After all, they are essential natural resources giving way to life thriving within its banks. Imbolc - Feb 2nd Ostara - Mar 21st/22nd Beltane - April 30th/May 1st Lithia - June 21st/22nd Lammas - July 31st/Aug 1st Mabon - Sept 21st/22nd Is Yoruba the Definitive African Religion? Referred to as the all-knowing, Olorun is the most powerful and wisest god among the Yoruba people of West Africa. While there is no actual official number of gods that can be found in this pantheon though, there is an interesting notion around it which states that there are 400+1 Orishas around. Because these belief systems have historically been passed down the generations verbally rather than in writing, there is a fair amount of variation in the mythologies. Regardless of which mythology you look at, chances are that there is always a master of iron right around the corner, ready to bring the gods the weapons and armor that they don during the final days. At least the ones I know of, and some tarot cards are written with 2 or 3 translations of the orishas. Shango has three wives, Oshun, Oya, and Oba. One thing is for sure, though, every Orisha is unique and has a specific cosmic purpose assigned to their wake. Anansi Anansi was one of the sons of Nyame. Orunmila is known to be the Yoruban deity of wisdom and knowledge. His purpose might not be material, but it is a psychological one reflected in many African myths. No, the 7 African powers when called on for ritual or a need wouldnt interact negatively with any other energy in the home. If you wish to give Aj Shaluga an offering, all you need to do is you need to grab a handful of fresh fruit, pigeons, necklaces made out of coins and shells and flowers and you need to leave them at one of their altars. Lets start? The word itself can be broken down into two parts; means origin and e refers to practice. Coming together, literally means practicing our origin. As you can see, this is a beautiful way to honor their roots, as most of their traditions and beliefs spring from their deep-rooted faith in the Orisha Pantheon. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Myth Nerd is our place for all things related to world mythology. It is said that Obatala was the one that created the human bodies, and as they finished up their job, they demanded of their father to breathe life into the soulless bodies in front of them. Among the Yoruba people, Oduduwa is the creator of the Yoruba race and religion. They believed ancestors are human spirits that exist after death and are still worshipped by their people. Im currently on an ATR spiritual path and have an amazing Padrino; however, in order to practice our invoke the spirits of that religion I have to be initiated. She loves to write - about anything and everything. Is the letter y even in our native language? Some tarot cards are wrongly identified if you say its only one way. Still, He is believed to be more than capable of bringing adversity to those that do not take note of his presence. In the Yoruban religion, Olorun is considered the creator of the universe and the ruler of heaven. She uses her abilities to Bumba, also known as Mbombo, is the creator god of the Kuba people in Central Africa. George Bancroft & 19th Century Historiography in the U.S. Dunning School's Approach to the U.S. Civil War & the Lost Cause, Historical Application: The Civil War & 19th Century Historiography, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. Hence, the material having a specific personality induced a sense of wonder and natural instinct among those who believed in its smithing magic. They were supposed to take care of the first men and women, but because they got distracted their brother Oduduwa decided to create the world instead for them to be safe in. Hello. While it may seem the war god is a single purpose deity, war gods and goddesses are varied in their functions. She is known for healing the sick with ease, fostering prosperity and better yet, for making infertile couples fertile. Pinterest Before setting up an altar, invoking individual Orishas, or providing offerings to them, ALWAYS read their likes and dislikes and understand their back-story. WebMami Wata continues to be an important part of African mythology today, representing the power of the natural world and the mysteries that lie beneath its surface. As for the 400+1 concept, the 1 is an incredibly sacred number that tells you that there are countless Orishas, but you will always be one count short if you try to comprehend it. Kibuka is actually referred to as the God of War in the Buganda Empire kingdom. African people, however, do not have a single unified belief about a supreme god. He is the benevolent version of Loki in African mythology and a wandering trickster spirit generally concerned with probability and elusiveness. Spirits are less grand, less powerful, and less like humans than the gods, who often have weaknesses and emotions. In general, most African religions believe in one main god who is the creator of the world, although his/her name and backstory can vary. Officially, African gods and belief systems have been replaced by Islam and Christianity over the past century according to statistics (90%), but it is often an We all know that no matter which religion you look into, chances are that they consider rivers to be a benevolent gift from the gods. As I grow older Im wanting more and more info even joined groups on fb but afraid to say anything because everyone who most talk in the groups are practicing already and I dont understand some of their post. Emily currently is a substitute teacher, and has taught a variety of K-12 courses. Use the oil to anoint doorways, wallets, candles, your car, and your body to invoke their blessings and protection. 