IFAYEMI ELEBUIBON

Artist-in-Residence

High Chief Ifayemi Osundagbonu Elebuibon is the Artist-in-Residence at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo. He is a Yoruba and Nigerian writer, poet, author, linguist, and a world-famous Ifa priest. Born in 1947 in Osogbo, Elebuibon comes from a long line of hunters, priests, herbalists, and warriors. His father was claimed to be a descendant of the legendary warrior Olutimehin, one of the founders of the city of Osogbo. His mother was born into a family of priests who worshipped Oya and Ifa. The title "Araba" is given to the chief Ifa priest of Osogbo, and this title was held by his maternal grandfather, Kehinde Adeyemi Awoniyi, longest serving Araba of Osogbo.

Elebuibon began training as an Ifa priest by his father in 1951 when he was 4 years old. Consequently upon the death of his father in 1957, He was put under the guidance of Chief Faniyi Ajani (the Agbongbon-Awo of Osogbo), where he spent 10 years until he became an official Babalawo in 1967.

Later, he joined the theatre group founded by Duro Ladipo and participated in such plays as 'Oba koso'. A prolific writer, Elebuibon published several books and papers in both Yoruba and English. Perhaps, one of his enduring legacies is his traditions morality drama; IFA OLOKUN ASORODAYO, presented as a series on Nigeria national television network. Elebuibon has held several leadership positions within the Spheres of African Traditional Arts and Culture such as Vice Chairman of the Board of Traditional Medicine, Osun State; and President of International Congress of Orisa Tradition and culture, Nigeria Chapter. He also contributed to the highly rewarding effort that culminated into the naming of Osun-Osogbo Grove as a UNESCO World heritage site and in 2005.