The Ogboni and other Secret Societies in Nigeria by R.E. Dennett
The Rev. T. A. J. Ogunbiyi, who is the author of "The Traditional Origin of Ogboni," quoted further on, informs me that...
The Rev. T. A. J. Ogunbiyi, who is the author of "The Traditional Origin of Ogboni," quoted further on, informs me that...
...the Ogboni is not a king's council; that he is not the chief of the Ogboni, but that he may become a member of it.
Here is what he writes about it in his parish magazine, The Ogboni Fraternity : —
Assuming that the component parts of the Bene Esse of any nation are Polity, Religion, and Society, I submit that the Ogboni Fraternity is best considered under the third heading.
As practised by the indigenous natives, like all kindred fraternities in Africa, at least along the West Coast, it may be termed "rude freemasonry," to use the expression of a late Bishop of Sierra Leone ;...
... but no sooner is it scrutinised by any educated native who has also got an insight into those of civilised places of the world, than he would discern that it stands on all fours with any recognised fraternity.
Unlike the Egungun, Oro, Adamorisa, Gelede, which may rightly be considered under Religion, it has nothing to do with spirit or demon worship;...
... its main object is to fraternise the community to which it is introduced and keep them closely bound together for mutual succour and support with a strong chain of fidelity.
Candidates are initiated into it by oath-taking, and duly entrusted with passgrips, passwords, and emblems.
But as oaths are seldom taken without some religious ceremony, and as they are taken in the name of the god most revered by the people, the heathen takes his oath...
... at the shrine of the god best known to him, which naturally to a Christian, Jew, or Moslem is abominable, as it is idolatrous.
This part and this part alone constitutes the religious phase of the fraternity.
Generally the Ogboni fraternity has not within its province the political control of any town, nor does it arrogate to itself its legislature.
Generally the Ogboni fraternity has not within its province the political control of any town, nor does it arrogate to itself its legislature.
The ruler of the craft is as distinct from the king or a political chief as the Worshipful Master of a Masonic Lodge to the Sovereign of a country.
But in some places where the fraternity is patronised by kings and chiefs who have been impressed with the unshaken fidelity of the constituents of the craft...
... and have learnt to respect them, certain judicial concessions were made to its distinguished personnel equivalent to the appointment of J.P.'s of civilised places.
The members of this fraternity, by virtue of the oaths taken and consequent bond of fellowship, claim the right of seeing the last of a brother and depositing his remains in the bosom of mother earth, ...
... and this they could not be doing according to the heathen rite, which entails much feasting and slaughtering of animals in sacrifice, eventually plunging the family and relatives of the deceased into the quagmire of heavy debt.
This and other extraneous practices mentioned inter alia above, the Christian Ogboni Fraternity, in the light of civilised fraternities, expunged, substituting...
... Christian for the decidedly objectionable heathen custom that found its way to this wonderfully helpful craft, and thus made it become a precious jewel compared with the same jewel in the dust.
In the early days missionaries who studied the principles of the Ogboni craft at close quarters, particularly in Abeokuta, permitted not only the Christians but also native clergy and spiritual teachers, for the sake of convenience, to be initiated into its mysteries.
Indeed, veteran missionaries, among whom were the late Rev. J. Townsend, J. B. Wood, and V. Faulkner, were said to be initiated into the Ogboni mysteries in Abeokuta.
No Christian was ever disciplined for being an Ogboni.
No Christian was ever disciplined for being an Ogboni.
Source: Journal of the African Society. v.16 1916-17
