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OSI.JN OF OSOGBO AND OSI-JN IN THE NEV/ WORLD: THE MYTHOLOGICAL RELIGIOUS STUDY OF A YORUBA GODDESS

Submitted by

Adewale Alani Kuyebi Bachelor of Theology, CINDICO Erinmo, Nigeri4 July 1990 Master of Divinity, Acadia University, Wolfrille NS Canada" May 1994 Master of Religious Education, Wolfoille NS Canada, May 1994 Master of Theology, Westem Theological Seminary, Holland MI USA, May 1995 Master of Theology, Trinity University, Deerfield, IL USA, May 1998

A Thesis submitted to The Faculty of Graduate Studies In Partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Department of Religion University of Manitoba, Winnipeg Manitoba Canada

@ Adewale Alani Kuyebi, May 2008

THE UNTVERSITY OF MANITOBA

FACULTY OF GRÁ,DUATE STIJDIES **tr2t*

Osun of Osogbo and Osun in the New World: The Mythological Religious Study of a Yoruba Goddess BY

Adewale Alani Kuyebi

A ThesislPracticum submitted to the Facutty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree

of Doctor of Philosophy Adewale Alani Kuyeb¡

@ 2008

Permission has been granted to the University of Manitoba Libraries to lend a copy of this thesis/practicum, to Library and Archives Canada (LAC) to lend a copy of this thesis/practicum, and to LAC's agent (UMIlProQuest) to microfilm, sell copies and to pubtish an abstract of this thesis/practicum.

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Contents

Abstract

...............v

Aclcnowledgements

.....vii

Dedication

CHAPTER

... ......v111

A. African Traditional Religion in the Old

'World

B. Methods Applied in Studying African Traditional Religion in the New C. Structural Theories of 1. Ferdinard de Saussure 2. Claude Levi Strauss (1908-2007) . . 3. Carl G. Jung .MirceaEliade 5. Rudolf Bultmann

World

D. Myth and Religious

Myth (1857-1913).... . (1875-1961)...... (1907-1986)...... (1884-1976)..... Studies

E. Nature of Myth in Religious

........I

...........4 .........8 .........13 ...........14 ..........17 ........20 ...........21

.........24

Studies

...........28

F. Functions of Myth in Religious Studies

G. The Challenges Involved in Studying Yoruba

Myths

H. Previous Methodologies Applied in Studying Osun in

Yorubaland

.....35

......42

CHAPTER 2 HER STORIES: OSUN AND OSOGBO IN YORUBALAND A. Osun, the Daughter of Olodumare . 7. Olodumare"God" in Yoruba Belief 2. Meanings and Spellings of Osun..... i, Osun, the Ruler of Osogbo. ii. The Leadership of Osun iii. Osun, the Goddess of Fertility iv. Osun's Womanhood....... v. Osun the Diviner vi. Osun as a Mother. . . . . . B. Osogbo: Osun's Original

Setting

..............45

..........45 ..........47 ......48 ........50 .................52 ,....54 .... . .. ...55 .... .. .. ..59

.......6I

1. Yoruba Meet

Osun

.........62 .......65 .........65 ...........66

i. The First Myth ii. The Second Myth iii. The Third Myth

2, Myths in the Yoruba

Belief

......68

3. Historical Explanations of the Origin of i. Series of Inter-Tribal

Wars

Osun

ii. The Colonial Influences iii. The Growth and Development of

CHAPTER 3 THE OSUN ANNUAL

......70 ..............71

.......74

Osogbo

.........75

FESTIVAL

.. . ,. , ,,,82

A. Atupø Olojumeridinlogun "the Sixteen-Face Lamps"

B. The Day of the Festival 1 . Activities at the Grove 2. The Annual Sacrifice 3. The King's A¡nual Address 4. Follow-up Activities C. Major Participants in the Annual

Ataoja 2.IyaOsun.

..........88 ..90 ......90

. . . . ....

......92 .......93

Festival

.......94 .........94

.............95 ................97

3. Aworo Osun . 4. Balogun Osun

..........98

Festival

D. Other Important Places and Things Associated with Osun ...104 1. The Osun Grove ....105 2. Images and Sculptures in the Osun .. . . . . ...109 3. The Shrines of Other Yoruba Gods in the ..........11i 4. Other Yoruba Religious Beliefs that Feature in the Osun Festival .....113 i. Oriki, Poems and . ..1 13 ii. Prayers, Petitions and . .........1 14 iii. Singing, Dancing, and Costumes Dressings .....116 iv. Drums and Musical Instruments .........I17

.....

Grove Grove

Poetry Vows

.....

E. Summary of the Festival

.....

1i9

Chapter Four OSUN IN THE NEw WORLD: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC ..... .......122 A. How Did the Yoruba Religion Get to the New B. The General Knowledge of Osun in the New 1. Osun as 2. Osun as a

Orisa Saint

Osun in Cuba

World?

..........125

V/orld

.....127

..........128

.........I28

... .....134

Lucumi

........130

B. African Religion in

Cuba

.........133

C. Yoruba Religion in

Cuba

....

A. The Africans

D. Osun Worship in

Cuba

......I37 ...I39

Lakes 2. Love, Beauty and Sex. 3. Osun's New Names and Personalities.. 1. Oceans, Rivers and

E. Osun in

Santeria 1. Osun's Favorites i. Image ii. Sexual Activities iii. Color iv. Number v. Food vi. Materials.... vii. Poetical Verses

. . ..140 ......142

...I43 ......145 .........146 .....I47 ..........148

........I49 .......149

..........150

........i51

Osun Worship

2. Spirit Possession and Initiation in 3. The Yoruba Language in Osun Osun in

.....136

Brazil

A. African Myths in Brazil B. The Yoruba in Brazil as Nago

.. . .. ..156

.........157

Community 1. Yoruba Descendants as Farmers , 2. YorubaCults.

.. .......158

....159

..,

C. Challenges Encountered by Yoruba V/orshippers in

......160

Brazil

D. The Yoruba Religion in Catholic Faith 1. Yoruba Churches Operating Under Catholic Faith 2. Osun in Yoruba

V/orship lll

..156

..........I57

.. ..

.....161

....163 ...164

.. . ......165

i. Authority and Power ii. The Priests (Babalawo) Osun in Trinidad

......

...........165 .......166 ... ....170

Trinidad 1. The Context 2. Music in Yoruba Religion B. Osun Worship 1. Sacred Centers and Forests 2. Osun and Divination in Trinidad 3. Similarities in Sango and Osun. 4. Sango's Taboos and Rules 5. Festivals and Ceremonies . A. Yoruba Religion in

.........170 ,......171 . .. . . .......I73 ...............174 ..........176 ....177 ..............178

...I79 ...........179

CHAPTER 5 OSTIN IN JAMAICA AND IN HAITI A. Yoruba People AND Osun in Jamaica

Haiti Religion Worship Syncreticism.... Meetings Music

B. Yoruba and Osun in 1. Voodoo and Yoruba 2. Osun i. Haiti ii. Religious iii. African Religious

Summary of Osun Worship in the New World Conclusion

BIBLIOGRAPHY

181

........183 ....

....184

...... ....185 ..........187 ..........187 .... 188

Abstract

This thesis asks the question whether and to what extent Osun in the New World is the same as the Osun of the Old World. My argument is that the selected Yoruba myths studied in this dissertation prove that Osun in the Old and the New Worlds is the same

divinity

as the Osun

of the New World. Our three areas of study are: myth as a form of

oral literature for the Yoruba religious studies, the Osun annual festival as the season of celebration of her divinity, and the worship of Osun in the New World today. Earlier researches on Osun either limited themselves

to Osun in Nigeria or solely concentrated

on the personalities of Osun in the New World.

In answering this question, I propose to study the myths of Osun. Myth is a form

of African oral literature. I will describe and explore the significances of the symbols in the myth. Myth has narrative, descriptive functions and it is meaningful in understanding a

religion. Descriptive research such as this is important in analyzing the relation between

religious lifestyle and personality traits.

Myth forms a spiritual storyline which is useful for the descriptive theorist to work with. Empirical study has to test the hypothesis of compare and contrast the new nature of a religion. Myth, for instance, contains facts or statements about society and universe which is not accessible by ordinary observational techniques by itself. There are various meanings in symbols, n¿rrnes, attributes and characters that appear in myth. Love, powers, passion, beautiful, seductive, young, mountains, running waters, jewelry, mirror,

fans, gold, little bells, parrot, peacock, quail, clams, hawk, Thursday, yellow, green, number five, cake, oranges, cinnamon, honey, melon, Venus, Moon, bedroom, kitchen and many more are coded with meanings and messages that contribute to the continuation

of Osun worship in the Old and the New World. For the purpose of conciseness in this dissertation, Osogbo and other Yorubaland towns are hereafter referred to as the Old World. Cuba, Brazil, Trinidad, Jamaica, Haiti

and other nations of Americas are henceforth referred to as the New World. These classifications are similar to the usage of the previous studies of the African and African-

American religions.

The methodology applied approach

in this study is

called the descriptive structural

to myth. Richard Mercer Dorson (1972), William Russell Bascom (1969,

1975), Saburi O. Biobaku (1973), Isidore Okpewho (1983, 1992), Graham Furness (1995) and Jan Vansina (1985, 2006) had successfully studied myths and religions. Irving

Hexham and Karla Poewe studied the effects of myths in understanding cults and new age religion (Hexham and Poewe 1986: 55, uses of myth is that

57,72). Where I depart from these scholars'

I focus on describing origin and in interpreting the structural myths of

Osun and how they helped in sustaining Osun worship in the Old V/orld and in the New

World.

intend to work with one tradition that exists

settings. For this reason

in two different geographical

I narrow my work down to the treatment of

symbols of Osun

myths in the Old and the New Worlds. I will explore the symbols in myth such as water, color, number, dance, music, ritual, places, n¿rmes, titles, items, and animals that sustain

the worship of Osun in the Old and the New Worlds.

I will argue that Osun, Oshun,

Ochun, Oxum, or Oxun, are references to the same female Yoruba divinity of Osogbo.

chose Osun Osogbo as the focus of this study for methodological reasons and

expediency. advantage

assumed that since

I was bom and raised in Yorubaland, I would have the

of familiarity with Yoruba language, accent, dialect, grarrunar, poetry

prose, story, riddle, joke, people, culture, religion and history of the people.

and

chose to

study Osun in the New World because I have spent over 15 years in the continent and I

am familiar with materials in libraries, seminaries and seminars. In addition to University

of Manitoba libraries, I

spent sometime at the Library

the

Congress in

Washington. And my absence from the Yorubaland gives me the opportunity to reflect on

the Yoruba people and

I find

something different to compare the Osun worship with in

the New World. The acquired knowledge of working with the English language and my 14 years

of studying and teaching Christian theology, Church History, Mission, Islam,

Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Confucianism, Women in Religion, God and Evil at the

University of Manitoba, Providence College, and Meruronites Seminary in Manitoba contribute to the quality of this dissertation.

Acknowledgements

All glory

and honor to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, for the outcome

this degree. From my heart I say thank you to the members of my doctoral committee and the examiners, most especially Prof. Egil Grislis. He encouraged me throughout the program. I am proud to be your student. I appreciate Prof. Dawne McCance, the Head

the Department of Religion at the University of Manitoba. Thank you for giving me the

frrst opportunity to teach at the university level. Prof. Eduard Schludermann offered useful insights during my research. At one point, he offered me one of his offices to do

my research. God bless you. Prof. Irvin Hexham from the University of Calgary, my external examiner, thanks for all your positive comments.

I say thank you to my spiritual mentors: Rev (Dr) Samuel K. Abiara, Rev (Dr) Olushola Odelami, Pastor Gbade Oyewole, and Rev (Dr) Andrew D. McRae for your guidance. Thanks to the members and ministers of the Christ Apostolic Church, Agbala-Itura worldwide. My friends in the Christian ministries that deserve special appreciations are: Pastor Z. O. Oloba, Pastor E. Fowowe, Pastor Tokunbo Okunnu, and Pastor Sunday Orogun. Thanks to my best-friend, my wife, Lady Evangelist Florence

Aderonke Kuyebi. We have delightful children. Gloria, Samuel, Deborah, Abigail, Sarah and Hannah, you are wonderful children.

I am grateful for the time

and encouragement of my editorial friends and

colleagues in the Christian ministries: Prof. V/ole Akinremi, Evangelist Peter Kuku, Mr.

Tunji Olaleye, Ms. Barbara McDonnell, Rev (Dr) Amos Adeniyi, Evang. Remi Adelugba, Dr. Bode Osobu, Dr. Julius Komolafe, Mrs Abigail Adelabu, and Elder Femi

Akinwale. As you read the paper, your comments encouraged me to finish this dissertation.

My parents deserve sincere thanks: Chief Saula Adisa Kuyebi, Deaconess Ruth Kuyebi and my in-laws, especially Pastor Gbade Oyewole, who is like a father to me. Again,

I say thank you to my wife, Evangelist Florence Aderonke Kuyebi.

vll

Dedication

This work is dedicated to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to all His children around the world, most especially Evangelist (Mrs) Aderonke Florence Kuyebi and our children: Hannah, Sarah, Abigail, Deborah, Samuel and Gloria.

vtlt

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION This dissertation is about the treatment of Osun worship in the Old and the New Worlds and to argue that the Yoruba myths contribute to the continuation of her worship

in Africa and the Americas. The hrst part of this dissertation is devoted to the treatments of religious methodologies in Yoruba studies in the New and the Old Worlds. The second part explains the myths that sustain Osun festival in Osogbo, Yorubaland. It supports the argument that Osun originated from Osogbo. The third part of this dissertation is the treatment of Osun myths in the New World as a continuation of what originated from the

Yorubaland. The presence of the Yoruba myths in the New World supports the argument

that Osun in the Americas originated from Osogbo. The study of myths and practices show that the Osun worshippers in the New World are being influenced by the Yoruba myths as Osun worship is merged into Christianity.

A. African Traditional Religion in the Old World:

We are describing the effects of myth in retaining and refreshing orisha (divinities) worship in the Old World and the New World. But before we do that we want to review selected methodologies that have been applied to the study of African religion

in the New World and the Old World in order to justifu our use of the continuation of mythological method.

Most of the States and Federal govemment owned universities in Nigeria have faculties

of African Religion. The most favoured method is called the

Comparative

Religion. By establishing such narrowly focused method, many religious students are able to research into different African religious sects. Students are paylng less attention to

religion and politics which was the focus before this time. Benjamin Ray states that "the study of Afücan religions has recently emerged from the shadow of African politics, history and sociology and has become something of a specialised field with a sizeable body of literature" (Okpewho and Mazuri: xix).

African religious study is an arm of the African Traditional Religion. African religion is, by nature, an oral religion (Cox 1992:35-37). Sacrifice, rituals, music, dance, poetry, prose and spirit-possession are common practices in their festivals (Omofolabo 1998: 1). African religion, in general, is understood to be a community-based and faith-

inclusive.

encourages people

to support each other during their different religious

group meetings and festivals. Religious symbols and objects available to us testify to the

reality of the presence of African (Wamer-Lewis 1999: 22). Afncan descendants in other parts of the world still honor, observe and worship the African divinities according to the received knowledge of their ancestors (Platvoet, Cox and Olupona 1996:23). Some scholars misinterpret African religion. Due to lack of understanding of the

religion some scholars use such terms as 'primitive' and 'barbaric' to describe

it.

This is

probably due to the practice of some inhuman acts during rituals and sacrifices (Cannon 1942: 169).In Ogun sacrifice, for example, priests practise the cutting off a dog's head and sprinkle its blood on the altar in public. Also, oro worshippers are still expected to observe a daylight curfew during the festival. Whereas, African religious festival is a

celebration

of mythological figures that have historical, religious, political or social

importance to a family or a community (Vansina 1985, 2006). Kings, chiefs, priests and priestesses are parts of the festivals.

One well-known anthropologist in Yorubaland, Geoffrey Parrinder, spent twenty-

four years writing on the characteristics of the West African religion and people, including the Yoruba's (Platvoet 1992, 1996: 113; Parrinder 1951, 1976). Parrinder focuses on documenting the characteristics

of the West African traditional religion.

Michael F. C. Bourdillon also studies what the different religious groups had in common

Africa (Bourdillon 1996: 145). He helps us to understand the West African world view through their religious practices. Scholars who write about the African traditional religions without being initiated

into them are often considered "outsiders" and their works are valued superficial. Such scholars are often thought by worshippers to be ignorant. However, non-initiated scholars

have freedom to interpret their findings. They have no fear of exposing any discrepancies

in the teachings and practices of any religious groups. However, in those days, one of the ways to get an authentic knowledge of the African religion is to become a member. Scholars who had been initiated into a particular African religion are usually thought to

have a better knowledge of the religion (Mason 2002: 3). Keeping some information

confidential contributes is required from the member. This kind of obedience by the initiated members is mandatory in most of the African religions for the following reason.

Within the religion itself, secrecy also protects ritual knowledge and the power it implies. The ethos of secrecy plays an important role in the religion of the orichas among the Yoruba, as many ritual practices are secret and only accessible to initiated priestesses and priests (Mason 2002:9).

To have access to detailed knowledge of a specific religion "one must be initiated to privy to those actions; second,

one is privy by rites of initiation, then one is equally

constrained by that responsibility'' not to divulge the secrecy to the non-members (Badejo

1996: 135). Certainly, the knowledge of secret practices may not be freely shared in

academic meetings. And the knowledge that is not shared could remain in a local circle.

Working with the confidential materials is to the advantage of non-initiated students of religion sometimes, because they were free to arrive at objective conclusion (Bourdillon 1996:141).

The initiated scholars are under obligation to abide with the rules

and

regulations of the group. When a scholar discloses unauthorized materials to the public,

he or she may not receive another opportunity to visit the shrine again and may never gain the audience of the worshippers. Even worse, fanatical devotees may, in defence

their faith, launch spiritual or physical attacks on the author who releases their secret to media without their consent. Parrinder, Wenger and those who voluntarily

join

the

African religious cults, usually describe the observable facts of religious practices with such caution without being critical in their presentation.

Other scholars who did not want to be initiated into any particular religion had to rely

on the local priests in understanding the African religion (Ray 2000: xiii). This observation is seconded by Parrinder who says that babalawo "herbalists" share the rnyths

of religions with

scholars who are willing to complie with the membership rules and regulations (Parrinder 1962:

100-10i).

B. Methods Applied in Studying African Religion in the New World: The majority of religious scholars who study the African traditional religion in the

New World become members in order to have access to authentic information for their works. Mason explains his experience as a member and scholar of one of the African religion in the New World.

I have used a generalized description for two reasons: First: as mentioned, each asiento has its variations and special preparations, which do not bear on my basic point about human social activity's creating and maintaining the social presence of the orichas. Second, Santeria elders do not want to make too much information available to the public and it would be impossible for an unauthorized person to use this generalized account to generate the ritual (Mason2002:61). By describing the preparation of rituals and sacrifices, he attempts to play it safe in order not to anger the devotees. Scholars who had been initiated into a particular religion are sensitive to the priests and devotees' feelings in the sharing of their knowledge in public. The scholars who are not interested in Afücan spirituality in the New World often choose

to study the subject of African religion and politics, education, slavery, social intergration and economic.

Eugino Matibag studies the Afro-Cuban religion by using myths (Matibag 1996:

4). Religious stories and slavery experiences are rich sources for reconstructing African beliefs. These stories contain related subjects on political, economic, social and cultural improvements (Wamer-Lewis 1999: 22). However, slavery themes take the attention of all the Afücan-American historiography of the 1970s and 1980s (Inikori 1999:49). The initial efforts of those evaluating the effects of African religion in the New

World lead to the emergency of popular religious terms such as "syncretism". Syncretism

is an academic term that scholars use loosely to describe what happen to the African religion when it comes in contact with other religions in the Americas (Evans: 379-380).

In other words, syncretism is an appropriate descriptive term for explaining how

the

African traditional religion blends with one or more other religions. Specifically, syncretism is a process whereby Afijcan religious elements are mixed with Christianity in the New World. Syncretism is a religious phenomenon of adaptation and accommodation

of the new religious groups by the mainline religious groups.

Herskovits, in his research of eclectic and multicultural Afro-American religions, sponsors the term 'syrcretism' as a religious phenomenon in the New World (Houk 1986,

1992). Since then, syncretism has become a religious term in describing the merging

two or more religions. For Matibag "a syncretic artifact is not a slmthesis, but a signifier made out of difference" (Matibag 1996:

l1). This thought and term was supported by

Melville J. Herskovits and Roger Bastide. They also emphasized the accommodative, acculturative and syncretive natures of African religions in Western countries (Glazier 1996: 420-421). In effect African religion eventually gave birth to Santeria and voodoo. Where new religions did not emerge, the West African religions had transformed the western-oriented religions, most especially Cuban Catholicism (Matibag 1996: 1).

Afücan religion, the Yoruba religion in particular, had been adopted in the New World

their home (Matibag 1996: 52-53).

Accommodation, acculturation and syncretism

of African

religions in

American religion are common practices among the Black-Americans. In essence, the effects of adaptability of religious elements in the New World cannot be overlooked. Bascom made a clear distinction between fact and fiction of myths of the Yoruba religion

in the New World (Okpewho 1980: 7-9).

Another popular method that scholars have used in understanding the history

African religion

in the New World is

called the "reinterpretation method."

Reinterpretation is a method whereby scholars read cultural traits

of oral religion

typology of the scriptural religions (Evans: 380). The official doctrines of new religions, especially Catholicism and Islam, are considered more reliable than the traditional religions of the Old World (Evans: 379-380). Ironically, the Euro-Americans are more

fascinated by the Afücan traditional religious expressions than the Black-Americans. Here is a testimony to that effect, "finally

it is interesting to note a further process of

acculturation: the adoption of many of these instruments by Americans of non-African ancestry" (Evans: 386). Religious ecstasy, dancing, drumming and conjuring of spirits are

attractingnon-African people to the African religion.

A few other scholars who

address the Afro-Cuban religious elements and

reinterpretation of it in the New V/orld are: Femando Ofü2, Romulo Lachatanere, Alejo Carpenter, Jose Antonio Ramos, Lydia Cabrera, Nicolas Guillen, Nancy Morejon, Miguel

Bamet, Guillermo Cabrera Infante, Antonio Benitez Rojo and Manuel Cofino (Matibag 1996: 4). Due to the multitudes of African languages and different levels of meanings in

their practices, some scholars found it challenging to interpret African religious elements

involved in the Americas. It is easier to see the impacts of African religion on American culture and religion, but very challenging to determine where such influences originated

from (Bascom 1969; Oruka 1983: 388). There is a need to account for the origins of Yoruba myths

in the Americas, most

especially, Osun worship

in the New World

(Bascom 1969).

Writing about the African traditional religion in the Old and the New V/orld is too broad scope to cover in a dissertation. It is manageable to focus one's attention on a particular divinity such as Osun. A prominent book on Osun in the New World is the one edited by Joseph M. Murphy and Mei-Mei Sanford, titled Osun Across the I4laters: A Yoruba Goddess in Africa and the Americas (Murphy and Sanford 2001: 1). This book is a collection

of essays on Osun and other related subjects. The intention of the authors is

clearly stated as finding the historical and cultural significance of Yoruba traditions in the

Americas (Murphy and Sanford 2001:

1).

Seventeen scholars write on different aspects

of Osun in the New World, but offer little information of Osun on the Old World. contributor uses different methodology and focuses on different aspect

Each

Osun in

isolation of the others' essays (Castellanons 2001 :34-45; Murphy 2001: 87-101).

In the book, little attention was paid to the chronological developments of myths. As the contributors touch various aspects established the importance

Osun

Osun story their essays significantly

of Osun, but each essay is disjointed from the other (Murphy and

Sanford 2001:1). References are made to the influence of Osun in different parts of Yoruba cities

such as Ikoro Ekiti and Ijumu in Kwara State, but none of the contributors examine the Osun festival in Osogbo or anywhere in the world.

C. Structural Theories of Myth: Instead of using African traditional religion or looking for the reinterpretation of

African traditional religion, we are using the descriptive strucfuralism approach to study the function of myth in orisa worship in both sides of the Atlantic. Currently, critical theories have become useful in studying religion in higher education levels, especially at the university level. It helps in grasping the obscure concepts of people's everyday experience. By applying a particular

critical theory, one leams to see other cultures and religion in meaningful ways. Critical theory is helpful in thinking logically, creatively, and to have a better insight into the practices of other

peoples' cultures. As well,

provides a better way

to raise questions on the devotees'

assumptions and values of religions without passing judgement on them.

Toyin Falola and Ann Genova argue that "creativity among the Yoruba has a long history. The traditions of oral histories, story telling, performance and dramas, all became part

their habits of civilization, and have continued to this day" (Falola and Genova 2005: Therefore, African religious scholars have used oral sources

to explain the Yoruba

1).

people's

religion and belief. They have studied African oral literature to determine how influential the Afücan people are around the world (Okpewho, Boyce Davis, and Mazrul 275; Owomoyela

l97l:

275). Bascom reminds us of the significance of Yoruba oral literature as a conceptual

framework in reconstructing the general history of the Africans in the world. He argues that it is possible to reconstruct Afücan history out of their oral narratives (Bascom 1981: 67). From one year to another, one can see the similarities in the story telling, performance and dramas of their

festivals (Olajubu 1970; Olatunji 69-86). Irving Hexham argues such stories could become myths depending on "the use to which the content is put" (Hexham i 981 : 3 1).

In the Yoruba festival, one can find historical, cultural and social elements merging together to form a religious ceremony. In daily practices, there are useful repetitive comparisons

in Yoruba riddles, etiquette, play, drama and religious festivals that hold the community together (Adedeji 1971: 135). The Yoruba comÍrunity observes such customs to reinforce the honor of their divinities (Owomoyela 1971: 123). The Yoruba religious festivals are rooted in the daily common cultural and religious mythological beliefs (Mbon 1996:175-176; Vansina 2006). There are many lessons to be leamed in Yoruba religions and culture

one is meticulous enough to

compare and contrast the contents of surviving myths (Mbon 1996: I78).

