How Yoruba Sacred Kingship Provides a Masculine Archetype for Modern Man

THE PROBLEM WITH MANHOOD
Being a man is a troubling and thankless endeavor for most. We are responsible for everything that is wrong in the world, but we are also expected to take responsibility for making everything alright... But alright for who? That is, are men supposed to be responsible to one another, as colleagues in a fraternal bond? Are we supposed to be responsible to our wives and girlfriends, as we create a family unit? Or are we supposed to be responsible to our children, to whom we will one day bequeath our estates? Sometimes, our roles as men complement one another quite well; other times, however, they are at war with one another. 

SEE LIFE AS A KING WOULD
One thing I have always enjoyed about Yoruba civilization is the fact that it is organized around the institution of divine kingship. The Oba [king] is the apex of all activity between heaven and earth. He is the organizer, the leader, the creator and bestower of blessings. His authority is unparalleled. As such, the Oba is the ultimate symbol of Yoruba masculinity. As an archetypal figure, the Oba reveals men's capacity to direct, to organize and to create a platform upon which to build his own world of ideas, emotions and talents. What I mean is that every man can look to the king as a template for self governance and actualization. To better understand, let us glimpse what the sacred text of Ifa says about kingship: 

Odi, the venerable master of the groves
Was the diviner who consulted Ifa for Oduduwa, 
the gray-haired immensity who rolls infinitely 
within his own existence
Royalty unsurpassed
Glory and renown 
Are your inheritance
Forever and ever
- Holy Odu OdiMeji
​
Song:
My life begins anew! 
When a dying fire is fed fresh oil
Its life begins anew

Oduduwa is the original Yoruba king. It was he who institutionalized the elaborate palace governance system for which the Yoruba are known today. [1] In the verse above, we see that Ifa predicted that Oduduwa would enjoy the eternal wisdom of his own existence. That is, he would draw from his own, internal resources to create a sustainable framework for his own greatness. In addition, his greatness would be characterized as regal and glorious. Later on, in the song that follows the verse, the perpetuity of Oduduwa's primacy is transformed into a personal invocation that every man can recite: My life begins anew! When a dying fire is fed fresh oil, its life begins anew!

RITUAL APPROACH TO MASCULINE EMPOWERMENT
Ritually speaking, when I perform rituals to activate and invigorate a man's destiny, I will anoint his head with palm oil and recite an incantation very similar to the lyrics of the song mentioned above.  In those moments, I am invoking the life principles that govern Oduduwa, the archetypal king, whose power, glory and royalty are forever renewed. 

Among all Yoruba people, the crown is the principal symbol of the king's authority. Not only that, the crown actually becomes an Orisa when it is placed upon the king;s head. His ori inu (inner head) then becomes one with those who have reigned before him and are now Orisa themselves. There is an ancient story of how Oduduwa gave a beaded crown to each of his sons and sent them out to establish their own, respective kingdoms. [2]  In this way, you can see how Oduduwa passed down his authority to his sons, thus avoiding the risk of becoming a tyrant, who refuses to share power.  

And so it is that the appeasement of a man's head has a similar function and purpose. As a ritual specialist, it is my duty to empower other men to increase their authority and ascend the throne of their destinies, as sons, brothers, husbands and fathers. In each of these capacities, men must learn to seize their regal impulse to lead, organize and govern themselves and the resources within their control. 

BECOMING THE KING OF YOUR OWN DESTINY 
Here, it's important for you to start to explore healthy ways to dialogue with that part of yourself that truly wants to lead. In this process, you must reconcile those aspects of yourself that have kept you in non-productive cycles of conflict, emotional turmoil and inadequacy. This exploration with reveal the self destructive patterns that have drawn you into unhealthy relationships and caused you to squander golden opportunities. Failure to voluntarily engage in such an exploration will mean a life of mediocrity for you and potentially your future generations. 

Behind every great man is a long and foreboding shadow. Your ability to cast a bright light onto that shadow and place it squarely under the spiritual authority of your destiny will determine your ability to ascend the throne and become the master of your own identity. 

 LEARN MORE  

[1] Origunwa, Obafemi. Fundamentals of Orisa Lifestyle pg 62
[2] Origunwa, Obafemi. Fundamentals of Orisa Lifestyle pg 62