## Odewole Olusegun (Aje Nla)
Odewole Olusegun, professionally and spiritually known as Babalorisa Aje Nla (also styled as Aje Nla Ọmọ Òbàtálá), is a Nigerian author, traditional musician, and Òbàtálá priest. Based in Ogun State, Nigeria, his work centers on the documentation, preservation, and practice of traditional Yoruba cosmology and the veneration of the Irúnmọlẹ̀ (deities).
## Early Life and Education Odewole Olusegun completed his secondary education at Ijemo Titun High School in Abeokuta in 2007. He went on to pursue veterinary and agricultural studies, earning a certificate from the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) in Vom, Jos, in 2010.
He later attended the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) from 2011 to 2015, where he studied Animal Nutrition.
## Spiritual Practice and Philosophy As an Òbàtálá devotee, Olusegun maintains a traditional shrine dedicated to more than 20 Irúnmọlẹ̀, including Òbàtálá, Ọ̀ṣun, Ṣàngó, Èṣù, Elégba, Ajé Olókun, Onímẹ̀rẹ̀, Òrìṣà Ẹgbẹ́, and Ìbejí. His teachings focus on restoring and preserving ancestral Yoruba spiritual protocols, which he argues have been altered or misunderstood over time. Key components of his platform include:
- The Rehabilitation of Deities: He contests historical narratives that frame Òbàtálá as a drunkard, asserting that these depictions are historical defamation.
- Classification of Spiritual Forces: He explicitly differentiates the spiritual collective known as Ìyáàmi Ẹlẹ́yẹ from the destructive forces known as the Ajogun.
- Ifá System Associations: He identifies a distinct class of the maternal energy system that operates directly within Ifá, which he defines as Ìyáàmi Òrúnmìlà.
## Creative Works and Publications Olusegun publishes literature and records traditional audio chants to make esoteric Yoruba oral traditions accessible to modern practitioners.
- Literature: He has authored several texts on West African spirituality, including The Codex of OBATALA and The Laws of Esu, which focus on traditional sacrifice (Ẹbọ) and ritual precision.
- Music: Operating under his spiritual title, he releases ritual chants, mantras, and cultural music across streaming platforms. His discography includes projects such as Osun Mantra, Ori Aje, Osa Meji, and Baba Arugbo.
