Odùduwà Temple : The Orisa Family of Nigerian Bàbálórìsà Sikiru Adesina Salami In Saopaulo, Brazil.
Located in Mongaguá, São Paulo, Brazil, the Oduduwa Templo dos Orixás is far more than just a place of worship for Orisas . it serves as a gathering center for families.
Led by the esteemed Nigerian Bàbálórìsà Sikiru Adesina Salami, the Oduduwa family proudly stands as the largest Orisa family in Brazil, consistently getting it right day after day, month after month, and year after year.
This society of devoted Orisa followers, spread across Brazil and the world, has come together as one unified family, guided by the spiritual leadership of Prof (Dr) Babalorisa Sikiru Adesina Salami, who is also the founder and leader of Brazil’s largest Orisa temple.
The Oduduwa family, renowned in Brazil, Europe, and Africa, represents a significant number of Orisa devotees who live in diaspora. Gathering at the picturesque waterside temple in São Paulo, Brazil, this family of dedicated Orisa traditionalists engage in worship without attaching undue importance to denominations or branches of Orisa religion. Instead, they emphasize the genuine practice of their faith.
Baba king, as Bàbálórìsà Sikiru Salami is affectionately called, leads the family in worshipping Orisa, regardless of denominations or branches, such as Candomblé, Umbanda, Batuque, Olosun, and more. The Oduduwa family unites through shared beliefs and a commitment to following the true path of Orisa worship.
Across Brazil and beyond, these sincere and honest devotees learn from their spiritual leader, who not only serves as a priest but also holds academic distinction. Babalorisa Salami earned his PhD thirty years ago from the prestigious University of São Paulo, basing his research on Ifa.
In the words of Bàbálórìsà Sikiru Salami (Baba king), ‘Beauty doesn’t solely reside in a beautiful body, well-dressed and adorned. It also resides in kindness, hospitality, dialogue, and other blessings, those that we cultivate daily. The art of captivating is not an inborn skill. It can be nurtured through kindness, sharing expenses and tasks, the ability to listen, and a multitude of other gifts, those that we build and maintain through our effort. It can be an image of sculpture, statue, and text.'”
The Oduduwa family of Bàbálórìsà Sikiru Salami of Oduduwa Templo dos Orixás in Brazil and worldwide boasts a learned spiritualist who has maintained the Orisa devotees of Oduduwa Temple Worldwide as one family for over 30 years in Brazil.
One would certainly be intrigued by the real person behind the title “Bàbálórìsà Sikiru Salami” (Baba king) and how he has managed to keep the Oduduwa family together while ministering the sermons of Orisa and their practices throughout these years.
Bàbá King sets an example for modern spiritualists by combining academics and practicals in the services of Orisa. He was born in Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria, and his lineage on both sides is steeped in spirituality. His mother, Àlàkẹ́, came from a family of Òrìṣà priests, and his maternal grandmother, Kẹ́yìndé Ẹnioṣó, was a priestess and the founder of the Ọmọlú Burùkú temple in Kénta Okebodè in Abéòkúta. On the paternal side, his grandfather Sàlàkọ́ Sàlámì was a bàbáláwo, and the father of his paternal grandmother was also a priest and an olúwo. The spiritual influence from both sides of his family led him to accompany his relatives from a young age and experience the Òrìṣà philosophy early on.
His life’s mission was destined to become a healer and a priest, inheriting the spiritual mission of his ancestors. His education in the West allowed him to spread the Òrìṣà philosophy academically. He received spiritual recognition in Abéòkúta, where he was named Bàbá Ẹgbẹ́ of all the bàbáláwo and Òrìṣà devotees, priests, and priestesses.
Bàbá King’s children also inherited the mission to heal, and they were encouraged to study medicine. While not all of them became priests, they could still fulfill part of the Sàlámì mission by healing people spiritually or through other forms of therapy.
The history of the Oduduwa Temple in Brazil goes back thirty years. Bàbá King chose Brazil over the UK or the USA due to the active Yoruba culture and numerous Òrìṣà devotees in the country. He pursued higher education in Brazil and eventually started teaching Yoruba language, culture, and divination to researchers and Òrìṣà enthusiasts.
Despite initial challenges and criticism, Bàbá King persevered and gradually expanded his teachings and initiated Ifá and Òrìṣà ceremonies in Brazil. After facing difficulties in São Paulo, he eventually acquired land in Mongaguá and built the Oduduwa Temple, which has continued to grow and attract more people interested in joining the spiritual family.
