19/10/2025
IFON AND YEYELAMO
If you’re from Egbe or have roots in Yagbaland, chances are you’ve heard whispers—maybe even full-blown stories—about a mysterious spring along Patigi Road called Amo. But what if I told you that water isn't just water? That there's a spirit beneath the surface? A woman. A goddess. A legend.
As the convener of Egbe Mekun Carnival, part of my mission is to document, preserve, and celebrate the unique stories and sacred traditions of our people. And trust me—IFON is one of the most intriguing.
---
💧 The Woman Who Sank Into the Ground
Long ago, in the heart of our community, there lived a woman called Yeye Lamo. She was kind, peaceful, and devoted to her husband. But she had no children—and that changed everything. After waiting over 20 years for a child, her husband gave up and married another woman, who quickly bore him six children.
The home once peaceful became hostile. Yeye Lamo was mocked, accused, and emotionally abandoned. One day, after a particularly cruel encounter with her husband's children, she broke. She walked outside, crying out in grief, and began to sink into the earth. Yes, you read that right—she disappeared into the ground.
By the time anyone took her pain seriously, she was gone, and in her place? A spring of water, now known as Amo. But she didn’t leave silently. She left a curse: the family that wronged her would know sorrow.
And they did.
---
🔮 The Birth of IFON
Years later, calamities rocked the family. The junior wife couldn’t conceive again, and her daughters suffered in their marriages. The elders consulted the oracle, and the message was clear: Yeye Lamo must be appeased.
Thus, the sacred rite of IFON was born.
Some call it appeasement, some say it's an initiation into womanhood, and others see it as a time of incubation and beautification. But whatever name you give it, IFON is sacred.
---
🕯️ What Happens During IFON?
Traditionally, IFON lasted three months. Today, it’s often shortened to three days, especially in modern homes. But the rules are still powerful:
The woman must stay indoors without seeing her shadow or reflection.
No mirrors. No shiny surfaces. Even when drinking water, she must close her eyes.
It's a time of isolation, reflection, and spiritual rebirth.
After this period, the woman begins beautification rituals using Osun—a red organic paste made from camwood. She bathes only at night, again avoiding her reflection in water.
It’s important to state here that IFON has nothing to do with ge***al mutilation. Let’s be clear. It is not a harmful physical ritual, but a spiritual and cultural one.
---
🚫 Sacred Taboos
Did you know that it’s forbidden for any Egbe woman who hasn’t undergone IFON to eat roasted yam with palm oil? Many women also testify that fertility increases after IFON—though that’s a belief still up for debate.
---
🐔 The Goddess of Amo Still Lives
Many who visit the Amo spring after IFON say they receive a hen from the water. If the hen lays eggs and hatches chicks, you must return the chicks to Amo—and Yeye Lamo will take her share and leave you with the rest.
It may sound mythical to some, but to us, it’s part of our spiritual reality.
We even believe that Yeye Lamo came from Ile-Ife, bringing the Amo spring with her, while her husband remains in Ile-Ife. Whether true or not, this belief keeps the cultural bond alive.
Oh, and one more thing—don’t ever try to catch or take a fish from Amo. You’ve been warned.
---
👑 Who Oversees IFON?
Every tradition has its guardians. For IFON, the guardian is called Ogbomoya—a respected elder woman who leads and guides participants through the process. She ensures that the ritual remains authentic, safe, and spiritually aligned.
---
🕊️ A Living Culture
Though not every clan in Egbe practices IFON, it remains a core tradition among the Omo Ina Odi lineages. As time passes and modernization seeps into our lives, some customs may fade. But IFON has endured, adapting without losing its soul.
As the convener of Egbe Mekun Carnival, I believe it’s our duty to document, discuss, and celebrate traditions like this—not just in dance and color, but in stories like these.
Because Yeye Lamo isn’t just a myth. She’s a mirror reflecting how our people view womanhood, pain, strength, and rebirth.
---
📝 Final Thought
So next time you walk past the Amo spring or hear a girl say she’s going for IFON, remember: it all began with a woman who loved too deeply, was wounded too severely, and rose too powerfully to ever be forgotten.
---
Culture is memory. IFON is ours.
Let’s keep telling the story.
📍 Egbe, Kogi State, Nigeria
✍️ : Temidayo John Tunde
