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Ataoja of Osogbo. His Royal Highness; Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi III 1. THE ATAOJA The Ataoja of Osogbo is the traditional head of Osogbo and the accredited representative of the ancestors. He has the final say in all traditional matters. his body is regarded as sacrosanct and his words as the voice of the Divinity. Hence the saying "Oba igba Keji Orisa" {the king next in rank to the Divinity}. On the grand finale of osun osogbo festival, The Arugba Osun leads the procession of the Ataoja to Osun Grove where he blesses the people and prays for peace and plenty during the succeding year. Infact, Osun Osogbo Festival cannot and does not take place in the absence of the Ataoja *A brief history of the Ataoja of Osogbo.* The number one indigene of Osogbo land, the great Oba Iyiola Oyewale hails from the Matanmi ruling house (There are Four established ruling houses in Osogbo land). He is born to Pa Shittu Amoo and Madam Sabitiyu Ajile Oyewale. He had his elementary education at the St. Andrews Primary School, Oke-Baale and the St. John Primary School, Ita-Olookan, both in Osogbo. He later proceeded to the Teachers College and practiced teaching profession for sometime. His hard work and quest for more knowledge later took him to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos where he studied Accountancy. Oba Oyewale later took other management and professional courses at the Universities of Ibadan and Lagos and the Folks Lynch Institute, London. He earned Graduate and Associate membership A.C.C.A , Great Britain; Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN); and Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM). Young prince Oyewale, had his fair deal of his professional career before ascending to the throne of his fathers, these include working as Special Assistant to the University Bursar on Financial Planning and Budgeting at the University of Lagos. The dynamic Oba Oyewale is also a partner at Ogunbanjo Okunbule Firm of Chartered Accountant. The Kabiyesi is not only an accomplished Chartered Accountant, he has also demonstrated his intellectual creativity in a number of publications and other journals. Amongst his hand works are: "The Role of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria" (1981); "The Role of Traditional Rulers in Local Government Administration" (1986). Oba Iyiola Oyewale has carried this same dynamism to his wise and organized system of ruling over his 300,000 subjects. May he live long to continue to administer justice and wise counsel over his people. Ki ade pe l'ori, ki bata pe l'ese Oba o. Ase!
OJUBO The main rituals are performed at ojubo, the major place of worship in the grove; lt is about two kilometerers from the palace. The ojubo is the pace where the ATaoja made his original pact with the goddess,THE OJUbo is situated in the iarge court yard caiied A GBAIA OSUN. IT IS AISO The spot where osun goddess is worshipped and can be invoked. When invoked, it is the beIief of the worshippers that osun wouId be present sprituaIIy to meet whit then,receive their prayers and offerings as weII as to bIess them, receive their prayers and offrings as weII as to bIes them. It is the pIace where there the objects of sacrice [pounded yam, fowIS, efo yanrin etc] are offered and thrown Into the river. The high chiefs and worshippers pay homage in tunrs to the taoja. Afater receiving them, the Ataoja Ied by the Iya osun and the Aworo osun, offer the sacrifice to the osun goddess as he[the first Ataoja] sat when it all began. it is also the sacred spot where the Ataoja communes with Osun goddess.
	IYAMOPO IYA MOPO: For the benefit of our numerous readers, it is imperative to explain the full meaning of Iya Mopo. IYA : Is the Yoruba word for mother and MOPO ; is the Yoruba word for sentry hill. She was the soldier on guarding the entrance the Osun grove. It is generally believed by the people of Osogbo that Iyamopo possesses mystical powers and this accounts for her superb ability to guard the whole grove effectively. She was believed to be the matron goddess of POT makers because of her goodness in the moulding of clay pots. It may be pertinent to mention that this woman of iron not only good in the moulding of clay. Pots but also an expert in the production of palm oil.
ARUGBA OSUN {THE VOTARY MAID} Arugba osun is a young holy lady who gives up the whole of her time and energy to the religion worship and service of osun. Traditionally the Arugba must be a spinster and a virgin and must remain so until she relinquihes the post for marriage. She must be a daugher of Larooye who come from the rulling house picked by Ifa . {Oracle} On the final day of osun festival, The Arugba Osun carries the symbolic ritual Calabash containing the sacred brass figures and other objects of worship of Osun and leads the Ataoja's procession from the palace to the grove and back to the palace. She may be the Arugba for only one year and for several years {depending on her age] until she is ripe for marriage. On notice of intending marriage, she carries the calabash for the last time after which she proceeds to her marital home. It is forbidden for the Arugba to trip her foot over a stump or rock on her way as this is taken as a bad omen for herself and the worshippers. for this reason, a great ring of sturdy young men is formed around her on her way to and fro. The sturdy ring use sticks and whips, beating one another and thereby scaring away possible disorderly crowds round her. This is the reason why the mother and relations of the Arugba are not in peace of mind until the Arugba safely returns from the grove.
	IYA OSUN {OSUN PRIESTESS} The iya osun is the osun priestness.She is the one in cnarge of worship of osun Divinity every day and at the annual festival.She is particularly mportant in worship because it is only through her that the people can know that is necessary to be done or offered to please osun in the time of peace or pestilence. Only like the Aworo osun,the iya osun knows what sacrifice is to be offered and how it should be offered.She also can tell whether or not that which is is offered is enough and acceptable. In fact,the iya osun can invoke the Divinity to come to land in the form of iko(osun fish-messenger).Which puors holy water(medicinal water)from the mouth.People who take the medicinal water claim to have come under a sort of afflatus(i.e)(divine impulse or inspiration).The water can be used to cure the sick and to make barren women become fertile and productive. The iya osun has the full knowledge of the secret of osun and she can -and-does speak with iya osun, she is very versed in singinf the praises of osun. SELERU AGBO, AGBARA AGBO, LOSUN FINWO MO RE, KI DOKITA O TO DE, A-BI-MO-DA-NAA-LE IWO LAN POWE MO ORE YEYE OSUN O.
AWORO OSUN {OSUN PRIEST} Every divinity in yoruba land has his or her own priesthood.Aworo osun is the priest. He performs in conjuction with iya osun(osun priestess) in the worship of osun divinity every day and at the annual festival. Like the iya osun,the Aworo osun knows what is necessary to be done to please osun both in time of peace or pestilence. He knows what sacrifice is to be orfferd,how it should be offerd and wether or not what is offerd is adequate and acceptable to osun Divinity. The AWoro osun has the knowledge of the secret of osun and he can,and does speak with osun in singing verses. OSOGBO OROKI ASALA ONILE OBI OSOGBO ILU ARO,ARO DEDE BI OKUN OSOGBO OROKI GBE ONILE,OTUN GBE AJOJI OSOGBO OROKI OMO YEYE OSUN YEYE ATEWOGBEJA,ANIYUN LABEBE OROKI TI IBA EJA NLA SORO TI RAN IKO NISE OSUN OSOGBO,RERE NI O SUN FUN MI.

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