into the leopard, the
king can never look upon him. The Araba marches to the palace and
symbolically re-creates chasing the king out of town.
There is no festival performed in Ile-Ife without the presence of the
Araba Agbaye. During Itapa festival, the Araba will take Ifa to the
Orisanla shrine. During the Oduduwa festival the Araba will send the
cock, the cutlass and the hoe, representing when Orunmila gave these
items to Oduduwa to create the earth. During the Olojo Ogun festival
there is a special meeting between the Araba and the Ooni.
Any title given by the Araba Agbaye will bear the name Awo Agbaye.
The Araba Agbaye is the leader of the Awoolodumerindilogun. This group of 16 special highest ranking babalawos are as follows:
1.
Araba Agbaye
2. Agbongbon
3. Akoda
4. Aseda
5. Tedimole Awo Ilare
6. Megbon Awo Iremo
7. Kirindin Awo Idita
8. Oyin Pepe Awo Ilegbudu
9. Obakinala Awo Ijugbe
10. Sekinda Awo Oranmiyan
11. Jolofinpe
12. Etitangegere Awo Imojubi
13. Adefalu
14. Amosun
15. Afedigba Koru Sawo Olofin
16. Ageginyowa
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