Adedoyin Talabi Faniyi – High Priestess, Princess, Chief, Artist, Daughter and Mother

Chief Priestess Faniyi leads the procession of priestesses to the Ọ̀ṣun Shrine during the annual Ọ̀ṣun Festival, and plays a pivotal role in the rites and rituals in the Ọ̀ṣun Groves throughout the year. 

Doyin is an initiated high priestess of many òrìṣà (deities) including Ọ̀ṣun, Ọbàtálá, Ifá, Ẹgbẹ́, Ọbalúayé, and Ògbóni.

Adedoyin Talabi Faniyi has been honoured with four major Chieftaincy titles, recognising her leadership role and duty to represent the traditionalists of Òṣogbo and to further the understanding of traditional practices.

Doyin’s father was a senior Yorùbá priest from a royal family. He entrusted his infant daughter to Susanne Wenger to be raised and educated as a traditionalist in her house on Ìbòkun Road as her adoptive daughter. She was one of many children raised in this large extended family.

She fulfilled the role of eldest daughter with much love and devotion. Both adopted children, Sangodare Ajala and Doyin, supported Susanne Wenger as priest and priestess and often travelled with her abroad for official engagements from the mid 1980s.

Doyin was fully educated in pure traditional practices as well as completing a Bachelor of Arts in Yorùbá, (University of lọrin), a Master of Arts in African Studies (University of Ìbàdàn) and a Certificate in Yorùbá Oral Literature (University Ilé Ifẹ̀).

She has travelled widely representing and advising on traditional Yorùbá practices including to the Quai Branley Museum in Paris, France, the University of Bahia, Brazil as well as the Duke University and – as in this photo – the Harvard University in the USA .

Doyin still lives in the House where she was raised, continuing the tradition of welcoming traditionalists and all who need spiritual support. The house remains the main meeting point during festivals (as at the Ọdún Ère festival pictured here) and for rituals. 

Doyin welcomes visitors to the house and takes people on a guided tour of Susanne Wenger’s New Sacred Art collection.

Encouraged from childhood, Doyin is an accomplished textile artist specialising in the traditional Àdìrẹ method, which uses the cornstarch method of fabric embellishment. Àdìrẹ-cloth and other artefacts can be purchased in the small shop in the house. 

Doyin generously shares her knowledge of the cultural traditions, the shrines and the art in the groves with visitors.

The mother of three children and four grandchildren. All have been and are being raised by her as practicing traditionalists.

Priestess Faniyi is a valued member of the Adunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation and is dedicated to preserving the deep spiritual and traditionalist legacies of the Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo Groves, the New Sacred Art Movement and the Susanne Wenger House.