iwapele(Good Character)

 The philosophical concept of Ìwàpẹ̀lẹ́ (Good Character) cannot be fully understood without the basic knowledge of Ìwà and what other way can this be explained other than through a beautifully crafted Yorùbá poem...

Tọ́jú ìwà rẹ ọ̀rẹ́ mi 

Ọlá a máa ṣí lọ nílé ẹni 

Ẹwà a sì máa ṣí lára ènìyàn 

Ṣùgbọ́n ìwà ní í bá ‘ni dé sàárè

Èéfín nìwà, rírú ní í rú 

Ènìyàn gb’ókèèrè níyì 

Ṣùgbọ́n súnmọ́ ni, l’a fi ń mọ̀’ṣe ẹni 

Ìwà kò ní í foníwà sílẹ̀

Ìwà ọmọ l’ó ń sọmọ lórúkọ

Ọmọ dára ó ku ìwà 

Ara dára ó ku aṣọ 

Ẹsẹ̀ dára ó ku bàtà

B’énìyàn dára tí kò níwà 

Ó padanù ohun ribiribi 

Ìwà rere l’ẹ̀ṣọ́ ènìyàn 

Ṣùúrù baba ìwà, ìwà baba àwúre

English Translation…

Preserve your character my friend

Honour can depart from a house without notice

Beauty can be lost from a once beautiful body

However, our character follow us to the grave

Character is synonymous to smoke, it will ultimately rise to the surface

Somebody far away may be perceived as honourable

But proximity exposes a person’s true actions

Character stays with its owner forever

A child's character is what gives the child a befitting name

No matter how good a child is, character is still needed

No matter how gorgeous the body is, clothes are still needed 

No matter how good the feet are, shoes are still needed

If a person looks good but lacks character

The person is missing a very precious thing indeed

Good character is like a personal bodyguard

Patience is the father of character, character is the father of blessings..

Dr Ramon Adedoyin

Maye of yoruba kingdom