Omoluabi Podcast (2025)

10/09/2025

Omoluabi Podcast | Season 7 Episode 4

PROVERB CONSIDERED: “Ajá tó rí mótò tó dúró fi ara-a rè bọ Ògún.”
(Translation: A dog that sees a motor vehicle and stands in its way makes itself a sacrifice to Ògún.)

Context:
- In Yoruba culture, Ògún is the deity of iron and the patron deity for hunters (because of all the metallic intruments they use); one of Ògún's favourite sacrifices is dogs.
- The proverb warns against ignoring obvious dangers. A dog that recklessly stands before a moving car is doomed to destruction, becoming an “unnecessary sacrifice.”
- The heart of the proverb is about taking unnecessary risks.
- The lesson: heed warnings, practise foresight, and avoid self-inflicted harm.

Biblical Connections & Applications:
- Proverbs 22:3 – “A prudent man foresees danger and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
- Proverbs 28:1 – “The wicked flee when no man pursues: but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” (Yet boldness without prudence is foolishness.)
- Acts 1:4 – Jesus told the disciples to “wait for the promise of the Father”—a reminder to pause and heed spiritual guidance.
- Proverbs 6:6–8 – The wisdom of ants gathering food in summer teaches preparation and foresight.
- Lamentations 3:27 – It is good to bear responsibility early, preparing for future challenges.

Practical Takeaways:
- Ignorance or overconfidence can make us blind to danger. Avoid the “confidence that only ignorance can supply.”
- Do not ignore red flags in relationships, careers, or spiritual life; danger ignored today can destroy tomorrow.
- Don’t toy with sin or assume grace will shield you from its consequences.
- Learn from the wisdom of older generations rather than dismissing their experiences.
- Be proactive in practical matters (e.g., renewing visas, planning ahead) instead of leaving things until it is too late.
- Take time to pause, listen, and follow the checks of the Spirit before making big decisions.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE:
✥ Our Website —⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi
✥ Other Platforms — ⁠https://pod.link/1550735589

FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM JOSEPH & ANU OLA:
Explore additional resources and content from Joseph and Anu Ola on various platforms:
✥ Linktree —⁠ ⁠https://linktr.ee/josephola

JOIN THE OMOLUABI COMMUNITY:
Stay connected with us as we journey together towards becoming true Omoluabis — people of character and wisdom. You can like our page at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/omoluabipodcast/⁠⁠⁠ or join Alive Mentorship Group at ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/alivementorship⁠. If you have African proverbs you'd like us to discuss in future episodes, you can submit them through our website — ⁠https://www.josephkolawole.org/contact or reach out on social media.

Till next time, remain an Omoluabi.

25/08/2025

Omoluabi Podcast | Season 7, Episode 3

A Proverb on Taking Advantage of Others

Proverb: “Bí yó ṣe èmi, bí yó ṣe ìwọ, kì í jẹ́ ká ṣu sóko a-láì-rójú.”

Translation: It-might-happen-to-me, it-might-happen-to-you stops one from defecating on the farm of the person who has no time to tend it.

Meaning: One should not take advantage of the weak, for no one knows what the future might hold.

Disclaimer: This episode contains discussions about the act of defaecation (poo or faeces) in the context of an African proverb.

Cultural background:

- In traditional Yoruba communities, without modern toilets, people would go into bushes to relieve themselves. Farmers might prefer to use untended or bushy farms for privacy and to keep their own farms clean.

- The proverb recognises the temptation to take advantage of a neighbour’s untended farm. At first, it may appear to target laziness, but it also highlights the reality of áìrójú (lack of time), which in Yoruba culture is something people pray against—asking God for enough time and space to live well.

- At its heart, the proverb teaches empathy and thoughtfulness:

Biblical Connections & Applications:

- Proverbs 26:27 – “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.” Actions have consequences.

- Matthew 7:12 – The Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

- Ecclesiastes 11:1 – “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.” What you sow, you will eventually reap.

