WHAT IS EDAN (OGBONI)?
What is EDAN (Ògbóni) ? By Chief Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, Ibadan, Nigeria By saying Ẹdan and Ògbóni, what we mean is Ẹdan, the Òrìṣà and the Followers. Ẹdan is an Imọlẹ̀ or Òrìṣà while Ògbóni is/are a devotee/devotees of Ẹdan. Ògbóni is a sect or denomination of Ifá Religion in Oòduàland (Yorùbáland) and their place of worship is called “Ilédì”. Ẹdan is one of the Imọlẹ̀, Divinities created by Olódùmarè. Ẹdan was not among the set sent by Olódùmarè and she therefore remained in Heaven when others came. As seen in Ifá, when there was no stability in the World, Ọ̀rúnmìlà consulted Ifá and was told to invite Ẹdan from Heaven. She honoured the invitation and came to the Earth. With her arrival, new system was introduced to the governance of the World. She introduced a system whereby a chosen knowledgeable elderly people see to the affairs of each community. Ògbóni is the name given to the group formed by the devotees of Ẹdan. These people must be honest and fa...