There are so much antics going on and you don't need to be a prophet or
Babalawo to trace where they are coming from.
To know the reason why the act is still on, ten herbalists, ten
Babalawo and twenty farmers were interviewed.
Every consultation with a Santero or
Babalawo brings a wealth of stories and cultural messages in the form of metaphors or simple proverbs.
As the
Babalawo might remark, nothing ever new under the sun.
Another significant observation of the site is that the temple boasts having initiated 600 plus men as
Babalawo (priests of Ifa, lit: "Father of hidden knowledge") and 400 plus women as Iyanifa (priestesses of Ifa, lit: "Woman who has Ifa") since the temple's inception in 2004.
In the words of a Yoruba Evangelical Christian, Elizabeth Olusola Adeyemi, "So many Christians go to
babalawo [native doctor]; so many people go to if a [oracle].
Idafa/Ifa dida is performed by a
babalawo or iyalawo or iyanifa (an initiated priest or priestess).
The Negro
babalawo stretching a crescent smile in leafy smoke and whispering to the Ancients.
Of particular note, he received Ivanir dos Santos, a
babalawo, or Afro-Brazilian priest.