Beggars in white in conflict with modernity

You find them in small groups, mostly women (and few men) from forties and above, all dressed in white iro and buba with headgear to match; and the men in simple white trouser and top with white cap also, the typical costume of priests and priestess.

Some have been spotted in residential areas, the local ‘agbole’ slums, soliciting for alms from one compound to another and from one shop to the other.

Those in the know who defend their “discipleship” refuse to classify them as some peculiar kind of beggars; instead, they claim the “beggars in white” are consecrated shrine devotees and disciples of a marine based deity somewhere in Osun state.

The Daily Times authoritatively gathered that the monies they collect are not theirs to spend – they are for the deity they have given up their souls to serve and worship – throughout their entire lives.

Trying to strike a conversation with a group of four women (not without first giving something), our correspondent asked to know how they should be addressed.

“Me and my people you see are not beggars; we are known and addressed as Iya Oshun,” began the oldest of the team, Madam ‘Oshunbesan Oshunrinde. Interestingly, both names emanate from the Osun river, attributing vengeance and security of her being to the mythical deity of the river Oshun.  

The Oshun mythology

For the records, Osun is the name of a deity that derived its name from River Osun in the state of Osun which itself derived its name from the same river. Part of the forestry area of the ancient town hosts the shrine of the deity located in the outskirt of the state capital, Osogbo.

Oshogbo, you should know, is a colonial corruption of the word Osho igbo (the forest of wizards). So the geo-entity is entirely given up to the gods and the indigenes thrive on myths, idolatry and fetishism – and these they flaunt with passion.

Now, with the enlistment of the Osun groove as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2005, the annual Osun-Osogbo festival has further received a boost from not only indigenes of the town but also the international community.

THE DEVOTEES

The Osun deity is believed by the natives to be their goddess of love and wealth which domain is at Oshogbo in Osun state.

They appear to be in degrees as some are seen carrying or sitting by some calabash covered in cowries and white cloth. Whenever they see a potential benefactor, they would immediately launch into eulogies, chanting praises of him or her and usually, the praises go together with prayers for protection against real or imagined enemies in a manner so compelling that such a person would be forced to part with some money.

From Motor parks to major bus terminals, and busy markets, they roam, soliciting for alms. History holds that these worshippers of Osun deity are revered and patronised by people, who believe in its potent astro-physical powers derived from the water.

A fellow who spoke in confidence said “They are in categories; it is not all of them that beg: the really consecrated ones just sit by the road side with their calabash or white bowl. Those who know them give; women in need, like the barren, those seeking solutions to one problem or the other make supplications and put their money in the bowl. And if you want to know whether their prayers are answered, just visit the Oshun festival in August and see massive testimonies.”

In a highly negotiated interview, one of the worshippers, who identified herself as Orisa Funmi, told The Daily Times that they were out to cause blessings on people. “We are not beggars as some people think. We are not out to rip off the public, but to invoke the protection and blessings of our queen and goddess on them; the money is a sign of appreciation to the goddess,” she revealed.

But contrary to her claim, Chief Adesegun Elegushi, who is also the head of all Oshun worshippers in Lagos, strongly disagrees.

According to him, the act of street begging among worshippers of the deity is not acceptable to him. “Nobody begs for the gods; Oshun devotees are always clad in white clothes and this is not in any way related to poverty.

“We have banned those who take to begging on the streets and have directed the police to go after them. Nobody that is abarameji (witch/wizard) can come near Oshun, and as a worshipper of the goddess, you dare not engage in evil or she will expose you.”

Public reaction

While subjects of the deity in Lagos gladly give to the beggars in white, investigation showed that Christians, especially practicing Catholics and the Protestants Pentecostals shun them. Miss Rose Eunice Aniagwa, a Catholic explained that her faith is with Jesus, and she wanted an intercessor, “Our mother Mary is there to pray for us.”

An Islamic scholar, Mufutau Abdulkareem, said Muslims are encouraged to give alms but warns that they could be held answerable on judgment day for giving out money carelessly.

It would be recalled that the Lagos state government, in order to tackle the menace of begging in Lagos state, announced recently it would go all out to enforce the law prohibiting begging in any part of the state. But rather than abate, our investigation  have shown that begging has assumed new forms in the busy city and beggars are determined to maintained  their means of livelihood.