Iyalorisa Oseye Mchawi, was a long-time community activist of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, now resides in Irvington, New Jersey. She is a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, a Yoruba Priestess. Ms. Mchawi was initiated to the Yoruba deity, Obatala on July 24, 1976, and in 1990 was bestowed the chieftaincy title Adesesefun from the Obatala Shrine in Ibadan, Nigeria. Mama Oseye, as she is affectionately called, is intricately involved with several African traditional spiritual groups and is one of the founding members and present Executive Director of the Omo Obatala Egbe, Inc. Additionally, Mama Oseye, is the founder and President of the Yoruba Society of Brooklyn, Inc; was a founding member and first President of the Board of Ijo Orisa Yoruba Church, Inc. She is also proud of her relationship as a spiritual leader and elder with the youth Organization Egbe Iwa formerly known as Egbe Iwa Odo Binrin and Egbe Iwa Odo Kunrin. Mama Oseye has worked diligently to raise the awareness of the plight of Yoruba traditionalists here in New York, in Africa, and, in throughout the Diaspora. As a spiritual leader and “godmother” to many, she has organized a disparate group of people from a myriad of backgrounds into a family unit. She is very happy to claim four generations of Orisa initiates and devotees within her own family. In 1987, Mama Oseye adopted the Candomble house in Bahia, Ile Iya Nasso Ile Funfun (Casa Branca) as a Sister House, thus beginning the experience of the Yoruba Society of Brooklyn’s annual African Heritage tours of Brazil, which are conducted by her. Also, as a result of her visits to Casa Branca, Mama Oseye introduced the tradition of Agua de Oxala (Waters of Obatala) to the Omo Obatala Egbe several years ago, and it continues to be a highlight, and an integral part of the Annual International Orisa Conference.