Popular Ondo Pastor Olabanjo Felix Gold Dumps Christianity, Embraces Ifa Worship as Babalawo

Popular Ondo Pastor Olabanjo Felix Gold Dumps Christianity, Embraces Ifa Worship as Babalawo

In a video that has since gone viral across social media platforms, the former cleric publicly renounced his Christian faith and embraced traditional Yoruba spirituality, introducing himself by his new spiritual identity.

"I am Pastor Olabanjo Felix Gold, who was formerly the founder of Image of God Evangelical Ministries before, but who is now Ifawamiri Aworan Olodumare, Babalawo of Ifa," he declared in the clip.

The announcement marks a complete departure from the evangelical Christian identity he had maintained for years as the leader of a ministry.

The former pastor expressed deep gratitude to his spiritual mentor, Olusegun Latunji, whom he identified as the Araba of Isararemo, crediting him as the spiritual elder who guided him through the transition.

He also acknowledged unnamed individuals who, he said, supported him at every stage of the journey. Gold's conversion is particularly striking given his previous role as a Christian pastor and founder of an evangelical ministry, and his public criticism of Christianity has drawn sharp reactions from netizens who questioned the sincerity of his years in Christian ministry.

The announcement has sparked a wave of mixed reactions across social media platforms. Some commentators questioned whether Gold had ever genuinely practised Christianity, with one user writing, "He has always been a native doctor in suit and tie.

There are a lot of them and will be exposed to come out". Another commenter suggested, "He doubled his hustle. Thank God he openly declared his hidden agenda. God had not called him before, but hunger called him".

Others, however, expressed support for his choice, viewing it as part of a broader pattern of Africans reconnecting with indigenous spiritual traditions.

The development adds to a growing number of similar cases across Nigeria in recent times, including a Catholic priest who left the church after 17 years to embrace African traditional religion. Gold's transition also reflects a wider conversation in parts of Nigeria about renewed interest in indigenous African spiritual and cultural practices, including Ifá and other aspects of Isese.

While the specific reasons behind his decision remain unclear, his public declaration has reignited discussions about religious identity, spiritual exploration, and the growing visibility of Yoruba traditional practices among Nigerians who have chosen to reconnect with indigenous belief systems.