The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II,
has donated three acres of land in Ile-Ife to the International Council for Ifa
Religion (ICIR) for the construction of the world’s largest Ifa temple in a
landmark move aimed at promoting Yoruba spirituality and cultural heritage.
The land, located around the Stadium Area, Route
7 in Osun State, will host a monumental temple project intended to serve as the
foremost global pilgrimage site for Isese (Yoruba traditional religion)
practitioners. Work has already commenced on the site, marking a significant
step toward realizing a long-held aspiration within the traditional Yoruba
spiritual community.
A Gesture Rooted in
Cultural Preservation
Announcing the
development in Ibadan on Wednesday, ICIR President Fayemi Fakayode hailed the
donation as a historic and deeply symbolic act.
“This gesture of our
revered first-class Oba has demonstrated his love for tradition and Yoruba
culture and spirituality,” Fakayode said. He extended appreciation on behalf of
the Council of Araba and Oluwo, led by His Eminence Awodotun Aworeni, the Araba/Olu-Isese
Agbaye, affirming that the project would amplify global recognition for Yoruba
indigenous religion.
“With this step,
Ooni’s commitment to preserving and promoting Oduduwa’s cultural heritage and
spirituality is obvious to all to see,” he added.
A Global
Pilgrimage Destination
The planned temple
is envisioned as the spiritual epicenter for practitioners of Ifa and Orisa
worldwide, a physical and symbolic homecoming for adherents of Yoruba cosmology
scattered across continents. The facility is expected to draw spiritual
tourists and traditional religion followers from Africa, the Americas, the
Caribbean, and beyond, further positioning Ile-Ife as the cradle of Yoruba
civilization and religion.
The ICIR,
headquartered at Oke-Itase in Ile-Ife, has long advocated for the temple,
viewing it as a necessary landmark to consolidate global Yoruba religious
identity and foster cultural unity among followers.
This development is more than just a construction
project, it is a cultural statement. At a time when indigenous African
spiritual systems continue to face marginalization, the establishment of such a
prominent religious site signals a powerful resurgence of identity, pride, and
global visibility for the Yoruba faith. It also aligns with ongoing efforts to
institutionalize and protect traditional African religions as living systems
with historical depth and contemporary relevance.
The Ooni of Ife’s donation of land for the
world’s largest Ifa temple marks a pivotal moment in Yoruba cultural
preservation and spiritual resurgence, setting Ile-Ife on course to become a
global pilgrimage hub for Isese worshipers.
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