is a Priestess/Teacher in the Afrikan tradition; she is a parapsychologist, a writer, artist, a lecturere on Women's Societies and Rites of Passage; a mother, grandmother and the wife of a chief and Babalawo (High Priest).

This is Iya's second book. Her first book, THE CULT OF SANGO (winter, 1996) is in it's second printing and doing very well. In the second printing of this book is included her play 'THE LEGEND OF SANGO."

Her new book, RITES OF PASSAGE/PSYCHOLOGY OF FEMALE POWER (spring, 1998) is now in print and will be in bookstores soon.

Iya Sangode is an Afrikan-American and has been practicing her culture for over thirty years. She attributes her respect for the dieties and ancestors to growing up in California and the multi-cultural environment of living around Asians (respect for ancestors), Polynesians (respect for dieties) Native Americans (respect for the Earth) and a Louisana family (respect for spirits). She also attributes her knowledge of Afrikan Culture and Religion to her first Master Teacher Oluwo Adenibi S. Ajamu; her second Master Teacher Oba Oseijeman Adefunmi 1; her third Master teacher and Godfather Medahochi K. O. Zannu; and to Renaud Sangodeyi Simmons. Her knowledge and training in spiritism she owes to Bale Osunkunle Erindele and the late Orisanlako Alade.

Iya Sangode is the Godmother and teacher of many initiated priests and priestesses all over the United States. Besides being a writer and artist, she still remains a teacher in Afrikan Tradition.

Iya Sangode was introduced to Afrikan Culture in 1966/67 by Maalana R. Karenga and the US Organization, and was introduced to West Afrikan Culture and Religion by Oluwo Adenibi S. Ajamu in 1968. She traveled to South Carolina with him in 1970 to help start the building of an Afrikan Village and participated as a helper in the first ADEFUNMI RITES OF INITIATION IN ORISA/VODUN in the United States.

She was the first Afrikan-American initiated by Afrikan American priests on the West Coast of the United States in 1974 and became the first Chief Priestess of the Temple of Sango in the Village of Oyotunji in 1977.

Iya Sangode resides between homes in California and Florida where she writes, paints, lectures on Women's Rites of Passage and practices her culture.