The International Council for Ifa Religion has issued a cautionary statement against false claims about slavery in Yoruba history circulating on social media.
The council’s president, Fayemi Fakayode, emphasized the importance of correcting these inaccuracies to prevent them from affecting the younger generation of the Yoruba tribe.
According to The PUNCH, Fakayode specifically addressed assertions made by Erelu Lola Ayorinde.
He stated, “Erelu Lola Ayorinde’s persistent claims that the Yoruba race encouraged slavery are not only historically inaccurate but also perpetuate harmful stereotypes and damage the reputation of the Yoruba people.”
Fakayode criticized Ayorinde for misrepresenting her heritage and making false connections to Yoruba deities such as Sango and Ifa.
He accused her of manipulating historical facts and misleading the public.
He called on the public to approach Ayorinde’s statements with critical thinking and to conduct thorough research into the history of the Yoruba people.
“We urge the public to exercise extreme caution and critical thinking about her statements, as they are false, unfounded, misleading, and do not reflect the values and traditions of the Yoruba people,” Fakayode added.
The ICIR affirmed its commitment to preserving the truth, cultural integrity, and dignity of the Yoruba race, stating that they would not allow misinformation to spread unchecked.
