The Drumbeat of Destiny: Between the Illusion of Control and the Rhythm of Fate

By David Alani Ige

July 22, 2026

      

Dancing to the drumbeat of Destiny

There is an unspoken rhythm to human existence, a silent percussion that dictates the ebb and flow of our lives. We often go through our days under the comforting illusion that our hands are firmly on the steering wheel. We make plans, we set goals, and we draft meticulous blueprints for our future. Yet, when Destiny finally steps into the arena and begins to beat its drum, every human being is compelled to dance to its tune—whether willingly or unwillingly.

But does destiny truly exist? And if it does, are we merely puppets suspended by strings, stripped of our free will? To answer this, we must dig deeply into the ancient philosophical and cultural archives.

   

A wooden marionette or a human silhouette suspended by glowing puppet strings reaching up into the sky. However, the figure is not hanging limply.

The Stoic Postulation: Dragged or Led?

My postulation that we must dance to destiny "willingly or unwillingly" perfectly mirrors one of the most famous maxims of Stoic philosophy. 

Over two thousand years ago, the Greek philosopher Cleanthes wrote a prayer to fate, which was later famously summarized by the Roman philosopher Seneca: "Ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt"—Fate leads the willing, and drags the reluctant. The Stoics believed in 'Logos', a rational, divine order that governs the universe. They argued that Destiny (or Fate) is like a dog tied to a moving cart. The cart represents the unstoppable momentum of destiny. The dog has two choices: it can either run joyfully alongside the cart (dancing willingly), or it can brace its paws, resist, and howl in protest—but it will still be dragged forward by the neck (dancing unwillingly). The destination remains exactly the same; the only difference is the amount of suffering the dog experiences along the way.

       

The chart as the Destiny,human as the dog.if the chart moves willingly or unwillingly the dog must move.

The Yoruba Epistemology: The Blueprint of 'Orí '

African philosophy takes an even more intimate approach to this phenomenon through the Yoruba concept of 'Orí' (the inner head) and 'Àyànmọ́' (that which is affixed to one). 

In traditional Yoruba cosmology, before a child is born, their soul kneels before the Creator (Olódùmarè) to choose their destiny. Once they cross into the physical world, a veil of forgetfulness falls over them. The entirety of human life, therefore, is not a process of 'creating' a destiny, but of 'remembering' and aligning with the one already chosen. 

   

Ori vs Ayanmo(A surreal, artistic profile of a human head. Inside or radiating above the head is a glowing, intricate maze or a constellation of stars.)

When a person struggles violently against the natural current of their life, facing endless friction and sorrow, it is often said that their physical desires are warring against their spiritual 'Orí'. When Destiny beats its drum, the wise man listens to the rhythm and aligns his steps with it. The foolish man tries to invent his own music, only to be outplayed by the booming percussion of fate.

Do We Have Power Over Our Destiny?

This brings us to the ultimate question: if destiny is absolute, why should we strive for anything? Are we powerless? 

The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer provided a brilliant answer: "Man can do what he wills, but he cannot will what he wills." In other words, you have free will, but your desires, your talents, and the circumstances of your birth were pre-installed by destiny. 

We do not have the power to choose the music that Destiny plays. You did not choose your parents, your era of birth, or the random tragedies and triumphs that fall into your lap. The music is entirely out of your control. However, Free Will is the style in which you choose to dance. Two men can hear the exact same drumbeat of tragedy. One chooses to dance with bitterness, folding into himself and cursing God. The other chooses to dance with resilience, using the heavy rhythm to build endurance and inspire others. Destiny provided the drumbeat; free will provided the choreography. 

Amor Fati: Loving the Dance

We must move beyond merely resigning ourselves to fate. The great philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche coined the term 'Amor Fati'—the love of one's fate. 

To practice 'Amor Fati' is to realize that every beat of Destiny's drum—the heartbreaks, the delays, the massive successes, and the quiet failures—was strictly necessary to forge you into the person you are today. Do not just tolerate the music; embrace it. 

When Destiny beats its drum, do not let it drag you. Step onto the dancefloor of life, hold your head high, and dance with the fierce grace of a person who knows that the universe makes no mistakes.

David Alani Ige

Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief Ayekooto Media

Phunshor01@gmail.com | publisher@ayekootomediang.com

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