In religious studies, Hackett calls for "the descriptive phenomenology" approach to the study of Yoruba religion (Mbon 1996: 178; Hackett 1988: 43). Others have argued for a more

critical analysis and comparison of religious activities. As we compare the contents of the available myths, we

will be able to see the cross-cultural

and cross-continental value of the

Yoruba oral literature (Deidre 1995: xiv). As of today, the Yoruba religion has grown beyond its

cultural and geographical boundaries. We are of the opinion that

if we can compare the religious

elements of myths that survive in Yorubaland with those in the New World, we

conclusion that the Osun

of the New World is

will come to the

essentially the same Osun

Osogbo. A

comparison of the religious elements of myths that survive in Yorubaland with those in the New

World will reveal that the Osun of the New World is the same as the Osun of Osogbo. What is myth? In its most literal sense, myth usually means false beliefs. To say something is a myth implies it is non-existent. But this general idea of myth may be

misleading in religious studies; therefore, it is essential to consider different theories of myth. This is a selective rather than an exhaustive treatment of the various theories of rnyth. These lists demonstrate avanety of theories that could be used to establish the significance of descriptive myth in oral literature. Under critical reviews, myth has been classified into evolutionism, psychoanalysis, diffusionism, functionalism, synbolism,

formalism and structuralism (Okpewho, vii). Some theorists see myth as "the perspective

of individuøl units of ideas" which are bellow the standard of what the evolutionists, the psychoanalysts and the biologists would endorse (Okpewho: 20).

Diffusionism defines the origin of myths

as the result

of "historical contact and

geographical contiguity between people" (Okpewho: 15). People who adopted this perspective include: William Bascom, Alan Dundes, Stith Thompson, Elias Lonnrot, Richard M. Dorson, Antti Aarne, May A. Klipple, Roger Abrahams, Kenneth W. Clarke and Arewa Ojo (Okpewho: 17-18). The diffusionism perspective requires that one pay adequate attention to similarities in rnyths. As myths move from one cultural context to another,

mlhs'

details are adjusted to suit the new social and geographical contexts.

Whenever myths are studied, scholars are to study all available versions and variants of

particular myth in order to reconstruct the archetypal of the tale.

Functionalism is the second generation of oral narrative theory which sees "human culture in terms of relatedþrnxs as an aid to the understanding either of social organization, or of cultural thought, or else of creative activity: this generation is represented, respectively, by functionalists, symbolists, and formalists" (Okpewho: 20).

Bronislaw Malinowshi represents the functionalist branch of mythologists. This group of scholars taught that myths are the functional unity of the society and one of the reasons

people achieve harmonious living and social stability. Without myths, conflicts and chaos

prevail in the community. Social activity and cultural facts are preserved in the surviving myths. Myths function as a way to provide rule of succession and sustainability

community instructions, institutions, and structure. Functionalism understood myths to be the tales of society. Myths answer the questions of origin of the people. They vary from content to content; we heard that "there are many stories in Black

Africa concemed with the origins of the people

not just

creation stories and other mythical narratives of the way things were 'in the beginning,'

but stories concerned with historical progenitors and their heroic accomplishments"

(Abrahams 231). These myths explain and validate various beliefs and ritual practices among the people. They "act as 'charters' of present social institutions rather than as

faithful historical records of times past" (Okpewho: 24). Such myths therefore create and sustain a sense of "togethemess, homogeneity and cohesion" (Okpewho: 24).

Functionalism interpreted myths as symbols. This interpretation goes back to the eighteenth century theories of C. G. Heyne, Friedrich Crueuzer, and J. J. Bachofen

(Okpewho: 26-27). Freud and Jung adopted this mythological theory in their works. C.

Pierce and W. Marshall Urban further analyzed the structure of syrnbolic activity

(Okpewho: 27). Myths are an advance on the development of language; language motivated the creativity of mythrnaking. Myths reflect social reality. One's task is to understand the images of the tales that are veiled by masks. One has to explain the

slmbols in ritual, for each of them have meanings in their cultural contexts (Okpewho: 29). Water, blood, words, color and other symbols have meanings in the context

myths. The rate of the emission of blood, the red color of the fluid from the plants

conveniently links the community to a logical, intellectual appreciation of myths. Another theory of oral narrative is the formalism. Myths are thought to be in categories: animal tales, tales proper and anecdotes (okes) (Okpewho:31). Myths are abstractions of the society; one has to study the patterns.

All of

the theories of myths in religious studies mentioned above support the fact

that there are useful materials in myths. We can compare and contrast forms and themes

of rnyths, cultures and contexts of myths, peoples and places of myths in academic works. Myths have cultural synbolic meanings. They are dynamic and transportable to other contexts and able to transform people, places and cultures.

Various theories can be used to understudy the nature and function of myth in religious studies. Some of the critical theories available today are: Psychoanal¡ical Criticism, Marxist Criticsm, Feminist Criticism, Structuralist Criticism, Deconstructive Criticism, African American Criticisrn, Postcolonial Criticism and so on. The most relevant criticism for studying myth is structuralism. For a fuller understanding of myth,

it is necessary to briefly examine the theories of myth by Levi-Strauss, Ferdinand de

Saussure (1857-1913), Carl G. Jung (1875-1961), Mircea Eliade (1907-1986), and Rudolf

Bultmann (1884-1976). Some of the questions which the theories of myth raise include: Are there oppositions between myth and science? Does the study of myth include science or is it scientific? What is the origin of myth? What is the structure of myth? What is the

function of myth? The structuralists mentioned above have some answers for us.

Ferdinard de Saussure (1857-1913): Ferdinard de Saussre is a Swiss linguist whose

insights into the structural linguistics between 1913-1915 led to more interest in structuralism around the world. His intention is to discard the humanistic assumptions on the use of language. He argues that literature is made of language. To understand how

literature works, one must have some ideas about how language itself works. Saussure has had

a great influence on the development of structuralism and

semiology through his study of the developments of signs within society as a structural system of relationships among words. His interest in the universal structure of language, as applied to all languages, is a

signifying system. His influence in the debates of

structuralism and semiology gives him the idea that there is a set of units and rules that create a method of conveying meaning to writer, reader and listeners. In all languages

there are codes that are understandable only to those who have made conscious efforts to learn them; for example, sign language, traffic signs and many more. One can say the same thing in relation to the

origin, structure and meaning of myth.

Saussure speaks of the social nature of speech and writing. Whether complex or

simple, there are links between language and power. Ignorance of the existence

language is not an excuse for violating the underlying principles of a system. Saussure

distinguishes langue, the French word for language, as a unit, system and rule

language as a whole. The second unit of language strucfure is parole, which is the French

word for speech. People are familiar withthe parolebecause it appeals to our senses more than the løngue. The structuralists' effort is to analyze how a word is associated

with an idea or thing within

given community. The communities vary according to

geographical, cultural, religious or professional groups. The creation of myth is based on the use of the structure of language. Language originates from human thought. Myth, therefore, is a product of various phenomena and sometimes the basic characteristics of the human mind that is expressed in language.

Every individual and culture has a tendency to create m).th. A greater number of rnyths often leads to an increase in writing and documentation of thern. Langue may be studied for its formal propefiies, but it cannot be understood apart

from its particular uses. Lang¿r¿ expresses the contents of myth. It would take a scientific linguist to establish the significance of myth. To make myth relevant, the linguist would have to focus on the langue, for langue is the system or structure of a language, that is, its

words, syntax, parts of speech, poetical devices, meanings and grammar. Myth helps us

to comprehend magic, imagination, dreams, inruition and the unconscious. It helps us to establish a meaningful context for human existence and action. Langtage and literature are

rich in myth. As Ferdinand de Saussure laid the ground work of structuralism, Claude

Levi-Strauss and other lingusist anthropologists started building on it.

2. Levi-Strauss (b. 1908): Levi-Strauss is a famous French anthropologist who applies the structuralist approach to his study of myth. He finds the same structural relationship

between ritual and myth. Myth is delusion of history as he perceives it frorn the

psychological point of view. Levi-Strauss emphasizes the rational orientation of preindustrial peoples to conclude that myth is

It is a result of their efforts to make

product the primitive's intellectual exercise.

sense out of disorderly universe.

It is a signifying

system in any culture that contains signs which can be read and interpreted for a

significant reason. It is a way the signifiers are connected to the signs of myth. Myth is anonymous. It is practically impossible to know the origin of any one of them (LeviStrauss 1975:18). Levi-Strauss does not concern himself with the cultural context

myth. Every myth can be explained independent of its cultural and social context. Myth may not have historical validity but it has a consistent pattem which is called structure. Levi-Strauss argues that myth has certain mythic motifs and structures which are transcultural. The structure of myth is a system of composition that shows a consistent organizing principle in all of them. Levi-Strauss applies the structuralist approach to

myth as material for academic research. In order to properly explain a myth, the contents of other myths must be considered. He finds inter-relations among myths. There are subthemes in myths. It is therefore the task of a structuralist first to find these smallest

components of resemblance in myths, which could be in a form of language, subject,

location, action or an event, and then focus on that particular theme and build a thesis on

it. For Levi-Strauss, myth constitutes

particular code, a sign system and possibly art that

require explanations. Its reality lies under the surface whether we are consciously aware

of it or not.

Myth is repetitive and that is why it is not boring to the hearer or the narrator. It has the tendency to give a similar message over and over again without losing its

structure. A myth may appear in different versions with the possibility of omitting or adding particular information. Myth can only be explained when various versions of the story are put together and their coded messages decoded. Usually, there are dozens

versions of all the major myths of religions. There is no true version of a myth. The earlier one is not better or more true than the more recent, or vice-versa. There is no significance attached to its chronological or historical time frame. Structurally, time is reversible. It does not make any difference with which version one begins in research. Levi-Staruss favors the structuralist interpretation of myth because one has to determine the value of its signs. Myth is a source of power if one could differentiate how one sign is different from all other signs in the system. Myth is used to justifu individual

interests in situations of conflict and uncertainty. Myth is a pseudo-science of the

primitive mind; therefore, myth can not be considered as a science proper. The main purpose of myth is to satisfy the intellectual quest of people; the function of myth is not

to solve practical problems. Myth provides material for human-beings to reflect upon, to analyse and to classify events in life. Exercising of mind is a universal need that is in pre-

scientific and scientific people.

Myth is translatable into any language and culture. Myth remains meaningful even after the many translations. The significance of myth is in its message, not in

context, language, time or sequence. Myth offers us a chance to discover timeless universal human truths by using a methodology that is objective. Myth discloses what all humans share by virtue of being human. But the truth to be discovered is under the level

of structure.

Myth helps us to reconcile the contradictions or oppositions in

cultural or social

context. To understand the logic of rnyth one has to do a scientific analysis of each unit

myth, after which, one's interpretation would have the same kind of authenticity that scientific analysis has. Such analysis may also stimulate further mechanical researches on the subject. Myth is what sustains kinship system. It govems the economic, educational,

religious and social relations in primitive societies. It gives people within the kinship the authority similar to the scientific authority. Levi-Strauss argues for the function of myth not only in religion but also in music

(in Okpewho: ix). Music also sustains the memory of mflh. Myth can be used to impress in people the moral truth that wickedness and cruelty will be punished, and righteousness

will

be rewarded (Okpewho: 5). Myth is traditional knowledge that is conveyed in the

seriousness of its story. Myth is the idea of the personification of fictive concepts. As

will

become clear, Levi-Strauss's theories have had a great influence on Rudolf Bultmann's theory of myth.

3. Carl G. Jung (1875-1961): Carl Jung has a similar view of myth as Freud. His

definition of myth is influenced by his previous works on dreams and the subconscious. He identifies dream patterns in myth. Dreaming is common among people of different generations and geographical locations. He speaks of the mythology of the psyche. Psyche is the shadow animal and animus, which is another word for soul. Jung emphasizes the collective unconscious of the primitive people. Jung views the contents

the unconscious positively, even religiously. His theory is psychological because he deals

with psyche. His intention is to elevate the study of mythology to a scientific level in discussion and analysis; therefore, he provides the psychological analysis of myth. The origin of myth starts with natural instinct. Indispensable intermediate states

mind generate mythological idea and narrative. Mythology comes out of the common human images of collective unconscious. This collective unconscious is a psychological basis from which all human life derives meaning. Myth resides in the human psyche, the

world of the archetypes. Jung defines myth as story about heroes interacting with the gods. Myth is the

origins and history of consciousness. Myth is the narrative of archetypal images. The actual meaning of myth is contained in the depths of the self which are depicted in narrative. Myth represents the unconscious archetypal, instinctual, structures of the mind. Human instincts are the same universally; therefore, the collective unconscious is the same for all human beings of all cultures. Jung states that myth-forming structural elements are present in the unconscious

psyche (Jung 2001: 85). Myth is the colourful and poetical use of language in a narrative.

Myth and symbols have much in common. The structure of myth stafts in the human mind as one engages in mythmaking. Myth occupies a tiny island of consciousness in the midst of the vast space of human unconsciouness. Human thought and belief originate from the unconscious aspect of human being. Jung emphasizes the significance of image over the word. The language of the unconsciousness does not do justice to unconsciouness.

Archetypes represent different aspects of the human instinctual structure. The concept of archetypes has an historical link to the term 'an imago', for it also finds its

expression in s¡.rnbols. The archetypes are inferred from the manifestation of typical symbols found in myth and other fonns of literature. Archetypes appear in myths and

fairytales (Jung 2001: 86). An archetypal image can be perceived in dreams, visions and fantasies. The image of the archetypal can also be represented in terms of the cultural codes. It is a depiction of symbols.

A single archetype is specific to each situation, but

single archetype can have an indefinite number of expressions. Archetypes, the motifs

myth, also find representation in visual presentation, such as drama, music and verbal expression. There can be more than one motif in a myth, but if there is, all motifs usually

link in a sequence to form the myth. Jung identifies archetypes of the collective unconsciousness. The unconscious

contains the forgotten experiences of the individual from birth forward. In other words, to tap into the unconciousness, one has to think back through one's entire self-history.

Archetypes express themselves through images as a mirror reflects images. The images are suggestive representations of the exact images. Jung almost equates archetypes and instincts. Human beings are creatures

instinct. Instinct forms the major part of humans' mental ability. Within a community, the unconsciouness content of an individual, or a collection of people, is passed on to the next generation through a sharing of information, interaction or even by birth. The forgotten past is preserved in the form of archetypes. Jung's discussions on the function of myth take into consideration the role

myth for individual and society as a whole. Myth serves as a rule of tribal history handed down from one generation to another (Jung 2001: 86). MVth is used to convey some

emotional message and sharing of experience with one's associates. Every myth contains the power of revealing some unforeseen or neglected aspect of the human psyche.

4. Mircea Eliade (1907-1986): Mircea Eliade's work on the history of religions, which was first published in English in 1954, established his reputation around the world. He makes a compelling argument for the varieties of religious expressions and activities in

world religions. His book, the Myth of the Eternal Return or, Cosmos and History, "examines the fundamental concepts of archaic societies - the societies which, although they are conscious of a certain form of "history," make every effort to disregard

it"

(Eliade 1971: ix). He thinks the archaic societies revolt against concrete historical accounts.

Eliade's view of the nature of myth in religious studies is basically antihistorical. In interpreting myth, the structures, meanings and significance of each myth must all be examined. To interpret myth and religion, one must do justice to the complex structure

both subjects. Myth is a collective participation of a community in recognizing common

symbols. It is a special collective thinking process of

community. It usually tells us the

actions of the supematurals. The purpose of one's desire to know the details of a myth is to be able to control it. The collective memory of each community is ahistorical because there is a tendency to transform specific historical individuals and events into a myth. The people

of modern societies do not value myth as such. But in archaic societies, specific historical figures and events easily acquired

mlhic

status. Eliade says

"for the man of the archaic

societies, the Cosmos too has a "history"" (Eliade 1971: xiv). The history is sacred and

can only be transmitted through myths.

Myth expresses the total belief system of a society. It provides a stereotypic form and information of the people. Because the meaning and function of myth may vary from one person to another, it requires considerable effort to discover myth's significance for

the community as a whole. Part of the problem of working with myth is that the linear concept of time cannot or does not exist in myth. For Eliade, myth's nature, meaning and

significance are minimal in religious studies.

Myth repeats the belief system of societies. It preserves and transmits "the paradigms, the exemplary models" of the archaic societies from one generation to another

(Eliade 1971: xiv). According to Eliade, myth is away of dealing with the problems and solutions of archaic societies, particularly the Oriental people, (Eliade 1971: x).

Rudolf Bultmann (1884-1976): Rudolf Bultmann is a biblical scholar who first got

rne thinking about the mythological figures in the Yoruba religion. Personally,

Bultmann's works on the mythological Jesus motivated me to consider applying myth in a treatment

of the significance of Yoruba gods in religious studies. Bultmann has a

romantic view of rnyth. He defines myth in the way the science of history and of religion,

by saying that myth is "the report of an occurrence or an event in which supernatural, superhuman forces or persons are at work (which explains why it is often defined simply as

history of gods) (Bultmann 1984: 95). He sees different underlying structures of the

universe, when he writes "The world picture of the New Testament is a mythical world

picture. The world is a three-story structure, with earth in the middle, heaven above it,

and hell below

it" (Bultmann 1984:

1). He defines the role of myth as "not to give an

objective world picture; what is expressed in it, rather, is how we human beings understand ourselves in our world" (Bultmann 1984: 9). Myth talks about transcendent powers of demons, gods and inanimate objects. It talks about transcendent reality and

power operating in a spatially distant time. Myth, therefore, should be interpreted in anthropological terms and not in cosmological terms because it makes gods into human beings, and makes human beings gods. For us to understand this phenomena one must make effort to demythologize myth. If one looks at myth, what it displays is the faith that

is familiar to us. This is his mythical world picture and where salvation of the New Testament must be proclaimed. Bultmann adopts an existential view from Levi-Strauss' and Marin Heidegger's analysis of human existence (Bultmann 1984:22-23).

In summary, myth is a pre-scientific understanding of the universe. The purpose of myth is not to present an objective picture of reality. Eliade says "for archaic man, reality is a function of the initiation of a celestial archetype" (Eliade: 5). The sense of reality is affirmed in one's life through participation in initiations. It is a way that man understands himself as a part of the universe. It is an expression of who he is in relation

to other things around him. Therefore, "reality manifests itself as force, effectiveness, and duration" of initiations (Eliade: 1l). Myth is created around intitations as expressions of man's awareness that he is not lord of his own being. As human acts acquire effectiveness, they are repeated again and again as exemplary models for the community

to follow. For every act has a definite meaning to a structuralist (Eliade: 28). What do these structuralists theories share in common and how is each different from another? Although the similarities and differences are not the focus of this

dissertation, the following summary of the various structuralist theories is useful.

Bultmann demythologizes only to remytholog¡ze. The theories of Levi-Strauss and Carl Jung are ahistorical. Jung sees myth as simply a collection of public dreams and an

artistic reflection of what goes on in an individual's mind. Jung's approach to myth is reductionistic and deterministic. Whatever theories one adopts, the study of myth is a serious and important pursuit. Myths have much to tell us about etemal human concems as

will become evident in our study of Osun's myths. Structuralism is a human science which seeks to explain, in a systematic and

logical way, the structure behind human experience and behavior. The common uses of the word structure do not necessarily irnply structural activities like erecting a building. Stucturalists attempt to discover the underlying principles in rnyth. The goal is to find the structural system of classification myths into different groups either topical or geographical. For a structuralist, the world as we experience it consists of two fundamental levels, the visible and the invisible structures. What we see, hear, touch, smell and taste on the visible level is superficial. The invisible world consists of that underlying fundamental meaning whether we are aware of it or not. By understanding the underlying

principle, one would be able to appreciate the visible phenomena. Structuralists believe that structures are the products of mind, and therefore it will take human mind to understand the two levels of structure in order to make sense of the chaotic world. Human thought has a structuring mechanism that generates ideas about things and people. The structures we are trying to understand are actually innate structures of human consciousness. There are so many of these structures that we need to

develop a mature conceptual system in order to organize and understand their underlying meanings and significance in each community.

A descriptive structuralist approach will be used in this dissertation to interpret the Yoruba world from the objective perspective of the subject of Osun as our experience and perception have become reliable methods of knowing the importane of her myth in

Yoruba worship. The empirical approach is the way human beings project themselves into what they experience, thereby creating knowledge out of their own preconceptions. This is a method by which a researcher interprets the world view of the people he or she is studying without imposing one personal social reality on the people one is understudying. It is expected to be done from the objective perspective. The question raised against experiential claims of empirical research is, can their works stands under

rational scrutiny? It is essential that every assumption be avoided, and one should never impose one concept of social reality on the topic. Theory of myth encourages us to think about the structure and function of myth. The method we are using here is the descriptive method, involving a process, principles and procedures by which we approach the subject, Osun and material- myth in

understanding the Yoruba people. This examination of myth will reveal the ways people describe themselves and their practices of religious beliefs.

D. Myth and Religious Studies:

Myth theorists such as Levi-Strauss, Ferdinand de Saussure, Carl G. Jung, Mircea Eliade, and Rudolf Bultmann were not specialists in African religion or comparative

religions, nevertheless, their reflections on the theories of myth are helpful. Irving

Hexham gives a useful definition of myth that is similar to the one we are going to apply

in this study. He defines myth

"a type of narative which seeks to express in

imaginative form a belief about man, the world, and/or GOD or gods which cannot adequately be expressed in simple PROPOSITIONS" (Hexham 1993: 153). The use

gender in Hexham's definition is all-inclusive, for myth could be a narrative about

everybody and everything in any part of the world.

Another definition of myth is given by Eric Csapo, who says: Myths are the embodiment of dogma; they are usually often associated with theology and ritual. Their main characters are not usually human beings, but they often have human attributes; they are animals, deities, or culture heroes, whose actions are set in an earlier world such as the sky or underworld (Csapo 2005: 4). This definition tells us about the contents of myths: dogma, theology and ritual. It even informs us about the attributes of the actors involved in a myth. However, it is not clear to us whether myth leads to formation of religious dogma, or that the dogmas created myths in order to keep the community doctrine alive. The myths that are the subject of this dissertation, as we shall see, have various characters which include deities, human beings, heroes, heroines, animals and nature. The

contents and variants of a myth vary from one community to another, and one version may be longer than others, but they all make similar statements about the society and its

worldview. There are similar recurring motifs in myths seen in the various versions of the story of the creation of the world and of the origin of mankind, in the many stories

explaining the meaning of death, the moon, the rainbow, lightning and thunder, and in the many stories of animals. Myths are full of humor, wit, cruelty, and anguish; their

repetitive elements make them entertaining while explaining fundamental concems, beliefs and desires.

Myths provide useful information upon which communities have built their

worldview. Ben-Amos says "actually, the idea that tales and songs, proverbs and riddles

follow communicable structural principles is a theoretical statement about the nature of activity and performance" when it comes to arts and entertainments (Ben-Amos: 18). Myth has linguistic lines that make it form a story for the community. It usually supports the existing rites and rituals of the community.

Myth is often confused with tale, legend, folklore or mere story, "this implies no JUDGEMENT on the TRUTH of the story" (Hexham 1993: 153). The truth of the matter is that a true and historical story can become a myth. Eric Csapo makes a clear distinction between myths and legends, "legends are often secular rather than sacred, and their

principal characters are human. They tell of migrations, wars, and victories, deeds of the past heroes, chiefs, and kings, and the succession in ruling dlmasties" (Csapo 2005: 4).

Thus, Csapo distinguishes legend from myth, for myth is concerned with the sacred as

well

as the secular, and even through

its stories of humans and animals, not only of gods,

reveals something of the divine significance indwelling in the real world. Both myth and legend fall under the same classification as the oral narrative. Legend is often staged as story for entertainment. Legend could become a myth as the

community verifies the authenticity and credibility of its contents. Tale, legend, folklore and story have differences in nature, quality, length, actor, and genre.

Another term that is often confused with myth is illusion. The word 'myth' and

'illusion' are synonymous for some, but the term 'myth' is more strongly connected to the historical event that inspired the story than to an

illusion. Myth also has ritual

elements, strucfural and functional purposes that illusion does not have in the community

(Okpewho: vii). Myth unites people, community and religion as one, although all those involved may not agree completely with the majority's interpretations. However, we can talk of the Yoruba community myths as a unified force behind their culture and religion.

Myth is a sacred tale that commands people's awe as the narrators relate it to their audience (Okpewho: ix). Myth is a creative and logical way for sustaining the cultural

values of every generation (Okpewho ix). The text and context of myth appeal to human empathy and function as more than entertainment or ritual. Myth is meaningful as a

religious term (Gilkey 1970: 101-137). Many myths effect changes in the lives, cultures and religious beliefs of people around the world.

Monica Wilson (1908-82), a leading African historian and anthropologist, who taught at Rhodes University and the University of Cape Town, noticed the different usage

of the term myth. She states: "the anthropologist uses the term to mean an account of past events told

fact, but which can be shown to be partly fictitious, or at least

a grave

distortion of historical fact" (Monica Wilson, 1). She worked with the definition in her works Good Company (1951), Rituals of Kínship 1957), Communual Ritual (1959), and For Men and Elders (1977).

Irving Hexham (1943-), a professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Calgary, pointed out that "myth has been held to be a truer or deeper version of REALITY than SECULAR HISTORY, realistic description or scientifîc explanations" by some scholars (Hexham 1993: 153). Others believe that myth is a cornbination of fiction and distorted historical events. Whichever the case, the

community is often left with the responsibility of keeping the myth intact as oral narratives for the future generation. For the community?, "m¡/ths pulport to explain

existing relations in terms of history. They also provide a moral basis for a social system. They imply, if they do not state specifically, that a given system is right and just"

(Monica Wilson 1). Myth serves vital purposes in different communities and cultures.

