Adefunmi
Encyclopedia
Oba
Efuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi (who was born Walter Eugene King on the 5th of October, 1928, and who died on the 11th of February, 2005) was the first African-American to ever be initiated into the priesthood of the initiation cult of any African traditional religion
. His initiation
paved the way for other African-Americans to recover and begin to practice traditional African customs that had been lost as a result of the transplantation of Africans during the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade.
Having grown up with a natural interest in African culture, the young Walter King seemed destined to find a way to express his African heritage fully. He left the Baptist
faith that he had been born into and travelled the world, going to Haiti
in 1954 to study Voodoo and, in 1955, to Europe and North Africa, often as a part of the Katherine Dunham Dance Company
. Finally, in 1959 just before the revolution
, he travelled to the Matanzas region of Cuba to be initiated into the Yoruba Ifá
priesthood of Obatala
, returning to the United States as Efuntola Oseijeman Adefunmi. Efuntola means "the whiteness (of Obatala's whiteness rituals) is as good as wealth (or honor)." Adefunmi means "the crown has given me this (child)."
Upon his return to the U.S. he founded the Order of the Damballah Hwedo, then the Shango Temple, and later incorporated the African Theological Archministry
. That organization would come to be called the Yoruba
Temple. His spiritual message was accented by a Black Nationalist
message, and although his words rang true in the hearts of many progressive African-Americans, his stance drew large criticism from within the ranks of the Cuban Santería
priests because of his strident opposition to certain aspects of their religious system. A new lineage of Orisa worship that placed Nigeria
at its core, but that was tailored for African-Americans, was formed: Orisa-Voodoo.
Village was created in Beaufort County, South Carolina. In 1972, HRH the Oba was initiated into the Ifá
Priesthood in Nigeria, receiving the rank of Babalawo
and later that year being proclaimed Oba of Oyotunji by its inhabitants. He reformed the priesthood along Nigerian lines, travelling to Nigeria in 1972 to be created a traditional chieftain
. It is noteworthy that in 1981 his status as a king was recognized when HRH the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Nigeria, arranged for formal coronation rites to be performed for Oba Efuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi, thus ensuring that the Oba's goal of reclaiming his African identity was achieved and showing other African-Americans how to do so as well. Priestly initiation and kingship were some of the several firsts credited to Adefunmi and the Oyotunji Lineage. They were also the first Orisa worshippers in the West to reinstitute the Egungun
Masquerade and Secret Society.
Over the years the number of residents at the Village has fluctuated, with it probably hovering around 5-9 families for the last ten years. Despite this small contingent of residents, the lineage itself is felt throughout the Western world and Africa via a growing number of devotees, chiefs and priests. Oyotunji forever changed the face of Orisa worship in the West.
Oba (ruler)
Oba is a West African synonym for monarch, one that is usually applied to the Yoruba and Edo rulers of the region. It is also often used by their traditional subjects to refer to other kings and queens, such as Elizabeth I of England, in their native languages.-Edo account of the word's origin:The...
Efuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi (who was born Walter Eugene King on the 5th of October, 1928, and who died on the 11th of February, 2005) was the first African-American to ever be initiated into the priesthood of the initiation cult of any African traditional religion
African Traditional Religion
The traditional religions indigenous to Africa have, for most of their existence, been orally rather than scripturally transmitted. They are generally associated with animism. Most have ethno-based creations stories...
. His initiation
Initiation
Initiation is a rite of passage ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. It could also be a formal admission to adulthood in a community or one of its formal components...
paved the way for other African-Americans to recover and begin to practice traditional African customs that had been lost as a result of the transplantation of Africans during the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade.
Having grown up with a natural interest in African culture, the young Walter King seemed destined to find a way to express his African heritage fully. He left the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
faith that he had been born into and travelled the world, going to Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
in 1954 to study Voodoo and, in 1955, to Europe and North Africa, often as a part of the Katherine Dunham Dance Company
Katherine Dunham
Katherine Mary Dunham was an American dancer, choreographer, songwriter, author, educator, and activist...
. Finally, in 1959 just before the revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
, he travelled to the Matanzas region of Cuba to be initiated into the Yoruba Ifá
Ifá
Ifá refers to the system of divination and the verses of the literary corpus known as the Odú Ifá. Yoruba religion identifies Orunmila as the Grand Priest; as that which revealed Oracle divinity to the world...
priesthood of Obatala
Obatala
In the religion of the Yoruba people, Obàtálá is the creator of human bodies, which were supposedly brought to life by Olorun's breath.Obàtálá is also the owner of all ori or heads. Any orisha may lay claim to an individual, but until that individual is initiated into the priesthood of that orisha,...