As the Temple continues to expand, Bàbá King remains dedicated to his mission, combining spirituality, education, and practical guidance for his community.
The Oduduwa Temple family in Brazil takes pride in its diverse membership, encompassing Brazilians of all races and ethnic backgrounds. This spiritual family’s influence extends beyond Brazil to Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, where Bàbálórìsà King has constructed another grand Oduduwa Temple dedicated to the service of Orisa.
The close bond between the Oduduwa family in Abeokuta and the Oduduwa Temple families in Brazil is evident as they visit each other at least three times a year. More than 50 devotees from Abeokuta journey to Brazil to partake in the vibrant Orisa festivals celebrated with their Brazilian counterparts.
The Oduduwa Temple in Abeokuta serves as a continuation of Bàbá King’s mission. Recognizing the significance of Africa in shaping his spiritual path and earning him prestige and respect, Bàbá King felt compelled to give back to Africa by building the Temple in Abeokuta. The construction began in 2007 and continues to this day due to Bàbá King’s ambitious plans for the Temple’s expansion and further offerings.
The Oduduwa Temple’s artistic features are a testament to its cultural significance, with renowned artists like Chief Àkànjí Adébísí, Chief Adéṣínà Nurudeen Adébísí, Jímọ̀ Ìdòwú Ọlábómì, Jímọ̀ Ìdòwú Ọlábọ̀dé, Ọlálẹ́yẹ Ọláoyè Jósèph, and Ajíbẹ́ṣin Abíọ́dún Àlàdè contributing their masterpieces.
The history of the Spiritual Community of the Òrìṣà – Energies of Nature and its first initiations for Slovenians, Croatians, Serbians, and others is a fascinating journey of seeking wisdom and connection with nature, much akin to the practices of their Slavic pagan ancestors. In 2003, a group of spiritual seekers, led by Ladislav Medvešček and Jasmina Audič, traveled to Brazil to undergo initiations performed by African priests. These seekers were introduced to the energies of nature through Ifá and the Òrìṣà, and their lives were significantly enriched by this authentic experience.
This spiritual path paved the way for more followers from Slovenia and other former Yugoslav countries to travel to Brazil and embrace the Yoruba tradition. Bàbá King’s visits to Slovenia further solidified the importance of the Slovenian community in spreading the Yoruba tradition throughout Europe.
The Spiritual Community of the Òrìṣà – Energies of Nature was established in 2007 to provide a space for indoor gatherings and public representation. The community’s leader was selected and confirmed through Ifá divination. Gratitude is expressed towards the enthusiastic first group of initiates and the Medvešček family, who generously offered their home for meetings and lectures. The community’s growth has prompted the establishment of the Afriški kulturni center d.o.o. in Slovenia, facilitating lectures and ownership of a headquarters in Bizeljska vas.
The seeds planted in 2003 have borne abundant fruits, and the community continues to thrive, nourished by the soil of support and dedication.
The Orisa festivals held at the Oduduwa Temple in Brazil gather thousands of devoted Oduduwa family members within the grandest Orisa temple in the country. People from various parts of Brazil and around the world flock to join in the celebrations, making it a significant occasion akin to a family reunion for the Oduduwa Temple community. During these festivals, the devotees, who consider themselves one big family, come together to worship and honor the Orisás.
This flourishing Oduduwa Temple family is undoubtedly the vision of the Isese missionary in the Americas, Babalorisa Sikiru Adesina Salami.
Bàbálórìsà Sikiru Salami emphasizes that in Africa, the boundaries between culture, religion, and philosophy are imperceptible due to their way of life, which is deeply rooted in virtues and universally applicable to all human beings. It is a way of life that recognizes the interconnectedness of all people, where water, air, the earth, weather conditions, and ultimately, each other, are integral components of their existence. Understanding the abstract meaning behind the expressions of nature allows for greater respect and gratitude towards oneself, others, and the natural world.
Patience, kindness, perseverance, diligence, and calmness are hailed as the greatest virtues, and adhering to them makes individuals better in all aspects of life, such as being a better believer, father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, citizen, and so on. These virtues transcend the barriers of skin color, mother tongue, or any other factors, according to the spiritual leader, Baba King.
