06/04/2023
When it comes to our approach to worship, two Yoruba words need to be well-understood; sin - pronounced SEEN - and bo - pronounced baw.
“The Yoruba use the words sin (to serve), isin or esin (service) to refer to religious worship where God is meant. A person can say: Mo sin Olorun (I serve God); Mo fi sin Olorun (I do it in the service of God). They also use the word bo, (to sacrifice, offering, adultation) for divinities, spirits, ancestors or man's double in the following ways: O bo orisa (He worshipped the divinity); O fi agutan sebo (He offered a sheep as sacrifice).
Similarly, the following words are used in relation to divinities only: aborisa (worshipper of divinity), abogun (worshipper or priest of Ogun, the divinity of iron), iborisa (the act of worshipping a divinity), aboke (the worshipper or priest of the hill spirit), abore (the priest of a divinity) orisa akunlebo (the divinity worshipped by kneeling).
In all these examples, you do not bo (offer sacrifice to) God, rather, you sin (serve) God. But you bo (offer sacrifices to) the divinities who in turn are responsible to God.
In Yoruba religion, therefore, bo (to offer sacrifice) and ebo (sacrifice) are not used in relation to Olorun, rather, they are used in relation to orisa. It is not correct to say: Mo bo Olorun (I offer sacrifice to Olorun) but it is correct to say: Mo bo orisa (I offered sacrifice to orisa).”*
In the Orisa Lifestyle Academy, our students are equipped with the information and training necessary to practice Orisa Lifestyle sincerely and effectively. This reflects our understanding that the first concern of our tradition is proper devotion. If you are initiated or not, you are first and foremost a devotee.
I am looking for leaders who are ready to improve the world through positive influence. If that is you, find out how Obafemi Origunwa and the Orisa Lifestyle Academy can help you take your practice and your life to the next level.
Join us today: ObafemiO.com
* Professor Ade Dopamu
