Iwa-pele (gentle character - not translating to good character)

[Olùkọ́ Ọbádélé]

Iyipada si ede oyinbo wa ni isale bayii (a translation into oyinbo is down just below)

Gêgê bí olùkô èdè Yorùbá mo mö wí pé ìyàtö wà láàrin "ìwà-pëlê" àti "ìwà rere" (iwa Omoluwabi). Nõkan tí mo ñ sæ gan an ni pé, a kò gbædö sæ pé kò sí ìyàtö láàrin níní ìwà-pëlê àti níní ìwà-rere. Ìdí tí mo fi ñ sæ bêë ni pé nílë Yorùbá, láàrin àwùdi ti mo fi ñ sæ bêë ni pé, nílë Yorùbá, àwùjæ Yorùbá nìkan ni a lè sæ pé ìwà-pëlê di ìwà rere. Ìy÷n ni pé láàrin örê ni a máa ñ sæ bêë. Bii apeere, nigba laelae, a si maa n so pe awon jagunjagun, ode, tabi eso ti won maa n daabobo awon ara ilu ni iwa rere. Amo, iyen kii fi han pe won maa n so "pele" nigbakugba ti won a be ota l'ori. Bee si ni, a ko le so iwa irele di iwa rere nigba yen. Ko da, eni t'o n se bii onirele nigba yen, Yoruba a ma pe e l'ojo ti ko niwa.

Nipa bee, nnkan ti mo fe k'o ye yin ninu gbogbo iforoworo ti a ti n so lataaro ni pe, nigba miiran eni t'o ni iwa rere le je eni t'o gboju, t'o si gboya ti o gbodo mu eni t'o se tipatipa...a ha le so pe Kabiyesi t'o maa n se bee ko niwa bi? Oti o...ko se e se. Awujo Yoruba gan an ni won ni lati se bee ki ilu ma se daru rudurudu.

Gege bi eni t'o mo nipa asa Yoruba, emi de mo wi pe, eyin fun ara yin mo pe a maa n so pele ni gbogbo igba lati kini l'awujo lati fi eko ile han ati lati fiyesi eniyan. Amo, k'a ma fi oju fo ooto, k'a ma si fokan pe meji...k'a kan oju abe nikoo...wi pe, bi a se maa n huwa l'awujo Yoruba nikan ko ni kika eniyan s'oniwa rere. Gbogbo nnkan l'o ni akoko...gbogbo nnkan l'o ni asiko tire (toto agba, o se bii owe)...bee si ni irele, kiki ni ni "pele", atiwa tutu l'o ni asiko tiwon.

Idi pato ti mo se fe tenumo oro bayii ni pe, ni ti awa eniyan dudu ni gbogbo agbaye, ogun ni a wa bayii. Ki a ma tile menuba iparun l'a n dojuko. Nipa bee, o ye ki a mo pe, ni asiko ti a wa yii, iwa jagunjagun (t'o si le ni iwa-pele laarin awa eniyan dudu yato si awon odale) l'o ye wa. Iyen naa ni a le pe ni iwa Omoluwabi (eni t'o o n huwa t'o ye nigba t'o ye). Too. Ibi bayii ni N o si pari oro temi...Mo si mo pe, oyinbo kan wa ti a n pe e ni david wilson l'o n se radarada, t'o fe ki awa eniyan dudu ro pe ko si iyato laarin iwa rere ati iwa pele. Iro gbaa ni! Ogbon arekereke onimunisin patapata niyi. K'a ma fun iru oyinbo bayii ni anfaani lati re wa je o. Ase!




As a teacher of the Yoruba language, I know that there is a difference between "gentle character", "ideal character" and good character. The thing that I am saying is that WE must not say that there is no difference between having humble or gentle character and having good character. The reason why I say so is that it is only in a particular context of Yoruba social relations that WE can equate gentle character with good character. As an example, in ancient times those warriors, hunters and guards who protected the people of the state (city) were also said to have good character. However, that was not to say that they said "pele" as they were cutting of the heads of enemies of the people. So WE cannot equate gentle character with good character in that context. In fact, someone who would be gentle in those circumstances would be considered a coward who did not possess character.

Therefore, the thing that I'm trying to convey is that in certain circumstances, it is those who are brave in the eye and brave in the chest who use violence who are said to have good character...Is it indeed possible to say that the ruler who does so has no character? No...it's not. It is in the context of intra-societal Yoruba relations that the ruler must do so, so that the nation does not become utterly chaotic.

As a person who is familiar with Yoruba culture, I am certain that you know for yourself that WE (capitalized here for Afrikan people) use pele to show good home training and to show care for others. However, let's not ignore truth...let's not take one and call it two...let's say exactly what WE are saying...that it is not only in the context of intra-societal Yoruba social relations that WE appraise someone as having good character. Everything has its time and place. Also gentleness, greeting someone with "pele" and gentle character have their times.

The specific reason why I want to make this point is that as for WE Afrikans throughout the world, WE are engaged in war...not to mention that WE are facing genocide. For this reason WE should know that it is the character of warriors (not to say that WE can't have gentle character amongst Ourselves, except for traitors) that WE should have. It is this that WE can call character of the ideal person (one who does the proper thing at the proper time). Cool. I'll finish my words here...Except, that It has come to my attention that there is a yt who is marauding around trying to convince Afrikan people that there is no difference between Iwa-rere (Good Character) and Iwa-pele (Gentle character). This is an utter lie! Let us not give oyinbo the opportunity to deceive us o! Ase!

Obadele Kwame