- Proverbs 26:15–19 – Warnings against laziness, meddling, and trickery toward neighbours.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE:

✥ Our Website —⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi⁠

✥ Other Platforms — ⁠https://pod.link/1550735589⁠

FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM JOSEPH & ANU OLA:

Explore additional resources and content from Joseph and Anu Ola on various platforms:

✥ Linktree —⁠ ⁠https://linktr.ee/josephola⁠⁠

JOIN THE OMOLUABI COMMUNITY: Stay connected with us as we journey together towards becoming true Omoluabis — people of character and wisdom. You can like our page at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/omoluabipodcast/⁠⁠⁠ or join Alive Mentorship Group at ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/alivementorship⁠. If you have African proverbs you'd like us to discuss in future episodes, you can submit them through our website — ⁠https://www.josephkolawole.org/contact⁠ or reach out on social media.

Till next time, remain an Omoluabi.

13/09/2024

Happy Birthday, my delight, Anu!

Thanks for all you do and all you are!

May your new year be filled with "oore kabiti kabiti" and "oore kanka kanka" IJN 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

15/08/2024

A Proverb on “PAYING THE PRICE”
Omoluabi Podcast | Season 6 Episode 5

PROVERB CONSIDERED: “Ajá tó máa rún ọkà á láyà; ológbò to máa jẹ àkèré á ki ojú bọ omi.” (Translation: "A dog that will chew dried corn must be brave; a cat that will eat a frog will dip its face in water.")

REFLECTION
Dogs' teeth aren't suited to chewing corn, so they risk dental damage by doing so. Similarly, a cat's pursuit of frogs can be perilous. The proverb therefore reminds us that, in life, getting what you really want often comes at a price. Great achievements require great dedication. Extraordinary feats demand extraordinary effort. To conquer a significant challenge, one must exert considerable force.

As such, we reflected on the above proverb emphasising the need to start embracing this principle of "paying the price" right from when we are young! As Lamentations 3:27 says, "it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline" (NLT). We also reflected on examples of what this has looked like in our own lives.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE:
✥ Our Website —⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi⁠
✥ Other Platforms — ⁠https://pod.link/1550735589⁠

FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM JOSEPH & ANU OLA:
Explore additional resources and content from Joseph and Anu Ola on various platforms:
✥ Linktree —⁠ ⁠https://linktr.ee/josephola⁠⁠
✥ Disha Page —⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://josephola.disha.page/⁠⁠

JOIN THE OMOLUABI COMMUNITY: Stay connected with us as we journey together towards becoming true Omoluabis — people of character and wisdom. You can like our page at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/omoluabipodcast/⁠⁠⁠ or join Alive Mentorship Group at ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/alivementorship⁠. If you have African proverbs you'd like us to discuss in future episodes, you can submit them through our website — ⁠https://www.josephkolawole.org/contact⁠ or reach out on social media.

Till next time, remain an Omoluabi.

03/06/2024

BOTH GENDERS NEEDED!
Omoluabi Podcast | Season 6 Episode 4

PROVERB CONSIDERED: “Obìnrin-ín tẹ ìlú, ó tú.” (Translation: "A woman founds a town, and it scatters.")

REFLECTION
Even though the proverb is superficially misogynistic, it points beyond this to the need for both genders for the flourishing of humanity in any community. Have a listen for our thoughts on this!

LINKS TO LISTEN TO THE EPISODE:
✥ Spotify — ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/4qtmgao8JN9tx94zK3TRpM?si=CzFcHg3ySYqKf_LsVI5txA
✥ Our Website — ⁠https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi
✥ Other Platforms — https://pod.link/1550735589

FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM JOSEPH & ANU OLA:
Explore additional resources and content from Joseph and Anu Ola on various platforms:
✥ Linktree — ⁠https://linktr.ee/josephola⁠
✥ Disha Page — ⁠https://josephola.disha.page/⁠

JOIN THE OMOLUABI COMMUNITY: Stay connected with us as we journey together towards becoming true Omoluabis — people of character and wisdom. You can like our page at https://www.josephkolawole.org/contact.josephkolawole.org/contactrship Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/alivementorship. If you have African proverbs you'd like us to discuss in future episodes, you can suhttps://www.josephkolawole.org/contact//www.josephkolawole.org/contact or reach out on social media.

