Conversely, it is also said by others that it is Obàtálá who shapes life while it is still in the womb. One's Orí-Inu (spiritual consciousness in the physical realm) must grow in order to consummate union with one's "Ipônri" (Orí Òrún, spiritual self).[4]. It started out as an idea I had to catalogue stories and family lore from my maternal great-grandmother almost 10 years ago now. Them and immediate families are the only ones of their species present in the stories, however the misfortunes that befall them apply automatically to the rest of their kind. Heartbroken, he left the town followed by the chiefs and members of his royal cult known as Baba-Mogba persuading him not to leave. Of course, the alternative is possible. Aganju, the ferryman and god of fire, refused him passage so Obatala retreated and turned into a woman and traded his/her body for passage (this would later become a conspiracy theory about homosexuality existing even in the days of old). So I thought up this blog, as a way to document these folk tales and aspects of our culture, a way for me to curate the information from the remaining family members. Its homeland is in Southwestern Nigeria and the adjoining parts of Benin and Togo, a region that has come to be known as Yorùbáland. Then his smile quickly disappeared as he remembered he couldn’t fly. Womanhood carries a “legacy” of successful reproduction, business acumen, and social responsibility–, [Murphy and Sanford, Ọ̀ṣun Across the Waters : A Yoruba Goddess in Africa and the Americas]. Article Id: It wasn’t a huge shock, she’d lived a long and fulfilling life. She is considered the protective energy of the feminine force. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GibiNy4d4gc, Songs, W., n.d. [Online] The Yoruba tribe of West Africa has a myth about how they where created: In the beginning, there was only the sky above, water and marshland below. Whenever the time arrives for a spirit to return to Earth (otherwise known as The Marketplace) through the conception of a new life in the direct bloodline of the family, one of the component entities of a person's being returns, while the other remains in Heaven (Ikole Orun). There is no simple guarantee that your grandfather or great uncle will "come back" in the birth of your child, however. He said the only way they could reverse the world was to call another meeting and invite Oshun.In the book, The Altar of My Soul: The Living Traditions of Santería, author and practitioner of the Santeria Vega says, that Olodumare told the male Orishas that, “Without women and children, the world could not function. i will be all roots and strong petals. After a brief running start, tortoise found himself soaring above his farm and soon Dove joined him and guided him to the main formation of birds. At one time, they were organised into several kingdoms, each ruled by the oba or king. I’ve never tasted anything but the food I grow on my meagre farm, it’s cassava daily for me. Reproduction Date: The Yorùbá religion comprises the traditional religious and spiritual concepts and practices of the Yorùbá people. The trees shrivelled up and the rivers dried up, the famine was so severe the great savannahs disappeared and turned into dust. Tortoise set his plan into motion, coughing a bit, he cleared his throat and disguised his voice to sound just like Dog: Just like magic, the rope descended, and Tortoise began to climb up smug in the belief that he had tricked Dog and his helpers. A DNA test saying I’m Yoruba is good, but it does not add a sense of belonging, it does not help inform and it provides no information about the people I’m from. “How am I going to get to heaven though? There Tortoise lay until Ant walked by him and took pity upon him. Yoruba Movies & Films Yoruba Theatre is the origin of Nigeria's Nollywood,the equivalent of America's Hollywood. Cultural traditions are being lost at an astounding rate. We had heroes and villain stories, love stories and conqueror stories, art and culture. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. They also thought it harmless and decided to split themselves into two delegations. Now while he had a good life, Tortoise wanted a more comfortable existence and as such was always looking for the next get rich quick scheme. According to one of the Yorùbá accounts of creation, during a certain stage in this process, the "truth" was sent to confirm the habitability of the newly formed planets. And Tortoise and his descendants have had to live with the uneven shell as punishment for his deceit of Dog’s mother. Ant made a pot of glue and helped Tortoise put his shell back, but as the shell had fractured into a million large and small pieces, Ant could only glue back some of it. Having noted that there are over 400 Orishas, it is also important to note that there is no sacred books or scriptures for those who practice the