AWO ELEGAN Awo Elegan is an initiated Ifa priest who does not see Odu or is not exposed to the secret of Odu.Such Awo is initiated but will never set eyes on Odu nor partake from anything used in Odu rituals. The Odu we are talking about is not odu Ifa (Ifa chapters/signs) but a powerful female Orisa. There are two ancient, divine origins of Awo Elagan, i.e. why some people can not see Odu. These reasons are acceptable excusses in Ifa initiation but the third reason is not tenable and should be discouraged. Firstly, Orunmila had many wives already before he came across Odu in a riverine forest when she decended. They agreed to marry each other as seen in Odu Ifa Ofunmeji based on rules which include “no woman should ever set eyes on her…”. Orunmila agreed and did not allow the senior wives to see this new wife. Even, those he married after her did not set eyes on her. Also, all the sixteen children of Odu could see their mother but their half brothers and sisters were forbidden to see her. Therefore, after her ascension and inclusion of her rituals into Ifa initiation, only her descendants/offsprings are allowed to set eyes on her. This is the first reason why some Awo are called Awo Elegan, i.e. those who can not see Odu. Those Awo Elegan are the children of the other wives of Orunmila. They may continue doing their initiation in line with that, i.e. without Orisa Odu. Secondly, in odu Ifa Otuasaa, Awodi was sent by Alapansiki to go and make rituals for Olokun. Though Awodi was not initiated, because, he was then still under training, he did the assignment because, Alapansiki, the child of Ajagunmole had blessed and given power to him.He was then honoured and enriched by Olokun.Olokun, who did not
know that Awodi was not initiated asked him to initiate his children for him. Awodi carried out the initiation successfully the way of Elegan because, he himself had not be initiated let alone set eyes on Odu. The initiation without Orisa Odu was successful because, Alapansiki, had blessed him before he left for Olokun’s place. In the crisis that ensued between Awodi and his initiated senior ones (Agbe and Aluko), who wanted to disgrace Awodi, he punished them. But, one of them (Odidere) gave Awodi due respect with this statement: Telegan tolodu la jo n sawo… Both Elegan and Olodu, we are all one… He was able to return home to inform their father, Alapansiki, all that happened. Instead of cursing Awodi, Alapansiki blamed the priests killed by Awdi for making attempt to disgrace him. He told Odidere that he had blessed Awodi before he left and whatever he did in the household of Olokun will be efficacious. And that those who are initiated by Awodi should continue as Awo Elegan and nobody should ever deride them. With that, he has given approval to Odidere’s statement that “Both Elegan and Olodu are all one…” The third reason why some Awo are Elegan today is modern and pathetic. Some Ifa priests are not initiated and they have opportunity of initiating godchildren. Because they are not initiated, they do not see Odu and will just do the initiation in line with Elegan, i.e. without Odu. The want to liken themselves with that of Awodi. They have forgotten that it is Awodi and only Awodi that Alapansiki blessed with such right. May be, they have also been blessed by Ajagunmale, Alapansiki or even Orunmila to carry out initiation without been initiated themselves, who knows? Also, some initiated Ifa priests initiate their godchildren abroad in line with Awo Elegan. The reason is that the concerned Ifa priests go to countries abroad without this
powerful Orisa that must be present whenever Ifa initiation is to take place and they can not come home for the initiation or send for the Orisa, they will just do the initiation without Orisa Odu. Those that they initiate like that will become Awo Elegan, i.e. they can neither partake from any thing used in appeasing/doing Odu rituals nor set eyes on the Orisa. This is the third reason for Awo Elegan. Hence, today, especially abroad, we have millions of Awo Elegan.
