A Night of Yorùbá Philosophy

Yorùbá healing traditions remind us that, more than chemistry, medicine is relation. It is spirit. It is listening. In Yorùbá metaphysics, ewé àti egbò—herbs and roots—are vessels of force, story, and alignment, animated by intention and spiritual knowledge. They are ancient technologies of care that connect the body to the soul, the living to the ancestral, the visible to the invisible.

This month’s gathering invites you into that sacred dialogue.

Our guest speaker, Dr. Akinmayowa Akin-Otiko, is a scholar and practitioner at the crossroads of indigenous healing and philosophical inquiry. A Research Fellow at the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies (UNILAG), Dr. Akin-Otiko brings both deep knowledge and grounded experience to this vital conversation.

Qudus Onikeku, Centre Director, will moderate the evening, weaving together music, questions, and shared insight as we explore:

• How Yorùbá metaphysics shapes our understanding of health and illness
• The divinatory practices that guide herbal use
• The spiritual forces—Òrìṣà, Ancestors, and more—that animate healing
• Why ewé is more than plant—it is story, force, presence
• What it means to restore balance in a world out of rhythm

The ethical responsibilities embedded in indigenous medical knowledge.

This gathering is a chance to encounter Yorùbá healing beyond pharmacology—where sacred plants are partners in restoring harmony and insight.

Note: Limited capacity event. Please arrive early to guarantee entry.

Kindly share this invitation within your circles.

With gratitude and anticipation,

Qudus Onikeku

CEO / Centre Director,

J.Randle Centre for Yorùbá Culture and History