Myth influences the decisions of governments and kingdoms. Myth serves an important role in sustaining religious beliefs, social interpersonal relationships and in keeping cultural institutions alive. To support this claim Monica Wilson states that "in all societies stories are told which justify the existing political system" (Monica Wilson 1). On the pragmatic level, it seems that myth works like advertisement slogan in the minds

of the people. This kind of myth is what is called the "settlers myth" (Monica Wilson 3). This assumption supports traditional beliefs of the local community.

E. Nature of Myth in Religious Studies: The nature of myth varies from one society to another. Myth is neither the first

nor the last word in the history of a community, for they appear almost unwanted and unexpected in the community. Some myths are common across the borders and other

myths are not popular among people. Some myths are simple stories and others are full of mysteries and scary characters. The images and roles of different characters in myths contribute to their sustainability. Some myths are for mere poetical lines and others for

political gains in the community. Most are told for entertainment and utilized

as teaching

aids for the community. All myths have another thing in common, they appeal to people's imaginations. Human beings have curious minds that are always searching for meaning behind myth. Curiosity and imagination contribute to the life of myths.

All myths

also have cognitive features in common, such as generic names and

genres. When they come in either written or spoken form they are called oral narratives. Another common feature of myths is that they all allow room for individual commentaries, thought context, and varied content and audience. For this reason, similar

or even identical myths have had very different effects. Myths have expressive features in common. Each has an opening and closing formula, style, content and structure. These expressive features make it easier to classify myth as a fiction or fact in the life of the community. As we study the significance of names in myths, one could trace the origin of such myth based on its geffes. Myth has

social features and some myths overlap eah other in contents and expressions. Myth can be for mere entertainment, for persuasion or to generate a debate. Myth is rooted

cultural thought, language, and experience. It is important for students of religion to understand the original language of the people they are studying in other not to

misinterpret its contents. Different forms of myths reflect distinctions of cultural conception, social structure and religion of the people.

Although "critics of myth argue that it tends to open the door to

IRRATIONALISM" bUt some communities still find solace in myth (Hexham 1993: 153). Myth serves different functions to different people depending on the contents of the

myth and the context of the people. Some myths are basically for religious purposes from which people actually learn more about their religious past. Other myths are mainly tales in which the protagonists happen to bear the names of the gods and ancestors. Such myths have historical, rather than religious function (Beier: xvi). There are other rnyths

which "were invented by the spiritual leaders to provide

precedent, with the help

which the priest can advise his client on the right course of action to take" (Beier: xiv). According to psychoanalytical works, dreams and experiences formed the major contents of myths (Okpewho, 8-9). For the psychoanalysts, myths are primordial symbols or archetypes (otherwise called mythologenzs) for the primitive mind (Okpewho 11-12).

According to Freud and Jung, the primitive mind precedes the civilized thinking era. They insist that the primitive mind did not invent rnyth, but that they experienced it firsthand at a particular time and place (Okpewho 12). Hence, the sophistication of myth determines the basis of cultural thought and level of intelligence of people in a

community. One needs to pay attention to the evidence of developmental stages of cultural myth.

It has been observed that "myths are highly selective. Certain historical events are picked out and exaggerated, perhaps sometimes even invented. And the selection of course, is not haphazard, for the myths always, in some measure, reflect the existing

social structure; but they are also potent forces for stability or change; they help to

maintain an existing social sttucture or create a ne'\¡/ one" (Monica Wilson, 6). There are creative elements in myth which is considered in the process of selection (Okpewho ix). One of the criteria in preservation of myth is that

it must have

verbal and literary

expressive quality. Myth come in different styles and versions, and a myth can be heard repeatedly in a variety of forms and settings. All have in common the merit of literature that can be enjoyed by the audience.

Working with myths is not that a simple task. Myths come in pieces. Bringing the myths together in narratives requires creativity. Ben Amos rightly noted that "actually, the idea

that tales and songs, proverbs and riddles follow communicable structural principles is

theoretical statement about the nature of creativity and performance" (Ben-Amos 18). Richard Mercer Dorson (1972), William Russell Bascom (1969,1975), Saburi O. Biobaku (1973),lsidore Okpewho (1983, 1992), Graham Furness (1995) and Jan Vansina (2006) had successfully used mythological method in their works.

F. Functions of Myths in Religious Studies: The functions of myths are numerous as we shall see in this dissertation. Myths

explain how some people and animal are from above and others are from below. Myths portray the divinities as human beings and as if these beings have historial characters. Myths attempt to explain existence of animal, place or thing. Myths help in bringing a community together. Myths express in ritual and give a community a common view of world. Myths provide, sustain and protect the moral values of a community. They provide paths that make people conscious of the world. Myths have elements of rumor that

function as motivators for improving human conduct. Myths bridge the intergenerational gaps that exist between old and new generations in a community. Myths can be so

amusing in illustrating the beliefs and worldview of people. Myths have the potential

transforming individual or community by leading them into phenomena spiritual experience.

As it has been said that each "myth provides the means by which man can move towards" wholeness and develop a communion with divinities (Father F. T. Sillent, 9). Myths encourage people to develop positive and creative relationships with fellow men and their divinities. Myths have implications for history and poetry, function and art,

structure and sensibility because myths influence them all (Okpewho: vii). Myths have connections to the works of arts (Okpewho: ix). They preserve the stories behind the arts. Freud taught that folktales are derived from the interaction between daydreams and ardent desires nurlured in the mind of people in the community (Okpewho, 10). Eric Csapo indicates that "folktales may be set in any time and any place, and in this sense

they are almost timeless and placeless" (Csapo 2005:4). Unlike folktales, the contents

myths are located in time and space of 'long time ago' or 'once upon a time'. We need to

point out that the two phrases above are commonly used in retelling the Yoruba myths. In this work, I want to argue that myths should be taken seriously and they should be appreciated in understanding the Yoruba people, religion and culture that are located

in different parts of the world. In this case, myths are important in understanding the Yoruba worship of Osun in the Old and the New Worlds. Myths therefore connect the Yoruba people of Nigeria with their descendants in the New World.

The best way to study a Yoruba religion is to have language, cultural and historical knowledge

of the people. We would

recommend that any individual who

wanted to study the Yoruba people and their religion should spend years around them so

grasp the people's thinking pattern.

addition one should seek to get all

documented materials on the people and their religion.

Jan G. Platvoet acknowledged the difficulty

accessing information on the

Yoruba oral literature when he said, "though much of their histories fare] and will forever remain unknown, and the little we know is often obtained by very fallible means, yet we have sufficient data to establish with some confidence a number of categories of Yoruba

religions as historical" (Paltvoet 1996: 47). One has to squeeze out information from people who are familiar with the religion.

The Yoruba religious materials that are available need to be substantiated by

number of other useful source materials. Oral literature, where available, are retained and relayed

in parts. Fascinating knowledge is hidden in them,

they are carefully put together to form

storyline (Bascom l98l:66-67). Bascom writes, "verbal art is composed and transmitted verbally,

while literature is composed in writing and transmitted in writing;" and what scholars need to do is to fix the puzzles to get accurate knowledge of the religion (Bascom 1981: 7l). Certainly, it is hard for those who are not familiar with oral literature to quickly understand the details of such fragmented materials.

Religious studies often rely heavily on past events practices

to explain current

in any given oral society. Without dates and eyewitness

religious

documentation,

it is a

challenging task to link the historical past with present developments in oral religious settings (Bascom 1981:79). Doing research without written documents is becoming even more difficult nowadays when the "loss of memory does occur" and as migration and immigration are common phenomena in Yoruba cities (Bascom 1967:51). People's interest in myths, folklore and legends

is being traded for technological advancements and innovations. A number of priests, healers and parents who knew the details of oral literature regularly recite them to their children (Awolalu

1996: 69; Olajubu 1970). Yoruba music and drama regularly feature myths and tales in their works (Matibag 1996: 77).

Most of the stories associated with Osun practices are preselved orally in both sides

of the Atlantic. Oral tradition and practice goddesses.

constantly revive people's thought

of gods and

Itan "stones," owe "proverbs", ijala "hunters' dirges," ewi "praise-poetry,"

ofo

incantations," aloo "riddles and jokes," enrich the study of the Yoruba religion. Drumming, music and songs contribute to the structures of the Yoruba religion. These sources are educational to the

Yoruba people.

John Roberts, one of the contributing authors in the African Origins and New

Iilorld ldentities, argues that African oral narratives, accompanied by drums and dancing, contribute to the reconstruction of African history of religion (Okpewho, Boyce Davis, andMazrui: xix). It has been rightly said by another scholar that:

It is impossible to study any history anywhere if one is not thoroughly acquainted with the culture of the people whose past it is, and if one cannot understand the sources in the original languages in which they are spoken. This is obvious but, in regard to the study of oral traditions, this rule has been neglected so often that it must be stated again (Bascom 1967:43).

In an attempt to understand the Yoruba myths, Sandra Greene emphasizes the need

cover other areas that are non-religious. She argued that in order not to miss the clear

picture of religious developments, we need to pay attention to "the dynamic and nondoctrinaire characters of African religious practices as well as the centrality of the history

of politics and power" in Afi:ica (Greene 1996: 126). It is easy for religious studies that do not treat govemment and social developments to overlook certain helpful points.

A religious festival is an occasion where spiritual and government

leaders meet with

the community members in celebrating a divinity. The religious and cultural thoughts are knitted together in preserving and promoting their spiritual beliefs. Spiritual leaders are more involved in planning and carrying out religious festivals than the secular community leaders.

Religious festivals provide the community the opportunities to revisit the myths of

their beliefs. Myths become meaningful when studied in the context of a festival. Myths often elaborate the Yoruba owe (proverbs),

ijala (hunters' songs), alo (nddles)

and efe

(okes). They are

reliable oral literature for entertainments and in understanding the moral and ethical beließ of

community. Indirectly, the re-telling

of myths during a festival renews people's interest in

believing the divinities.

G. The Challenges Involved in Studying Yoruba Myths: Due to the fact that spiritual leaders are the major organizers of festivals, scholars

value their assistance in understanding myths. Benjamin C. Ray says that "the study of

African religions is generally a mutual understanding between scholars and indigenous priests and priestesses" (Ray 2000: 78). This does not make the job simple, for there are

other challenges on the way of a student of religion in understanding a divinity, a myth, and its interpretation.

Here are various challenges one faces in studying a Yoruba myths. Firstly, the

majority of the Yoruba oral literature is not available

in print. One anthropologist

lamented that "no histories of these religions could be produced because they had no

texts" (Platvoet 1992,1996: 115). Yoruba myths are retained mainly in people's minds,

in cultural and religious practices. On

a daily basis, Yoruba priests recollect parts

of the

myths in the form of incantations as they meet with the believers (Awolalu 1996: 69; Olajubu 1970). The Yoruba religion has not got to the same documentation stage of the Western and Eastern religions, where religious materials had become scriptures (Ojo

1969: 12). In those traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam,

it is easier to compare

scriptures with scriptures and to work with the original

languages of the texts than working with oral literature.

The second concem when working with oral literature in Yorubaland is that

public museums in Nigeria have been exclusively devoted to the collections that support

traditional cultures and not religious materials (Ojo 1969:12).

Until

1960, the

anthropologists' works generally directed their efforts mainly on issues that benefited the European colonial administrators (Platvoet 7992,1996: I l0). Anthropologists studied the

actual practice and lifestyle of the Yoruba people in order to help the colonial staff in

goveming the Yoruba people effectively (Platvoet 1992, 1996: 1i5; Ogot, 1970:182183; Ranger and Kimambo 1972:2-3,9).

The third challenge one faces in working with the Yoruba oral literature is the

climatic and human factors on the available items. The West Afücan communities regularly experienced flood, humidity and dry weather which had destroyed the majority

of materials that were available for a research. For instance, Ojo described what he saw of "rattles and anklets used in Osun cult... one has broken away to reveal the iron loop on

which the clapper is hooked" (Ojo 1969: 12). Woodcarved images associated with the Osun festival and other divinities in Yorubaland were rotten from the termites' bites (Ojo

1979:334). The leftover materials that are available are being looted by local people and being sold to foreigners. Ulli Beier recounted his experience in Nigeria by stating,

During the years 1900 to 1966 when I was able to keep in close touch with all the important shrines in the Oshogbo area, I have not come across a case of a single voluntary sale. But numerous objects were stolen. Even when the museum or police were able to retrieve the objects, however, there was no efficient machinery to deal with the thieves (Beier 1972:32). The other groups of people who have sabotaged Yoruba works of arts are the converts to

Christianity and Islam (Peel 1967:292-306). change in Yorubaland and which continues up

It started with a widespread religious

till now. Ulli Beier also wrote,

Travelling in Westem State recently I discovered with horror that some Christian churches still collect traditional Yoruba art objects (labeled by thern as 'idols') from converts and that these are bumt annually. Apparently, present day legislation renders the Department of Antiquities powerless to act in such a case (Beier 1972:33). Such religious articles were mainly individual and personal collections that were no

longer needed by the people for worship. As the owners converted to Christianity or Islam, they had to burn their traditional religious materials for they had no need of them anymore (Peel 1967: 292-306). The so-called fetish materials were set on fire to show the

converts' genuine determination to follow their newfound faith. It is an act of holiness to get rid of these so called "demonic" items.

These are just a few of the challenges facing the students and scholars who have

interest

in studying Yoruba myths. One has to look for different ways to secure oral

literature. Here are the surviving elements of the Yoruba religion: myths and religious.

Generally speaking, Yoruba religious festivals keep parts of the myths alive. The religious leaders have been very helpful in maintaining the credibility and the standard

worship in their different communities. The leaders are the custodians of the religious

materials

for the

community. These spiritual leaders have the responsibility of

transmitting such information to their successors.

A common way of collecting information on oral religion is by contacting contracting informants. One has to pay for their services either

cash

and

or in kind.

Informants' job is more important than just tour-guides. Generally, these local people have a better understanding of the religious activities and beliefs of their people. In most cases, these religious tour-guides are

born and bred in the community, therefore they

know a lot about the topic. Whenever specialist help is needed, informants recommend and take the researchers to priests.

can

Myths are sacred and the priests have knowledge of most of them. Informants are a good source for myths, though some of them do not have enough materials to work

with for a big project. Priests usually have more accurate information on oral materials than ordinary members of a community. But one has to go through an informant to contact reputable priests who are knowledgeable about different areas of oral narratives.

Local priests are primary custodians

sacred materials. Benjamin Ray

emphasized the importance of consulting local priests for academic research (Ray 2000:

xiii).

In the Yoruba community, local priests are called babalawo, "herbalists." They are well versed in poetry known as ofo (incantations) which are

full of Yoruba myths.

Incantations contain a lot of information regarding the story behind each event in the community. Myths empower ritual prescriptions for effective healing and cure of diseases (Ray 2000: 78).

A babalawo is one of the most skillful narrators of Yoruba myths

and

history. Scholars often seek their assistance for specific information on religious and historical subjects. Once contact has been established between a researcher and an informant, it is the

responsibility of the scholar to ask the right questions. It is the task of the researcher to

collect,

compile and

substantiate one's thesis.

to rightly

create and outline the collected information to

It is required that one should note the names, addresses, dates

and times of contact for future reference (Oruka 1983: 388). Such documented religious

thought must be verified with other sources (Bascom informants and priests

is vital when recollecting,

sequences of the history of traditional

I98l: 79). The credibility of

recording and forming the right

religion (Bascom 1967: 47).

Due to the different nature of the informants involved in collecting research data, one has to verify its authenticity. One piece

of information could mislead a researcher to

make an erroneous interpretation and conclusion that may undermine an entire work. Based on misleading information that Deidre L. Badejo received, she concluded that the Osun festival is an annual religious drama. Badejo said,

Osun festival and its oral literature provide the context, content, meaning, and symbolism that mirror the complexities of sacred and secular dramatic art. The interplay between the divinities is annually remembered in [the] Osun festival. The annual ritual imprisonment of Obatala at Osogbo is a dramatic time when there is no spoken dialogue but singing accompanies the performance (Clark 1996:119).

Most of the words used in these statements indicate to us that Badejo saw the Osun festival as a mere cultural drama and performance. Badejo interpreted the drumming, singing, and dancing as entertainment rather than religious activities that had religious meaning (Badejo 1996: 135). As we shall argue, the Osun festival is not orchestrated for secular entertainment but is rather a form of spiritual renewal festival (Beier 1977: I3).

Yoruba religious festivals do not fit in a stage-play. Too much dependence on infotmants

in researching a religion could be misleading (Okpewho 1980: 11). Paul Stoller was also a victim of misinformation. In his research, some important religious information was purposefully concealed from him (Bourdlllon 1996: 142).

Another means

securing information on the history

of African religion

through curators. Scholars can use the wide collections in museums as a starting point for researching projects.

Yorubaland, the museum's collection processes have been

criticized for being partial, because "public museums exclusively devoted

to the preservation of

in Nigeria

have so far been

traditional cultures" (Ojo 1969:

12).

Government officials pay little attention to the collection of religious materials. Until 1960, the Yoruba religious collections had exclusively focused on collecting works of art.

Curators know different versions of myths surrounding particular objects in their centers. Depending on who one met on duty, each curator has a different interpretation

for the same object. It is the responsibility of scholars to decide which one to take seriously. Religious items

in a museum speak volumes on the history of the Yoruba

religion but their messages can only be heard through voices of the curators (MacGaffey 2000:228).

Yoruba sculptures are considered to be sacred objects and they are symbols of certain historical events

of the community. Yoruba arts "are frequently mythical

supernatural" and create fear in the mind of curators which leads them to tell the truth

about the items under their care (Bascom 1967: 1). The curator has both a moral obligation to educate their visitors that religious objects and sites serve as reminders of the past for the community (Warner-Lewis 1999:22).

For instance, significant interest was generated in Yoruba objects in 1912 when

Leo Frobenius made an archeological discovery of the Ife bronzes. These

bronzes

revealed the meticulous works of art and religious past of the Ife people, the cradle of all

Yoruba (Bascom 1967:l). Since then, the

Ife

bronzes have generated academic

discussions on the Yoruba people (Bascom 1967: 7). Wole Soyinka, a Nobel Prize

winner, also concluded that Yoruba culture is rich in myths and religious symbols (Deidre 1995: 117). However, curators change from time to time and their knowledge of the items are very limited.

It is obvious that the establishment of museums

stafted late in Yorubaland (Ojo

1969: I2). The process of collecting religious materials from local people and shrines also required a

lot of financial and political support (Awolalu 1996: 114). The quality of

materials collected and the conditions that they were kept in was not ideal (Awe and

Albert 1995: I-2). The authenticity of the materials collected could not be ascertained, because the original ones remained untouchable because

of the spiritual implications on

the community as a whole. Original religious materials are sometimes charmed with local

power and the priests kept them away from goverruîent collecting agents (MacGaffey 2000:229).

Yoruba Christians and Moslems who wanted to distance themselves from their

family's idol-worship and multi-generation collections would purposely destroy their religious materials (Peel 1967 : 292-306). The intention of these converts was to erase the memory of their past religious affiliation from their family and community (Beier l9l2). Because such items were in personal collections, people had the right to do whatever they

wanted with them. Other religious materials that were not destroyed by these converts had been looted by professional thieves and sold overseas (Beier 1972:32).

Most of the religious materials left in the Yoruba museums are not properly preserved from contamination and destruction by natural elements. Weather conditions

have had an impact on a few religious materials. Yorubaland is too humid for the materials to survive past four generations. Insects, such as termites, feed on the surviving

materials. Occasionally, other materials that are left unattended are affected by rain and floods. In the dry season, fire consumes the leftover ones (Ojo 1969: 12). Wood carved images are the most aflected items (Ojo 1979:334).

So far, we have noted that informants, local priests and materials from museums can be used in understanding the history of the Yoruba religion. But one should not rely

solely on one at the expense of other in accessing the history of an oral religion. Next, we are going to examine the history

of anthropologists and sociologists in understanding the

history of the Yoruba religion and its world view. Next, we need to narrow down on the previous methodologies and approaches to the studies already done on Osun.

H. Previous Methodologies Applied in Studying Osun in Yorubaland:

Most research works on African religion usually focus on

subject in

Yorubaland. Such works presumed that African religious influences had not gone beyond Yorubaland. There is a need to identify and document that the Yoruba religion had spread

beyond Yorubaland.

propose

to examine the common religious

practices

in Osun

worship in the Old and the New Worlds to advance the argument that the Yoruba religion

in an international religion. Various scholars have written books and articles on aspects of Osun in an attempt

to document her effect on the lives of her worshippers outside Nigeria. One such book is "Osun Seegesi: the Elegant Deity of I4/ealth" written by Deidre L. Badejo. The author focuses on Osun's personality and the rituals

conclusion was that the Osun festival

Osun festivals (Ray 2000: 78). Her

is an annual religious carnival. In

her

understanding, the "Osun Festival and its oral literature provide the context, content, meaning, and symbolism that mirror the complexities of sacred and secular dramatic art"

(Badejo 1996: 135). This is not a total interpretation of Osun. We would argue that these symbols, actions and architectural decorations have spiritual significance and meaning to

the worshippers (Ojo 1979:335). Sacred traditions have been retained and sustained in

different forms of ideas, attitudes, sentiments and the people's thoughts, and this has formed the basis of their belief (Adedeji

l97I:

135). It is a major challenge to recall the

whole story without the annual religious festival (Bascom 1967: 52).

Badejo also thought

of the Osun festival as an annually

staged event. The

drumming, singing and the number of the crowds that paraded on the streets of Osogbo

during the festival misled her (Badejo 1996: 135). The correct interpretation of what people do and see during religious festival matters in documentation (Beier 1977:13).

Another thing we observed in Badejo's work was her socio-cultural approach

to the study of the Osun festival (Badejo 1996: 168). Badejo rightly described Yoruba culture and religion as deeply rooted in hierarchical and patriarchal settings. Osun stands

out in balancing gender equality among the Yoruba divinities and Yoruba people. Both men and women respect Osun's personhood and divinity in Yorubaland. Drama is a mere act of impersonation for the purpose of entertainment. Drama is

not an adequate source in reconstructing the

essence

festivals are not fairy tales or memorial days. Most

of a religious festival.

Yoruba

of the activities involved

are

religiously and spiritually significant to the community (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council, Osun Osogbo Festival:3).

We take issue with the title of the book, Osun Seegesi: the Elegant Deity of Wealth, Power, and Femininity (Deidre 1995). The author claims that Osun is the deity

wealth, power and feminity. The attributes mentioned are not popularly known as Osun's

in Yoruba thought. It is debatable that Osun gave up her wealth in order to bear a child.

This interpretation may be based on Odu lfa "oral oracle" but generally, Osun has little connection with economic development in Yoruba history (Bascom 1943:127).

As mentioned earlier, we have some scholars who had studied Osun in the Old World but with a biased mind. One example of those who embraced a Yoruba deity was Sussan Wenger who came from Scotland. She converted to Osun worship and made the

Osun shrine her home for over thirty years. She was so loyal to Osun that she became one

of her female officials. The

Osogbo leadership accepted her commitment and gave

Sussan Wenger a local chieftaincy

title known as Adunni Olorisa (Beier 1977: II).

Adunni means "precious to have" and olorisa means "an idol worshiper" a reference to her devotion to Osun. Osun became Sussan Wenger's metaphysical mother figure (Beier 1977: 20). She also understood Osun to be a metaphysical mother

of Osogbo people

(Beier 1977: 20).

Another example

participant-researchers, which

another name

for

the

positivist anthropologists, was Mason. He went through a series of initiations during the time of his research (Mason 2002:3). Mason was initiated into the Osun worship because

he wanted to have inside knowledge of the religion in Cuba (Farrow 1996: 14). His involvements with the worship reflected in his conclusion when he wrote:

This description reflects these generalized accounts as well as fifteen initiations in I have participated in Cuba and the United States. It reflects the commonalities of initiations for the most common orichas: Chango, Obatala, Ochun, and Yemaya (Mason 2002:61).

which

His interpretation became suspicious because he became the promoter of the religion instead of doing a critical analysis of it.

CHAPTER

HER STORIES: OSTJN AND OSOGBO IN YORUBALAND The question we are concerned about in this dissertation is to determine whether Osun in the New World is the same as the Osun of the Old World. In answering the question, we need to study the selected myths and the recurring religious elements

Osun worship in Osogbo. In this chapter we want to study the historical personhood

Osun as defined by Yoruba myths. V/ith this, we

will be able to compare them with the

similar elements that we might find in the New World. Spiritual people and sacred places, as indicated by the Yoruba myths, contribute to our understanding

of Osun Osogbo. Osun

and Osogbo are historically and geographically inseparable (Olupona 2001: a9). Myths

provide clear understanding of Osogbo and Osun in the context of the annual festival.

A. Osun, the Daughter of Olodumare: Before we discuss further the significance

of the Osun festival, we want to

examine the personhood of Osun among other Yoruba divinities. The significance of this section is to support the Yoruba belief that there is cosmological order and unity in the

Yoruba worldview. This orderliness is obvious in creation, divinities, human beings, death and the afterlife.

It exists in this order: God, gods/goddesses, ancestors, kings, men,

women, and children (Omoyajowo 1975).

L Olodumøre "God" in Yoruba Belief:

In Yoruba thought, God is known as Olodumare. Olodumare is the lord over all Yoruba divinities and human beings because he created the divinities and all other living

beings (Greene 1996: 1 15fÐ. The Yoruba believe

one supreme God, Olorun

Olodumare.Yoruba people honor Olodumare and recognize Oduduwa as the archancestor

of the Yoruba (Abimbola 1994: 75-76). Wande Abimbola

summarized the

attributes of Olodumare.

...Olodumare, the Yoruba High God has no cult of his own among the humans. He also has no temples or shrines. Sacrifices are never made to him. Consequently, Olodumare has no liturgy, iconography, or priesthood. He is the supreme example of an abstract divinity too mighty to be captured by any artistic, literary, or idealistic simplifi cation (Abimb ola 1994: 7 6-77). Olodumare exists in the thoughts and minds of every Yoruba. Olodumare has a lot of

similarities with the God

of other religions. Sandra

Greene has argued that African

thoughts and practices of a supreme being change from time to time and from one tribe to another (Greene 1996: l l5ff).

