It is with heavy heart that we learn that several of our most respected and loved Babalawos in Cuba have passed from this world into Ara Orun. Although they have gone to a better place, it is with us that the sorrow remains on their passing, for we will miss them greatly. Here is the news as I received it from David Brown, PhD:
There will be many saddened in knowing that Quintin Lecon Lombillo --Otrupon Adakino (aka Tin, aka Quintin Garcia, son of Quintin Garcia Otura Nico and grandson of No Filomeno Garcia--Atanda Baba Elliogbe--died on 16 August 1999. The date is certain. He was buried in the Colon Cemetery at 9:00 am on 17 August 1999. Tin was considered to be the most elder babalawo in Cuba and lived in Reparto Juanelo in Havana.
Ibae Ibae Ibayen Torun
Feliberto O'Farrill (Oche Melli), who was considered among the top three elders in Ifa in Cuba (Tin, Rodovaldo Ruiz, Feliberto) died on 24 March 1999 at 8:00pm. Born c. 1909, he was initiated into Ifa c. 1942-1945, as a godchild of Pedro Ruiz Armenteros ("Pedro El Policia"), but soon joined with the powerful Ifa family of Asuncion Villalonga. He was also very close to Tin, and participated in the latter's organization Asociacion Hijos de San Francisco de Asis. He founded his own organization in the 1980s, called Ifa Ayer, Ifa Hoy, Ifa Manana, and welcomed the Ooni of Ife, Nigeria, to Cuba, in 1987.
Ibae Ibae Ibayen Torun
Fernando Zacaria Molina Puentes (Baba Elliogbe; "El Marinero"), passed, I was told, last April (1999). Born in 1907 and initiated into Ifa in 1945, he was one of Ifa's great elders. He inherited the Olofin secrets of his lineage, which passed, as he said to me, from the Yoruba, Adechina (No Remigio Herrera Obara Melli, who "brought them from Africa"), to Bernardo Rojas, to Jose Herrera, to Molina, who was initiated by Jose Herrera. He was known for his great knowledge and rectitude.
Ibae Ibae Ibayen Torun
Other recognized babalawos who passed this year were Fernando Osa Kana and Pedro Mazorra.
Ibae Ibae Ibayen Torun
You will be missed...