, returning to the United States as Efuntola Oseijeman Adefunmi. Efuntola means "the whiteness (of Obatala's whiteness rituals) is as good as wealth (or honor)." Adefunmi means "the crown has given me this (child)."
Upon his return to the U.S. he founded the Order of the Damballah Hwedo, then the Shango Temple, and later incorporated the African Theological Archministry
African Theological Archministry
The African Theological Archministry is a new religious movement, one in the tradition of the Yoruba religion, that was founded by Walter Eugene King. In 1970, King declared himself a Yoruba king and took the regnal name "Oba Efuntola Adelabu Adefunmi I"...
. That organization would come to be called the Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
Temple. His spiritual message was accented by a Black Nationalist
Black nationalism
Black nationalism advocates a racial definition of indigenous national identity, as opposed to multiculturalism. There are different indigenous nationalist philosophies but the principles of all African nationalist ideologies are unity, and self-determination or independence from European society...
message, and although his words rang true in the hearts of many progressive African-Americans, his stance drew large criticism from within the ranks of the Cuban Santería
Santería
Santería is a syncretic religion of West African and Caribbean origin influenced by Roman Catholic Christianity, also known as Regla de Ocha, La Regla Lucumi, or Lukumi. Its liturgical language, a dialect of Yoruba, is also known as Lucumi....
priests because of his strident opposition to certain aspects of their religious system. A new lineage of Orisa worship that placed Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
at its core, but that was tailored for African-Americans, was formed: Orisa-Voodoo.
Oyotunji Village
In 1970, the OyotunjiOyotunji
Oyotunji African Village is a village located near Sheldon, Beaufort County, South Carolina that was founded by the late Oba Efuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi I in 1970, as part of a "New World Yoruba" initiative....
Village was created in Beaufort County, South Carolina. In 1972, HRH the Oba was initiated into the Ifá
Ifá
Ifá refers to the system of divination and the verses of the literary corpus known as the Odú Ifá. Yoruba religion identifies Orunmila as the Grand Priest; as that which revealed Oracle divinity to the world...
Priesthood in Nigeria, receiving the rank of Babalawo
Babalawo
Babalawo is a Yorùbá chieftaincy title that denotes a Priest of Ifá. Ifa is a divination system that represents the teachings of the Orisha Orunmila, the Spirit of Wisdom, who in turn serves as the oracular representative of God...
and later that year being proclaimed Oba of Oyotunji by its inhabitants. He reformed the priesthood along Nigerian lines, travelling to Nigeria in 1972 to be created a traditional chieftain
Chieftain
Chieftain may refer to:The leader or head of a group:* a tribal chief or a village head.* a member of the 'House of chiefs'.* a captain, to which 'chieftain' is etymologically related.* Clan chief, the head of a Scottish clan....
. It is noteworthy that in 1981 his status as a king was recognized when HRH the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Nigeria, arranged for formal coronation rites to be performed for Oba Efuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi, thus ensuring that the Oba's goal of reclaiming his African identity was achieved and showing other African-Americans how to do so as well. Priestly initiation and kingship were some of the several firsts credited to Adefunmi and the Oyotunji Lineage. They were also the first Orisa worshippers in the West to reinstitute the Egungun
Egungun
Egungun is a part of the Yoruba pantheon of divinities. In the indeginous religious system of the West African tribe of that name, the spirit is of central importance...
Masquerade and Secret Society.
Over the years the number of residents at the Village has fluctuated, with it probably hovering around 5-9 families for the last ten years. Despite this small contingent of residents, the lineage itself is felt throughout the Western world and Africa via a growing number of devotees, chiefs and priests. Oyotunji forever changed the face of Orisa worship in the West.
Death
His Royal Highness the Oba Adefunmi joined his ancestors on February the 11th, 2005. In Yoruba culture, the king is not announced as having died, but as having "gone up the ceiling" or Oba wo aja.Additional Books and Articles
- Oyotunji village: The Yoruba movement in America, Carl M Hunt
- The Joseph E. Holloway Papers Cornell University Library
- African gods in South Carolina Essence Magazine
- An African kingdom in America American Visions Magazine