Reformed Ogboni Fraternity
The Reformed Ogboni Fraternity, also known as the R.O.F, is an international fraternal organization.[1] It is commonly described by initiates as a syncretic blend of the Ogboni system of Yorubaland and various external elements.
| Reformed Ogboni Fraternity | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1914 Lagos, Nigeria |
| Type | Fraternal organization |
| Scope | International |
| Motto | Behold, How Good and Pleasant it is for Brethren to Dwell together in Unity. |
| Nickname | R.O.F. |
| Headquarters | 38, Abeokuta Street, Adekunle, Lagos, Nigeria. |
History
The Reformed Ogboni Fraternity was founded on the 18th of December, 1914. It was started as an alternative of the Aborigine Ogboni Fraternity for practitioners of Christianity, and its founder was the Anglican cleric T.A.J. Ogunbiyi.[2]
Founding members that joined him in starting the fraternity included Prince Orisadipe Obasa, his wife Princess Charlotte Blaize Obasa of the R.B. Blaize family, and Prince M. Akinsemoyin of the Akinsemoyin royal family. Prince Obasa was recognized by the founders as the first Oluwo, or master, in the same year.[3]
Although the fraternity was started both by and for the Christian elite, it has since grown in scope, and today its membership includes aristocratic followers of different faiths.[4][5] External elements that influenced the fraternity's founders during its creation included everything from the early Christianity of Nigeria (as manifested in the local chapter of the Keswick Convention) to English Freemasonry.[6][7]
Notable members
Notable members of the fraternity have included:
- Sir Adeyemo Alakija (who served as Olori Oluwo, or grandmaster, of the fraternity) [8]
- Chief Ladoke Akintola[9]
- Sir Adetokunbo Ademola (who also served as Olori Oluwo) [10]
- King Olubuse II, the Ooni of Ife [11]
- Sir Ladapo Ademola, the Alake of Egbaland [12]
- King George VI of the United Kingdom and the Dominions [13]
- Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe[14]
- Sir Ahmadu Bello[15]
- Chief Olusegun Obasanjo[16][17]
- Chief Francis Meshioye[18][19][20] (As of 2023, he is the current Olori Oluwo)
Controversies
The organization has been alleged to be a secret cult[21][22] partaking in human sacrifices, although no cogent evidence has ever substantiated this.[23][24] In an exposé on occultism titled Occult Grandmaster Now in Christ, a Nigerian best seller written in 1993 by Iyke Nathan Uzorma, the organization was alleged to be engaging in "Rajo witchcraft" which had little to no credence as the author didn’t explain, nor elaborate on what Rajo witchcraft meant .[25] On December 19, 2019, Francis Meshioye the Olori Oluwo (which in English means the supreme leader of the organization) negated any alleged claim of wrong doing on the part of the organization and expressly stated that there was nothing sinister about it.[26]
References
- Ibenegbu, George (2018-04-16). "Ogboni Fraternity: top facts you should know". www.legit.ng. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
- Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Nigeria: The Reformed Ogboni Fraternity (ROF), including the nature of its belief system and its purpose; whether membership is compulsory, especially for children of members, and consequences for refusing to join the ROF; whether positions within the ROF are inherited". Refworld. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
- Akintola 1992, pp. 9 and 10.
- "African Spirituality and Christian Theology". TheNationOnlineNg.net. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- "Nothing Secret, Sinister about us - Ogboni fraternity". Guardian.ng. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- Bengt Sundkler and Christopher Steed (2000), A History Of The Church In Africa, Cambridge University press, pp. 734 and 735.
- Kwame Anthony Appiah and Henry Louis Gates Jr. (2005), Encyclopedia of Africa: Volume I, Oxford University press, p. 60.
- "Nothing Secret, Sinister about us - Ogboni fraternity". Guardian.ng. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- "Nothing Secret, Sinister about us - Ogboni fraternity". Guardian.ng. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- "Nothing Secret, Sinister about us - Ogboni fraternity". Guardian.ng. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- Akintola 1992, p. 96.
- Akintola 1992, p. 95.
- Akintola 1992, p. 13.
- "Ogboni leader says members attend churches, mosques; lists founding members". Dailypost.ng. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- "Ogboni leader says members attend churches, mosques; lists founding members". Dailypost.ng. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Nigeria: Azigidi and Ogboni cults including rituals and ceremonies; consequences for refusing to join; relations with the government (1999)". Refworld. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- "BBC News | Africa | Obasanjo poll victory challenge ends". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- "Chief Francis Meshioye Archives". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- "Ogboni Fraternity formed to promote Christian values —Leader". Punch Newspapers. 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- "ROF leader donates to elderly, orphanage". Vanguard News. 2021-02-23. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
- Moore, Henrietta L. (2003). Magical Interpretations, Material Realities: Modernity, Witchcraft and the Occult in Postcolonial Africa. USA: Routledge. p. 80. ISBN 9780203398258.
- Arewa, Ojo; Stroup, Kerry (1977). "The Ogboni Cult Group (Nigeria): Analysis and Interpretation of the Communicative Events Which Constitute the Behavior of Its Members". Anthropos. 72 (1/2): 274–287. ISSN 0257-9774. JSTOR 40459084.
- Ibenegbu, George (2018-04-16). "Ogboni Fraternity: top facts you should know". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
- Johnson, Dayo (June 20, 2016). "Anxiety in Akure as President of Ogboni Fraternity in Nigeria dies". Vanguardngr. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- "inauthor:"PROF. IYKE NATHAN UZORMA"". Google Search. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
- "Nothing secret, sinister about us — Ogboni Fraternity". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
Further reading
- Akintola, Akinbowale (1992). The Reformed Ogboni Fraternity (R.O.F.): The Origins And Interpretation Of Its Doctrines And Symbolism.