Christopher W. Brown is the founder of the Sàngódaré Institute for the Study of GAN Philosophy; an organization designed to (1) bridge the gaps between science, religion and spirituality, and (2) promotes cultural inclusion and religious tolerance.
Background
Christopher Brown grew up on the Navajo Indian reservation in Northern Arizona, United States. At the age of 6, young Christopher’s family moved from to Longview, Texas where he attended public schools and graduated from LongviewHigh School in 1988.In the fall of 1988,Christopher attended Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, where he earned degrees in Mathematics (1994) and in Computer Science (1996).In 1995 he met the late Dr. Robert Powell Sr., a former Physics professor. It is from Dr. Powell that Christopher was introduced to the principles of Sacred Geometry and learned how to construct the sacred drawings. These principles would make a lasting impression on him. From 1998 until 2001, he worked as a Software Engineer at Lockheed Martin and the United Space Alliance in the Space Shuttle Program for NASA. From 2001 to 2004, Christopher focused on entrepreneurship, and spiritual development.
In 2003, Christopher met the late Dr. Afolabi Epega, a chemist and fifth generation Ifa priest from Ode Remo, Nigeria. Dr. Epega would become his mentor and godfather. In 2004, his godfather, the late Afolabi A. Epega ritually initiated Christopher into the mysteries of Ṣàngó priesthood. Christopher was given the nameṢàngódaré, translating to ‘Ṣàngó exonerates’ him or ‘Ṣàngó finds him innocent’. In the same year, Ṣàngódaré began doing numerology professionally. To quote the words of Dr. Epega, “The people of America need numerology. They need to know”.The Ṣàngóinitiation and teachings of Dr. Epega begin a new chapter in Christopher’s life as Ṣàngódaré.Dr. Epega passed unexpectedly in 2006.
After the passing of his mentor and godfather, Ṣàngódaré traveled to Nigeria in 2007 where he was able to reconnect with the priesthood lineage of his late mentor Dr. Epega.Ṣàngódaré also had the privilege to meet the late great African sociologist, Dr. Akinsola Akiwowo who was a mentor to Dr. Afolabi Epega, and also contemporary and good friend to D. Olarimiwa Epega; the father of Dr. Afolabi Epega. After the initial meeting, Ṣàngódaré and Dr. Akiwowo would continue corresponding with each other. During this time, Ṣàngódaré was ritually initiated into the mysteries of his Itefá by chief priest Ṣolade of the Gaga Community at Akure, Nigeria. Ṣàngódaré received his Itefa name of Ifágbèmí which translates as ‘Ifá uplifts or support me’.Having received intiations into the Orìṣà priesthood of Ṣàngó and Itefa, Ṣàngódaré Ifágbèmí returned to the United States ritually uplifted according to the traditions of his African ancestors and spiritually enhanced with and supported by his cultural identity.
Not long after his return, his mentor, the late Dr. Epega came to him in a dream and told him to return to “his house”. The house that Dr. Epega was referring to was Ode Remo, the place of Dr. Epega’s birth and spiritual lineage. In the summer of June 2009, Ṣàngódaré visited Dr. Akiwowo at his home in Alexandria, Virginia. It is at this time a Yorùbá name was given to Ṣàngódaré philosophical perspective by Dr. Akiwowo. He told Ṣàngódaréhe should name it Ẹṣegan, a Yorùbá term denoting extreme thankfulness. In 2010 Ṣàngódaré responded upon the instructions in the dream his Oluwo Afolabi Epega had given him in 2007 and returned Ode Remo, Nigeria. During this pilgramage, Ṣàngódaré Ifágbèmí received additional initiations into the mysteries of the Orìṣà Ọbàtálá and Orìṣà YeYe Ọṣun by the late Ifálabanke Adesanya of Ode Remo, Nigeria. He received the names Òrìṣàdamilola, translating to, ‘the Òrìṣà (Ọbàtálá) brings me wealth’ and Ọṣungbèmí, ‘Ọṣun uplifts or supports me’.Ṣàngódaré Ifágbèmí met the late Araba of Ode Remo, Adesanya Awoyade and was accepted into the Adesanya spiritual family. The Adesanya family granted Ṣàngódaré Ifágbèmí permission from his ritual lineage in Ode Remo to use the title Akasanmon, a Yorùbá word that means ‘one who studies the sky’.
Having taught as a professor in academia, travelled to over 60 countries, lecturing to students throughout the world, Ṣàngódaré Ifágbèmí returned to Abeokuta, Nigeria in the Autumn 2015, to receive the Chieftaincy title Alatunṣe, ‘one who repairs and puts things in order’.His full name and title is Ṣàngódaré Ifágbèmí Epega Òrìṣàdamilola Ọṣungbèmí Adesanya Awoyade Egunguntunmiṣe Egbeṣola Oloye Alatunṣe