I was raised by my grandmother who was a lay healer in the church and my grandfather who was a martial artist and business owner. My grandmother’s gift of laying on of hands was passed it to me. My grandfather had the gift of spiritual sight. My mother had me at 16 and went on to college while my grandparents raised me. She became a social worker and I inherited that desire to help my community and people too.
My formal education was in Sociology, Theology, and the Healing arts. I became the director of an allied health program at a local college . My gift of sight developed with my healing abilities.
Theology led to a strong passion for esoteric studies in metaphysics, history, African and Women’s spirituality in a search to “find myself”.
At the height of my career, I had a transformational experience that catapulted me on the path of Ifa throuh an accident that caused me to not be able to walk. Hospitalized, not able to work, and uncertain of my future, I had a mystical vision confirmed with divination that in order for me to heal, I needed to initiate to Ifa. I had a calling to be an Iyanifa.
Within Days of my initiation, I was able to walk again. That experience left me learning a whole new way as I trained for many years with a number of astute Babalawos, Iyanifas, and Onisegun in the Ifa Orisa Wisdom Tradition. Today, I offer divination and soul life coaching to people who seek to heal, transform their lives, and solve their problems. 
My approach is more practical and spiritual than religious. I believe in the power of common sense before trying to be deep. I’m more interested in what works over dogma and religious dogma. While I may have titles and accomplishments, I am everyday people. Most people who meet me are surprised at how down to earth I am..like auntie or Big Mama. I try to explain things so you learn and grow but I make it plain like the old folks say and keep it 100 like the young say. I guess I’m old enough to have real life experience along with training to have an idea of what to do to help people. I’m an African American woman who practices an ancient African tradition. That means I don’t try to be Yoruba, Native American , or imitate something I am not. I am proud of my ancestors and the journey they had to bring me to where I am. So I bring all of me to whatever I do unapologetically. A lot of people like that. Some don’t..and it’s ok.
Over 30 years of experience in Healing and in Indigenous knowledge systems. Over 20 years in women’s traditions and spirituality. 15 years as a college professor… an author of 5 books and publisher of 15 books. Offers a dynamic blend of western and indigenous training from common sense mother wit to high spiritual science. Offers retreats, lectures workshops and personal training and mentoring.
Spiritual name: Okungbemi Anike Tayese Ase Ifayele Iyafunfun Oyatunde Ojeronke Fasola
Formal Titles:
Aare Obabinrin Olokun Omilere Omilere USA
Iya Abiye Ogboni Otito Iledi Aborigine Ogboni Worldwide
Iya Mode Egungun USA, Oje Parada Ibadan
Otun Iya Amunifawuni, Ose Meji Ibadan
Published Books
Isese Spirituality Workbook
Hand of Ifa
Iyanifa Women of Wisdom
Book of Odu Ifa
Formal Education:
B.A. Sociology, M.A. Counseling, PhD in Metaphysical Theology, ND Naturopathy
Dip. Hom.Homeopathy
License and Certifications:
Licensed Massage Therapist
Licensed New Thought/ Metaphysical Minister
Certified Life Coach
Certified Ayurvedic Therapist
Certified Aromatherapist
Certified in Neuromuscular Therapy
Certified in Herbology
Certified in Clinical Hypnotherapy
Initiations and Spiritual Technology
Fully initiated to mysteries of Olokun, Oya ,Obatala, Ọṣun, Yemoja, Osanyin
Ifa (Iyanifa) ( Ifa readings and medicine)
Lineage: Ancestral Pride Temple , Ota, Nigeria under the direction of Oluwo Fasola Faniyi Babatunde
And Fategbe Fasola
Gelede by Iyalosa Olomitutu Ota, Nigeria
Olokun by Olori Abiye Yeylodu Osunbunmi , Adakpame, Togo ,Goka lineage
Egungun by Alagba Ifasakin
Priesthood Training under the direction of Fategbe Kekereje Fasola, Olori Fayomi Falade, Falokun Fatunmbi, Ifadiran Egunseye, Babalola Akinola, Olori Abiye Yeyelodu Abike Osunbunmi , Fasola Faniyi
Iyami ( Eleye) from Iyaloja Fakayode, Ogboni From Apena Ifalase, Abiye Apena
Onisegun ( traditional healer) apprenticed under the direction of Babalola Akinola
Aborigine Ogboni Worldwide under Apena Ifalase and Olori Abiye Osunbunmi Otitolagba number 2
Zulu Nyanga Training And Ceremony- Authorized to do Zulu Bone Divination and dispense Muthi ( medicines) – Gobela Gogo Ateyo Nkanyezi -Inandabukhona Lineage
Divination:
Dafa, Erindilogun (cowrie shell ) , Bones, tarot, I Ching
Akan Ancestral Bone Divination by Okomfo Mausiki Scales
Reiki Master Teacher
Indigenous Tantric Training and Dravidian Mysteries
Special Training in Botswana, Kikuyu, Sumerian, Dakota Sioux, Wolof, Igbo, Ewe, Dagara, Dagoma, and Ga-Dangme.