Unlike divinities, Olodumare does not have a day or month set apart to worship

him.

All ordinary divinities have special days of worship and festival. But in Yoruba

thought, every time people honor divinities, they are indirectly contacting Olodumare. He deals directly with human beings.

Osun is one divinity through whom the Yoruba relate to God. The other members

of Orisa (divinities) arc egungun

masquerades,

oro, Obatola/Orisa-nla, Orunmila/ Ifa,

Sango, Oya, Iyemoja, Osun Osogbo, Esulalu, Orisa oko, Sonpona, orisa ibeji and Osanyin.

All divinities owe their existence

and personhood to Olodumare (Idowu 1973:

159). They are emissaries of Olodumare, God in Yoruba belief. From the beginning, all

divinities originated from heavens where God resides. Olodumare is the father and mother of the divinities.

All divinities function

and serve as Olodumare's emissaries.

Each divinity has special priests, temples, religious communities and seasons of worship.

In religious festivals, such as the Osun festival, the religious elements mentioned

are

means of informing, educating and promoting the belief of divinity in the communities.

Divinities, nature and social institutions are embodied in God. But, the Yoruba God cannot be represented in any form or image.

2. Meanings and Spellings of Osun:

In our earlier discussions, we addressed the meanings of Osun as a Yoruba word, which had various spelling variances in the New World. The question then is: what is the

right spelling? "Osun" is a Yoruba word. It is a name of a female divinity that is closely tied to Osogbo. Her name is spelled in different ways because of the 's' sound that is 'ch'

in Yoruba pronunciation. It could be spelled Osun with a dot under the 's' as in Yoruba language spelling, or

in any of the following forms: Oshun, Ochun, or Oxun (Badejo

1996:53). The word "Osun" means "to seep out" or "a source" from which something seeps

out.

It is from the word orisun meaning "the primary

source" in the Yoruba language

(Deidre 1995: 53). V/e need to note here that Yoruba word-study is an interesting area of linguistic analysis of words, sentences, or proverbs and grammar (Bamgbose 1968: 79).

Spelling variations are less significance, because the same Osun is later

known and honored in other West African countries. The river Osun is a physical representation of Osun

in Yorubaland. Ifa oracles and the practice of divination

aided

people in different parts of the world in remembering Osun. Ifa divination "is practiced

not only by the Yoruba, but by the inhabitants of Dahomey and Togoland as well, and in

the New World by the Negroes of Brazil and Cuba" (Bascom 1943: 130). Wherever you

find lfa, you find Osun.

As we have indicated previously, Osun is the only female divinity of seventeen Yoruba divinities (Badejo 1996: 58). Oduduwa is the

arch-divinity. He

the acts

like the earthly father for all of them. Here is an interesting Yoruba myth that shows how Osun gave birth to children:

Yemaja. - Before Obatala was deserted by Odudua, she is said to have bome him a son and daughter, Aganju and Yemaja respectively. This brother and sister eventually married and had a son Orungan, who committed incest with his mother, Yemaja. She fled from him in horror and shame, but he pursued her until she fell. Her body swelled to a great size; from her breasts flowed streams of water which became a lagoon, and from her body issued a number of different orishas, including Shango (the god of lightning), Oya (the Niger), Oshun, Oba (three rivers which became the three wives of Shango), Olokun (god of the sea), Olosa (the lagoon-goddess), Orishako (farm-god) (Farrow 199 6 : 46).

This is not a popular myth in Yorubaland, but that does not mean

it does not exist in

certain parts of the people. Osun, as a special divinity of Osogbo, rules and protects the people from dangers and wars. Unlike most other divinities, Osun is not a seasonal goddess. She is active all

year round. On the contrary, Sango the god of thunder and lightning, is active only during the rainy season. A Yoruba proverb says, eniknn ki bu Sango leru, meaning no one invokes Sango during the dry season (Bamgbose 1968: 80-86). He would not respond

or act on behalfofthe devotee during the dry season.

i. Osun, the Ruler of Osogbo: Osun rules Osogbo in conjunction with the kings. Gbadewolu Larooye was the first Atewogbeja

of Osogbo

Oba

(Osogbo Cultural Heritage

Council 1994: l4), Owa Laege was Larooye's father. Laege was originally from Ilesa,

Yoruba city near Osogbo. Larooye's mother was Tekulu, one of the princesses of Alaafin

of the old Oyo Empire, another Yoruba group in Yorubaland. Osun is a hospitable divinity. She honors people of different dialects and works well with the living and the living-dead, otherwise known as ancestors. With the help of Osun, Larooye reigned over

the Osogbo people between 1670 and 1760 (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council, Osun Osogbo Festival:3). Larooye's first palace at Osogbo was built on the spot where the Ile Osun, Osun temple, is situated today (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council, Osun Osogbo

Festival: 9). Regrettably, the first palace was built on the Osun flood canal (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council, Osun Osogbo Festival: 18). When there was a flood, the first settlers had to move to a higher ground.

According to historical Yoruba beliefs, kings are semi-gods authority.

nature and in

adds more dignity to the personhood of Osun as all the people in Osogbo,

including the kings, recognize the authority of Osun. The official title of the king is "Ataoja" which means one who spreads his hands to welcome the fish of the Osun River during the Osun festival. Osun's authority is widely recognized among the Yoruba (Beier 1977: I8).

All prospective kings of Osogbo, otherwise known as the Ataoja of Osogbo

were religiously, physically and psychologically prepared by oral tradition for the throne

of Osogbo. The Ataoja is the administrative and spiritual head of the town. Osun still influences the decisions of the king, chiefs, priests and the economy of

Osogbo each

day. Individually, the people of

Osogbo honor her daily

in words and

deeds. She promotes communal harmony among the Osogbo people. She also promotes

harmony among divinities, Osogbo leadership and the people of Osogbo.

ii. The Leadership of Osun: The constant communication that goes on between earthly and spiritual beings, as we have seen with Osun, make serving divinities a necessity for

the traditional Yoruba people. It has been said that as the goddess of fertility, she cares

for all the living in Osogbo (Deidre 1995: 68). Her involvement in the affairs of the community demonstrates that women are powerful in keeping men and women together in peace and harmony.

As we have seen earlier, Osun is one of the early divinities known in Yoruba language as irunmole,the mysterious beings. She is the last of the divinities,

Even though Osun was the last of the seventeen odu (or orisa) who came to earth at the time of creation, she quickly became the most influential one by demonstrating to the remaining orisa that withouther ase (power of life force), their mission could not succeed. Osun is probably this same olori-ikin, otherwise known as the wife of Orunmila in the context of the initiation of Ifa priests at Igbo du (the Ifa grove) (Abiodun 2001:28). Some other Yoruba divinities who are involved in the creation of the Yoruba world and people are Ogun, Orunmila, Obatala and Iyemoja (Omoyajowo 1975). Collectively, their

mission on earth is to organize the earth and to rule over the affairs of people and the

spiritual worlds. The occasional and annual sacrifices such as the Osun festival are of significant to the Yoruba people in Osogbo (Clark 1966: 119). For each divinity values

the specialization of the counterparts in maintaining orderliness in the

Yoruba

community.

A couple of the Yoruba divinities are women. Osetura in Ifa oracle

states that

Osun is one of the female divinities with charismatic ability and supernatural power that

all Yoruba people honor throughout the world (Bascom 1943: 127-128). She represents womanhood (Denzer 1998).

At one time, the rest of lrunmole "divinities" ignorantly

overlooked her importance in fulfilling their mission on earth. In the first of their earlier

meetings, they did not invite Osun. They intentionally violated the principle of equality that Olodumare required of them all. This particular meeting ended in dispute.

The male divinities went back to Olodumare to inquire about the reason for the failure of their meeting (Abiodun 2001:16). Olodumare then asked as to the whereabouts

of Osun, their sister. The divinities stated that

she had not been invited to the meeting.

Olodumare rebuked them for their discrimatory attitude and made them realize that each

of them is equally important in keeping world peace. To appease Osun, Olodumare asked the male divinities to apologize to her and to offer her sacrifices with an apology saying, "Mother, the preeminent hair-plaiter with the coral-beaded comb. We have been to the creator and

it was there we discovered that all

Odu were derived from you [Osun], and that our suffering would continue

if we failed to

recognize and obey you [Osun]." (Abiodun 200I:17). This must have been a slap in the

face for them because, in the Yoruba leadership, men rarely apologize to women in Yoruba myths. It was like asking an older person to publicly apologize to a younger person. Osun did not want to talk to other divinities. As Osun was about to curse them, Ose, a lesser divinity, covered Osun's mouth not to do so (Abiodun 2001: 18).

Among the Yoruba divinities, Osun has a special mission for the world. She has

power over fertility. She can cure sickness and disease. She has control over still-birth and hears the cry of the oppressed. Today, as

it was then, Osun monitors the activities of

ajelrr,ov,rn as witches (Deidre 1995: 170). She recognizes and regulates the activities

aje (Adedeji 1967: 65). People appeal to Osun to forestall the threats of a7e over themselves and their relatives (Deidre 1995: 172). Osun has the ability to distort the plans

of other divinities especially Esu, who do not comply with the cosmic and social orders

(Deidre 1995: 77). She believes in the peaceful co-existence of the divinities (Deidre 1995:73). Osun does not favor injustice among the Yoruba. Osun is one of the deities that

wards off the evil activities of witches and sickness in the community. She constantly

fights the enemies of her devotees. She represents her clients in the matter of their welfare, and pleads their case before other divinities. Barrenness, accidents, premature death nightmares and wars are some of the evils that Yoruba people fear. As gods and

ancestors have power over Yoruba communities, so do demons, principalities and

familiar spirits. Supernatural powers can be malevolent or benevolent, offend or defend people in the community (Ajayi and Smith 1964: l).

Osun is the head of

aje "witches" (Beier 1977: 16). Aje

can tum human and

natural events to their advantage, but Osun makes sure that justice prevails in Osogbo. For protection against evil, women are encouraged to bring their children to the annual festival to pray and offer sacrifices.

iii.

Osun, the Goddess of Fertility: Osun is continuously recreating lives, or at least

giving children to barren families. Osun's source of power is Olodumare.

All

other

divinities derive their special power from Olodumare too. Osun has a special power of granting children to women. Having a child is a necessity in Yorubaland. In the spirit

world, Osun must release unborn babies to the earth. Any family that needs children often consults the priests to appease Osun.

Having power over fertility and protection gives Osun honor in the history of Yoruba people. As a mother, she was a pretfy woman and a symbol of beauty. She was one of the wives of Sango. The concept of beauty in Yoruba is of two dimensions: the

inward beauty and outward beauty. The latter is less significant than the former; to Yoruba people inward beauty is the most desirable. character or right attitude. The test

reaction

of the

in all circumstances (Lawal

aesthetic

1974: 239),

deceptive but character is more desired

It is called iwa lewa meaning is more of action, inaction

In Yoruba's

and

eyes, appearance is

in a lady. Character is like smoke; it

always

reveals itself. For a Yoruba person, black is beautiful, but a fairly light person is more

admirable, but one's attitude matters most (Castellanons 2001: 35). Some think that showering regularly can lighten the complexion. For this reason some of her devotees

think Osun is light in complexion because she is a goddess of

river.

In Yoruba belief, no matter how beautiful a lady might be, not getting a husband is a shame for her and her family. Osun was married to two husbands. At one

time, she was married to Sango and in other myths she married Orunmila. It was unheard of in Yoruba culture for a woman to marry two husbands at the same time (Bascom 1942:

37).It can happen after divorce or the death of the husband. Manying another member of her husband's family is called "supo" levirate. Levirate is a situation when a widow remarries from the same kinship of her deceased husband. A brother of the dead husband is expected to marry his brother's widow (Bascom 1942: 39).In the circumstances where the man declines the marriage, the option would be declared open for anybody else in the

family. In the case of Osun's marriages, how she had two husbands cannot be explained in Yoruba thought. The myths concerning this have simply been accepted. Osun was one of the wives of Sango, the god of thunder (Deidre 1995: 48,

70-73). Sango was at one time the Alafin of Oyo (the king of Oyo), one of the super-

power kingdoms in Yorubaland (Bascom 1944: 3,7).Osun became his favorite wife

(Farrow 1996:51). Polygamy system is common practice in the Yoruba community, even today (Bascom 1942: 38).

iv. Osun's Womanhood: Osun had firsthand

experience

of polygamy. Osun faced

rivalry with other women at her husband's house (Deidre 1995: 48,70-73).In addition to

marrying Osun, Sango had other wives (Awolalu 1996: 34). When home became unbearable for Osun, she left Sango. This is what a polygamous family faces everyday.

A Yoruba husband may ask his wife to go back to her parents if

she becomes

difficult. At

her parents home such women are ridiculed by other women. Such "undisciplined" wives are called adelebo or ilemosu meaning "one who has disgracefully retumed home." The

adelebo or ilemosu s at the parents' home are threats to spinsters in the community.

Competition for husbands becomes higher, and spinsters think that the ilemosu would hinder their chances to get husbands.

Osun's marriage to Sango attests to her royal lineage as a queen in her time,

but she was not the only queen in the palace. Her rivals were Oya (the River Niger's goddess) and Oba (goddess of river) (Paninder 195111976: 97). The three wives never got along in Sango's palace (Bascom 1944:3).

Osun and Sango moved away from the palace. Osun moved

Osogbo

(Farrow 1996: 51). The Yoruba people love to migrate from city to city either for trade or

hunting (Deidre 1995: 158). Yoruba myths stated that Osun and Sango migrated for political reasons (Awolalu 1996: 34). One myth indicates that Sango's mother came from Nupe and conquered Oyo Empire where he possibly met Osun. This incident might be after the Nupe people encroached on the Oyo Empire, the old capital of Yorubaland

(Deidre 1995: 158). Both Shango and Osun stayed for a short time in Oyo before they eventually moved on to Osogbo.

Oya and Oba did not get along very well in the polygamous setting. Due to

the constant fights and misunderstandings at home, Shango divorced Osun and Oya (Awolalu 1996: 36; Schiltz 1985). He allowed each of his wives to go their

separate

ways. In Yoruba myths Osun, Oya and Oba became major rivers in Yoruba towns and villages. Osun is in Osogbo while, the Oba River flows between the boundary of Osogbo and lbadan. Oya is the goddess of another major river. Oya is specially known as the

River Niger, one of the biggest rivers in Nigeria. Apparently, all of Sango's wives control the Yorubaland rivers. The Yoruba cherish these goddesses by immortalizing them in their history. The Yorubas believe that parents immortalize themselves through

childbearing, but gods and goddesses are tumed into spiritual objects at death memorials

for their worshippers. And the most powerful men and women

could

physically turn themselves into natural things such as trees, wells, mountains, valleys and statues as well. Each of these claimed events and rumors often becomes an historical landmark in the life and mind of the people in the community.

v. Osun the Diviner: We have

seen that Sango had more than one

wife and Osun also

had more than one husband. Osun married Orunmila and Sango (Deidre 1995:70-73).

Orunmila is the spiritual head of the divination services in Yoruba cities. Up until this

moment, Orunmila's disciples are spiritual consultants

for

Yoruba people called

'babølawo'. The babalawo are narrators of Yoruba myths, tales and proverbs. Each day, they

use these oracles

in their

practice

of divination. The babalawo's main goal is

understand, devise and discern spiritual matters behind their clients' problems through the casting of cowries. The problems can be spiritual, emotional or physical. It is for the

babalawo to consult the spirit world. As herbalists in the community, they know the language and minds of the people, the spirits, gods and goddesses. With herbalists wide

knowledge hands

of incantations, leaves, roots, animals, water and soil, they can move the

of Yoruba

gods and goddess to vindicate people's enemies and

to cure their

problems (Awolalu 1996: 69). Such priests are also philosophers. They are trained to find

the cause and effect of the challenges facing clients. They rationalize, criticize

and

recommend sacrifices for the cure of the different diseases and illnesses. Babalawo are diviners also. They are skillful narrators of Yoruba myths too. Even where some verses have been lost in transmission, they have access to special revelations

through sacrifice

regain the verses from the divinities. For

babalawo, their

interpretations and m¡hological knowledge must be up-to-date. The babalawo are the students of Orunmila, and Orunmila is a husband of Osun. Osun assists her husband to make home a welcoming place for her husband's students. A

well-fed and focused babalawo can predict the future through the divination. The instruments

divination are opele 'divination string,'

obi 'kolanuts,'

opon-ifa

'divination tray,' and ofo' incarúations.' OPELE is the name of a lesser oracle, who is regarded as a messenger of Ifa. He is represented by eight small laths of wood, and as it is a far easier task to consult him, the babalawos do each day, and in all lesser causes; but Ifa must be consulted every fifth day (Yoruba reckoning). The orishas Oshun, Yemaja, and Oshosi are consulted by their devotees, and so is Eshu (Elegbara), the evil spirit, whose answer is never disregarded (Farrow 1996:42).

Divination is a lucrative spiritual calling in Yorubaland. There are a number of babalawo in each community, just as the pharmacy is common in the developed world. Every one of them has materials for divination. A divination tray, for instance, is one of the essential materials of Ifa oracles.

It must contain soil where divination

are written and decoded through the assistance

codes

of Orunmila, the mythological father of

Yoruba divination. These codes are shorthand writings of what the Babalawo hear from the heavens, and which are temporarily written down on the tray for further explanation

for the clients. The plates are the properties of the wife. Plates that westerners would consider household materials are what the Yoruba people would think

of as having

supematural and spiritual origins and consequences (Bascom 1981: i5). People's attitude

towards the diviner is critical, based on the effectiveness of their performance and how knowledgeable they are in Yoruba myths (Bascom 1981: 15).

It is appropriate to understand the roles of babalawo "diviners" to

see

why Osun is

often remembered among the Yoruba (Bascom 1981: 15). The father of all babalawo is Orunmila, the husband of Osun. She knows her husband's thoughts and deeds more than anybody, apart from Olodumare. Orunmila plans the Osun festival with his ifa, Yoruba

oracles. Ifa has sixteen major parts called oju odu and two hundred and forty

sub-

sections called omo odu. (Olabimtan 1974: 50). The Babaløwo uses odu-ifa as oral tools

for making voodoo powers,

charms, anti-demons medicine oyeku. Odu-ifa

are

instruments of incantations ofo and commands afose. The combination of the odu-ifø

'ïfa

oracles' is called ofo'incantation'. No two ofo'incantations' are the s¿Ìrne, for babalawo

usually claim that they receive the revelation of the verses fresh from Orunmila, their father and teacher.

Anybody who wants to be a bøbaløwo o'priest" has to spend years under Orunmila and Osun's domain. As Orunmila knows his disciples so also does Osun. She knows the

odu-ifa'ifa oracles', ofo 'incantations'

and ebo "sacrifices" far better than her husband's

apprentices. The men and women who work directly with Osun believe that they have a deeper knowledge Whenever

of Yoruba medicine than the babalawo "priests" who ignore her.

oþ and afose are recited, people

claim they experience the miraculous touch

ofancestors, gods and goddesses. The babalawo are also fortune-tellers, future-tellers and palm-readers. Osun, as a

wife of the father of the Babalawo, could also provide these services to her devotees (Deidre 1995: 57). The Yoruba worldview is very spiritual, and one needs to be fully equipped with oogun "charms" to survive. The more oogun "charms" one has, the more

powerful one is in the community. Osun is one of the sources of power for the Yoruba people. They use this power for religious and political gain in the community.

Osun has enorrnous spiritual power necessary Baale-ile offers a sacrifice

with her devotees.

Whenever

(ru ebo) to Osun to reeive power and protection for

the members of the family. Often, each family has a shrine that "represents the face

divinities in the family" (Thorpe 1991:100). Human beings and deities regularly meet at religious centers for worship. This use of religious symbols and obligations keeps the memory of divinities afresh in peoples' minds (Wamer-Lewis 1999:22).

Orunmila, the husband of Osun, gives each family a list of materials for sacrifice.

Babalawo "the priest" acts as an intermediary between Orunmila and each family. Through consultation with Ifa, Orunmila decides the date and materials to be used for the Osun sacrifice. Each item of the sacrifice has a religious meaning for the time,

vi. Osun as a Mother: It is very difficult to get information on Osun and Orunmila's marriage historically. But Yoruba myths say that Osun cures infertility of womanhood and that power accorded her the honor of being called the mother of the barrens.

It is a

common practice to call the divinity who answers the prayers of the barren people "a mother". The ifa oracle verses state that Osun usually appeased Orunmila to cure women of their infertility (Deidre 1995: 84). Osun knew the agony of being barren and the joy of being a mother because for some time

in her marriage she was without child (Bascom 1943: 128). The 'ese ifa' Ifa

verses said that Osun wanted to have children badly (Deidre 1995: 82). She contacted

three

ifa

priests and her husband's former students

barrenness. The names

for

prescriptions

cure the

of these students are: Efin, Duro and Ojiyaomefun. They are the

ones who assisted her in curing her barrenness. This story also suggests that divinities are

not all-powerful. One divinity often depends on another divinity to fulf,rll their destiny.

Osun's children were mythological children because she has a productive

power. Barren men and women, most especially women, often approach Osun for children. When they have children, these children are known as omo Osur¿ "Osun's

children." Osun's invaluable role

in the production,

reproduction and protection of

children is cherished by the Yoruba (Bascom 1942:41). Even at the other side of the

Atlantic Ocean, Osun still cares for her "children" (Diedre 1995: 89). She is actively involved in reproduction as she gives her devotees the water of life (Beier 1977: 7,20).

Any barren women who drink from her water become pregnant. Obatala, as her codivinity, moulds human images and put them in Osun's womb (Lawal 1974:242-243;

Clark 1966:119). Every human being born in Yorubaland has to pass through Osun's womb (Deidre 1995: 81). Osun is said to be a very beautiful person and all her children are said to be beautiful in character and in appearance. For the Yoruba, outward and inward beauties mirror the sacredness of the divinity (Beier 1977: I1,52).

Osun's fertility is an important subject in keeping her history alive in the Yoruba community.

It is a joy to have a child who would inherit one's

possessions.

Yoruba proverb says "omo niyun, omo ni ide" which connotes the idea that "having a

child is like having a collection of jewels, or precious gold (Bamgbose 1968: 80-86). Osun had great wealth, she is called "a wealthy woman who has a golden (brass) mortar," but her joy at being a mother made her important to the community (Diedre 1995:82).

Osun is a hard-working mother. As mothers provide for and protect their children, Osun cares for her

too.

One of the Yoruba sayings states that "Baba ni baba

gbogbo aye" "father belongs to all the children" in a polygamous family. This proverb indicates that each mother is responsible for the well-being of her own biological children

in such a setting. Osun protects her children with all her power. She protects her children from the

most fearful group of killers known as aje "w'itches". Osun is the leader of aje witches (Diedre 1995:73-74). Osun does not condone injustice therefore she punishes the wicked

aje who do "havoc over the children or their parents" (Diedre 1995: 170). Any aje who

kill

children indiscriminately in the community are publicly mocked by the people

(Adedeji 1967 66,67). This belief has enhanced the moral standards of the community. Nobody can hide under the influence of spiritual power to perpetrate evil on innocent people.

Osun acts on behalf

Olodumare,

to promote

peace and harmony

the

community (Diedre 1995: 77). Osun removes her protection from anybody who allows

Esu "devil" to use her against the innocents. Osun maintains checks-and-balances in

justice and equity among the people. Leadership, responsibility and accountability are closely linked in the Yoruba community. In short, Osun proves herself to be a mother

who possesses a spiritual force over human and spiritual beings (Murphy and Sanford

2001:6). She is responsible for protecting not only children but also pregnant women from an untimely death (Cannon 1942:180; Diedre 1995:89). Miscarriages are not treated as normal occurrences for women. A spirit or a person is thought to be the cause

of it (Diedre 1995:76).

B. Osogbo: Osun's Original Setting: Osogbo is not only an important Yoruba town but its location gives us more

information about the history of the Osun festival and its continuity. Osogbo is where six major Yoruba roads meet. These roads connect Osogbo to Ile-Ife, Ilesha, Ekiti, Ilorin and

Oyo. Osogbo is located approximately 96 kilometers northeast of lbadan, another big Yoruba town. The majority of Yoruba in the cities mentioned above recognize the divine status of Osun.

Geographically, Osogbo is situated on latitude 7.7 degree and longitude 4.5 degree east.

It is located in a tropical

forest region of today's Yorubaland. The River

Osun is a major source of water for people and animals. There are two major seasons in

Yorubaland, the rainy and the dry seasons. During the rainy season, Osogbo has an average monthly rainfall

of about 0.6 meters. Like most of the Yoruba cities and towns,

Osogbo's vegetation is a tropical forest. The north of Osogbo, especially towards Ikirun

town is grassland that provides pasture for cattle-rearing. In those days,

Osogbo

connected with the Oba River, sharing boundaries with the Ibadan people. On the northern boundary of Osogbo is Ikirun (Paninder 195111976: 97). As we have seen, in

our discussion Osogbo is a major Yoruba town (Paninder 195111976:73) and significant

in trying to

understand the Yoruba people, culture and religion. Osogbo

people are friends of Ilesa and the Ibadan people.

Yoruba Meets Osun: So far we have seen Osun as a wife, mother and protector of children. She has her

footprints in the history of sacred spots in Osogbo. No other female divinity can claim or contest Osun leadership among the male-dominated culture and religious setting of Osogbo. The origins of Osogbo would be helpful in understanding Osun myths.

