Aare Alasa, Ifagbenusola Olalekan Atanda
Chief Priest Atanda was born in Osogbo, Nigeria. He was trained and educated in the Traditional African Religion of the Yoruba people of Nigeria, IFA or 'Indigenous Faith of Africa' by the late Araba of Lagos, Chief Ifasina Agboola.
In 1986, Chief Atanda was honored with the distinguished title of 'Asiwaju Awo of Lagos and Lagos State' by the Araba of Lagos, Chief Ifasina Agboola and His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan of Lagos. As 'Asiwaju Awo', Chief Atanda serves as the 'mouth piece' of Awo. He is therefore the pathfinder that leads all of the Awos.
In 1992, Chief Atanda received the title of 'Aare Alasa of Osogbo'. Oba Iyiola Matanmi, the Ataoja of Osogbo, bestowed this honor upon him. As Aare Alasa Chief Atanda is the President of the Defenders of the City - Chief (Generalisimo) of the Defenders of Osogboland. Further, the Araba of Osogboland conferred upon him the title of 'Balogun Awo of Osogbo'.
Chief Atanda was honored in 1995 with the highly respected indigenous title, in the Yoruba Traditional Religious heirarchy, of 'Asiwaju Awo Agbaye'. His Royal Majesty Oba Sijuade, Ooni of Ile Ife and Araba Makooranwale of Ile Ife conferred this title upon him. As Asiwaju Awo Agbaye Chief Atanda is the leader or mouthpiece of all the Awos in the world.
In 2001 Chief Atanda was promoted from the rank of Balogun of Osogboland to 'Aseda Awo of Ogsoboland'. This new position is third within the Awo heirarchy. Araba being first, Akoda being second and Aseda being third.
Selected Accomplishments
1. In 1988 Chief Atanda founded HATTAF International, headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. This Traditional Yoruba religious Temple has branches in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States and Mexico. Both the Nigerian and USA chapters are registered as non profit religious organizations. The USA Chapter is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 entity.
2.Chief Atanda was invited by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to participate as a panelist and present a paper 'The Involvement of Traditional Healers in CDD (Causes of Diarrhea Diseases)' at the Third International Congress on Oral Rehydration Therapy in Washington, D.C., 1988.
3. In 1989 Chief Atanda collaborated with the USAID in Lagos to organize a one-day workshop in Badagry to discuss 'Grassroots Training and Establishment of ORT (Oral Rehydration Therapy) Centers.'
4. In 1993 HATTAF International, in conjunction with the United National Population Fund (UNFPA), organized a seminar on the 'Attitudes of Traditional Healers towards Family Planning'.
5. Chief Atanda serves as Vice President of the Nigerian Chapter of the International Congress of Orisha Tradition and Culture.
6. Chief Atanda presided over the Closing Ceremony for the African Artifacts of the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco, 1999.
7. Elected Treasurer for the International Congress of Orisha Tradition and Culture, 2001-2003.
8. Since 1997 Chief Atanda has shared his deep knowledge of the Ifa Tradition and Culture with the Orisa / Ifa practitioners and non-practitioners of the African Diaspora in California; San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Los Angeles through HATTAF and extramurally sponsored lectures. Titles such as 'Esu in Traditional Yoruba Religious Practice', 'Significance and Interpretation of Symbols in the Orisha Tradition', 'Orisa: Characteristics, Food and Specific Worship Rituals of African Ancestral Deities' and 'Ifa and the Healing Arts', are included in Chief Atanda's lecture portfolio.
9. Chief Atanda was re-elected recently to a four-year term as Treasurer/Financial Secretary for the World Congress of Orisa Tradition and Culture in Havana, Cuba, 2003.