worship of Orishas. As the story goes, Obatala, the king of the white cloth was travelling and had to cross a river. Sango, after the rescue of Ajaka was crowned King while Alaafin Ajaka was sent into exile. Dog had a big grin on his face. Some of the other divinities descended upon it to live with Obàtálá. Africans were just as cultured as the Ancient Greeks, Assyrians, Mughal empire and the Han dynasty. Ibile Faith Society. I cannot reclaim them and I cannot turn back time. In some societies, these stories are called Patakis- sacred stories that provide lessons and teachings to the community and aid them with maneuvering life and how to stay connected to their surroundings. Traditionally, they  believed in almost four hundred gods, goddesses and spirits, most with their own cult and priests. Known by a variety of names, including Elegbara.[9]. He emptied the soil onto what soon became a large mound on the surface of the water and soon after, the winged-beasts began to scatter this around until the point where it gradually made into a large patch of dry land; the various indentations they created eventually becoming hills and valleys. Navigating Feminism as a Non-Intellectual African Woman, Why Criticising "An" Odunsi Is Harsh, But Necessary, Hollywood's Strange Addiction To Bad African Accents. There are other animals used, but tortoises hold a special distinction and are the fall guys in the animal kingdom, exhibiting vices the Yoruba culture frowns upon. “I’m so sorry to hear that” Dove said contritely, “I can extend my invitation to you, bring you as my plus one. [5], Perhaps one of the most important human endeavors extolled within the tribe's literary corpus is the quest to better one's "Iwa" (character, behaviour). View Amata Giramata’s profile on Facebook, Follow Journey of a 21st century Afrikan Queen on WordPress.com. Mrs Tortoise then set about collecting all the sharp items in her possession, she collected hoes, cutlasses, tree branches, sharp stones, she filed her knives and polished her nails and screws.          Political / Social. Some say Obàtálá was jealous and wished to be the only giver of life, but Olódùmarè put him to sleep as he worked. [size=20pt]Olorun[/size] In Yoruba mythology, Olorun is the Sky Father (though occasionally androgynous or female), and a god of peace, purity and harmony. For example, in Afro-Cuba, people that identify with the LGBTQ community have indicated that their communities are accepting of this in relation to religion. The Yoruba believe in Àtúnwá, reincarnation within the family. ( Log Out /  The traditional start of the story is marked by the chant below. [7], An Òrìṣà (also spelled Orisha or Orixa) is an entity that possesses the capability of reflecting some of the manifestations of Olódùmarè. Yoruba and Greek Mythology In this lesson, several parallels have already been drawn between Yoruba and ancient Greek mythology. In the beginning there is only water. I have an idea!” Tortoise called to Dove who was next to him, Being the diligent and considerate host, he was, dove flew over to Tortoise to listen to his idea. In this, Olódùmarè is Supreme. “Oh yes, definitely” Dove remarked, “I can’t imagine how disruptive the eagles and the vultures will be when we get there! Sango who believed that the fight between Timi and Gbonka in Ede was staged asked for a re-match in Oyo and Gbonka defeated Timi. “We need an urgent solution to this greatest of events facing us. Oya being the Orisha of the Sky and Shango being the Orisha of earth is symbolic to two halves of a closed calabash. I have no wings”, “Don’t worry about that” Dove said, “We’ll each give you one of our flight feathers and make some wings for you”. She had one son, Orungan, who raped her successfully one time and attempted a second time; she exploded instead, and fifteen Orishas came forth from her. Even within particular tribes, depending on location and upbringing, the practice may vary. Stories like how the tortoise lost its hair teach the listeners about the dangers of stealing and gluttony whilst sstories of how the tortoise got the cracks on its shell teach listeners about the dangers of greed. “My mother does the same thing!” Hyena said. Furthermore, the thoughts and actions of each person in Ayé (the physical realm) interact with all other living things, including the Earth itself. ( Log Out /  “Surely it is not as bad as you’re all making it out to be” declared Dog. Change ). Then another bird followed and plucked her feather out. He told Tortoise that in 3 days’ time, the bed of soft furnishings should be ready. Its homeland is in Southwestern Nigeria and the adjoining parts of Benin and Togo , a region that has come to be known as Yorùbáland . “It’s not fair that the rest of us are dying of hunger yet dog’s belly is turgid with good food” he said to himself.

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