Till next time, remain an Omoluabi.

20/05/2024

WE ARE ALL DEFICIENT IN ONE AREA OR THE OTHER; SO WHAT?
Omoluabi Podcast | Season 6 Episode 3

PROVERB CONSIDERED: “Ẹṣín dára ó ku aré; èèyán dára ó ku ìwà; ajá òyìnbó dára ó ku àtidẹ.”(Translation: “The horse looks great but lacks speed; the man is handsome but lacks character; the European dog is good-looking but cannot hunt.”)

KEY POINTS FROM THE EPISODE
~We all have weaknesses. No man is an island.
~What we lack is made up for through the gift of community.
~We should not judge by outward appearance.
~We should work on becoming better in our areas of deficiencies.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE:
✥ Our Website —⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi⁠
✥ Other Platforms — ⁠https://pod.link/1550735589⁠

FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM JOSEPH & ANU OLA:
Explore additional resources and content from Joseph and Anu Ola on various platforms:
✥ Linktree —⁠ ⁠https://linktr.ee/josephola⁠⁠
✥ Disha Page —⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://josephola.disha.page/⁠⁠

JOIN THE OMOLUABI COMMUNITY: Stay connected with us as we journey together towards becoming true Omoluabis — people of character and wisdom. You can like our page at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/omoluabipodcast/⁠⁠⁠ or join Alive Mentorship Group at ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/alivementorship⁠. If you have African proverbs you'd like us to discuss in future episodes, you can submit them through our website — ⁠https://www.josephkolawole.org/contact⁠ or reach out on social media.

Till next time, remain an Omoluabi.

13/05/2024

OF LEOPARDS, IGNORANCE, & OUR IDENTITY...
Omoluabi Podcast | Season 6 Episode 2

PROVERB CONSIDERED: ““Níbo ló gbé wà?” nìyájú ẹkùn.” (Translation: "[To ask] ‘Where is it?’ is a great insult to the leopard.")

REFLECTION
To put the proverb in context, imagine yourself in one of Kenya’s national parks. Your son has been looking forward to seeing his favourite animal—the leopard—up close in the wild. As your tour guide drove you around from place to place across the park showcasing various animals to you, you finally arrived at a vast expanse of grassland where you could see an animal with black spots as well as a lion and a black rhino. Your tour guide tells you, “Look over there! That’s the leopard.” You looked. You saw the lion, the rhino, and the other animal covered in black spots, but still, you asked, “Where is it? Where is the leopard?”

The proverb we considered in this episode says, for you to ask such a question is an insult to the leopard! What kind of person would not be able to tell which is the leopard among a lion, a rhino, and a spotted animal? If the leopard could understand your language and heard you ask such a dumb question, it would probably teach you a lesson! Indeed, the leopard is a rather unmistakable creature in the wild, isn't it? That's the point of this proverb—one should be knowledgeable enough to avoid displaying ignorance about things they should know.

But sometimes, in life, we do the exact opposite. We speak or choose to think in ways that reveal our ignorance! In our biblical reflection on this proverb, we offer two distinct interpretations of the proverb:

1. Living as a Christian and reflecting God's presence:
Anu applies the proverb to the concept of Christian identity. Relating it to Romans 8:16 and 2 Timothy 2:4, she emphasises the importance of Christians embodying their faith in all aspects of life. Christians, like leopards, should be easily identifiable in any sphere they find themselves in. They shouldn't need to camouflage or compromise their identity to fit in. This perspective underscores the significance of living a life that reflects the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

2. Awakening from Ignorance:
Joseph takes a different approach. He sees the proverb as a way to highlight someone's ignorance. Asking "where is it?" about something obvious is a way to point out a lack of awareness. He connects this to the story of King Nebuchadnezzar, who forgot God's role in his achievements (Daniel 4:29-35). This serves as a caution against the human tendency to take credit for God's work, thereby diminishing His glory. This should prompt us to consider our own actions and speech, ensuring that we never rob God of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him.

