Let's talk about something that might make you squirm a little: character. Not the kind you perform on social media or the version you present at job interviews. I'm talking about iwa rere, the Yoruba concept of genuine good character that runs so deep it becomes the very fabric of who you are.
Here's the thing: iwa rere isn't about being perfect or checking boxes on some moral to-do list. It's about actively cultivating the kind of person your ancestors would be proud to claim. And before you roll your eyes thinking this is another "be good" lecture, stick with me. This is about power: real spiritual power that comes from integrity.
What Is Iwa Rere, Really?
The Yoruba say "Iwa rere l'aso Eniyan": good character is the clothing that covers all people. Think about that for a second. Your character isn't something you put on for special occasions. It's what you wear every single day, what people see when they look at you, what precedes you into every room and lingers after you leave.
Iwa rere translates literally as "good character," but it's so much more than avoiding bad behavior. We're talking about proactive development of virtues like respect, compassion, perseverance, and humility. It's the difference between not lying and actively speaking truth. Between not harming and actively healing. Between existing and contributing.
In Yoruba cosmology, character sits at the center of everything. You want to connect with the Orisa? They're checking your character first. Trying to manifest abundance? Your character determines whether you can handle what you're asking for. Looking for lasting relationships? People of substance recognize substance.
The Crucible of Character Building
Now here's where it gets uncomfortable: iwa rere isn't built in comfort. The Yoruba understand something we modern folks often resist: character is forged through difficulty. There's a saying, "Ìyà ńlá ń jẹ́ ọmọdé ẹni l'ójú": suffering educates another's child. Those challenges you're facing? They're not punishments. They're your character development program.
Look at Shango's story. This powerful Orisa started out arrogant and full of himself: sound familiar? He was stripped of his divine powers and cast down to earth, where he had to confront his own limitations. Picture this formerly mighty deity sweating under the sun, learning humility through backbreaking work, discovering that true power comes through service to others.
When Shango finally brought rain to that drought-stricken village, he wasn't just a powerful god anymore. He was a leader worthy of respect, someone whose character had been tested and refined. That's the path we all walk: from ego to authenticity, from power over others to power with others.
The Architecture of Character
Let's break down what iwa rere actually looks like in practice. The Yoruba concept of omoluabi represents the gold standard: someone who has what it takes to be a valued community member. But how do you get there?
It starts with iwapele: gentle, peaceful character that the Yoruba call "the mother of every good character." This isn't about being a pushover. Iwapele is strength under control, knowing when to speak and when to listen, understanding that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is remain calm.
From iwapele flows suru (patience), iteriba (respect), and inurere (good intention). These aren't separate qualities you collect like trading cards. They're interconnected aspects of a whole person, each reinforcing the others.
Here's what this looks like in real life:
- Patience: Not just waiting, but waiting with purpose while doing the work
- Respect: Honoring others without diminishing yourself
- Good intention: Approaching situations with genuine desire for positive outcomes
- Humility: Knowing your worth without needing to prove it constantly
- Perseverance: Continuing when continuing feels impossible
Character Over Everything
The Yoruba have always understood something our materialistic culture struggles with: character trumps possessions every time. You can accumulate wealth, status symbols, and Instagram followers, but without iwa rere, it all crumbles eventually. We see it every day: people who "made it" but lost themselves in the process.
A person without good character will ultimately lose whatever they've gained through other means. But someone with solid character? They might lose things temporarily, but they have the foundation to rebuild, the integrity that draws genuine opportunities, the wisdom to recognize what's worth pursuing.
Practical Character Building
So how do you actually develop iwa rere? Start where you are, with what you have, right now.
Daily Character Check-ins:
- How did you handle frustration today?
- When did you choose compassion over judgment?
- What opportunities did you create for others?
- How did you respond when no one was watching?
The Forgiveness Practice:
One of the fastest ways to develop character is learning to forgive: not because people deserve it, but because resentment is character poison. Start small. Forgive the driver who cut you off. Forgive your coworker who always interrupts. Work your way up to the bigger stuff.
Service Without Recognition:
Find ways to help that no one will know about. Pay for someone's coffee anonymously. Leave encouraging notes where someone will find them. Clean up messes you didn't make. Character develops in the unseen moments.
Truth-telling Practice:
Start telling the truth in small situations where lying would be easier. "Actually, that mistake was mine." "I don't know, but I'll find out." "I'm not comfortable with that." Truth-telling muscles need exercise just like any other.
When Character Meets Spiritual Practice
Here's where iwa rere becomes crucial for anyone on a spiritual path: the Orisa, your ancestors, your own higher self: they're not impressed by fancy rituals if your character is trash. You can have the most elaborate altar, memorize every oriki, and perform perfect ceremonies, but if you're still gossiping, manipulating, and treating people poorly, you're missing the point entirely.
Your spiritual practice should be making you a better person, not just a more knowledgeable one. If your connection to spirit isn't translating into improved character, something's wrong with your practice.
The ancestors already know what you're capable of: the question is, when will you step into that capability? When will you stop using your spiritual knowledge to justify your character flaws and start using it to transform them?
The Ripple Effect
When you commit to developing iwa rere, something beautiful happens: you become a catalyst for character development in others. People feel safe around you. They trust you with their vulnerabilities. They see what's possible when someone chooses integrity over convenience.
You're not just improving your own life: you're contributing to the healing of your community, your lineage, your entire ecosystem. That's the power of character: it's contagious in the best possible way.
Your Character Journey Starts Now
Stop waiting for perfect conditions to start building character. Stop thinking you need more knowledge before you can practice integrity. Your ancestors didn't wait. Your spiritual guides aren't waiting. The world needs people of character right now, not when it's convenient.
Start simple. Choose one area where you know your character needs work and commit to daily practice in that area. Be patient with yourself: character development is lifelong work. But be consistent. Small daily choices compound into transformed lives.
Remember: iwa rere isn't a destination you reach; it's a path you walk every single day. Some days you'll stumble. Some days you'll shine. Both are part of the journey.
Your character is your true inheritance, the only thing you take with you into every room and every relationship. Make it something worth passing on.
Are you ready to do the work? Your ancestors are waiting.