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Discipleofthenile
Honour
I first came across mention of Ologbo Ijakadi in a book that belonged an elder relative. This book (written in Yoruba) was by D.O. Fagunwa. He wrote some books in the 1940s that were based around themes from ancient mythology. There was also another being he described that was part human. This was Ejola. It had the head of a human and the body of a boa constrictor. This Ejola was described as an antagonistic being.
D.O. Fagunwa came from the oral tradition where knowledge was passed down in the form of stories, proverbs, songs and riddles. He was a man with very deep knowledge and, a forerunner of playwright/teachers like Duro Ladipo, Kola Ogunmola and Ogunde. All these men too passed on knowledge about the past in the plays that they performed before audiences throughout the Yoruba country-side.
Unfortunately, there is only one translation of his books into english that I know of (done by Wole Soyinka - 'My life in the bush of ghosts').
I read about Ologbo Ijakadi a long time ago so, I cannot remember all the qualities described by D.O. Fagunwa. I remember though that it is a powerful being which lives in Irunmole (the sacred forest), and that it offers assistance to the one travelling through the sacred forest. I also know (from talking to elders), that the themes spoken on by D.O. Fagunwa were old and that the beings he described are real (though what we know of them is only a minute part of what they are).
However, I would be interested to hear what you arrived at after iditating on the form of the 'Sphinx'.
Wisdom and Strength.
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