Iwa by Jordan Henry

                This week our class was lectured by Dr. Segun Gbadegesin and he is the Professor of Philosophy and the Associate Dean of the Humanities in the college of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.  This week’s topic was based on the word “omoluabi”, which is African for self actualization and communal responsibility. 

            Dr. Gbadegesin first began his lecture by discussing some important African terms such as “ijuba”, which means homage and he said that we must be knowledgeable about our past and our creators.   He first discussed Orunmila who is the God of Wisdom.  He then stated that “Iwa” means existence and plays the character as Orunmila’s wife.   “Suuru” means patience and he plays the father of Iwa.  He then went on to say that Orunmila mistreated Iwa and as a result she left him.  Orunmila lost everything that he had and he finally realized that he needed Iwa.  The moral of the story is that we should never lose our “Iwa” because you will lose who you are and everything along with it as a result.

Dr. Gbadegesin also discussed the ties that bind the Ancient Egyptian Culture and the African world.  He also said that the Egyptian culture and African culture share many similar physical, spiritual, philosophical, metaphysical, and ethical principles.  The Ancient Egyptians practiced the morals of truth, justice, harmony and they believed in maintaining order.  Both cultures believed in things such as the good of existence as well as the responsibility to health and community.  He also discussed that the Egyptians believed that good character and intelligence was equal to great beauty.  As a result, it is important that we continue our African culture and carry on the morals of responsibility and health.  Most importantly, we should never lose sight of our “Iwa” or we will lose ourselves and everything else as well.