‘Why Do They Need Visas?’ Oluwo Questions Claims Of Yoruba Voodoo

The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has challenged claims of supernatural powers by some traditional practitioners, arguing that people who claim to possess the ability to disappear and reappear should not depend on conventional means of travelling.

The monarch expressed his views in a video posted on his Facebook page, where he questioned the authenticity of claims surrounding what some people describe as voodoo or supernatural abilities in Yorubaland.

Oluwo argued that individuals who claim to possess powers that enable them to move mysteriously should be able to demonstrate such abilities instead of relying on aeroplanes and visas for international travel.

“Should herbalists be using visas to travel? Should they be taking flights?” he queried.

The monarch maintained that some people allegedly exploit public belief in supernatural powers to create false impressions and obtain money from unsuspecting individuals.

“It is pure deceit. There is no voodoo except God. They only rely on magic to deceive people,” he said.

He, however, suggested that magic could be transformed into a profitable entertainment industry if practitioners focused on performances rather than claims of extraordinary spiritual abilities.

According to him, entertaining audiences with magic tricks would provide practitioners with legitimate income while reducing the risk of people being deceived through exaggerated claims.

Oluwo referred to the late Professor Peller, a renowned Nigerian magician, as an example of how magic could be used to build a successful entertainment career.

The monarch also observed that Western magicians had established themselves through paid performances, urging practitioners in Yorubaland to consider similar opportunities.

He maintained that people with such skills should use them to entertain audiences rather than persuade members of the public that they possess powers capable of solving personal problems or generating wealth.