Ayankola Ayanwuyi

There is a need to tell you Esu is Not Satan. Esu is a principle of sacrifice. Esu is a principle of accountability. Esu is a principle of balance. Esu is all you need to do life.

1 day ago | [YT] | 13

Ayankola Ayanwuyi

Today, I had the privilege of engaging Professor Olasope Oyelaran in a conversation about Yoruba culture, language, and legacy.

He shared the story of how he returned from Stanford University in the U.S. to help establish the Department of Linguistics and African Languages at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1970, following an invitation from the then Vice Chancellor, Professor Hezekiah Oluwasanmi.

We talked about the foundational vision behind Yoruba Studies at OAU, started with minds like Professor Abiola Irele, Professor Olabiyi Yai, Professor Wande Abimbola and of course, Prof. Oyelaran himself.

Part of our conversation was recorded, and I look forward to sharing it soon.

At the end, I gifted him a copy of my book, “Esu is Not Satan.” It was a moment of exchange between generations of language and cultural workers. I feel so honoured to sit and learn from his experience. And I count myself blessed to contribute to the ongoing work of preservation and promotion of Yoruba culture and language.
Ire ni o.

6 days ago | [YT] | 15

Ayankola Ayanwuyi

After two years, we have finally released a new perspective on the practice of Ẹ́ẹ́rìndínlógún, the Yorùbá Sixteen Cowries system of divination. It's called Dílógún in Brazil.

Our first production on Ẹ́ẹ́rìndínlógún, A Leaf from the Olórìṣà in Ọ̀yọ́, explored the tradition within Òrìṣà devotees in the Àṣà Òrìṣà Ọ̀yọ́ Aláàfin community.

This new release, Ẹ́ẹ́rìndínlógún Through Her Cowries, features Chief Mrs. Alice Oyeronke, an Olórìṣà with over 40 years of practice in Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́. Her fresh perspective into this agelong knowledge system is important for cultural continuity.

The conversation was recorded on November 1, 2023, but only just published (on January 10, 2026). This delay is our current reality ‪@dunduncentre‬.

We are sitting on over 10 recorded projects on oral traditions. They are unedited and unpublished because our team is small. By August 2025, we had to make the difficult decision to pause all new recordings.

This means the documentation of our oral stories, philosophies, and spiritual technologies is at a standstill.

We are watching elders and custodians age. We are watching our indigenous knowledge fade when there is so much undocumented.

We must act before those who hold these stories are gone. We must come together to do and support the work. We need you not to wait again to support us, because our time is now.

— Ayankola Ayanwuyi

1 week ago | [YT] | 15

Ayankola Ayanwuyi

Unpopular opinion that is gradually becoming popular

Me: Esu is Not Satan

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 15

Ayankola Ayanwuyi

These are places to buy Esu is Not Satan.
#esuisnotsatan

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 11

Ayankola Ayanwuyi

Let's honour Esu Odara today and always. Esu is Not Satan.
#esuisnotsatan

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 14

Ayankola Ayanwuyi

Ogbomoso from Ajagungbade III to Orumogege III

Today, December 19, marks two years since the official coronation and presentation of the staff of office to Oba Ghandi Olaoye Orumogege III, the 28th Soun of Ogbomoso. The ceremony was a pivotal moment in the Ogbomoso’s history. It was a day that heralded a new reign in our collective tradition and identity.

The event drew notable dignitaries from across Nigeria. It was a clear show of the enduring cultural and political influence of Ogbomoso in Yorubaland.

I captured this historic moment in a documentary titled "Ogbomoso: Journey from Ajagungbade III to Orumogege III." The film trace the lineage of the Oba Laoye Orumogege III from Soun Ogunlola. And it explore the reign of Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, whose long and illustrious leadership helped shape the course of Ogbomoso’s contemporary identity. It also document the ceremonies, culture, and traditions that marked Soun kingship transition.

This documentary is personal to me. It is produced in memory of my late paternal grandmother, Princess Alice Jadesola Ayanwuyi (Nee Atoyebi), who lived a life full of cultural memory (c. 1903 – June 16, 2023). Our moments together inspire my dedication to capturing culture and memory.

Documenting Yoruba culture is a very important because every story, no matter how small, is a bridge between the past and the present. It connects who we were to who we are becoming, and it is a tool to decode the future.

May the reign of Oba Laoye Orumogege III be long and peaceful.

- Ayankola Ayanwuyi

1 month ago | [YT] | 12

Ayankola Ayanwuyi

The more accessible information we have on Esu Odara, the better for the Yoruba people. The greater the enlightenment, the closer we return to our true identity.

1 month ago | [YT] | 12

Ayankola Ayanwuyi

I captured the process of making locust beans (popularly called Irú in Yorùbá), as told through the hands and voice of a woman in Igboora, Oyo State, Nigeria. The video was shot in 2023 to highlight the business, and how Irú has turned important ingredients for African kitchens.

1 month ago | [YT] | 8

Ayankola Ayanwuyi

The Yoruba identity have been shaped by over 500 years of colonialism, and it's no surprise that this has left deep scars. That’s a long time for generations to live under oppression. But isn’t it time we break this cycle? A cycle that makes us want to become more like others, instead of embracing who we truly are.
#esuisnotsatan

1 month ago | [YT] | 13