Establish Ifa/Orisa in Trinidad and Tobago

We, Practitioners of The Ifa/Orisa African tradition, as lawful citizens of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, wish to be recognized by our government as a sole religious entity.

Currently the government and most citizens of Trinidad & Tobago recognizes Ifa/Orisha practitioners under the umbrella of Shouter Baptist which is as we know is a separate entity, with our own systems and leaders.

As public and official changes is taking place the Ifa/Orisa tradition is undergoing significant internal changes. At the level of organization, a group of younger innovators are attempting to develop a centralized infrastructure for the management of the tradition. With respect to social organization, the Ifa/Orisa tradition is continuing to attract younger members who are very much concern with their personal and cultural identity and are trying to establish a connection to the African origin of their ancestors.

These more private or internal aspect of the process appear to relate to the need, in postmodern society, to re-establish personal and nation identity. At a personal level, particularly among younger people, the need to establish an identity apart from that which was imposed during the colonial era becomes an important part of the socialization process.

As newer members are reclaiming their African identity through involvement with Orisa, It is most important for transformation of some rituals and ceremonial practices to conform closely to the tradition's African origin. One of the most important of these is the elimination of christian syncretism that affect the tradition from its beginnings in the Caribbean. The need to become more African and AUTHENTIC has become a sharply contested discourse within the largely amorphous group.

No longer must we as Ifa/Orisa devotees be mocked or seen as powerless. Let us rise and position our selves in new spaces within our society. It is time we see our selves as part of a larger dynamic of international globalization and its impact on both societal institutional restructuring and the often stressful relationships between individuals and society.

Its time that we Ifa/Orisa devotees begin to represent ourselves as "AFRICANS" rather than, or in addition to, "AFRO-TRINBAGONIAN" and present one mechanism for such representation.

Therefore, we wish to be recognised as such by our government and the citizens of our country with all rights and privileges appertaining to us, and others within this same designation.

We need our own Schools, National training institutions and our own public holiday.

Please sign the petition to gain organizational recognition on a higher level by our government by providing an accurate account of the Ifa/Orisa practicing citizens of Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Ifa will mend our broken world ase