About the founder Awo Fasina Falade

Fasina became drawn to and interested in the playing of the Conga Drums in 1960. After several years of performing with various musical groups within the cultural community in Los Angeles, he became profoundly political and associated with the Nation of Islam's Temple No. 22. The members of the temple were also his neighbors.

Fasina then became aware of the teachings of Malcom X who would visit these neighbors. He was also a member of the Black Panther Party that had moved their location to Compton in the early 70's. He was a close friend of Walter "Toure" Pope, Ibae, soldier of the people.

Through his drumming, Fasina began searching for a way of expressing himself spiritually. Thus, he was soon introduced to the Orisa community by Baba Akinwale Dosu Davis, Ibae, who shared with him an understanding of Ifa. In 1981, Fasina began his journey on the road to service to Ifa. Baba Fasina's efforts, after the exposure, were to share these wonderful teachings with those seeking clarity of the indigenous belief and in 1985 assisted in establishing a temple.

Baba Fasina soon began his travels to Nigeria to gain a better understanding of the teachings of Ifa and bring back this information to those of the temple. Baba Fasina first traveled to Nigeria in 1986 where he was initiated into Ifa by the late Araba ni Ile Ife Fasuyi Omopirola, Ibae... Since then Baba Fasina has returned to Nigeria several times and during his last trip to Nigeria he was initiated "Baba Olodu" by the current Araba ni Ile Ife Adisa Mokanranwale. During this trip Baba Fasina Falade was also given the chieftancy title "Oloye Olubikin ni Ile Ife".

Baba Fasina is currently the main Oluko/Teacher of the temple and the owner of Ara Ifa Publishing and is the presenter of the works, "Ijo Orunmila" and the ground breaking and fascinating work "Ifa: The keys to its' understanding".