Furthermore, the episode highlights the subtle attacks on our faith, whether through external challenges or internal complacency. The devil will always seek to downplay the importance of faith for us in times of comfort or difficulty. However, a strong Christian identity, rooted in the knowledge of God, allows one to resist such temptations. “. . . the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” (Daniel 11:32 NKJV)

Anu's reminder to hold onto the truth of our identity as children of God, as affirmed by the Spirit, is both comforting and empowering. In the face of such attacks, there's no need to engage in futile arguments or attempts to prove our faith. Instead, we can find solace in the knowledge of whose we are.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE:
✥ Our Website —⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi⁠
✥ Other Platforms — ⁠https://pod.link/1550735589⁠

FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM JOSEPH & ANU OLA:
Explore additional resources and content from Joseph and Anu Ola on various platforms:
✥ Linktree —⁠ ⁠https://linktr.ee/josephola⁠⁠
✥ Disha Page —⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://josephola.disha.page/

22/04/2024

THE BLESSING OF STAMMERING
Omoluabi Podcast | Season 6 Episode 1

PROVERB CONSIDERED: “Pípẹ́ ni yó pẹ̀ẹ́, akólòlò á pe baba.” (Translation: “It may take a long while, but the stammerer will eventually manage to say ‘‘Papa.’’”)

REFLECTION
Perhaps this proverb reminds you—as it reminded me—of a stammerer you know. Or perhaps, it reminds you of yourself and your occasional stutter. Stammering can be embarrassing, but the way the stammerer is portrayed in this proverb is as a champion that we should learn from. What kind of lessons can stammering teach us?

1. It’s only a matter of time. Between a stammerer’s stutter and their being able to say what they intend to say eventually, it’s only a matter of time. Likewise, between where you are and where you hope to be—or between who you are and who you hope to become—it’s only a matter of time! That’s the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3, verses 1 and 11.

2. Refrain from giving unsolicited assistance. Whether you are helping someone with whom you are speaking complete their sentence or you are offering your spouse an unsolicited solution to a matter to which they primarily desire your empathy, offering unsolicited assistance can stifle intimacy rather than nourish it. Besides, if stammering nurtures perseverance in us (as the proverb surely implies), offering unsolicited assistance in helping the stammerer complete their statements will kill their opportunity to develop their perseverance further.

3. There is a blessing in our disabilities and incompetence. God, in His sovereignty, has blessed us with limitations that become tools that shape us into ever-increasing Christlikeness. The more we acknowledge our limitations, the more we will live a life that is fully dependent on Jesus—and the more we will bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

4. Stammering reminds us that failure—even repeated failure—is okay. The stammerer fails again and again before eventually being able to say a word, phrase, or statement correctly, but they don’t give up. Besides, for the stammerer, the fact that they were able to get the word out eventually in one moment does not mean that they will be able to do it again in the next moment. Such should be our disposition in life. No matter how many wins we record, we should not become so familiar with success that failure becomes abhorrent. Failure has always been one of God’s best tools to cultivate in us humility and utter dependence on Him. Perseverance validates failures.�

5. Lastly, be patient. Be patient with other (fellow) stammerers, and be patient with yourself. If we are being honest, we will admit that, at the end of the day, we are all stammerers—and that’s okay! We all have one area of life or the other where we stutter. Rather than wanting to cover these up, let us acknowledge them for what they are: portals for God’s power to find expression in our weakness!

Be encouraged by the words of Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV — “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.”
�
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE:
✥ Our Website — ⁠https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi
✥ Other Platforms — https://pod.link/1550735589

FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM JOSEPH & ANU OLA:
Explore additional resources and content from Joseph and Anu Ola on various platforms:
✥ Linktree — ⁠https://linktr.ee/josephola⁠
✥ Disha Page — ⁠https://josephola.disha.page/

Omoluabi Podcast

10/09/2025

25/08/2025

13/09/2024

15/08/2024

03/06/2024

20/05/2024

13/05/2024

22/04/2024

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share