groups and members, however, are under the
authorityoftheAlafin(i.e.,thepoliticalleader)of
the Yoruba. As the ultimate chief of the Ogboni,
theAlafinhastheauthoritytoconvokethepriests
into extraordinary sessions, for example.
Before the advent of colonialism, Yoruba gov-
ernment was centered on the powerful Oba (i.e.,
theKing).However,theKing’sactswereexpected
to conform to certain socially sanctioned norms,
and deviance from these norms—such as despotic
administration or questionable decisions made
single-handedly—was checked by the Ogboni
society, which functioned as the Oba’s Council of
Elders.Inotherwords,itwastheOgboni’sdutyto
set up institutional checks and balances by pro-
tecting the community against excesses or abuses
from the King, thus ultimately acting as powerful
agents of law and order maintenance in the soci-
ety. In fact, it was the Ogboni elders’ responsibil-
ity and prerogative to select kings and remove
them if deemed necessary. They derived this right
from their spiritual and religious connections.
The Ogboni may also get involved in cases of
capital offenses, especially when it is believed that
the sanctity of the Earth has been violated. It is
said that criminals are sometimes delivered to the
Oro,asecretancestralgroupwithinOgboni,who
may then put them to death.
Ogboni lodges have existed in the different
Yoruba political units, from kingdoms and
empirestocities,towns,andvillages.Theselodges
have been responsible for commissioning brass
jewelry and sculptures that have become the
emblemsofthesociety.Chiefamongsuchsymbols
isthefamousEdan,representingapairofOgboni
initiates. The male and female figurines are joined
by a metal chain attached around their necks.
Although brass was chosen because of its incor-
ruptiblequality,ametaphorfortheimmortalityof
the Ogboni society, the tied male–female pair
stands as a reminder of the necessary complemen-
tarity of the sexes for the perpetuation of life.
Bearing witness to African cultural resiliency as
wellastoOgbonipowerinAfrica,theOgbonisoci-
etywasre-createdinBahia,Brazil,duringtheearly
partofthe19thcenturyatatimewhentheYoruba
had become the major cultural group there. The
Ogboni society of Bahia initiated or supported
many revolts by enslaved Africans and exercised
muchofitsinfluencethroughCandombléhouses.
ObasarestillinexistenceinNigeria,althoughin
aweakenedform,andtheOgbonicontinuetoexer-
cise their political advisory role. Generally speak-
ing, the Ogboni’s influence and power over the
affairsofthenationremainsquitesignificanttoday.
Membership is no longer restricted to Yoruba
people,butisopentootherethnicitiesaswell.Also,
although both men and women are eligible to be
initiatedintotheOgbonisociety,thepredominance
of male elders is undeniable, thus causing some to
refertotheOgbonisocietyasafraternalorder.
Today, some orders, such as the Reformed
Ogboni Fraternity and the Indigenous Ogboni,
have adopted original Ogboni symbols and refer-
ences.However,theculturalandpoliticalintegrity
of those organizations has been called into ques-
tiongiventheirstronglinkswithFreemasonry,the
Rotary Club, or the Rosicrucian Brotherhood.Ama MazamaSee alsoEkpo Secret SocietyFurther Readings
Babatunde,E.D.(1992).A Critical Study of Bini and
Yoruba Value Systems of Nigeria in Change:Culture,
Religion and the Self.Lewiston,NY:EdwinMellenPress.
Clarke, K. M. (2006).Mapping Yoruba Network:Power
and Agency in the Making of Transnational
Communities. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
Eades, J. S. (1980).The Yoruba Today. Cambridge, UK:
Cambridge University Press.
Faiola, T., & Jennings, C. (Eds.). (2004).Sources and
Methods in African History:Spoken,Written,
Unearthed. Rochester, NY: Boydell and Brewer.
Gbadegesin, S. (1991).African Philosophy:Traditional
Yoruba Philosophy and Contemporary African
Realities. New York: Peter Lang.
Leal, G. (2001). Fariga/Ifarada: Black Resistance and
Achievement in Brazil. In S. Walker (Ed.),African
Roots/American Cultures:Africa in the Creation of
the Americas(pp. 291–300). New York: Rowman &
Littlefield.OGDOAD
Ogdoad is the name assigned to a group of eight
deitiesthatplayedsignificantrolesinthepreliminary480 Ogdoad