DR Charmain Blaize was introduced to the Ifa/Orisa faith from an interest in African folk dance. Shaka Alexander’s path to the faith began with African consciousness instilled from childhood. Together the two would journey thousands of miles to Nigeria to receive prestigious Chieftaincy titles in Ifa/Orisa, an African traditional faith.

On July 30 this year, HRM Ọba Pius Omiyejola Akande (The Ajabaluku 1) Iwaro Oka, Ondo State Nigeria bestowed Chieftaincy titles to three Trinidadians, namely Blaize – Yeye Osunleyo of Iwaro, Alexander – The Ajagun Ore of Oka Odò, and Baba Opakunle – The Odubonna Awo Iwaro Oka.

Newsday spoke with Blaize, a consultant and data health expert, in a Zoom interview from Scotland where she resides.

Originally from Chaguanas she and her family moved to Arima. Though her parents raised her as Anglican she was not very interested in the dogma and indoctrination but in living well and treating people well. She also attended an Anglican School, Bishop Anstey High School and attended various Christian churches with her grandmother.

“Granny was very service-oriented. Sunday morning was to go to church and visit older relatives to keep them company.”

She described her grandmother as a very spiritual woman who was always lifting her grandchildren up in their journey.

In her late teens, she had a very good friend involved in a Judeo-Christian church and she became interested in going. But she broke away from the faith due to the restrictions on Sabbath keeping, dress, clothing and hairstyles.

A life-changing visit

She continued her spiritual search and visited different churches. In the year 2000, one of her neighbours told her she was going to an African folk dance class in an Orisa yard. She recalled growing up she was taught that African dance was demonic, and that programming was still there.

“(But) I didn’t see anything evil there.”

It was being held at Ile Ijosin Otura Méjì àwọn Osun shrine in Arima and Blaize decided to attend initially just for the exercise, but she eventually became more involved in the community.

One of the aspects of Ifa/Orisa that stood out for her was the focus on service.

“We are put on Earth to make this world a better place. Not to dominate.”

She also appreciated the faith’s interaction with the forest, nature and animals. She explained that Ifa is not religion, but it contains religion.

“It allows us to live a purpose-driven lifestyle.”

[caption id="attachment_1044150" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The three recipients of Ifa/Orisa Chieftaincy titles in Nigeria in July Baba Opakunle, left, Dr Charmain Blaize and Shaka Alexander. -[/caption]

Blaize recalled when she started doing the dance practice, she could not perform the dances. The teacher instructed her to hold her body and feel the movements.

“I felt free and liberated. The dance is a form of somatic (relating to the skeletal muscles) worship, and healing. My feet touched the earth. We use it to heal ourselves. Our bodies are traumatised bodies.”

She explained in the Ifa