Omoluabi

The lecture given Tuesday September 28th spoke to me directly for many reasons. When Dr. Gbadegesin started his lecture he told us the importance of paying respects when you enter a room. Then he went into the story of the talking drum which talks about family history of everyone. He explained that the talking drum can only be understood if the drummer tells you what it is saying. For example he did both you are stupid and you are serious and they both sounded the same except the last beat was lower for "stupid" and higher for "serious". We then discussed the story of Iwa. The story of Iwa was a story that can be related to life now. Iwa means existence and character and she was the wife of Orunmila who was the God of wisdom. He mistreated her and she decided to leave him. After she left him he lost everything that he had and once he found her he begged for her to come back to him. The story is strong and memorable because of the message behind it, Do not ever lose your existence or character because a man of character is a man of wealth. Omoluabi is a very important quality to have based on what I heard. When understanding existence it is important to understand the good of existence and how it relates to you. As a student I should remake myself through my education and then serve my community based on my education. Immortality is seen as the crown of existence and immortality is not to live forever but to live in the memory of your community. Some important structures of character is Iwa Iewa which is good character is beauty and Iwa lesin which is essence of religion. I understand now the importance of being a person with a good character, patience, an education, and a sense of existence.

Richelle Jenkins