In our efforts to understand the links that connect the Yoruba people to Osun and Osogbo, we need to examine the history behind it. In the beginning, Yoruba people were a nomadic

tribal group, but around 1700, they settled down in the southwestern portion of

what is today called Nigeria (Matibag 1996: 52). From there, the Yoruba as a people started spreading to all over West Africa (V/arner-Lewis

records

1999: 19). In one of the earliest

of Yoruba history, Eugenio said, "the Yoruba of the Guinea Coast do

not

comprise a single "tribe" but rather consist of numerous and varied tribal groups only

loosely unified

by [a]

common language, mythology, history, dress, and ritual

symbolism" (Matibag 1996: 51). The loosely unified language, religion and custom still exist today. In these elements are unities among the Yoruba people, the Egba, Egbado,

Awori, Ijebu, Ijesha, Oyo, Owo, Ife, Ondo and many more ethnic groups (Herskovits 1966: 2I8). Each of these groups speaks the Yoruba language with a distinct accent from

their neighbor. Occasionally, the differences in Yoruba ethnic accents are so strong that Yoruba-Awori may not comprehend what Yoruba-Egbado is saying, despite the fact that

their languages have the same vocabulary. The Yoruba people in Oyo or from Oyo normally claim to be the "Yoruba proper" likewise other Yoruba groups contend this exclusive claim (Matibag 1996: 51). No doubt, historically the origin of all Yoruba people is lle-Ife while Oyo is the military headquarters of Yoruba people. Osogbo is known as the headquarters of Osun worship (Matibag 1996: 52; Frobenius 1913). Today, Osogbo is still one of the big towns in Yorubaland. states

1991, Osun became one of the

in the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Awe and Albert 1995: v). Osun as a goddess

has now found her place in the history of Nigeria (Diedre 1995: 53).

i. The First Myth: Ilesa was first founded in an area not far from Osogbo. From Ilesa many smaller groups

people moved out

establish their own independent

communities. Osogbo is one of the little communities that emerged from Ilesa. Timehin and Ogidan, two of the leading hunters, left the boundaries of Ilesa on the command

Olarooye (Awe and Albert 1995: 3). Timehin, the chief hunter, and his people experienced two mysterious events. First, Timehin found an elephant by the riverside, and he shot and killed

it. He then tied the dead elephant to a tree. The spot where the

event happened is called

ldi Ogun "Ogun Shrine". The second

experience was that these

people found the source of a big river. They thought within themselves that this would be a pleasant place

for their people to relocate their families. As a marker for this historical

finding, Timehin felled the trees around the area. As the trees were falling down, he

claimed to have heard a female voice shouting Ta lo fo ikoko aro mi, eyin Oso-Igbo tun

de o meaning "who broke my indigo pots, you wizards of the forest are here again!" Osogbo" is the contracted form of "Oso lgbo" (Spirit of the Forest). Here is how Olupona summarized the Yoruba myth:

According to this myth history, Osogbo was founded by a prince of llesa, a Yoruba city state about 20 kilometers from Osogbo. Prince Olarooye (Larooye) had settled in a village called lponle, near Ilesa. As a result of a water shortage in Iponle, Olarooye and Olutimehin (Timehin), a hunter, led a group of people in search of water, as was the custom in ancient days. The duo and their cohorts discovered a large river, later called Osun. They went back to report to Owate, Olarooye's father, and to invite Owate to settle in the new place on the Osun riverbank. But before they left, they decided to make a mark on the riverbank where they discovered Osun. They felled a big tree that made avery loud noise on the river, whereupon they heard a loud booming voice say: Won ti wo ikoko aro mi o eyinn Oso inu igbo e tun de (You have destroyed my pots of dyes. You wizard of the forest, you're here again) (Olupona 200I:49).

On hearing the cry, Timehin and Ogidan were terrified. They knew that they were trespassing on spiritual ground. As the voice identified herself as Osun, the two people responded to the voice that they had come in peace and they explained their mission. Osun then asked Timehin and Ogidan to lead their people from Iponle to resettle around her domain (Awe and Albert 1995: 3).

As a result of this historical encounter with Osun, the name of the spot started to be called "Osogbo" as

was derived from the voice they heard saying Oso lgbo ni mi

translating as "I am the wizard of the forest" (Centre for African Settlement Studies and Development 1993: 11). Since then the people began to address themselves as Osogbo people, the contraction form of the phrase oso igbo. As a respect for the kind gesture

Osun

accommodating the Iponle immigrants, the people inaugurated an annual

religious festival in her honor known as the Osun festival. The Osun festival, therefore, is a

historical festival that marks the beginning of a town in Yorubaland.

In the Yoruba praise-worship "oriki," Osogbo's development and expansion was said to be rapid because many immigrants fled from different villages and towns to settle there (Diedre 1995:158). The Osun festival is an annual reminder for the descendants

the settlers. It is a celebration of the social-political history of Osogbo. It is an occasion

when both spiritual and religious leaders gather to acknowledge the kindness of Osun (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council 1994: 16; Diedre 1995: 53).

As the people settled down, they got to know more about Osun's personality.

Later they leamed that Osun was the wife of Sango, the god of thunder and lightning (Diedre 1995: 48,70-73). Sango's marriage with Osun attested to her status as one of the

divinities. Osun became a role model for the ladies in Yorubaland. Sango's mother came

from Nupe and conquered Oyo Empire, while Osun came from Ijumu and settled in Osogbo (Diedre 1995: 81; Johnson and Johnson).

ii. The Second Myth: Another myth indicates that the origin of Osogbo was directly tied to the Yoruba divinities and the founding of Ile-Ife, the Garden of Eden of the Yoruba people (Murphy and Sanford 2001:1; Abimbola 1975: 157-191). Osun was one of the

orisa "divinities" who descended from heaven to Ile-Ife (Diedre 1995: 160). Ile-Ife is considered to be where the universe begins. For many centuries, Ile-Ife was the historic

administrative headquarters of all Yoruba people, villages, towns and cities.

As male divinities were moving out of lle-Ife to lead different towns of Yoruba kingdom, at one time, Osun left lle-Ife to provide leadership for the people of Osogbo. This myth is more credible because Osogbo is located about 60 kilometers a\¡/ay from lle-

Ife. The Osun annual festival started to mark the spiritual and political leadership of Osun

as one of the Yoruba divinities. This annual festival contributes to the growth and expansion of Osogbo as one of the Yoruba towns. Osogbo is not a mythological place in

time and space. It is a pilgrimage city for the devotees of Osun.

iii. The Third Myth: The third version of how

Osogbo started was written by Deji

Olugunna in 1959 (Olugunna 1959: 12-16). Contrary to the mythological versions above, Olaro-Oye who was the seventh king of Iponle, founded Osogbo. He was a descendant

Ajibogun, the son of Owa of Ilesha (Olugunna 1959: 9-10). Iponle Omu or Iponle town was a suburb settlement not far from Ilesha. Osogbo is about eight kilometers away from

Iponle. Although, today, Iponle is smaller than Osogbo, but Iponle is older than Osogbo. Olaro-Oye is the same person as Larooye, and Laro.

poem says the king is: OMO IJESA OGLINRALU, OMO ARINLOSIN,

GADEWOLU ATAOJA AKOKO L'ODE OSOGBO" (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council 1994:27). The king of lponle, Olaro Oye or Larooye who was the seventh king of the place, was the f,rrst to bear the title of Ataoja the present off,rcial tittle of Osogbo's

king. He

and some of the Iponle people migrated to Osogbo as they were searching for a

water supply. The small community relocated near the Osun river, a pleasant and better place for water supply and a place to continue their farming (Diedre 1995: 81 ; Abimbola 1975: I57). With gratitude, the immigrants inaugurated the annual worship of Osun.

Timehin, a hunter by profession, who was a brother of Olaro-oye, was appointed as the head of the hunters, which is like a commander-in-chief of the army (Awe and

Albert 1995:2). Olaro-oye became the chief-priest of Osun (Ojo 1969:164; Fadipe: 199).

Gradually, people from different parts of the known world migrated to Osogbo is search of a better future. Osun was recognized as the goddess of the land (Diedre 1995: 106).

One of the Yoruba songs of praise states that Osun is the "source of water" (Murphy and Sanford 2001: 1). Cities surrounded by rivers are safer during inter-tribal wars. Naturally, the Yoruba people migrated in search of business, security, and always

look for opportunities. Historically, during wars, Olumo Rock was a refuge for the Egba, and Osun river was a barrier against the enemies of Osogbo people (Diedre i995: 159).

Its water did not dry up during the dry season, and the enemies could not penetrate the city during wars (Ojo 1966). One of the disadvantages of settling at a river bank is the threat of flood that they experience once

in a while without warning. Rather than being scared away from

the

Osun river, people bring offerings and sacrifices regularly to the river-bank. Physically, the river became a line of defense for the community. Spiritually, the people believe that

Osun is their protector, their defense against natural and supernatural forces that have

been part

of Yoruba military and religious

concerns

Individuals and the community are always looking

(Ajayi and Smith 1964:

1).

for natural and supernatural

reinforcement. As it has been said, this desire led the Iponle people to migrate close to their goddess, Osun.

This closeness to the river claimed many lives and property. During one of the rainy seasons, Osogbo was flooded and buildings and farms were washed away (Centre for African Settlement Studies and Development 1993: 5-11). The people often rushed to

the conclusion that Osogbo was flooded because somebody in the community

had

offended her. The next thing they did was to consult the Ifa oracles and offered sacrifices

to appease Osun (Awe and Albert 1995 2).It is claimed that during such sacrifices, a very big fish, representing the gods of the Osun River known as lko, normally emerged

from the river (Centre for African Settlement Studies and Development 1993: I1). Its appearance was a sign signif,rcance

of a good omen for the people and the town. The religious

of Osun gave Osogbo a wide recognition in Yoruba kingdom, especially in

the towns and villages that relied on Osun for their water supply.

2. Myths in the Yoruba Belief:

Adedeji has once said, "that Yoruba myths and contents are designed to maintain the social fiber of a traditional community" (Adedeji 1967:64). From such observation,

Benjamin Ray proposed the importance of myths in explaining the origin of human beings as:

Most African myths deal primarily with the origin of man and with the origin of certain social and ritual institutions that account for real-life situations. These myths explain the basic conditions of human life as the people now find it. For this reason, African mythology contains a good deal of what we would call "history." Indeed, in African oral tradition 'myth' and 'history' generally overlap and shade into one another. Myth blends into history as cosmic and archetypal events bear upon local situations, and history blends into a myth as local and human events become ritualized and infused with cosmic and archetypal meaning (Ray 2000:24). Myths answer some of the common questions of life. Myths are helpful in building religious beliefs for a community and people can see the relevance of myths in day-to-

day religious practices (Diedre 1995: 48). Yoruba myths show that the "histories of humans, their societies, cultures, and religions do not begin only at the moment they [are

written down] become.literate and from which historians can produce their histories" (Platvoet 1996: 46). African religion, in particular, relies heavily on myths and festivals

to recreate events of the beginning. Myths come alive in religious festivals and foster their continuation in different parts of the world. During religious festivals, different versions of myths are brought together as one in celebration. In the Osun festival, for instance, there are more than five different versions of myths that explain the origin

Osogbo.

Yoruba myths, for instance contain people's names and places thus making them

historically credible. These myths are retold day-by-day until the community members have memorized them. In this way, myths create a sense of reverence and awe in the

minds

of the community in their world of imagination. Myths

enhance community

historical speculations and reinforce people's quest for reality. Myths become more believable when one considers how frequent they are points of reference and the numbers

of divinities that are involved in the stories. The Yoruba people celebrate the different versions of myths in religious festivals.

The multiplicity of myths enhances the beauty of festivals and the practice of religion. However, the intention of religious festivals is not to make converts of others, but to celebrate unity in diversity.

It has been

said that the intention of myths is "not assume

that we have to save the world, not even the Yoruba world (Beier 1977: 6). In other words, the celebration of the mythological gods in religious festivals is not intended for competition or converting people into any particular religious worship.

Myths contain religious ideas, beliefs, symbols, attitudes, sentiments, practices, and thoughts useful for present and future generations. The African lifestyle is built upon

locally integrated myths (Adedeji 1971: 135). Its continuation reinforces the survival of the myths as well (Bascom 1967: 52). Myths are therefore important in understanding the

history of African religion. Scholars have made genuine efforts to establish the historical values

of African religion through myths. Some useful ideas on myths from a non-

African continent like Ranger and Kimambo 1972 study is valuable to this study (see also Badejo 1995: 13). Here, the idea is to particularly illuminating on Yoruba myths as a way to understand a Yoruba festival in the context of Osun in Osogbo.

3. Historical Explanations of the Origin of Osun:

Samuel Johnson,

a reverend father who served in Yorubaland, claimed

that

Osogbo was established in around the seventeenth century during the reign of Alaafin

Kori of the Oyo Empire (Johnson and Johnson 1970: 156). Kori was the fifth Alaafin of Oyo at the time (Diedre 1995: 156). The king wanted to quench some insurrections that

were hindering the expansion

of the Oyo Empire southward.

Some individuals and

groups were constantly harassing traders as they traveled from Ijebu to do business at

Apomu market, a very prosperous Yoruba town. The towns and villages that were being affected jointly secured the military assistance of Oyo, the military headquarters of the

Yoruba. Hence, Alaafin Kori established a military post at Ede, which eventually grew

into the city known today as Ede (Diedre 1995: 156). On behalf of the Oyo Empire, the group of hunters dealt with the opposition groups.

In a reaction to the Oyo Empire's action, the Owa of Ilesa also established a rival

political station near Ede which eventually developed into a city that is today known

Osogbo (Awe and Albert 1995: 2). Owa, the king of llesa, established this station to

reject the Alafin's authority and expansion toward her region. Owa appointed a vassal king, the Atewogbeja

of Osogbo, to rule the station

of llesa

then

(Johnson and

Johnson 1921: 156). Eventually, Osogbo became an independent Yoruba city that stopped the expansion of Oyo authority southward. The only authority figure that Ilesa

and Osogbo recognized was lle-Ife, the political headquarters of Yoruba kingdom. All

this happened at the time when Ile-lfe and Oyo were contesting for authority over all other towns and villages in the Yoruba kingdom. In support of this storyline, a praise-

worship song"oriki-orile" of Osun suggests that many immigrants fled their villages, for safety when lle-Ife and Oyo Empires were contending the Yoruba Kingdom (Diedre 1995:158).

All

these myths are retold during the Osun festival as the people celebrate the

political and spiritual leaders' involvement in founding of the city (Diedre 1995: 53,63). From the beginning of Osogbo, Yoruba leaders managed and controlled the political, economic, religious, and social institutions of the place (Palwoet 1996: 51). As Osogbo

was an offshoot of llesa, the Ilesa people still respect their historical involvement in Osogbo developments (Awe and Albert 1995: 3). Ilesa, Ile-Ife and Osogbo respect Osun

for helping one of their own during difficult times (Olugunna 1959). Osogbo leaders are direct descendants of Ajibogun, the son of oba "king" of Ilesa (Awe and Albert 1995: 3). There are other factors that contributed to the growth of Osogbo and the recognition of

the roles of Osun in Osogbo. Whichever story one believes, mythological or historical, Osogbo is a city for the refugees.

i. A Series of Inter-Tribal Wars: As we have mentioned,

Osogbo was founded by a

group of Yoruba immigrants from Ilesa. The people of Ilesa are called Ijesa. Some of the

Ijesa migrated to the banks of a river which is today known as the Osun. There was a series of wars in Yorubaland

in 1840. Osun assisted the citizens of Osogbo in winning the

wars. Osogbo became the Oroki Asala, "this connotes that no matter the pressing situation, any one who escaped into Osogbo was sure of safety and protection" (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council 1994: 16). On various occasions, the Osogbo faced wars with the Fulani jihadists who were

Muslims from the northern part of the country. From the southwest direction, the Dahomey invaded them from time to time. During one of the attacks, Osun changed into a woman, and she sold vegetables to the Fulani warriors. After eating the vegetable, the

Fulani soldiers had loosened bowels and lost their energy to fight (Beier 1977:20; Ajayi and Smith 1964: 33). To keep their memories of this victory fresh, the people sing songs that ridicule the efforts of the Fulani during the annual festival. One historian recorded the attack as follow: "From the west, Dahomey recently freed from Oyo control, began to strive to expand into Yorubaland and, until close to the end of the century, repeatedly invaded westem Yoruba territories" (Paninder 195111976:

xvii). The attacks were motivated by a desire to gain independence from the Oyo Empire.

In the

course

these battles, especially between 1817 and 1893, the Oyo

kingdom fought and conquered the Fon of Dahomey, a non-Yoruba neighboring tribe. Most of the town and villages in Dahomey came under the control of the Oyo Empire (Verger 1976:459).

Big cities are known to control the small villages and towns in Yorubaland. It has been said that,

The rise of fin the] number of successor states to the Oyo Empire notably Ibadan, Ijaye, new Oyo, and Abeokuta in the former territories of the Owu and Egba, and the rivalry between them to inherit the former political position of the Alaf,rns led to a new and prolonged series of wars. Also, some older kingdoms, like Ijebu and lfe, now tried to expand vigorously. For instance, Ife encroached on the towns of its southem neighbour, Ondo,

and thereby set up a chain of disastrous events in that forest country (Paninder 19 5 I I 197 6: xvä). During the said wars, Osogbo was caught between the two strong Yoruba warring towns. Its location made it difficult to avoid taking sides in the battles among the Yoruba cities. Eventually, Osogbo became the best ally of the Ibadan people. They mutually supported each other

in battle against their common

enemies.

It is recorded

that

"in

1840, the

Ibadan anny conquered the Ilorin army at Osogbo and drove them back

Ofa"

(Parrinder 195111916:3). This victory gave Ibadan more tenitorial power over the other

competing Yoruba states. Ibadan became the recognized military kingdom

all

Yorubaland. By 1870, Ibadan had successfully conquered lfe, Ilesa and Ekiti. The other

Yoruba states felt Ibadan was a threat.

1877, Ibadan, a friendly Yoruba town to

Osogbo, now with the support of other Yoruba towns that she had defeated attacked the

people of Egba and Ijebu (Paninder 195111976: 3). Osogbo was indirectly involved in inter-tribal wars and the people of Osogbo relied on Osun for victory. During the Yoruba wars, each Yoruba community solicited the supports of similar

divinities and another town. We see such cooperation in Osogbo, Abeokuta and Ibadan victories over their enemies: The defeat of the Fulani of Ilorin at Oshogbo in about 1840, the successful repulse by Abeokuta of the Dahomi attack in 1851, the victory in a prolonged campaign of the Ibadan at ljaye in 1861-2, and the victory of Ibadan over the Ilorin and their Yoruba allies at Ikirun in 1878 (Ajayi and Smith 1964:32). These are just the most recognized confrontations among the Yoruba communities but

there were other battles that are recorded only in Yoruba myths. The European slave trade encouraged wars among the West African countries (Patterson 1982:120).

The majority of those captured in battle ended up in the New V/orld as slaves. European traders waited at the coastal towns of the Atlantic Ocean, to buy the captured

Yoruba slaves. Thousands

of Yoruba

people were sold and transported

to the New

rWorld. Unfortunately, Osogbo was one of the coastal cities that suffered at the hands

slave-traders and many of the people were carried away to the New World (Hugh 1997:

47). Some of these Yoruba people were familiar with Osun. This explained how Osun worship started as a religious cult in the Americas.

ii. The Colonial Influences: In addition to religious, cultural

and immigration necessities

that contributed to the origins of Osogbo, the coming of the British officers to the area had an impact on the growh of Osogbo (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council 1994: 37). The British government adopted an indirect rule system of government in Nigeria. The

British government worked with the kings in ruling the Yoruba people. The Yoruba kings

who cooperated with them gained more recognition and support from the British government. Osogbo gained the British colonial goverrìment support and one of the early

British stations was built at Osogbo. Between 1903 and 1917, Osogbo had the network of roads: Osogbo-Ilesa-Akure-Benin Road

Ogbomosho road

in 1909; Osogbo-Ikirun road in

1912, and Osogbo-Ede road

1911, Osogbo-

1913 (Osogbo Cultural Heritage

Council 1994: 36). Osogbo eventually became one of their district headquarters in Nigeria.

It is 96 kilometers

northeast

Ibadan. Over the years, Hausa descendants had migrated to Osogbo from the north

Today, Osogbo is a developed town in Nigeria.

country because of the availability of green grass for their cattle. Osun serves as a source of water supply for their animals all year round. And the location is suitable for growing

cash crops such as cocoa, banana, kolanut, cassava, orange, mango, rubber and com. The

early settlers made the right choice in moving to the present site of Osogbo.

iii. The Growth and Development of Osogbo: The rapid growth Yorubaland.

Osogbo has contributed

to its historical recognition

Its inhabitants are known for welcoming other immigrants into

their

community. Osogbo is economically viable intersection where six roads lead to other major Yoruba towns (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council 1994: 14). These roads lead to

Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Ekiti, Ilorin and Oyo, Iwo, Akure, Gbongan, Ibadan and many more. Osogbo's location became a network centre for most Yoruba business people.

It is a

pilgrimage centre for traditional worshippers (Diedre 1995:157). The Osun River serves as the source of water for the people of Osogbo and its environs.

It is a good place to raise animals, and for doing different kinds of farming.

Directly or indirectly, farmers in Ekiti, Ilesha and Ile-Ife, benefit from the water supply also, Yoruba farmers in the neighboring towns bring their products to Osogbo for sale.

Traders from Ilorin bring cotton materials to Oja oba "the king's market" in Osogbo

(Olugunna 1959: 23). Many

of the people who initially visited

Osogbo market for

business eventually moved their families to Osogbo.

Another factor that contributed to the rapid growth of Osogbo was the presence

Oja Larooye Larooye Market. The importance of this site is that it became the business centre of Osogbo and for the neighboring cities (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Cowrcil, Osun

Osogbo Festival: 9). Early settlers met every five days

to trade their farm

produce

(Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council, Osun Osogbo Festival: l0). Oke Ohuntoto and Ojaa

Larooye became popular commercial centers that attracted people to become permanent residents of the area (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council 1994: I3).

In the early days, the Yoruba gave Osogbo a nickname Ode Osogbo "centre of Osogbo" (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council, Osun Osogbo Festival: 13). This nickname

reflects its welcoming atmosphere for people of different languages and backgrounds. The traditional chiefs used to assemble every Friday to deliberate on important issues

affecting the people

in the town

(Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council, Osun Osogbo

Festival: 13). At one time, they had to discuss the effects of flood on the city (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council, Osun Osogbo Festival: 14). They saw the danger of floods and how Osun had "overflowed its banks destroying the buildings and carrying away in

its deluge the property of the inhabitants" (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council Osogbo Festival: 14). insurance, or

life

Osun

was a community that had no social security benefits, no

insurance. The only strength

had was the

will to survive. Every

natural disaster was attributed to supernatural beings. The people had to move to a higher ground at the recommendation of the priests.

The divine direction always served as guidelines for the people. Whenever there was imminent danger, the Ifa priests asked the town people to appease the Osun river

with sacrifice of agbo (a ram), yanrin (a kind of spinach) and egbo (coked com-meal) (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council, Osun Osogbo Festival: 15). With such sacrifices, the

relationship between the human beings and divinities were mended from time to time. In

retum, Osun would rise to the defence of her people by granting them peace and tranquility (Diedre 1995: 82). The priests helped the community a lot through divination and oracles (Diedre 1995: 13). These priests contributed in preserving people's lives in

Osogbo. The priests, by consulting Osun through Ifa oracles, helped in the Osun festival

(Diedre 1995: 54).

The monarchy has assisted the growth of Osogbo town and peoples interest in Osun worship. The king is the political and spiritual head of Osogbo. Whatever he says is

binding on his subjects that is why they say toba lase meaning "the one that has authority over all." With all this respect, the kings always honor the divinities in public festivals.

The king of Osogbo honors Osun and his subjects follow his example (Murphy and Sanford 2001:6). It is written:

From Osogbo in Osun State to Ikoro in Ekiti, from Ibadan in Oyo to ljumu in Kwara State of Nigeria, and throughout the Yoruba diaspora in the Caribbean, Latin America, and North America, the Yoruba continue to venerate their most powerful female orisa (deity), Osun. The images alluding to her presence and power are as diverse as the people and the geographical locations where she is worshiped. Thus, the definition of Osun's identity extends beyond Osogbo and many Yoruba towns where she is believed to have turned into the Osun River, and where festivals are held in her honor annually (Abiodun 2001: l0). This recognition is passed on orally to all the succeeding kings in the area (Diedre 1995: 15). Osun receives such honor from kings both in kind and cash. It has been said, "Osun

imagery, the mysterious consummation

of life is a power that

humbles rulers and

followers alike" (Diedre 1995). Kings are second to the divinities "igba keji" and one of these divinities is Osun. One of the ways this prestige is kept intact is that Yoruba kings are rarely seen in public. People see them during special and religious occasions.

Men and women, young and old are accountable to the king and divinities. Ironically, Yoruba believe that the offence of one person could bring catastrophe on all in the community.

Osogbo is a peaceful and quiet city to live

in.

People obey the rule of law and are

friendly to strangers. They follow peace and justice as laid down by the kingship and Osun. They fear the consequences of their actions or inactions, because Osun is watching

their character and know their attitude. Osogbo has therefore become the city of immigrants "atipo" and the population is growing as people moved from other Yoruba

towns (Centre for African Settlement Studies and Development 1993: 1). Osogbo is growing in popularity and in number of inhabitants. The growth phenomena Osogbo is preserved

in ijala, the hunters who entertained public audience during religious

ceremonies (Babalola 1964: 47).

