Our Custodian - Oba Ategbe
Dr.
Ifábùkúnmi O. Adéwálé, our Oba Ategbe, is a renowned
practitioner and scholar of traditional Yoruba medicine
and religion. He is the author of The Plants of
Traditional Medicine, vol 1 and featured speaker on
Yoruba traditions for many engagements. Dr. Adéwálé is
the spiritual leader of Ile Ategbe and medical director
of Adewura Natural Medical Centre in Lagos, Nigeria and
Adewura Natural Remedies in the U.S., where he has
developed numerous herbal remedies. Combining
traditional Yoruba culture and western academic study,
Ifábùkúnmi Adéwálé is a veritable doctor of traditional
medicine: a Babalawo, Oníşègùn, pharmacognosist and
ethno botanist. This background in both worlds gives Dr.
Adéwálé a unique and comprehensive perspective into
science, culture and health.
Born in Èkìtì State, Nigeria, Dr.
Adéwálé was reared in Òrìşà tradition from childhood.
Stemming from two distinct lines of royalty – spiritual:
the current Oba Ategbe; and
municipal: an heir to Olábò of Epòró/Emùré- Èkìtì
Dr. Ifábùkúnmi Adéwálé is an nth
generation Babalawo (father of spiritual secrets) and
Oníşègùn (owner of medicine), He follows a long-line of
healers and priests. Under the tutelage of both his
father and uncle, two widely sought after Babalawo and
healers of their time, and received an extensive and
rigorous training, which prohibited him from engaging in
formal schooling after his primary education. However,
because of his inquisitiveness and persistence, he was
allowed to attend college on one condition: that when
his schooling was complete he would return to his
spiritual commitments with vigor. This compromise set
the foundation for his dual role as a theoretical
scientist and practitioner of traditional medicine.
Inspired by that charge, he enrolled at the University
of Lagos (Nigeria) where he earned a B.Sc in Biology
(Special Hons) and was trained as a biosystematic plant
taxonomist, conducted postgraduate research and trained
others in his field. At the University of Ibadan, he
trained and conducted postgraduate research in
Pharmacognosy. This combined research led to the
development of his Cleaner 109 product. Amazingly, he
also found time to earn a postgraduate diploma in
Computer Science from Lagos City Polytechnic.
Dr. Ifábùkúnmi Adéwálé has
committed his life to educating and healing. His
personal botanic garden contains over 1000 plant species
and has become an important teaching site for ethno
botany students. Over the past two decades, he has sat
on various committees of the Lagos State Board of
Traditional and Alternative Medicine. He also serves as
secretary to the International Congress of Orişa
Tradition and Culture (Nigeria Chapter). Additionally,
his critically acclaimed recorded presentations,
Introduction to Yoruba Culture & Religion, Orişa &
Medicinal Plants and ORÍ – Graph of Human Destiny have
made him a sought after lecturer on traditional Yoruba
medicine, religion and culture. His most recent
appointments include the New York Open Center and the
University of Georgia.
