Finding Orisa in unlikely places

                    This morning I was confronted by yet another issue that plaques my mind. I have been pondering on the image I was directed to by Charles Lean Stewart. Image portraying Sango and Ogun in what seems to be a drinking game. I was conflicted on how I should feel or react to the image. I don't want it to be here she come again . (lol) . Anyway, I said I will write about it anyway and see through others point of view.
                                 The first question I was asked was if this would have been peaceable by other religion counterparts, should their God be portrayed in such manner. My respond was absolutely no, mainly because I feel most religion hypocritically condemns alcohol intake and usage. Even though majority of their follower heavily indulge in it. Should that been beer commercial, it will never be allowed.
                 That been said, element relating to African image have been on media front line for a while

now including could it or not been reaction of people to Beyonce lemonade video. I digress
                        The bitter truth is the fact that I know we need mass media and all its components and tools. We need a very good PR movement to polish our image. We need to reintroduced our self to the whole world in our own language as oppose to various misrepresentations that have been put out there.
                        At the same time, knowing how mass media work, and now social media, could also be mass destruction. Certain things cannot be put out there. Before I go any further, I know culture is not static; it grows out of a systematically encourage reverence for selected customs and habits. Holding on to " custom and habits" and relating it to the image that is suppose to be Sango and Ogun. Yoruba culture/religion do not frown at alcohol consumption per se. It is the abuse and excessive usage that it condemns. frivolous uses are also discourage. Need to be noted that alcohol then is made out of fruits and other edibles. It is totally different from what alcohol is today. Maybe that is why the Orisa were use.
Having said that, I don't know the extent this should be condemned or perhaps what yardstick to measure this depiction with.
                           Owing to their own consciences, art are an important component of the anthropological element in teaching the target culture. If weigh on this scale, Using Orisa image to portray frivolous drinking will be seen as disrespectful. Because what is it teaching?
 There have been commercial of alcohol company like Seaman Schnapps in Nigeria which showcase Yoruba culture/religion in retrospect to alcohol usage for libation and prayers. That will not raise eyebrow.
                        If we are to excuse the fact that our celebration an rituals involve gins and all, how do we think people around the world from various religion counter parts will react if this were to be Jesus and Mohammed in the picture. Especially religion that sees themselves as the apostle of morality and high priests of all things godly. Would this have been tolerated?
                        Placing this on a global platform, using the Arab Nation and Arabic language as reference.   There have been situation where protest have been made and products been recalled due to usage of Arabic language where the Muslim community felt it was used in an offending manner. Take for instance cartoon image of Muhammad that generated protest and enrage the Muslim community all over the world.
                         On a social scale, what does this mean for children seeing the Orisa in that image. This is an alcoholic beverage in question. There are families that have been destroyed because of alcoholism. Not to offend anyone or be judgmental, but relating the gods to something that is deem destructive seems off.
                       This is not a Guinness ad or image supported by them ( I hope not).  Because as far as I know product maker must at all times consider all kinds of cultural and language barriers in their commercial. This is just a fan act/art. Someone who probably didn't give it much thought as to the sensitivity of the Icon been used or perhaps what it means to others. Maybe because it was never an issue where saying anything about Orisa have been questioned.
                      As Olorisa  we have Image problem already, I don't know what the intention of the artist was or is for making this. This could be a good gesture to some extent, the Orisa been represented. But in what light?. The gods are still relevant and I think all things related to religion and its sacredness should be showcase positively and taking serious. This can be done by anyone irrespective of their religion orientation.
                        David Rudd, a vice president at ad agency Axis says "Just as each ad should be viewed on its merits, every group has a right to be sensitive to the manner in which it is portrayed in mass media..Memorable art and funny art can be accomplished without insulting anyone.

The questions now are;

•  Are we been denied the privileged enjoy by other popular religion?
• Is this meant to be derogatory or celebrating culture?
• Is this image appropriate?
• Should we just chill and sip on this as a mere comic image?

The fight is one.

Yesterday I posted and wrote  via a third party blog site that I am a content creator for.( http://nigeriaentertainer.blogspot.com/2016/05/most-traditional-religion-worshiper-are.html )  on a statement made by a Nigeria actor who made a derogatory statement about Olorisa. 