As the kingdom grew, the early settlers had to move a few meters away, from the

river banks because of the threat of flood and expanded towards the Oja Oba (king's market) (Centre for African Settlement Studies and Development 1993: l1). The king's palace was relocated to be very close to the market, which gave him more control over the religious and economic activities of Osogbo. The first palace is located in the present

Osun Court Yard, the second palace was name OKE OHUNTOTO which is now the a sacred shrine where Ogboni Cult members meet periodically, and the third palace was

built at the lkirun, Ilesa, Ibadan, Ilorin, Ogbomoso, and Ede footpath roads intersected (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council 1994: 54-59). Food crops are produced in large quantity in Osogbo. Osun's favorite foodis egbo

"com meal." Whenever the people of Osogbo eat this Yoruba-made meal, they remember Osun. Some are of the opinion that the word "Osogbo" is taken from the same egbo "a o'corn meal" is made of dry corn or maize corn meal" that Yoruba people like to eat. Egbo

called agbado. The story states that many people in this particular side of Yorubaland

love to deal with egbo, therefore they have iso-egbo,anegbo stand. Osogbo is a short form of 1so-Egbo "a market/store for the com-meal." This com porridge is a fast food for the travelers, so they named the place "Osogbo" the home of "egbo" specialists (Awe and

Albert 1995: 3). Egbo "com-meal" therefore is a part of the Osun sacrifice. Osogbo has experienced various systems

govemment including monarchy,

colonial, parliamentary, republic, and democratic goverrlments. Gradually, the local and national government authorities gained wider authorities over the monarchy. By January 1966, the Osogbo District Council came into effect. The indigenous people of Osogbo elected local representatives for the Osogbo District Council who represented them in the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Under this new system of govemment the kings not only lost control over the people, but the Osogbo people became more liberal in the things of the spirit. Spiritual and dogmatic beliefs were challenged by education. Ataoja could only preside over the

traditional, territorial, social and religious matters. In May 1973, the Management Council took over the legislative, judiciary and executive power of Osogbo.

Although the Ataoja temporarily lost some of his roles to the Local and Federal governments of Nigeria, Osun still retained her sovereignty over the religious, history and

social systems of Osogbo. One of the Nigerian states, in the area of Osogbo, has been named as Osun State. Osun has got her place on the African and world map. The Osun

festival is also gaining the recognition of the national govemment as they often send federal and state representatives to witness the festival.

It is possible in the near future

that the Osun festival will become a national public holiday.

'We

have explained that Osogbo is the city of Osun and she is directly connected

to Osogbo. Osun "is extremely popular for her multidimensional fecundities" (Beier 1977: 52). She rules over Osogbo and she is recognized in Nigeria as a state.

In the context of Osogbo that we are discussing, Osun is an historical

person.

Osun is personified as a Yoruba river that runs through many Yoruba towns. This particular river was not just named after Osun, but the water is her personif,rcation and personhood.

All Yoruba people

take this to be true (Beier 1977: 52). She is the goddess

of "the Waters of Life" and spiritual guidance of Osogbo, but her authority across Yorubaland (Beier 1977:

extends

52). Osun's mysterious power is preserved in myths,

songs, music and histories throughout Yorubaland (Diedre 1995: 115). One important

institution that made Osun's fame spread beyond Yorubaland is slavery. Slavery spread myths about Osun beyond Yorubaland. So now Osun is known in some parts of the New

World slavery and slave-trade (Owomoyela

l97l:

123). However, Yoruba worship

strongly sustained Osun worship throughout Yorubaland.

So far we have pinpointed some of the religious elements that sustain awareness

the

of Osun in Osogbo. Osun's myths are impressed in the minds of people. The

next chapter

will

focus on the Osun festival

Osogbo as the most popular annual

religious ceremony that brings spiritual leaders, secular leaders and the entire community together annually. There is no way one can talk about Osogbo and Osun without treating the religious value of the Osun festival. Benjamin C. Ray commented on the importance

of this subject by saying "the annual Oshun festival at Oshogbo displays Oshun's many powers

in a dramatic

manner during the sixteen-day celebration" (Ray 2000: 35).

Annually, thousands of people participated in the sixteen-day annual celebration of Osun

in Osogbo (Ray 2000: 35). As we shall discuss in the next chapter, the festival is an event that attracts various religious leaders, musicians, in celebration of culture, customs and ritual related to Osun.

CHAPTER

THE OSUN ANNUAL FESTIVAL So far, the focus of the discussion has been on understanding of the structure

Osun myths. As pointed out in the previous chapter, Osun controls both the leadership

structures and moral standards

of the Osogbo people. Osun is so "powerful,

indeed

empowering" that she attracts people annually to Osogbo for her festival (Diedre 1995:

xvi). This chapter turns our attention to how Yoruba people make use of myths annually in reconstructing Osun festival.

The Osun festival is an annual religious festival

in Osogbo, Nigeria. It is

sixteen-day festival that involves the king, chiefs, priests, people of Osogbo and other surrounding villages and cities. It is safe to say that Osun festival marks the beginning

calendar year for the people of Osogbo. It is like the way people celebrate the New Near

all over the world. Awolalu makes this observation about Osun festival in Osogbo that many pilgrims attend from different parts of the world (1996: 114). The Osun festival is a

time of ritual, sacrihce, street-processions, dancing, singing, drinking and eating in Osogbo (Omofolabo 1998: 1). The Osun festival is a period when political and religious leaders with Osun shared beliefs in Nigeria meet to remember the inception of Osogbo.

At individual and social level, the festival is a period of honoring Osun with their vows and pledges.

People of Osogbo have a general idea when the festival is to be held in a year but

the exact week of the festival is always fixed through Ifa divination. While

Osun

recognizes and accepts the authority of Ifa oracles (Badejo 1995: 13), it is Orunmila that sets and monitors every aspects of the festival (Badejo

1995: 5Q.

The Ataoja, who is the king of Osogbo, is the one who is authorized to announce the exact week of the festival at the city centre. One of the reasons for choosing the city centre is to follow the tradition of the early ancestors. Announcing the date is a way of

reaffirming his supreme spiritual and political leadership. Ataoja arìnounces the date on

market day, when women and men are carrying out their businesses. The announcement

is done in a ceremonial manner and the business women dress up in their best clothes in expectation of the news (Badejo 1995: 139).

The Osun festival usually falls in late August or early September. It has always been around the same period, even before the introduction of the Vy'estem calendar in

Yorubaland (Centre for African Settlement Studies and Development 1993: 11). August

or September is the rainy season in Osogbo and the waters of Osun river are full to the

brim. It is an opportunity to see the power of water and waves in action. One of the beauties of the rainy season in Osogbo is that plants are bushy and forests are thick and

dark. This creates a sense of awe and reverence in the mind of the devotees. The rainy season

is also a time when plants and wild animals reproduce in great numbers. It is

believed that the gods, spirits and ancestors are more actively involved in the Yoruba

community at this period than during the other seasons. After the dates have been announced, committed worshippers arrange their annual leave to

fall on the dates.

Iya Ewe who is the mother of all children with a number of women would go the

public markets asking for donations. As she prays for people from one store to another, people are motivated to give her money for the preparations of the festival. Market places are where everybody meets regularly

for business transactions. As soon as the Iya Ewe

announces to the people,

it is now the responsibilities of those who

have heard her to

carry the news to their respective homes.

Iwo Popo which means the inspection of the major road is another opportunity for

the king and his entourages use to notify the entire community about the date of the festival. Before the construction

of roads in

Osogbo, the only major road that runs

through the town has to be cleared by men and women in a preparation for the Osun festival. There was no machine then, so everybody has to show up in clearing the bushes

in preparation for the day. Popo

means the main road, and

lwo means to inspect, that

means that the king has to personally inspect the road in a ceremonial way. Drummers and dancers would join the King of Osogbo as they all wait for the time of the annual sacrifice.

Ikunle Osun is another preparation that the priests of Osun and their assistances have to do every year. Ikunle Osun is the cleaning, dusting and decorating of all Osun images or idols in the shrine of Osun. Priests use special collections of leaves to do the cleaning. By doing this, the people believe that Osun's power would be rejuvenate. Her power would be recharged because ikunle Osun involved the use of charms.

A. Atupø Oloju Meríndinlogun "the Sixteen-Face Lamps": Following the public announcement of the dates for the Osun festival, an important event occurs: the lighting

of the sixteen-face lamps. It is held at night in the courtyard of one of the old palaces in town. This sacred dancing, singing and sacrifice celebration happens four days after the Iwo Popo. Many people are present at this spiritual festive meeting. In attendance are the

king, queens, hunters, priests of divination, chiefs, boys and girls. One of the special

persons in attendance is the arugba, we shall talk more about who she is in a minute. Each group would dance to the lfa drums in-tums. One of the popular songs they sing has a line saying

"iya awa di osupa o, Osun le tente " meaning that "our mother becomes the

moon, Osun shines bright." The underlying meaning of this line is that Osun is the light

for all her devotee. It indicates that no darkness or wicked spirit would be able to harm them. Some people are designated to be in charge of the lambs and to make sure they do

not quench during the ceremony. These lamps are not ordinary or regular lamps but they are considered spiritual lamps.

It is believed these lamps symbolize the welcoming

and

invitation of the ancestral spirits to the festival. These lamps are symbolically linked to the story that occurred during the inception of Osogbo, when the hunters claimed they heard a voice saying, Oso lgbo ni mi translating to

detailed

am the wizard of the forest" (as

chapter two). These leaders further claimed that they fought with seven

spiritual beings that Yoruba people call iwin "dwarf spirits." Iwin (dwarf spirits) are said

to be dwarf spirits that roam around at night time especially in the deep jungles. M1'ths have it that these dwarf spirits are neither good nor bad to people. They only fight back when people tamper with their property, most especially their sleeping mats. The iwin arc said to be regular residents of lroko trees during the day and wanderers at

night.

Some

hunters, and those who do night shift work, have claimed to see iwin "dwarf spirits" at one point or another, though their claims cannot be independently verified.

It was quite understandable when the Osogbo

hunters who discovered the Osun

grove claimed that they had encountered iwin "dwarf spirits" and had seen them holding

atupa olojumerindinlogun "a sixteen-face lamp" (Centre for African Settlement Studies

and Development 1993: l1). With traditional power, the hunters reportedly fought the

dwarf spirits, and seized their lamps, which was a good omen for the hunters. It showed that they were men of war who could handle any form of challenges. In defeat, the dwarf

spirits left the area for a distant forest. Consequently, the Osun festival begins with the celebration of this victory with spiritual beings over the spirit beings.

During this ceremony, the king and his entourage have to dance round the lamps three times.

At the third count, the king and the queens would dance to the shrine of

Ogun where Timehin, the co-founder of Osogbo has his special shrine for Ogun, the

divinity in-charge of hunting and all the metallic materials, erects his first shrine in Osogbo. Before the king and his people get back to the compound of where they are

celebrating the atupa olojumerindinlogun, the priests and the attendants would have parked all the lamps from the scene. The noise of this ritual can be heard far from a distance. This special annual song and dance contributes to the continuation of Osun myth in Osogbo and creates a sense

in Yorubaland. It

of awe and reverence in the community (Okpewho, Davies, and Mazrui

1999: 2I). Drumming and drums are effective and informational in passing down the

Yoruba religion from one generation to another. The music and drums energize the worshippers and encourage them to look forward to the time of the festival.

The other significance of the lighting of atupa oloju merindilogun "sixteen-face lamps" is that it provides a rare moment for the king and lya Osun "Osun priestess" to dance

in the honor of Osun (Badejo 1995: 110). A female priest had a chance to dance

with the king of the land. The queens, Osun priests, babalawo, and hunters join in dancing.

Songs and music for the ritual dance are supplied by a group

of hunters who

render ijola "hunters' dirges" in honor of Osun. This is the night when hunters reenact

their forefathers' involvement in the history of Osogbo. These hunters often perform dramatic plays to lighten the spirits of the living and the ancestors. Hunters appreciate the

fact that their forefathers risked their lives to gain possession of the land that is today known as Osogbo.

Culturally,

Oj u Mer indinl

gun "sixteen-face" symbolically represents the sixteen-

cowry divination of Ifa oracles (Badejo 1995: 109). A cowry is a small shell that one can

collect on the river-bank. Sixteen is the unwritten code of Yoruba divination that the diviners "babalawo" combine and interpret for their clients daily. Each pattem of the cowries communicates the mind of Orunmila to the clients. The number sixteen has always been special to Osun. She also knows how to work with sixteen cowries, which is a secret vocational divination. In one of the myths, Osun received her first

gift of sixteen

cowries called opele "cowries" from her husband, Orunmila the father of divination. For her,

it was an instrument of the priestly office (Awolalu 1979, 1996). As an intelligent

wife who desired not to be left out of her husband's business, Osun learnt the art of manipulating these opele "cowries"

in divination to get an accurate answer from

husband, Orunmila (Farrow 1996:42). Osun could beautifully chant ohun enu

her

ifa"thelfa

oracles," the scriptural verses of her Ifa divination (Olajubu 1970: Olatunji: 69-86). The quality of her voice often resounds in the ears of the priests and they relate Osun's desires to their customers. To be a diviner, one must know the importance of the sixteen oracles which is annually remembered in the lighting of the lamps.

Number sixteen in the atupa oloju merindinlogu is a symbolic number in Yoruba traditional beliefs. As we shall discuss later, the sixteen-face lamps remind the people of the sixteen major orisa "divinities" in Yoruba myths (Abimbola 1977). Divinities were said to be the first created beings on earth. They were the emissaries of "Olodumare" God

in Yoruba belief. The second to the last phase of the pre-preparations for the festival is what is called yo. This is a spiritual banquet that the king of Osogbo organizes for all the royal families, chiefs, priests, and their children. It is a time for dinning and winning for all the royal members and the priests.

The last pre-preparation for the Osun festival is the ibo ori ati ibo ade. This is done a day after fhe ijo. The ibo

ori ati ibo ade is a combination of two activities . The ibo

ori is a time when the present king

has

to offer rituals and sacrifices to Osun and other

Yoruba divinities for his personal safety and security throughout the year.

B. The Day of the Festival: On the day of the Osun festival, thousands of devotees, visitors and the media crews gather in Osogbo. This is the final day of a week-long festival. It is the day when people parade in a camival-tike formation from one end of the city to the other (Badejo

1995: 107). Women, men and children, march from the palace of the Ataoja to the Osun grove. They are accompanied by the playing of sekere "gourds" agogo "bell" jingles and various kinds of drums such as bembe to the praise of Osun.

The procession is always long, for convenience, the line breaks up into sections

with different bands playing for them. Dancing and singing, the people would march to

Osun grove. Onikaknki "rcyal trumpeter" would be at the front, leading the procession.

Next in line are the Ayaba "queens," musicians, chiefs and guards who surround Ataoja (Badejo 1995: 139). As onikaki blows his trumpet, the king walks majestically behind

him. The nearby residents then troop out to join the entertainment, honor the king and Osun. People whip each other with sticks as an expression of celebration of Osun and

their ancestors (Badejo 1995: 145). The audience is entertained by different styles of dance, ranging from slow rhythmic songs to very fast tempo music. Other people, who are not that interested in the festival, stand on their balconies to view the procession.

The king stands out in the procession by his wearing of royal regalia and the chiefs wearing their best attires with beads on their necks and arms as symbols of their position. The king is the centre of attraction at the festival. The emewa "messengers" of the king carry avery large umbrella to protect the king from sun or rain. A large umbrella

is usually apart of the king's wardrobe, and it is specifically designed for his use alone (Badejo 1995: 139).

Like all other Yoruba kings, the Ataoja puts on his ade "beaded crown," and one

of his messengers carries his opa ase "staff of offtce". In most towns in Yorubaland, whenever a king is invited to a function, and he is unable to attend, he sends one of his opa ase "staff of office" with a group of his messengers to represent him. The presence

the staff of office and his representatives signif,res that the king is present at the occasion. The staff of office is a very important symbol of power in Yorubaland.

Chiefs, priests, priestesses and the queens surround the king of Osogbo on this special day of the year as he walks majestically past his people.

All his chiefs, the guests,

men and women adorn themselves with the latest Yoruba traditional dresses. Due to the

large number of chiefs in the procession, each one of them wears something unique to distinguish him from the other. The king's face is always partially covered because he wears a beaded crown decorated with strings of beads that cover most parts of his face.

However it is a special privilege for anyone to see the king passing by.

1. Activities at the Grove: On Osun day especially, the entering of the grove marks the

climax of the events of the Osun festival and it is the best part of the day. People who could not participate in the parade and in the long trek through the city from one end to another would have positioned themselves at the grove waiting for the arrival of the procession. As the Ataoja, Iya Osun, Aworo, Arugba, priests, priestesses and the crowd approach the grove, people who have been waiting there bow in respect to the entourage and to welcome them.

The main Osun shrine is located on the banks of the Osun River.

It is a place

where the worshippers make invocation, pray and offer sacrifices to Osun.

It is a spot

where the spiritual leaders of Osogbo talk to Osun on behalf of the citizens. This most sacred spot is where the king offers prayers and sacrifice

for the city. The Osun priests

and the babalawo "ifa priests" would pay their respects to Osun at this spot (Awolalu 1996: 36). They would offer prayer for the peace and prosperity of Osogbo community.

This can last for several minutes as the selected chiefs take tums in making specific prayers for the city.

2. The Annual Public Sacrifïce: At Osun grove, the king pays tribute to Osun and the crowd responds in a loud voice saying ose "amen." Others shout knbiyesi! "Long live the

king!" Some of the invited guests, such as the neighboring oba "kings", baale "local chairmen", oloye "chiefs" and olori-egbe "heads of guilds," join the king as he performs the final act of ritual. Ataoja takes time to offer sacrifices to Osun.

As part of the king's final ritual act, he offers a sacrifice to Osun by using the contents of the container that Arugba has been carrying throughout the procession. This is

the time to renew "the ancient pact by approaching the river with gteat ceremony" (Bonnefoy 199111993: 146). During the sacrifice, the Ataoja has to stoop low to make a sacrifice to Osun. Seeing him in this posture publicly is a rare gesture expected of a king

Yorubaland. As the political and spiritual authority figure, men are expected to

prostrate on the floor for the king to greet him. greet the king. For this reason,

All female citizens must kneel down

it is a popular saying in Yorubaland that, a ki duro ki

oba,

a ki n bere ki oóa. Nobody ever greet a king in a casual manner. A king is revered and treated as a demi-god by the Yoruba people, and prostrate himself before any mortal being.

it is an abomination for a king to

If it is done, it is believed that such person

would die within days.

Only in a ritual setting, such as the Osun festival, would one see a king bend

low in public. Osun is honored with such a raÍe action from the Ataoja once a year. Without such public honor, the Osun festival would not be a complete success. A religious posture of a king prostrating or stooping down before a goddess is a break from

traditional practice.

It is a significant

action and a memorial one in a culture that is

dominated by male superiority.

As the king makes this final ritual-sacrifice, the leaders invoke the spirit of Osun

to accept the sacrifice as he places it on the river bank (Awolalu 1996: 115).

Occasionally, Osun is believed to appear to the crowd in a form of a fish known as lko (Centre for African Settlement Studies and Development 1993: 11). The king literally spreads his hands

or palms to welcome the iko "fish" into the community. This royal

gesture of spreading of hands reminds the large audience of the traditional meaning of the

king's official title known as "Atewogbeja" meaning "the one who spreads forth his hands to honor the

fish." This is in reference to the traditional welcoming of Osun's

spirit into the community each year. As can be recalled, the adoption of this official title of Atewogbeja is dated back to the beginning of Osogbo town when Osun appeared to the hunters who frrst located the place. In response to the king's prayer during the festival,

and the gesture of the king, the fish is claimed to have emerged from the water. Its appearance is thought

to be an acknowledgement that Osun is pleased with the annual

festival and with the people.

3. The King's Annual Address: The final aspect of the Osun festival is the Ataoja's address

of the worshippers. His

message usually includes the religious issues, political

admonishments and appreciation to the audience for attending the festival. In his address,

the king outlines the leadership commitments to Osun. He would encourage the citizens

to be good and responsible

during the year

organizations. The cultural and religious speech attendance keeps referring

by getting involved in

voluntary

is so important that everybody in

to it for days after the festival. Whatever the king

says

becomes a point of discussion and action for the leadership of the city and the societal groups in town. Representatives who attend the festival jabo "report" to the members

their groups. Therefore, for the king, the Osun festival is a chance to motivate

and

challenge the citizens of Osogbo and its environment to cooperate with his leadership

(Badejo 1995: 121).

4. Follow-Up Activities: After the spiritual leaders and kings f,rnish their ofÍicial roles in

the festival, the crowd stays behind on the banks of the Osun to collect water in bottles and cans for family members and friends who could not come to the festival. Maude

Southwell Wahlman writes "Contemporary Yoruba ritual pots do hold symbolic medicines. Yoruba women who hope to conceive drink fresh water from an Oshun pot

which also contains riverine pebbles to represent the children of Oshun (Wahlman 1955: 149). Yoruba believe in the potency of the water. They keep the collected water at home

all year round

as part

of first aid material for the family. As dirty

as the water might be,

Osun devotees drink and use the water for medicinal purposes (Badejo 1995: 12i). It is

believed that Osun water can heal them

of all their diseases and illnesses. As

the

worshippers get ready to leave Osogbo, they wash their faces in the river for the last time,

believing that the power of Osun will be with them until the next festival.

summary, the Osun festival provides

a yearly opportunity to revisit

the

historical origins of Osogbo and to educate the young generation of the importance of Yoruba beliefs. The festival provides the opportunity to celebrate Yoruba mythology and cosmology.

It offers an opportunity to communicate

Yoruba beliefs to the younger

generation (Badejo 1995: 53, 63). The Osun festival is therefore a religious, political and

cultural event that retains and retells the identity of Yoruba in Osogbo history. The description of the ritual, codified beliefs and superstitious beließ that surround Osun worship keep the faith alive and free from total comrption.

C. Major Participants in the Annual Festival:

Traditional religion and beliefs are part

of life for the Yoruba

people. Every

participant at Osun festival has to obey the rules governing the divinity and her rituals. This is one of the reasons why one could rely on oral religion to reconstruct the history of a

Yoruba goddess, Osun. Benjamin Ray observed that:

most African societies, there aÍe certain types of religious authorities, such as diviners, prophets, priests, and sacred kings, who perform specific ritual functions. Although these authorities operate in different contexts and in different ways, they serve a common religious

purpose: the mediation between man and the sacred (Ray 2000: i03),

For a clear understanding of the Osun festival and its continuation, we need to state the significance

of roles that individual religious people play in keeping it alive in

Osogbo. Traditionally, people are faithful in playing their roles in the Osun festival. It is believed that

any of the leaders did not play their roles properly, Osun would be very

aîgry with all of them. It is a dangerous thing to fall into the hands of the goddess. Osun

is also known as abijawøra "a veracious fighter". The watchword for every step is caution in fulfilling their religious obligations. The following key off,rciating people at the annual Osun festival will be examined

along with their roles in the next few pages of this dissertation. These people are the Ataoja of Osogbo, Iya Osun, Aworo Osun and the Babalawo.

1. Ataoja: In continuation with what we have read about the Ataoja as the king of Osogbo, he is also the political head of the Osogbo people. He is considered to be second

to all divinities in power, authority and status. He is expected to play his role in making every festival compatible with the historical expectations (DeGraft 1976: I-25). His roles

in the Osun festival

are as important as his kingship.

As one of the prominent kings in

Yorubaland, Ataoja mediates between spiritual beings and his subjects. He seeks for the

well being of his people and all the nearby villages and towns and he equally ensures that

all the chiefs, business leaders and neighboring kingdoms are fully recognized

and

acknowledged during the festival where he is the chief host to all invited guests (Awolalu 1996: I 10).

2, lya Osun: Iya Osun, who is the head of men and women in the religious order of Osun, is also the mother figure for all Osun devotees (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council 1994: 16). She communes daily with Osun in her temple service and regularly acts on her

behalf at public functions. She was "involved in the collection of market tolls in the form

of food item every day. Such tolls were used for the upkeep of the Osun devotees and as sacrifice to the Osun goddess" (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council 1994: 16). She is called

lya Osun "the mother of Osun" literally. The title explains that Iya

Osun is in charge of the Osun cult (Badejo 1995: 105). She is presumed to know and understand all things related to Osun more than anybody else in the community. People come from far and near to seek help from Osun through the Iya Osun. As the priestess-incharge, she has to attend to people who need direct assistance from Osun.

Iya Osun is also the spiritual and official mother of Ataoja, the king of Osogbo (Badejo 1995: 161). The king occasionally seeks the guidance of Iya Osun on certain issues, especially concerning Osun's expectations.

fulfilling his role in the Osun festival

All new king often rely on Iya Osun in

and rituals. To an aveÍage Yoruba person, kings are

knowledgeable in everything, but in this case the king relies on a woman's

authorif,Iya

Osun.

Iya Osun's roles are different from that of the Ayaba, 'oqueen". The king's relationship with Iya Osun is purely spiritual and there is no need for physical or sexual

intimacy between the two, Iya Osun and Ataoja, despite the fact Yoruba culture encourages the kings and regular men to practice polygamy (Farrow 1996: 51; Schiltz 1985). Spiritual matters are what bring the king and Iya Osun together.

Iya Osun, as the spiritual head of Osun is the highest priestess in charge of the order. She is present at all meetings for the planning of the festival. The post of Iya Osun

is a chieftaincy title that has its origin in Osogbo and is exclusively reserved for a woman

who leads in the worship of Osun (Badejo 1995: 161). The Iya Osun is a member of the council of chiefs of which men are in the majority in Osogbo (Osogbo Cultural Heritage

Council 1994: 17-18). We have ilumoyes, Ijo lyalode, Ajagunna, Akogun, Eesa, Otun Ajagunna, Baale Gbonmi, and Balogun.

In small villages where Osun's influence is not as prominent

it is in Osogbo,

Iya Olorisa "mother of divinities" presides over all religious affairs that pertain to female divinities, including Osun worship. It has been argued that Iya Osun and Iyalode have economic and spiritual power in their communities (Badejo 1995: 160). In Osogbo, Iya Osun and Iyalode are two different female leaders with different roles in the community.

Iyalode is more or less the title for a Yoruba woman who is in charge of commerce and she

is the political representative of women of the town while lya Osun is

authority figure who is in charge of the Osun shrine.

female

Iya Osun has a number of men and women who assist her in carrying out her roles

in the grove. Among her assistants are Aworo Osun, Balogun Osun and Arugba (Badejo 1995: 161; Bascom 1943: 127). These people have made a covenant with Osun and they

work in conjunction with Iya Osun. Collectively, they act as guides for Osun's clients (Beier 1977 13; Bascom 1943: 127). Iya Osun works with other leaders in planning the Osun festival.

