This week's lecture was given by Dr. Segun Gbadegesin and the topic was OMOLUABI: Self Actualization and Communal Responsibility. To start off Dr. Gbadegesin's lecture he the Yoruba story of Iwa. In Yoruba, Iwa means character and she gets married to a man that treats her very poorly even though good things happen to while she is around. Eventually, she decides to leave this man and he searches everywhere for her. Bad things begin to happen to her husband until he eventually finds Iwa again and begs her to return. This story symbolizes what happens to a man when he loses his character. Dr. Gbadegesin's main point of his lecture rested in this opening story. He told that without character we are nothing and have no sense of self. Fame, fortune and reputation may come and go but one's character should always remain the same. We should remain humble and not let our accomplishment's or life ruin our sense of character. This by far was this most important aspect of the lecture because it's a point that most of us need to hear. While at Howard, many of us will begin to discover what our true character is but it is up to us to define what our true character will be. Instead of focusing solely on popularity, money or even grades we should remember to also focus on ourselves and not forget that type of person we want to be and the person we wanted to become before we arrived at Howard University.
Dr. Gbadegesin also talked about the goddess Ma'at who was the goddess of truth, justice and harmony and gave set of principles to live by that preceded the ten commandments. The ancient Egyptians lived by these codes that helped form and shape society. He also talked about coffin texts which contained themes of reward and punishment in the afterlife. These texts were thought to be the inspiration for Moses who delivered the ten commandments. The point Dr. Gbadegesin also tried to make with these ancient texts and goddesses is again never to forget the importance of one's character and one's sense of self. Also he was not allowed to learned about these ancient beliefs in his school, he still ventured out on his own and decided to learn more about his culture and found that the ancient texts were in fact still relevant and good. One may seek many avenues and still find that the preservation of one's character is still very important in the development of self.
Finally, the most inspirational part of the lecture that Dr. Gbadegesin left us with was the Yoruba poem which said:
"Honor may vanish from your house
Cosmetic beauty may fade
Iwa is what endures even into the grave
Take care of your iwa"
An important lesson for all...
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