The fight is one. Ohun to ba de ba oju, o ti de ba imu. Ohun to hun se aboyade gbogbo oloya lohun se. Arun to hun se ogoji lohun se odun. In essence, what affected one affected us all. Martin Luther King, Jr. said "an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere".

The stigmatization and stereotype that Olorisa faces around the world is one. I keep using "one"

because irrespective of the branch of Africa spiritual practice you applaud, you are all evil to the close mind who have been sheepishly guided all their lives. Most importantly we are all the same in the eyes of Olodumare.

Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode said "The era of tarnishing the image of traditional religion without response is gone". I said enough is enough, the age of standing akimbo and watch is over. The world can not keep labeling us all as evil, and we should desist from presenting ourselves as such. We are people of noble birth with rich culture and traditions. Remind yourself and your children of this daily.

             We have a voice now, lets be heard in peace and with good manners. We are in the age of social media thankfully, even if the news media decided to overlook the salient issues that affects our community. Alas, we are nothing but minority any way, we the devil other religion are praying away every day and yet we are still here. Maybe it is time they find the real devil by looking within them and among themselves.

                                            We need to be on the front line. I have been saying this, we need political power, financial power and educational power. Education is not only the classroom education alone, parents needs to inform and educate themselves so as to be a good mentor for their children. Our youth need to carry themselves well in public. They need to be well informed and educated about the spiritual practice that they in and that of others. We live in the age of technology, information is widely disperse, instead of been on social medias all the time, they should try to use search engines to research and inform themselves. Be global

            Maybe we need evangelism, maybe we need to preach our own gospel and may be we do not. But what I know for a fact is that we need to wake up from our slumber, we need to put end to the division ( if possible) . There is an uprising, which we have known for years and the finish line is not certain.

              Yoruba proverb said bi ina o ba tan laso eje ki tan ni ekana.  The Yoruba dread the lice and the leech for their nuisance value and their crude nature. The lice would expose its victim to a kind of shamelessness that makes an otherwise civilized and urbane person to public ridicule. The itch overtakes the host anywhere and everywhere, it makes the host the cynosure of all eyes in a most derogatory sense. This however is the ordeal we face and we have so much to do and need to be active participant.

                   Another Yoruba proverb said  A ki mon eni to ni a ja ka pe aja e ni digbolugi. You cannot know the owner of a dog and still treat the dog as a rabies ridden dog. The so called Nigeria actor who claimed to know Araba Elebuibon and other Babalawo that he didn't mention by name and still  go on social media to say traditionalist are behind kidnapping in Nigeria should let you know what you, your neighbor, friends and family can do in the name of religion intolerance.( I don't mean to start no war just laying out facts)

                     Olorisa abroad need to work cordially with the one in Africa. There are however bigger issues than who is giving what and at what price,needless to say that should be addressed but we need to be selective in our battles. a house that is divided against itself cannot stand. This issue of stigmatization and stereotyping is one of the things we should be discussing, it need 100% of our attention.

                       I will suggest a movement by the committees member of Olorisa council in Nigeria on movie stories censorship and critic movement on information and stories been portrayed/interpreted on mainstream by Nigeria movie industries. The little information that some people have on Yoruba culture and spiritual practice so far is what they see in the movies which  most times are misrepresentation of facts camouflage as fictions.

                        

                         I have contacted notable people that I know in Nigeria, I forwarded the article to different blog sites and news media outlets. 

I will suggest Jokotoye Oreoluwa a.k.a Bigvai  ( on facebook as Jototoye Bigvai Ore, instagram as jokotoyebigvai) issue a public apology. I personally will not stop until he does so and we shouldn't as well. I will like the elders in our community to also take this matter up as well. 

   This is less on religion/ religion sectors and more on who we are as a person. We have to learn to respect people and their chosen religion path. I want to thank every one who spoke on the issue and those who took it upon themselves to contact the guy on his derogatory remarks. Its not about bullying but setting record straight. 

ISESE A GBE WA O. ASE