Another role of Iya Osun in the shrine is to prepare the day-to-day sacrifices to Osun. She knows the ingredients required for such sacrifices. Each item on Osun's menu

is meaningful to her. On a regular basis, Iya Osun carefully presents the sacrifices and offerings to Osun on behalf of her worshippers. She is also responsible for the welfare of the devotees who visit or reside in Osun grove. She ensures that they all adhere to Osun's standards and expectations while they are in the grove (Badejo 1995: 116).

3. Aworo Osun: Aworo Osun is one of Iya Osun's assistants. Osun is one of few Yoruba

female cults where men work under the leadership of women. On behalf of Iya Osun,

Aworo makes sure that Arugba perform her duties of carrying the annual sacrifice in

safe environment (Abiodun 2001: 27). Aworo paves the way for the Arugba Osun as she

walks among the crowd. He receives instructions from lya-Osun to take care of Arugba.

Aworo's religious role is under the supervision of Iya-Osun (Badejo 1995: i61). For it is a taboo for Arugba to fall during the parade.

At the annual festival people get to know and respect the Aworo Osun. During the procession, Aworo has a chance to demonstrate to Iya Osun, Arugba, the king, and to Osun that he is capable of doing his job. In addition to this role, Aworo represents the

men in the Osun shrine. He regularly assists the Iya Osun in her daily sacrifices. In the grove, he also plays the dundun, a kind of drum that makes a special music (Badejo 1995: 1

18). Songs, drums and dances are parts of the daily ritual during the sacrifices to Osun.

4. Balogun Osun at the Festival: Another prominent character in the Osun festival is the

Balogun Osun. Balogun Osun assists Iya Osun. He is a war leader and a protector of Osun's people. He plays both defensive and offensive roles in keeping the grove safe and secure. Balogun

in Yorubaland is the commander-in-chief of an entire city. It is

common chieftaincy title and almost all Yoruba communities have one. In Osogbo, the Balogun Osun is a special form of traditional chieftancy which is not common in other

Yoruba town and villages. Balogun Osun is relatively lower in ranks than the Aworo Osun. However the continued existence of this special title and position contributes to the memory of Osun in Osogbo.

5. Babalawo: Individually and collectively, babalavto "the Yoruba priests of divination" attend the Osun shrine regularly. During the Osun festival many babaløwo have to work

together to ensure that every item needed for rituals and sacrifices is available in the

quality and quantity required for the festival. Babalcwo understand, devise and discern spiritual matters relating to the arangements of the Osun festival. The babaløwo are also known as herbalists because they know how to prevent evil occurrences. Whenever they perceive any problem about Osun's day, they would offer sacrifice to avert such evil.

They know what combination of incantations, leaves, roots, animals, water, soil and ingredients to use in clearing evil spirits from the society.

One

of the spiritual

weapons

of the babalawo is incantations. For the Osun

festival, they know the exact verses that are relevant to this spiritual occasion. Every rendition of an incantation empowers the priests to discern what the deity expects from

the people. Above all, the contents of incantations are mostly from Yoruba myths. Incantations contain and preserve episodes or narratives of the personhood, interactions, and experiences of gods dealing with medical, historical and general issues of people on

earth.

Osogbo most incantations have references

Osun. Incantations re-echo

mythical history daily and they preserve community history. Regular usage of incantations keeps Osun's faith alive in Osogbo. The residents of Osun grove listen to the

stories

of Osun on a daily basis. Regularly, babalawo leam about the personhood of

Osun. Incantations preserve the records

of how gods and Yoruba

ancestors worked

together in their history. The babalawo in their oracles always encourage and practice

repetition of the verses in incantations. Some verses are said to be so effrcacious that when they are repeated three, seven, or twelve times in the morning, afternoon and evening they can solve problems (Bascom 1943: 128). Incantations work for those who

strictly follow the directions of the priests to the letter. Incantations are beautiful oral poetries that sound well and, at the same time, are

full of spiritual messages and

traditional wisdom. The babalqwo who is deeply involved in the planning and execution of the plans

of the Osun festival is usually one of the leading figures among the priests and he would have been a regular consultant for Osun leaders during the year. His involvement in the

planning guarantees the continuation of relationships between Osun and Orunmila in the Yoruba tradition,

It reminds the community that Orunmila at one time was manied

Osun.

It is also evidence that Orunmila

and Osun shared some things in common,

divinities, sojourners and diviners during their earthy existence.

To ensure the smooth running of the Osun festival, this particular Babalawo would work closely with Ataoja and Iya Osun. From the beginning of the planning to the end of it, the king would continuously summon the babaløwo and Iya Osun to his palace

for meetings and deliberations. One of the roles of the babalawo is to foretell the weather condition of the chosen dates and to make rituals that would guarantee an accident-free festival. He would prescribe the ritual ingredients for such sacrifices as may be needed. He would also warn the leaders of any imminent dangers and guide them in taking the necessary precautions.

Ifa oracles are known to be arinu-rode olumoran oknn "the one

who knows the inner thoughts of all the people" (Farrow 1996: 42). He speaks to the people as he receives the revelations and directions from heavens.

The involvement of Babaløwo "priests" in the Osun festival speaks for the way

her influence has been aided by babaløwo traditional practices around the world. Historically, Osun was familiar with the act of divination too (Badejo 1995: 2). The Yoruba people believe that originally the sixteen cowries of divination were the property

of Osun. She leamed the skill of reading these sixteen cowries from Orunmila (Badejo 1995: 92). In Yorubaland none of the sixteen divinities is widely known as having the

skill and knowledge of lfa-divination apart from Osun and Orunmila. The idea of Osun having the knowledge and skills

of divination is not widely known in

Yorubaland

(Badejo 1995: 93). But her involvement with divination balances the male-female issue

among the Yoruba divinities. Not only do Osun praise-poems testify to her gender

100

recognition amidst the socio-cultural hierarchy, but her annual festival sustains her

divinity in Osogbo (Badejo 1995: 9,14).

6. Arugba: In Osun worship, Arugba is the virgin lady chosen to carry the Osun sacrifice

on her head across Osogbo town on the flrnal day of the Osun festival (Abiodun 2001:

27). Arugba is the youngest among the leadership in Osun festival. She is chosen from the ruling royal family's girls. She is a virgin princess. The process of appointing Arugba can be very challenging.

The Yoruba people have ways of discerning One way is by asking the young children

if a girl or a boy is sexually

if they have

active.

been involved in such acts.

It is

dangerous to lie to an adult in the Yoruba kingdom. The children know that the spirits

the ancestors are watching and listening to every conversation. One has no choice but to

tell the truth. The second way of verifying information is by asking other children and their parents. Every member of the community knows the importance of telling the truth. The third way of determining the truth is to ask the babalawo "priests of divination". As

we have mentioned earlier, the priests can tell about anybody's past, present and future

by consulting the Ifa oracles. The priests' can reveal the past sexual life of the Arugba candidates to the selected. Once the Arugba has been chosen, she carries the sacrifices every year

until

she is

ready for marriage. The Arugba is not permitted to be sexually active while she still holds

the position. When she decides to marry, another person is selected to take-up the responsibilities. Anyone who marries a former Arugba is expected to worship Osun as their family goddess (Beier 1977: 16).

101

On the final day of the festival, the Arugba carries the annual sacrifice in

calabash, which is made out of a gourd, across the city with the entourage around her.

Months before the festival, the Arugba will have made Osun grove her home in order to be filled with the spirit of Osun (Badejo 1995: 162). During this time, she has less contact

with the outside world. The two men that she sees regularly at the grove are the Aworo Osun and Balogun Osun. By adopting this secluded lifestyle, the temptation of living a

promiscuous life is reduced to a minimum and the men that she relates with know that

they cannot have sex with the Arugba. While the Arugba attends school during the academic year, she lives in the Osun grove.

At school, her colleagues

being a virtuous spiritual girl who will represent the

respect her for

city. Her male friends

dare not ask

her for a date or to make any sexual advances towards her for fear that she is omo orisa "a child of divinity." The Arugba is accorded a similar level of respect as that they give to Osun. Fear is built in the minds of these children about the powers of Osun from their early years. As a student, she represents her age group as Osun welcomes both young and

old to her festival. One of the rules guiding the girl is that she is not permitted to carry any load on her head during her appointment as Arugba. Carrying goods on one's head is a cofirmon practice in Yorubaland and it is one of the easiest ways of moving things from one place

to another. The market women, the farmers, the children and everybody who lives in Osogbo are used to carrying loads on their heads from one place to another (Badejo 1995:

162). The only thing that the Arugba is required "sacrifice" of the annual festival.

102

to carry on her head is the ebo

On the festival day, as the Arugba carries Osun's sacrifice from the city to the

river she is believed to be totally possessed by the spirit of Osun. At that moment, operates under the influence

she

of the spirit. She is in a state of ecstasy (Omofolabo 1998:

38). The Arugba intensely concentrates on her steps because she must not fall and the sacrifice on her head must not tip off. The atmosphere she carries the sacrifice within is so noisy and crowded that she needs all the assistance she can get in performing her service successfully. Aworo and others who understand the significance

of her task

surround her during the procession as she walks through the crowd (Badejo 1995: 133).

Her spiritual achievement is fulfilled for the year when she successfully brings

the

sacrifice to the Osun grove.

7. Crowds: A major criterion for measuring the success of the Osun festival is

the

number of participants. The second way is to see that the event is free of accidents. Constantly, prayers are offered for the safe arrival of participants in the festival and also

for the safe return of the participants to their respective homes. All the leaders work in harmony to make sure the festival is accident free. Osogbo hosts a large crowd during the week of the Osun festival. People come to Osogbo from all the neighboring villages, towns and cities just for the celebration. Most

citizens of Osogbo who live in other parts of the Yoruba states and other countries come

to witness the annual ritual. Among the crowds at the festival are the entertainers, artisans, youth groups, representatives from other Yoruba communities, and associations

of petty traders, These groups of people form the large part of the crowd that makes the

103

festival the historical and religious event of the year (Badejo 1995: 117). Each of these participants arrives in Osogbo each year with a determination to be blessed by the spirits.

Women and men come to renew their vows with Osun. Like the kings, local chairmen, chiefs and heads of the guilds in the area, men and women take monetary gifts

to the king and offer sacrifices to Osun. Barren women who were cured come to Osun priests with gifts of appreciation. These women attend the festival with the purpose of offering sacrifice and prayer for their family members. Those who can afford to pay for transportation and accommodation take their children to the festival to secure protection against any spiritual attacks and to meet with other children. The children of Osun "Omo Osun" are quite visible during the parade and

at the shrines. Sometimes, they wear uniforms known as aso egbe.

It is a sign of the

spiritual bond that exists and binds these children together (Badejo 1995: 143). The festival day is called ojo odun "day of festivity".

After the parade, when the king has made the final sacrifice and read his speech, some of the children immerse themselves in the Osun River while the grown-ups assist

them in bathing in

it. Kate Miriam Loewenthal and Marco Cinnirella argued that such

bathing in a sacred river fosters a strong self-esteem in individual worshiper and in developing social relationship within a religious group (Loewenthal and Marco 2003:

t26).

D. Other Important Places and Things associated with Osun Festival: Here are some relevant places and things that participants always remember about the Osun festival.

t04

1. The Osun Grove: The Osun grove is the land near the Osun River. It is a common practice in Yorubaland to designate a landed property for some divinity in each city and village.

On the day of the festival, very early in the morning some people position themselves at the grove. One reason for this is to find a better position to view the last

part ofthe festival and the second reason is to enjoy the serenity ofthe grove before the arrival of the noisy crowd. A family of four or more members could lose one of its people among the crowd, so

it is better to wait

at the

final spot of the procession at the grove.

During the year, Osun grove is out of bounds to the farmers and hunters, whose means of livelihood are related to it. The grove has been preserved for long time hence

the acres of land have become thick dark forest and left uncultivated for years. It is

typical tropical forest of Osogbo. These features create special effects that raise the sense of awe and reverence for divinities. People believe the grove is spiritually charged, and it is the home of the divinities and evil spirits. Creeping things and beasts freely live on the sacred piece

of land. Although the Yoruba depend on hunting for wild meat, hunting in

Osun grove is forbidden. The Osun grove, therefore, is a safe haven for birds, animals and fish that want to escape the hunters.

As mentioned earlier, the grove provided a security for Osogbo during the previous inter-tribal warfare as it made

it difficult for the invaders to gain access to the

Osogbo. Some people credited Osun for providing such safety and protection for the city

while others thought that it was the natural protective demarcation of the city. Together the forest and the river made access to Osogbo very difficult for its enemies. The Fulani

105

Jihadists learned their lesson the hard way (Ajayi and Smith 1964:34). These Islamic extremists could not find their way out of the jungle of Osogbo and many of them died on the outskirts of the city. Those who survived left in frustration (Badejo 1995: 115).

In this century, though Yoruba people still migrate to other Yoruba cities they leave room for spirituality (Beier 1977: 15). Almost all Yoruba cities and villages have

igbo orisa "divinities forest." In different villages and towns, such sacred land may be called lgbo

oro "oro forest," Igbo igbale "Igbale forest," or other names after the

prevailing cult or deity of the town. The sacredness and serenity often scare property developers from building houses on the land.

Osun grove is a symbolic pilgrim center.

It is a sacred forest that reminds

the

Yoruba people the importance of gods and goddesses in Osogbo. It is a Mecca of Osun. The Osun grove is a testimonial for the children and people in Osogbo. Kare Tate gives a genuine waming to potential tourists to be careful in wherever they go in Osogbo.

should be noted, tourists are usually only allowed in the anterooms of shrines. This is viewed as important to protect both the shrine from spiritual defilement, (as well as tourists from taboos), and the powerful forces that might unsettle the uninitiated. Pilgrims are reminded this is a sacred precinct and proper respect is required around the shrines, river, and sacred forest" (Tate 2006: 108). Sacred places are spiritually charged. They are different from mere tourist centers. Other

forms of Yoruba divinities that often have such land reserved sacred forests are the Egungun "masquerades" and

oro "secret cults." Their worship always required the

preservation of landed properties called lgbo Egun or lgbo

these religious cults end their celebration "masquerades", are known

Oro. During their

at their sacred

festivals

forests too. Egungun

to be the worship of the spirits of the dead. During their

festival they emerge from igbale "a secret portion of the igbo Egungttn" a sacred land

r06

allocated to them. They wear elaborate costumes, carved masks, carved statues, and well decorated religious paraphernalia to disguise themselves from people (Onyewuenyi 1984:

242). Some people wonder how a normal person could hide behind such a heavy masks

for hours without magical powers (Bascom i973: 89). Ojubo orisa "shrines"

and odo

Osun "Osun dver" are in close proximity to Osun forest in order to reinforce people's idea during the Osun festival (Awolalu 1996: 144).

The Osun festival gives the people an opportunity to get closer to Osun grove. The igbo Osun"the forest of Osun" raises the spiritual beliefs of the city (Badejo 1995:

xvi). In addition to its spiritual advantages, the worshipers have a chance to listen to the sounds

of birds, feel the cool breeze and see the beauty of

the. natural habitat of

Yorubaland. The smell of the forest could be equated to the aroma of burning incense in

temples and synagogues.

In the grove, there are "trees higher than the

medieval

cathedrals which hide their powerful bodies" from the public eyes (Beier 1977: l9). It is rare to see a forest designated for a goddess in other Yorubatowns and villages but Osun has a grove in Osogbo that preserves her memory.

The Osun grove is a perfect setting to end the festival because of its natural beauty, cool atmosphere and presence of shaded trees for the crowds. The Osun festival is conducted during the rainy season because

it is the time "when the power,

beauty, and

potentials of Osun River are most evident" to the people (Badejo 1995: 1 15). The waves

of the river are powerful and the currents are high, so people

get

a rare opportunity to

admire the power of the river.

Another point that makes the grove a factor of continuation of Osun worship was the role it played during the nineteenth century inter-tribal and religious wars in Osogbo.

r07

People can still recollect the stories of how the Moslem Fulani from the North invaded

some Yoruba cities, especially the oyo Empire (Badejo 1995: 158; Ajayi and Smith 1964: 33). When the Jihadists got to Osogbo, the Osun grove formed a natural barrier against their horses. The Fulani Jihadists had no understanding of the tropical region and hence could not conquer the city (Beier 1977: 24). Osogbo is situated at a geographical boundary where the savannah land tums into a thick, dark tropical forest. This change in

terrain made it difficult for the Fulani horses to be effective in hunting down the residents

of Osogbo. Tsetse flies, the dangerous bugs of the south, which cause a condition known as sleeping sickness,

killed many of the Fulani horses, and the diseases spread throughout

their military camps. All these factors gave Yoruba in Osogbo victory over the Fulani. These stories are recounted at the Osun festival yearly

Unfortunately, the Osun grove

(Law

1977).

is now being encroached by the Nigerian

government and the traditional government. At one time, the king rented out part of the Osun forests for agricultural research. Unexpectedly, this deal failed to materialize, and some people attributed this failure to unhappiness with the proposal.

It is pointed out that

"the battle against destruction of trees, sacred animals and fish in the sacred river, still goes on because

1977:

l8).

of the varieties of animals that reside in and around the groves" (Beier

Requests

for permission to use the Osun grove for one purpose or the other

are being received. For instance, the Antiquities Department

of the Federal Govemment

of Nigeria is involved in preserving the grove as a natural habitat for humanity

and

animals, but to the majority of Yoruba people, the Osun grove is a supematural habitat

for the divinities. In African religion, spiritual forces are believed to reside in rivers, lakes, lagoons, oceans, under the iroko tree and at road intersections (Beier 1977:52).

108

Yoruba people make sacrifices and to perform their rituals mostly at the above mentioned places (Ray 2000: 78). Under the direction of the herbalists, Yoruba people believe that gods and goddesses gba ebo "accept the sacrifice" from them. Such beliefs and practices are the elements that contributed to the continuation of Osun worship

in Yorubaland.

2. Images and Sculptures in the Osun Grove: There are lots of statues and carvings in the grove. In preparation for the sacrifices, the statues in the grove decorated with palmfronds weeks before the festival. The Osun grove is aritual arena of Osun. As far as the Osogbo people are concemed, the Osun grove is holy ground. It houses not only the Osun

shrines, but also shrines for other Yoruba divinities who are close associates

Osun

(Beier 1977: l7). The relationship that Osun has with other Yoruba divinities, during the

festival and throughout the year has contributed to the continuation of Osun worship in Yorubaland.

In addition to images of Osun in the grove, there are images of other divinities too. Some of the images or idols are beautifully designed, while others are scary and tenible works of art which do not represent the pictures of gods or the works of art in the Yoruba community (Onyewuenyi 1984: 242), as these images were made a long time ago, to mirror the essence of "gods and goddesses" being with us (Beier 1977:7).They

were made by the ancestors and they were given similar honors of the ancestors. These images stand as testimonials that the Yoruba believed

gods before the anival of

Christian and Islamic missionaries. Such sacred places are for spiritual retreat, meditation and the performing

of rituals. People who aftend the annual festival often go home with

109

the impression that Yoruba divinities cooperate among themselves for the welfare of their people.

Each image coÍlmunicates a divine message to people. The local artists who carved and molded the Osun sculptures depersonalized their work to create a sense of awe for the divinities (Beier 1962: 26).In their creation, they were not intending to make an exact representation

of Osun, or of other divinities, but were willing to create a figure

that would stimulate people in worship and at festivals. They are not intended to be admired, but

scare the people and

create an unforgettable impression. Yoruba

believe that ti omode o ba de ibi eru, yio ma se ako

"if a child does not enter into a scary

place, tenified place, there is a tendency for him or her to be boastful and proud." Figures of a religious deity for worship are not only scary looking but often these images are charmed and soaked in voodoo power. The uninitiated cannot touch the idols

or any of the ritual objects in the shrine. It is only by spiritual guidance or supervision that one may touch any of them. There are some Yoruba idols that the uninitiated are not

allowed to see. Under no circumstances would anybody dare to toy with these religious images. Yoruba religious idols or images are not ordinary souvenirs to feel, to touch, or

to purchase at gift shops. They are not created for making money or to be used as toys. Each idol is made for a reason, "the need of the community determines the artist's production. His art is never 'art for art's sake" (Onyewuenyi l9B4:243). Many of the images in the Osun grove are rusted and they are not that impressive

to the eyes. Without the religious significance, these images could not have

attracted

tourists to the Osun grove. However, Osun worshippers are not concerned with the

110

beauty of the images but perceive them as religious icons with electric spiritual power. People rarely touch them for fear that they may be spiritually possessed.

The religious images in the Osun grove add to the sanctity of the grove and the

festival. Just before the annual festival begins, these disfigured, rusted, and dilapidated images are painted and decorated with fresh palm-fronds just for the festival period (Badejo 1995:118).

3. The Shrines of Other Yoruba Gods in the Grove: In the Osun grove, there various shrines to other Yoruba deities (Awolalu 1996: 114).

are

At the grove, during the

final hours of the Osun festival, many participants gather in front of their specific family shrines for prayer (Badejo 1995: 119). The Yoruba believe divinities are more active and

attentive when worshipped at shrines than in homes (Beier 1977:52). Moving from one

shrine to another is an opportunity to tap into various sorts of spiritual powers on the same day.

For Osun to allow other divinities to be worshipped in her grove is a testimony

that Osun is very accommodating in promoting peaceful co-existence with other divinities (Badejo 1995:2).It is noted that "oral literature confirms that Olodumare, the Supreme Being, gave Osun her powers" to share responsibilities and authority with her colleagues (Badejo 1995: xvi). Divinities living in the same grove foster interpersonal

relationships among the devotees. The Osun festival is a time of informing, educating, and promoting cultural and religious peaceful co-existence in Osogbo. This sixteen-day event is structured in such a way that individuals have a chance to renew their allegiance to their family gods and collectively enjoy the sacred presence of Osun.

lll

Yoruba people do not have regular contact and communication with the Almighty

God. But such activity as the Osun festival provides a moment of reflection on the creation and creatures for the worshippers. There are differences between the gods and the Almighty God. God do not have a shrine in Youbaland. Shrines are for the lesser gods and spirits of the dead. The Yoruba people recognize Olorun Olodumare as God, and His supreme ancestor is Oduduwa (Adeoye 1979:1-5).

From the beginning to the end of the Osun festival, the Yoruba people pray to God through her. Osun is praised and adored, so that she may secure protection and provision for them throughout the year (Abimbola 1994:75-76). Although Yoruba give credits to gods for safety and satisfaction, the gods depend on the supernatural provisions

of Olorun Olodumare whose worship requires no liturgy,

iconography,

or official

priesthood. God in Yoruba thought is an example of an abstract divinity too mighty to be captured by any artistic, literary, or idealistic simplification but he is involved in human affairs.

Other members

of Orisa Yoruba (gods of

"masquerades", Oro, Obatala/Orísa-nla, Orunmila/

Yoruba) are the egungun

lfu, Sango, Oya, Iyemoja, Osun

All of the

above

to Olorun Olodumare

"God

osogbo, Esulalu, orisa oko, sonpona, orisa ibeji and osanyin. mentioned divinities owe their being and existence

Almighty." It is accepted that God can command them to act on his behalf in the Yoruba kingdom. Human beings are always on the receiving end of the gods' actions on earth (Badejo 1995: xx),

4. Other Yoruba Religious Beliefs that Feature in the Osun Festival: There are other related daily practices that help the Osogbo people in reconstructing the history of Osun

festival. Owe (proverbs), itan (stories), alo (riddles and jokes) and asa-ibile (cultwal practices) and other related literary forms are conceptual frameworks upon which most of the annual festival is based. The Osun festival is based on common beliefs, thoughts and practices with which most people are familiar.

i. Oriki,

Poem and Poetry: Osogbo people give praise to Osun daily

in forms of

greetings. The praise poems are called oriki, and every Yoruba person and family has got at least one. The elders, men, women, wives, drummers and friends often use the oriki to

praise one when one is in a good or bad mood. In rural areas, people use oriki every

morning

exchange

greetings using the

greetings. So during the festival, the participants exchange

oriki of Osun. Whenever time permits them, men, women

and

children sing songs of osun in choruses as part of the regular greetings.

During birth ceremonies, weddings, burials, or house warming parties, drummers

and musicians may put the oriki Osun into poems that guests may dance to. The drummers can use bata or gangon drums to make such music for hours. Occasionally, especially during burial ceremonies, the drummers often use Osun praises to entertain the

crowds and to remind them of the significance of Osun (Badejo 1995: 2). Such regular

repetitions contribute

to the historical significance of Osun in

Osogbo. This is

summarized by one author as follows,

Repetition embellishes the literary style employed here. The poem is intoned in three phases, the first of which introduces Osun to the listeners by a series of references to the townships where she is worshipped, townships through which the Osun River flows, and townships which have other historical connections to Osun Osogbo (Badejo 1995: 3).

113

This practice forms part of the social life of the Yoruba people and their culture.

Akosori "poems" are another way of retaining Yoruba culture in the memory. The best source of hearing the correct form of Yoruba poem is through the Ifa priests, such as

Yemi Eleburuibon (Diedre 1995:

xx).

The akosori "praise" is one of the Yoruba's best

ways of retelling the past activities of divinities and ancestors for the current community

(Diedre 1995: xvi). Drummers, priests, chiefs and elders also recite the akosori to the community to remind them of their past. Most of the Yoruba incantations are in form

akosori (Beier 1977: 13). The clients are encouraged to render

it from memory.

For

example in one Yoruba poem, Osun is praised as "Osun Seegesi Olooya-iyun, which means Osun, the owner of the flawless, perfectly carved beaded comb" (Diedre 1995:2).

