Ifa worshippers debunk claims Yoruba race encouraged slavery

The International Council for Ifa Religion, on Sunday, called for caution against false statements made on social media regarding slavery in old Yoruba history.

ICIR, in a statement by its President, Fayemi Fakayode, in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, said that incorrect assertions about Yoruba culture and tradition must be corrected to prevent them from negatively influencing younger generations of the tribe.

He said, “We are issuing this statement to address the grossly misleading, false and harmful statements made by Erelu Lola Ayorinde on various social media platforms and in interviews.

“Her persistent assertions that the Yoruba race encouraged slavery are not only historically inaccurate and false but also perpetuate harmful stereotypes, damaging the reputation of the Yoruba people.

“She has consistently misrepresented her heritage, making false claims of connections to various Yoruba deities, including Sango and Ifa. Her actions constitute a gross manipulation of history, culture and historical facts, with the potential to mislead unsuspecting members of the public.”
Fakayode urged the public to conduct more research on the history of old Yoruba.

He added, “We urge the public to exercise extreme caution and critical thinking about her statements, as they are false, unfounded, misleading and do not reflect the values and traditions of the Yoruba people.

“We will not stand idle and watch while misinformation and deceit are spread by anybody, and we are committed to preserving the truth, cultural integrity and dignity of the Yoruba race.”