Family escapes bloodthirsty cultists
Africa has always had its own religions and belief systems until the continent was invaded and annexed by Europeans and Arabs. This led to the introduction of the two religions of Christianity and Islam into the region. These two religions have gradually but surely almost eroded African traditional belief systems from the minds of most Africans and by extension, Nigerians. An average Nigerian is either a Christian or Muslim even if some worship their African deities secretly.
However, in recent times, there has been a resurgence of several African religions, perhaps due to the failure of Christianity and Islam to procure solutions to the African plight. Many Africans are beginning to look to their native or traditional religions to find solutions to their peculiar issues.
It is this resurgence in African religious practices that is at the centre of the plight of one Akande Adubi Ruth, who in the year 2016, had been chosen to take over the ancestral seat of Omiroro Obinrin, a position vacated by her late mother. Her first son has also been picked to be used as the sacrifice for the ascension rituals.
Egungun is a very important aspect of Yoruba religious life as it is accepted as a link between the dead ancestors and the living descendants or progenitors. It is a way of communicating with ancestors to ensure success, good health, favour and excellent harvest. Egungun festivals are always massively celebrated with masquerades flamboyantly dressed in colourful attires and heavy masks dancing all over the towns.
However, Omiroro Obinrin is a special Egungun which comes out only after secret rituals have been performed. Akande Ruth, being an avowed Christian, had declined the priestess seat, but the Omiroro Obinrin cult insisted she must take over. To make matters worse, any woman who takes over as the priestess must have a daughter as a first child who will in turn inherit the seat. If the first child is a son, then he must be sacrificed to the deity of Omiroro Obinrin.
Having been threatened with the dire consequences of refusing to accept the priestess roles and sacrificing her son, Ruth seems to have run away with her family as all efforts to locate her by family, friends and associates have been futile so far.