Kemetian Mysteries
Taoist teachings: I Ching, Tai Chi
Hermetics, Kaballah, and Rosicrucian
Fellowship of Isis initiated priestess hierophant of Shekhmet and Het Hert in Lyceum of Black Isis
Womens Mysteries
Spiritual Gifts: Clairvoyance, clairaudience, hands on healing, dream work
Oloye Dr. Ayele Kumari, also known as Chief Yele, is a pioneering force in African spiritual traditions, breaking barriers for women and advancing Isese Ifa Orisa devotion worldwide. A fully initiated and licensed Iyanifa, professor, Onisegun (traditional healer), and artist, she has dedicated over 30 years to mastering her craft and reclaiming ancestral wisdom for future generations.
Her rise to prominence began with her groundbreaking book, Iyanifa: Women of Wisdom, which shattered stereotypes that only recognized men Babalawo as Ifa priests. While she did not create the term “Iyanifa,” her book made it more widely known and respected, empowering women to embrace their spiritual inheritance. In her plight for African Womens Mysteries, she discovered that many women actually feared honoring their mothers’ traditions, even hesitating to say “Iyami” aloud due to deep-rooted stigmas. Recognizing the lack of accessible African spiritual teachings, she founded Ori Institute, an online school dedicated to preserving and teaching ancestral wisdom. Through her transformative 40-hour course on African Women’s Mysteries, she demystified the divine feminine in African spirituality, offering clarity and empowerment to countless seekers.
In 2018, after the passing of her mother, Chief Yele stepped into a new role as a spiritual matriarch as she co founded Ashe Soul Global Village, a full-service Ifa Orisa temple and spiritual community. With her husband, Oluso Onibode Sangodare Falade, (asesouljourney.com) they serve a wide community of healers, priests, and devotees. Ashe Soul Global is a full service Ifa Orisa Temple and teaching community .
Understanding the challenges faced by those new to African spirituality, she authored Isese Spirituality Workbook for beginners. She followed by Hand of Ifa for dedicated Ifa practitioners. To further support the community, she published Book of Odu, providing an affordable compilation of sacred verses for deeper study.
The widespread popularity of her book, her dedication to the teaching of Isese along with her support of schools in Nigeria earned her recognition and she was conferred chieftaincy titles in Ibadan as Iya Mode United States, Otun Amunifawuni, Iya Abiye Ogboni, and Oba Olokun Omilere.
A proud African American woman, Dr. Kumari grew up immersed in the soul-stirring sounds of gospel, R&B, and classic soul. Struggling to connect with practitioners Ayele Ifa music, she sought to bridge the gap by blending African spiritual chants with the music of her roots. This creative fusion led to the birth of Ashe Soul Music, a genre of Afrospiritual music that blends ancestral wisdom with contemporary soul, offering a transformative sound that heals the heart and soothes the ancestral soul.
Through her scholarship, spiritual leadership, and musical innovation, Dr. Ayele Kumari continues to inspire, educate, and uplift those on the path of ancestral reclamation and spiritual enlightenment.