77 sold. Often times referred to as the Child of God, Obatala is known as the kindest god in the pantheon, even though they are seen a lot of the times next to their father, the powerful Olorun. As a result, they are all controlled within the domains of the Orishas. She is actually often times honored and celebrated by the Igbo people, especially so during the yearly yam festival. A note on online sources: Ive done considerable research on the Seven African Powers, and I find it interesting that because of the forced syncretization of the Seven African Powers with seven Catholic saints, some sources claim the original 7 were never Orishas. I felt Yemaya and Oyas presence about me. When Oshun calls to you, its like a gentle river enveloping you. The first African God on our list is the goddess Oya. How old is the United States of America? what i do is follow certain people on youtube who talk about the storys of the orishas which i find to be very important , you can learn a lot about the orishas and lessons through the stories. In the Yoruban religion, Olokun is the wife of Oduduwa. Hes also credited with the job of creating human bodies particularly with imperfections like blindness and other defects. Anansi, the spider god, can be found in the stories By far the most important theme that we need to mention about the Yoruba religion is the idea of Animism. Cultural groups like the Yoruba, Kuba, and Dogon people have passed down oral traditions from generation to generation to tell the story of their people's creation and history as they migrated and were impacted by European colonization. Always heard Nana buruku when I was little. His authoritative use of raw power symbolizes typical masculinity, linking him to a more personal viewpoint for followers of the Orisha pantheon. The Great Mother and protects motherhood as well as female sexuality. He is often noted as being the master behind shaping every child when they are within the womb. I love the statue and Im a big believer but I dont want to disrespect ogun and chango being in the same statue and space. Where do they live? I really appreciate how your broke it down to where it help me understand. A great, lasting one makes way for a civilization to flourish. An armory provides the means to defend oneself from the dangers of the outside world. Many spirits are associated with geographical features, such as mountains, rivers, wells, trees, and springs. According to legend, Magec was captured by Guayota and held prisoner inside the Teide volcano. More and more people are being drawn to their pre-Christian ancestral ways. i took my time to read it all. The nine animals produced more species to live on Earth, and eventually, humans came into creation. In African Mythology, the Yoruba people very well received the notion of an omnipotent sky god looking over all things that live on Earth. As Olorun is known for breathing life into humans and the creation of Earth, one connects to Olorun by doing good for others and the world and striving toward self-improvement. This simply refers to the fact that everything, and we do mean everything, possesses some sort of spiritual essence within it. Especially if youve had dreams or felt their presence, follow your intuition/insight, and what resonates with your spirit. Apr 17, 2019 - Explore King Jefferson's board "African Gods and Goddesses" on Pinterest. Igbo is one of the oldest African religions around, with Ala being one of their oldest and most popular goddesses. As a result, he stands as one of the crucial Orishas in the pantheon. Eshu, otherwise known as Elegba, is the Trickster of the Orisha Pantheon. Having received the secret of iron, Ogun shared the secret with the other gods and humans. Does one have to be initialed into the Yoruba religion in order to call on the Orisas or 7 African Powers? It is said that Bumba vomited the universe during its inception, creating the sun then drying up the water on Earth creating the land. Most of the time they are depicted as both a male and a female orisha, and their followers are always thanking them for providing them with fair wages and plenty of work opportunities to keep their families fed and happy. in my opinion think its a great idea to learn a lot about orishas and the practice before taking further steps . I would prefer to learn it also orally so I actually know the original sound and tonation of their name. Oshun is also associated with fertility, so women who want children and are infertile