Spirituality and Leadership: What Do the Esan People Call God?
For the established diaspora leader or the steward of a multi-generational family business, the word “vision” is often used in a corporate sense, a set of goals, a five-year plan, or a mission statement on a boardroom wall. However, for those rooted in deep cultural heritage, vision is not merely a strategic objective; it is a spiritual mandate.
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In the Esan culture of Edo State, Nigeria, leadership and spirituality are inextricably linked through the concept of Osanobua. To understand how the Esan people perceive the Divine is to understand the very blueprint of building something that lasts.
Whether you are a CEO in New York looking to package twenty years of expertise or a family business owner in London protecting a fifty-year heritage, the principles of Osanobua offer a profound lesson in the “Higher Power” vision required to transform a successful company into an immortal legacy.
What Do the Esan People Call God?
At the heart of Esan cosmology is Osanobua, also Osenobua (often shortened to Ose). The name is not merely a label but a theological definition. Etymologically, it is often translated as “The Source of all Beings” or “The One who sustains the World.”
In Esan thought, Osanobua is the Supreme Deity, the architect of the universe who is detached yet omnipresent, benevolent yet firm in the laws of nature and morality.
Unlike many Western interpretations of divinity that focus on a distant figure, the Esan view Osanobua as the ultimate “Grand Ancestor” and the primary source of Ehi (the personal spirit or guardian angel).
The Attributes of Osanobua
- Osonobua-Oghodua: The Almighty, the one who possesses all power.
- The Uncaused Cause: He exists because He exists, the foundation upon which all other structures (families, kingdoms, and businesses) are built.
- The Great Divider: In Esan tradition, Osanobua is credited with giving each person their unique “path” or destiny before they enter the world.
For the diaspora leader, this is the first lesson in legacy: Identity is the foundation of authority. Before you can build a legacy business, you must identify the “Source” of your unique methodology. What is the “Osanobua” of your brand, the unchanging truth that governs everything you do?
Spirituality as the Engine of Leadership
In the traditional Esan political system, the Enijie (Kings) and elders did not rule by sheer force of will. Their authority was derived from their alignment with the spiritual order. Leadership was therefore seen as a stewardship of a divine mandate.
When we look at modern leadership through this lens, we see a striking parallel. The most successful founders, those who move beyond mere profitability into the realm of “Legacy” are those who operate with a sense of Transcendental Vision. That can be broken into two concepts: The Spiritual Blueprint and Accountability to the Future.
1. The Concept of ‘Ehi’ (The Spiritual Blueprint)
Every Esan person is believed to have an Ehi. This is your spiritual twin who stands before Osanobua to declare what you will achieve on earth. In business terms, your Ehi is your Proprietary Methodology. It is the unique way you solve problems that no one else can replicate.
Many CEOs struggle because they are trying to live out someone else’s “Ehi.” They copy industry standards instead of looking inward at the unique journey they have walked. Building a legacy requires you to stop “managing” and start “manifesting” the unique message you were meant to bring to your industry.
2. Accountability to the Future
In Esan spirituality, you are accountable not just to the living, but to the ancestors and the unborn. This “Long-View” is exactly what is missing in today’s quarter-by-quarter corporate mindset.
- Data Point: According to the Family Business Institute, only about 30% of family businesses survive into the second generation, and only 12% make it to the third.
- The Reason: A lack of spiritual and narrative continuity. When the “Why” (the Osanobua-inspired vision) is lost, the “How” (the business operations) eventually crumbles.
Connecting ‘Osanobua’ to Your Legacy Business
How does an ancient Edo concept of God help a tech founder in Atlanta or a real estate mogul in Lagos? It provides three pillars of Legacy Architecture.
Pillar I: The Sovereign Narrative (The Legacy Video)
Osanobua is the ultimate storyteller; He defined the world into existence. In the same way, your business needs a “Sovereign Narrative.” This is more than a marketing video; it is a cinematic immortalization of your “Why.”
In Esan culture, history was passed down through oral tradition and performance. Today, we use Legacy Video to do the same.
By documenting your journey, the struggles, the divine “aha” moments, and the values that guide you, you create a “digital ancestor” that will speak to your great-grandchildren and your future CEOs long after you have retired.
Pillar II: The Codified Wisdom (The Legacy Book)
Just as the laws of Osanobua are etched into the fabric of the universe, your expertise must be etched into a permanent format. For many diaspora leaders, their greatest asset is currently trapped in their heads.
If you were to leave the business tomorrow, would the “Spirit” of your leadership remain? A Legacy Book transforms your 20-30 years of experience into a “Sacred Text” for your industry. It establishes you as the undeniable authority, much like the ancient wisdom-keepers of the Esan people.
Pillar III: The Proprietary Solution (The Legacy Signature Program)
In Esan tradition, different families held different “specialties” or “crafts” granted by the Divine. One family might be healers; another, master builders.
Your business must move from being a “commodity” to a “specialty.” Through our Legacy Signature Program, we help you take the “Osanobua” (the source) of your success and package it into a unique methodology. This becomes the “Spirit” of your brand, a way of doing things that belong only to you.
The Obehi Methodology: Photo Elicitation and the Interview
In my work as a storytelling consultant in Verona, Italy, I often use the Photo Elicitation Technique (PET) to help leaders reconnect with their “Higher Vision.”
Looking at historical artifacts, family photos, or even symbols of their early business struggles, leaders can “elicit” deep-seated values that they may have forgotten in the rush of daily operations. We use these interviews to bridge the gap between your current success and your eternal legacy.
Just as an Esan elder uses proverbs and symbols to explain the mysteries of Osanobua, we use your personal history to explain the mystery of your brand’s success. This is how you differentiate yourself in a crowded market: not by being cheaper or faster, but by being the only one with your specific story.
Why Now? The Urgency of Legacy
We live in an era of “disposable” content and fleeting influence. For the African Diaspora, there is an even greater urgency. Much of our history has been written by others. If you do not define your legacy, the world will do it for you, or worse, the world will forget you.
Building a legacy business is an act of spiritual warfare against obscurity. It is saying: “I was here, I built this, and these are the principles of my Osanobua that made it possible.”
For the multi-generational family business, this story is your “Premium Factor.” Clients don’t pay more for a product; they pay more for heritage. When you can show that your business is guided by a vision higher than mere profit, you build a level of trust that no marketing campaign can buy.
Conclusion: Your Mandate
The Esan people knew that without Osanobua, there was no order. Without a Higher Power or a Higher Vision, there is no legacy.
You have spent decades building your career, your business, and your reputation. You have reached the summit. But the question remains: Are you building a monument that will crumble, or a legacy that will breathe?
Your story, your methodology, and your vision are the most valuable assets you own. It is time to treat them with the same reverence the Esan treats the Divine. It is time to immortalize the “Source” of your success.
Your legacy is your most valuable asset. Before you print another brochure or sign another contract, let’s talk about how to immortalize your life’s work.
Book your free 15-minute Legacy Strategy Call today to design the asset that will tell your story for the next 50 years. Book Your Free 15-Min Legacy Call Now.