will call upon Oshun for assistance. Accessed March 2, 2023. YES MA AM !! He is the one that protects the Yoruba people from dangers and more specifically, the one that helps bless their weapons before they set out for war. The baby doll starting moving and crawling towards me, which startled me but at the same fascinated me so much that this was even happening. New. and looking to strengthen my practice. Oba fell to Earth down below and morphed into the Oba river. He is also commonly seen having two dogs to help sniff out infections. Consequently, because of his knowledge, Orunmila is said to know the ways of the world and the fate of humankind. The Orishas are worshipped in modern-day to provide worshippers with enlightenment, spiritual strength, and empowerment to humans to overcome daily struggles. Yesterday I learned Oya likes chocolate. The puertricans call her Yemaya, because they say its a translation of Spanish. It is here where he found the need to create the Orishas. Shango, the Bringer of She is often times referred to as the Goddess of wind, thunderbolt and fire, and she is by far the most feared goddess in the pantheon. The lush continent of Africa is in fact home to numerous animals and insects found only on the continent, as well as beautifully diverse groups of people, each retaining their breathtaking cultures of yore. One of the female Seven African Powers, Yemaya is a water Orisha presiding over the oceans. I recently lost that job as this was only a month ago. Some believe Oshun and Yemaya are sisters and venerate them together. Distraught, Oba became the Oba River which intersects with the Osun River, named for another wife of Shango. Oshun is a goddess of love and beauty. Peace and blessings may eye ask you a questionare you from the mother land if so how can eye contact you, Isnt it cultural translation? The oral traditions told by the griots often included powerful deities and gods, spirits, ancestors, and rulers and heroes. African mythology and legends are an important aspect of some cultural groups and religious practices in the different regions of Africa. A white candle works for just about any invocation and for any deity. Their brother, Oduduwa, created the world instead. It is believed that at one point in time, Olodumare was close to Earth. Do it in water or in a mirror for those are portals to the other side. Mischief is something that doesnt go unnoticed in African mythology in general. As a direct result, Yoruba people can sometimes be identified as their departed imprints through visions and likenesses in appearances. This healing power is said to be catered more toward people closer to death. And who from the 7 powers do I call out too? Greetings! She may have also been the patron of County Cork. Aj Shaluga is responsible for providing fair wages to their people for work activities and money to cover the needs of Yoruba families. African gods is a series on the mythology of African gods and goddesses. Nyame is one of the most important figures in Akan mythology, considered to be the supreme sky god. The Seven African Powers, also known as the Orishas, are spirits from the Supreme Creator in African religion. Olokun is often portrayed as being fierce, angry, and jealous. Area of Influence: That theyve always been saints. How and where do I dispose of it? Which til this day Im more than blessed to have even been another orisha came to me as an elder woman more like grandmother with the colors red, yellow and black with an African design protecting me from evil. Also known as mother of nine history mentions this name was derived due to giving birth to all 9 children as stillborn, with her being barren all her lifetime. Hello. Yoruba. Dialogue Institute, Dialogue Institute, 16 Sept. 2020, https://dialogueinstitute.org/afrocaribbean-and-african-religion-information/2020/9/16/yoruba . These deities and orishas are some of the most powerful and well-respected Dont be scared sound very direct try to have an old item of your siblings and white candles. Because of their genderless identity, Obatala is a god for all and values fairness, forgiveness, and compassion. Yemaya has been portrayed as the wife of Obatala and the mother of other powerful orishas like Shango and Oya. Destiny is an important notion to believe in because it continually shapes the lifestyle of the individual who lives in its belief. Id like a friend that wouldnt mind my questions, or be judgemental. I thought her name was spelled differently depending on the particular sect. One night, after bringing down the sun, the old man turned to his children and said I am so very tired, and now it is time for me to leave. Anansi: The African Spider God of Mischief. Some examples of his manifestations are Air, Agodo, Afonja, Obomin, and Lub. He is also the god of masculinity and strength, with many people comparing him to the Greek God Zeus or the Norse God Thor. Ogo, as known to the Dogon people of Mali, is the ''Chaos God''. Mythology #3: Nyame is the supreme sky god in Akan mythology. Can you guide me as to how to proceed. 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