This praise tells us about how neatly Osun uses make-up on her face and appearance, but one does not have to read this character from religious scripture (Abiodun 2001: 27). Yoruba are skilled in remembering such powerful descriptions and the use of words in any given context.

ii. Prayer, Petition and Vow:

One of the uses of oriki is a means of mu

ori

Osun wu

"winning the heart of Osun" but the more important usage of Oriki is being parts of Yoruba prayers (Diedre 1995: 13). During the fèstival, women and men gather to present

their cases and needs to Osun in the form of oriËl (praises). Osun as one of the goddesses

who care for the needs of men and women responds to their petitions. People face the direction of the Osun river in prayer, believing that Osun will respond better during the festival (Beier 1977 : 7, 20). Another important act of praise in prayer is shown in the way people redeem their

vows. Some of the people merely attend the festival to

l14

fulfill their vows. In difficult

times, the majority of the Yoruba people make vows that remain binding on them until

they are fulfilled. At the Osun festival, people keep their vows, pledges, promises, or covenants by paying in cash and in kind. Believers, who had been childless for many years, come to the annual festival with high expectations that Osun

will

assist in their

childbearing. So on receiving answers to their prayers, they retum to thank Osun by offering sacrifices to her (Diedre 1995: 84). By redeeming their vows, they hope they can get more miracles from her.

A Yoruba proverb

gbameaning"if achild is grateful for

says

/i omode ba dupe ana, yio ri omiran

a favor received yesterday

from an adult, that child

will receive more favor in the future." As people gather in Osogbo for the festival, they seize the opportunity to consult

local priests for spiritual medicines. Osun water alone cannot cure all kinds of diseases

and illness. The Yoruba believe that you need the power "incantations"

experience supematural healing and deliverance from

diseases. Babalawo "priest of

the right

of words called oþ all sorts of

divination" are the people who specialize in recommending

oþ "incantations" for various ailments. They know how to conjure Osun's spirit

through Ifa to cure, heal, or deliver people from their individual or family problems. The

Yoruba have the attitudes of calling the gods through incantations more frequently and hardly debate or doubt the divine intervention (Beier 1977:13).

In addition to the power of using the right words to

communicate with the

ancestors and divinities, the Yoruba believe that one has to frequently combine the power

of leaves, roots and plants to procure healing and protection from all kinds of

diseases.

For this teason, people who attend the Osun festival collect Osun water, and consult the priests for charms that can only be found easily

115

in the Osogbo

area.

In the Yoruba

religion, shrines, sacred forests, road intersections, and eti odo "river banks" are sacred places

to offer

sacrifices and ritualistic. The priests can prescribe that people offer

sacrifice to divinities very early in the moming before one talks to anybody, or around 1pm, or 12 midnight, when the spirits of divinities are more active. Observations of these

rules contribute to the effectiveness of prescribed medication or charms, and

creates

awe in people.

iii. Singing,

Dancing, and Costume Dressings: During the festival, the sweet sound,

and high pitch

of singers fills the air daily. Music and songs form the integral part of the

whole sixteen-day celebration (Diedre 1995:4). Most of the Osun devotees enjoy the fun more than the actual ritual. It is full of emotional expressions, images and dances. Yoruba people celebrate the Osun festival with great performing arts, crafts, music and dance. It

is a time for the elaborate display of Yoruba culture. People's spirits, minds and bodies gain satisfaction in music (Diedre 1995: xvi).

Group dancing and colorful uniform dressing make the Osun festival memorial.

Adults and children wear colorful clothing is to express their desire for the year. Kings, chiefs, priests, queens, princes and princesses alike wear their best native dress on the

day. In Yoruba myths, Osun specialized in the production of tie-dyed dresses and people must honor her with best outfits (Diedre 7995:2,165). We should not forget Osun's first encounter with the early settlers when they accidentally broke her pots of tie-dye, Osun

wept and cried aloud that all her pots had been shattered because she loved textiles. During the festival, her devotees proudly wear locally made tie-dye uniforms to honor Osun.

116

The Yoruba people dress in different colors as the occasion may demand (Diedre 1995: 165). The participants in the Osun festival wear gold, yellow and white dresses (Diedre 1995: 108). These are bright colors, dull colors are meant for the worship of Esu, a devil to the

Yoruba. People in particular professional and religious groups usually wear

colorful uniforms to identify themselves in the crowd (Brincard 1985: 25). The dancers, singers and drummers dress in the same style to differentiate themselves from other

invited groups that are part of the crowd. Singing praises such as: "OMO OWA OLUYEYE, OMO OBOKLIN

the child of Owa, the child of Obokun. OMO ODO

KAN, ODO KAN TI WON NPE L'OSLIN OMO ATENIGBOLA OLODO IDE

the child of one one river known as Osun.

- the child who is highly honour,

the owner of the

precious gold" (Osogbo Cultural Heritage Council 1994:53).

Kings, chiefs, priests, priestesses and politicians wear the most expensive materials and different sizes of beads to differentiate themselves from the crowds. Beads and heavy fabrics are symbols of wealth and honor in the Yoruba community (Brincard

1985: 27).

A Yoruba proverb

says

irini

si,

ni isoni lojo meaning one's appearance or

dressing would earn one honor or otherwise.

Ív. Drums and Musical Instruments: Wherever and whenever Yoruba people

hear

drums and religious songs, they get so excited and emotional. Drums form part of the Osun culture and festival. The most popular drums that people dance to during the Osun

festival are the bembe. There is historical significance in the use of bembe drum during the Osun festival. Bembe ls a "side-drum" musical instrument that is commonly used by

the Ijesha people of Yorubaland (Herskovits 1966 218). The early immigrants brought this culture with them to Osogbo during the resettlements. Bembe, since then, has become

IT7

the official drums of the Osun festival (Olugunna 1959: 25).If is a historical reminder

Osu and Osogbo historical union.

Ayan is the person who plays drum in Yorubaland. There is no evidence of a drum

called ayan as indicated by Deidre (Diedre 1995: 54). Another name for a drummer is

onilu.Individuals who play specific drums could be called by the names of their drum sets. For example, those

who play bembe are called "onibembe," those play gøngan arc

called onigangan, those who play "omele" drums are called 'oolomele" and those who play "bata" are called "onibata". In any case, the bembe drum reminds people of Osun in

Yoruba community. It is her favorite drum. The use of drums stimulates spirit possession. Drummers may control the crowd to stop, stand, to turn right or to left through drums.

The leading drummers may suggest another song or the change of beats through its sound.

In a creative way, the drummers may come up with different kinds of

songs

during the festival. Occasionally, they form controversial songs that may arouse the people's feeling. In 1982, there was religious "tension befween the traditionists and the Muslims over the Osun Festival" (Diedre 1995: 164). The tension was captured in one of song the following year that ridiculed Muslims men for wearing their turbans (Diedre

1995: 164). Osun songs became campaign slogans against the people who had converted to Islam (Peel 1967: 292-306). Drumming and musical instruments stimulate spirit possession (Diedre 1995: 54). Yoruba music is often deafeningly loud. People claim to hear the voices of the spirits

when they are in a state of ecstasy, jerking, falling down, and staggering in different

118

directions. This remarkable sight often lingers in the memories of the attendees for years. Such scenes are not common in day-by-day religious worship (Beier

1977

17).

E. Summary of the Festival:

In summary, the Osun festival is a sixteen-day celebration of Osun, the origin of Osogbo, the independence of Osogbo, and victory of the Osogbo people over human and

natural challenges.

It is a celebration of Yoruba

culture, arts, and divinities.

It is a

remembrance of the significance of Osun River. The Osun River became the best water resource for the early settlers and

it forms a natural

defence against religious warriors.

Osun's annual festival is a remembrance of how the early settlers joumeyed to the new settlement and how they struck deals with Osun, the goddess of the river. Today the river has become a source of healing for the afflicted in Osogbo and beyond, while the festival

has also become a forum where people and political leaders meet the kings, chiefs, priests, priestesses and Osogbo people to promote their agenda.

It is a time

when the

people celebrate the divine assistance of Osun and appreciate the generational wisdom

the elders and ancestors (Diedre 1995: 140). celebrates the communion of the

It is a religious

and cultural festival that

living and the dead.

To some Christians, Muslims and liberal minds, the Osun festival is idol worship.

Not all residents of Osogbo believe the popular claims of the king and the devotees of Osun. Those people think of Osun as one of those fabricated mythological figures that the

forefathers manufactured to create fear in the minds of innocent people. For example, Christians and Muslims consider the Osun festival as a celebration of the evil spirits and demons. Those who participate and believe

in Osun are going to hell after death. To

119

discourage the following

of demonic spirits and the deceit of Yoruba leaders, some

evangelical Ch¡istian churches hold services in their churches and at homes on the week

of the festival to "bind" all the spirits and the influence of Osun from Osogbo. To them,

the Osun festival is considered to be a satanic influence on people who need godly deliverance.

In addition to the voices of such critics in Osogbo there are some who just go to the festival to make money. It is a time when petty traders, either believers or not, come

to market their products. Big business corporations such as the manufacturers of soft

All

small

of different religions,

ages,

drinks make a lot of money during the festival. Hotels are booked to capacity. businesses have huge turnover during the festival.

Osun sees everybody as part

of her city.

People

genders and nationalities are welcome to the festival. As an inclusive faith, Osun worship

does not discriminate against any human being or divinity. One author said that Osun

championed the concept

of "balanced and equitable co-existence

between men and

women" (Diedre 1995: xxiv). The Osun is subservient to no male authority; neither does she harbor any hatred towards any tribe or people.

In worshiping her, both men and

women jointly honor her in Yoruba traditional religion (Diedre 1995: xvi). The Osun festival provides opportunity for everybody to publicly come together in her celebration (Diedre 1995:54). This chapter concludes the first part of our discussion on the roles of myths in the

history of Osun worship in Yorubaland. 'We cannot necessarily cover all the Yoruba

beließ that feature annually in the Osun festival, but so far we have pointed out the historical roles of the king, the Iya Osun, Arugba, Aworo, Osun grove, the crowds and

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other divinities in Osun festival. We have outlined different ways they contribute to the continuation of Osun worship in Yorubaland. The next part of this dissertation will focus on the use of myths in the history of the Yoruba religion outside the Yorubaland.

121

CHAPTER

OSUN IN THE NEW WORLD: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC

This chapter opens the third part of this dissertation, which is the treatment of

Yoruba goddess, Osun, in the New World. The first part dealt with the summary of different methods relating to the study of Yoruba religion in the Old and the New Worlds. The second part of this work dealt with the study of Yoruba myths of Osun worship in Osogbo, the headquarters of her shrine. In this third part we shall study the myths

Osun

in Cuba, Brazil, Jamaica, Trinidad and Haiti. Scholars have the unexamined

assumption that orisa is from the Yorubaland, therefore, they mentioned the connection

of the tradition in passing. The assumption, even though not false, does not carry the force of self-validating truth. V/e will argue that the influence of an African religion has

grown beyond its original continent through the survival of Yoruba myths in the New World. Kola Abimbola writes "Today, Orisa tradition and culture is practiced by about 100 million people in Argentina, Australia, Benin Republic, Cuba, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Spain, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, USA, Venezuela, etc." (Abimbola 2006: 1). Orisa, and particularly Osun, is

practiced in different parts of the world. We, therefore, have to focus on a few countries to describe the significance of myths in sustaining a religious worship. The present task is to study the mythological symbols that sustain Osun worship

in the New World. Douglas Allen in the Myth and Religion in Mircea Eliade is of the opinion that symbols play major roles in influencing people's lifestyle and belief around the world. He said "Religious symbols are put together in narrative form so that these true

stories reveal a saçred history

of events that took place in

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sacred time and provide

exemplary models for allowing mythic beings to make sense of their model of being in the world" (Allen 2002: 188). Here is a poem that contains certain symbols of Osun:

Oshun, sweet River Goddess For Orisha Oshun Oshun

Lovely River Goddess your bosom green, Swells with abundance V/e drink from the fountain

of your waters,

it is sweet

as the honey

you desire. Heavy river scent brought on the rain is heady and intoxicating, a perfume

that is tied to breadth

of the soul. Beautiful Oshun, gracious River Goddess, granting petitions to those who know her mystery

Fertile, rich enchanting seductress... (Stevenson 2001: 66)

In this poem, we have the symbols of the sweet; River, bosom, green, fountain, waters, honey, scent, rain, intoxication, perfume, breadth, soul, beauty, gracious, petitions,

fertility, richness and seduction in just a poem. These symbols made powerful

and

unforgettable images in the mind of the Yoruba community. No wonder the people still recollect Osun in the New World.

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Osun, a Yoruba goddess, represents one of hundreds of divinities that had her

origin in Africa. It is now becoming impossible to call such group of religious activity African religion. For lack of better term, we can call them the African originated, African cultured, or African saturated religion. These suggested lists have their problems. The

term 'Africa' is too broad for a reference to a religion that comes from a comer of

continent.

The description of Yoruba myths in the New World need to be connected to specif,rc group and town

in Nigeria (Platvoet 1996: 55). The new trend in African

religious studies is to avoid the error of generalization. The use of the term "Africa" is too broad a term. On the other hand people should not work on the microscopic aspect of a village issues

without reference to what is happening in the world religions. It has been

pointed out that, "in the history of the study of African traditional religions, the African studies have moved from amateur ethnography towards academic anthropology through

[the] contributions by liberal Christian missionaries and more recently the historical studies" (Platvoet, Cox and Olupona 1996: 42). Our findings in the description of Osun myths in the New World should throw more light on the significance of Yoruba in other parts of the world (Bourdillon 1996: 150).

Many African students leam about the influence of Yoruba religion in the world during their studies in America, Europe and Asia (Platvoet 1996: 65-87; Oosthuizen 1989: Drewal 32:160-185; Barret 1968). Ironically, the continued existence of Osun in the New World is news to most Yoruba religious students who have not travelled outside the country. For it is inconceivable that a Yoruba religion could exist outside the African continent for so long and that is shaping the belief and faith of other world religions. For

t24

this reason, scholars have jointly called for a "dramatic increase of information communication which is the hallmark

and

of globalizing modern society" to re-establish

historical links that exist between older forms of religions (Platvoet, Cox and Olupona 1996:3-8).

The presence of a Yoruba religion

in Europe and in the Americas

has left

indelible impacts on western cultures and religions (Okpewho, Davies, Mazuri 1999:34). Just as tobacco, cassava, peanuts andmaize, which were introduced to Africa by the early Portuguese, have been incorporated into African menus, also the African worship that has

found its way into the New World has become an American religion (Bascom and Herskovits i959: 3). As the American and European cultures, education, ethics and products influence the African countries, so does the Yoruba religion affect the shape and

scope

of religion in Europe and America. This is one

mythological method

is a suitable one to

reason why the descriptive

connect and evaluate the degrees

the

impartation of a Yoruba religion in America.

A. How did the Yoruba Religion get to the New World? As we have read in the previous chapters, in 1840, the goddess Osun helped the people of Osogbo to win a series of tribal and religious wars over their enemies (Hugh

1999: 356). These battles affected men and women in Yorubaland (Akinjogbin 1998: 122). There are documented accounts of wars that ravaged the Yoruba land in the past.

Examples

of such wars as Osun deity was deemed to have helped to win were "the

successful repulse by Abeokuta of the Dahomi attack 32;

aninder I 95 1 I 197 6: 97).

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in 1 851 . . . " (Ajayi and Smith

1964:

During these periods of inter-tribal wars, most of the captives were sold to white slave merchants and they became slaves, while others were killed in battle. Some of the people

now referred to as Afro-Americans are descendants of the Yoruba people who survived wars, shipwreck, sicknesses and diseases of land and sea. Consequently, the Yoruba people who made

across the Atlantic were essentially those who had been sold as

slaves to the European slave traders.

In the era of slave trade, some Yoruba people, ironically, betrayed their kinsmen by selling them into slavery and exchanged them for commodities such as salt, alcohol, spices and gunpowder. While it was not an easy migration for those who were sold into

slavery as they were stripped naked and transported American countries,

in ships to the European

and

was a booming business for the slave merchants. According to

Thomas Hugh, in his book The Slave Trade; The Story of The Atlantic Slave Trade: 1440-1870, the slave coast was soon sending about sixteen thousand slaves a.year to the

Americas; which represented nearly half the total African population then (Hugh 1999: 3s6).

Unfortunately, thousands of them did not make it to America because they died in transit, while those who made

ended up working in the plantations. Incidentally, the

victims of slavery and the slave trade were mainly from those tribes which were resident near the coast and maritime areas (Klein 1978: 599-609; Kopytoff and Miers 1977). Slavery continued up to the nineteenth century (Inikori 1999: 51). Even, after the signing

of a treaty to prohibit slavery in 1815, vessels were still canying slaves from Yoruba towns to Europe and America.

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B. The General Knowledge of Who Osun is in the New 'World: Some time ago, certain people were threatened by the contributions of the Yoruba

religion in the New World, therefore they insisted that the worship of Orishas must be abolished in the New World. The critics did not take into consideration that AfricanAmerican people are descendants of African slaves just as their European counterparts were immigrants in the Americas. Christianity, Islam, and other religions are immigrants'

religions in the Americas as well. This was not the first time that people attempted to

abolish the African worship

in the New World.

Patricia Monaghan writes, "the

Christianity of the slaveholders demanded that the old gods be left behind and that only one divine story be told" (Monaghan 2004:191).

In an effort to erase the African religion from the memory of the slaves, the slave masters wanted them to become Christians.

was difficulty for the African slaves to

embrace Christianity with the cruelty of slavery. From fear of revolution their masters

tumed blind eyes to their practice of ritual and sacrifice activities. Sarah Cameron states

that "although the slaves were ostensibly obliged to become Christians, their owners, anxious to prevent different ethnic groups uniting, turned a blind eye to their traditional

rituals" (Cameron 2004: 425). Those who became Christians frequently attended the African initiated worship and festivals. It was impossible to erase the worship of African deities totally from their minds. Instead of eradicating the worship of African deities, corresponding ideas were created to substitute those they were used to in Africa.

Of the many religions, gods, goddesses, rituals and sacrifices that came through the storms of persecutions and still exist today is Osun. Here is the public, concise knowledge of people of her.

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1. Osun as Orisa: Orisha or orisa is the name for all divinities that had their origin in the Yorubaland. Osun's identity and myth in the New World are similar to the rest of the

Yoruba orisa. The Yoruba recognize over 400 divinities, but "barely two dozen regularly

receive tribute at the rites known as toques de santo" (Cameron 2004: 425). Osun represents them all more in the New World. Joseph

M. Murphy and Mei-Mei Sanford in

their recent publication stated how important Osun is in the New World.

As an orisa, Osun offers what all the orisa offer: the good things in life, health, wealth, and love. She can be one orisa among many, or many orisa in one. She can even be the Supreme Being. Many priests and priestesses of Osun address her as Oluwa, "My Lord." Amid the titles and attributes of Osun that Jacob Olupona offers us in the beautiful invocation that begins his essay is the stunning declaration that, for the singer, Osun is "my Olodumare," my God Almighty. Here Osun is recognized as God, the author of destiny and divinity's source (Murphy and Sanford200l:7). Clearly myths of Osun sustain the Yoruba spirituality in the New World (Murphy and Sanford 2001: 1). She is an embodiment of different aspects of virtues and personalities.

Apparently, Osun has been promoted to the same level as God in Yoruba belief which many Yoruba people would f,rnd hard to accept.

2. Osun as a Saint: Osun as a saint is the New World applied title. Patricia Monaghan argues that by people calling Osun a saint contributed to her existence in the New World

today. She said that the Africans adopted "new celebration, new symbols, and sometimes new names" for their divinities for the sake of continuation of their worship (Monaghan 2004:

I9l). In the New World Osun's name was changed and she was given new symbols and

new images as part of her worship. Osun became a saint. She crossed the denominational

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and cultural borders (Murphy and Sanford 2001: 7). Osun was identified with Our Lady

of Pleasure, Our Lady of Carmel, and as Mary Magdalene in the African Center of Saint George. She is Our Lady of La Caridad the patron of Cuba (Monaghan 2004: 192). This adaptation of a Yoruba divinity was not limited to Osun, but was done to other Yoruba

gods

in America. This dynamic equivalence of personality of Osun in the Americas

sustained her memory in the New World.

In another account, "the daughters of Osun go to mass at Our Lady of Carmel just as the daughters of Abraham did" (Platvoet, Cox and Olupona 1996: 274). People are

allowed to worship Osun and still go to mass in a Catholic Church. The Yoruba people freely practised their religious ceremonies in these cabildos which served as club houses.

The combination of the Catholic pantheon and Orisha elements gave birth to what is called Lukumi worship, even though the European-American Catholic members could not comprehend how the Yoruba could worship Osun and Jesus Christ at the same time.

In Yorubaland, the season, so

celebration

of the Osun festival is held during the rainy

"how to localize ceremonies linked to a certain rhythm of nature and society in

a country having a different seasonal rhythm became a challenge" (Platvoet, Cox and Olupona 1996: 274). The African diaspora found ways to adjust their worship of Osun to a more suitable time and place in the new geographical settings. In dealing

with different

geographical settings, people and countries, let us briefly look at Osun worship in Cuba.

t29

Osun in Cuba

This is one of the myths of Osun that survives in Cuba. It is full of symbols and images that demand our attention in this study. Such myths as cited below "is a story with

culturally formative power that functions to direct the life and thought INDIVIDUALS and GROUPS or SOCIETIES," in this particular case, this kind of myths still direct the

life of Yoruba descents in the New World (Hexham 1993: 153). A myth was told to describe how the goddess became a river. It happened this way: flirtatious Oshun desired the god Chango, who was already mated to the goddess Oba. So Oshun, never [one] to be discouraged where love was concemed, concocted a plan to steal Chango for herself. One day, Oshun pulled a nasty trick on Oba. Claiming that Chango preferred her cooking, Oshun shared her secret: that she cut offparts ofher ears and put them in the dishes. It was really only mushrooms that Oba saw floating in the soup, but the looked enough like parts of ears for the goddess to be convinced. The next time Oba cooked for Chango, she cut off a whole ear and mixed it with the food. This, alas, made the dish revoltingly foul-tasting, and Chango was even more revolted to see his mangled mate. When Oshun arrived to gloat, Oba attacked her. The two goddesses turned into rivers, and where their waters meet, there is always turbulence (Monaghan 2004: 192).

Myths such as the above are part of the Yoruba oral narratives that have sustained Osun worship in Cuba for many years. Slavery and slave trade brought the Africans, especially

the Yoruba, to Cuba and they had no freedom of worship. Over a period of time, they became the most influential group

of the African people in Cuba (Cameron 2004: 425).

The myths enhanced their spirituality. How the Yoruba people came to Cuba is not the focus of this dissertation but how they retain the worship of their divinities through the retelling of their myths is our concern. When the Africans arrived in the New World as slaves they met similar religious groups with similar myths and religious practices. This encouraged them in their spiritual

130

journey. They met "the religions of the Taino and the Cuna and other Native Americans, who had their own panoply of symbols and their own pantheon of divinities" (Monaghan

2004:191). This provided an encouragement for them to continue the worship of the African divinities in the New World. The population of Yoruba among the African slaves was so high that they formed a

major group in Cuba, making them noticeable in the country.

In Cuba and Brazil, the relocation of those from Oyo and Ketu led to an American resurgence of the cults of Obatala, Eshu, Ifa, Osanyin, and Ogun and to a revitalized worship of such river goddesses as Yemonja rechristened Yemaya in Cuba and Xemanja in Brazil - and Oshun, the Cuban Ochun (Matibag 1996: 53). It is written that Osun worship in Cuba can be traced back to the Yoruba people of Nigeria. The memory of Yoruba worship, magic, ritual, sacrifice, music, dance and sense

of roots sustained her worship in diasporas (Wamer-Lewis 1999: 22). There

element of truth that "Many Yoruba customs and expressions that no longer exist in

Africa persist in Cuba" (Considine 1958: xvi). If we may add, there are a lot of inventions attributed to the Yoruba religion

Cuba which did not have their origins from the

Yorubaland.

Fidel Castro, on one occasion, remarked that, "'We are Latinafroamericans!" (Matibag 1996:

l).

He implied that the African religions have greatly colored Cuban

religions and cultures. Though, initially, the African religion was a forbidden religion on

the island, it eventually became a formidable force in the life of the people. It was no longer a secret religion as Mason pointed out: The historical experiences of slavery and repression created an atmosphere of secrecy as the followers of the religion tried to protect themselves from the social forces that threatened them. Under slavery in colonial Cuba, the

131

practice of the religion was technically illegal, and accusations of "witchcraft" could mean imprisonment or death" (Mason 2002:9).

In spite of the rough beginning and threats made against slaves, the Yoruba religion flourished because of the survival of its myths in Cuba.

In the academic circle, it has been difficult to explain the specific connection of

Yoruba divinity to a specific town in Nigeria as we have done here. Therefore, scholars have tied all of the Yoruba divinities with each other under the term orisha. But the new

development is that the Hispanic cultural elements are parts of the Yoruba divinities.

Matibag noted that, "indeed, as developments in religious forms have perhaps most

clearly demonstrated, the amalgamation, synthesis, symbiosis, or crossing of diverse West African and Hispanic cultural elements in the American setting produced a new religious culture" in Cuba (Matibag 1996: 1).

At present, due to mass immigration of Cubans into the United States of America, Yoruba worship is coming to the United States. However, Badejo has observed that the cults of Yoruba gods and goddesses are not as popular in the United States as they are in

Latin America (Badejo 1995: xxiv). As Yoruba descendants in Cuba migrated to the United States, some came to "the Sea Islands, Georgia and other regions in the south of the United States; from Bahamas Islands; among the Cape Verde folks who migrated to the New World made the United States their home" (Herskovits 1943: 1). In the twenty-

first century, there has been an increased interest in worshipping African gods due to the

inflow of refugees and immigrants directly from African countries into the United

States.

People from the Yoruba kingdom met with the Cuban immigrants who were descendants

132

of African slaves and recognized their common origins and belief in worship. Each party was excited to share their acquired oral knowledge with the other.

The memory of Yoruba gods and goddesses are fresh in people's memories and

the Cubans have recollections of what their grandparents shared with them (Matibag 1996: 52-53). Surprisingly to the new immigrants from Africa, Osun is not the only Yoruba goddess that survived in Cuba. Yemaya, which the Yoruba call Yemoja also exists in Cuba (Matibag 1996: 61). Yemaja and Olokun are companions of Osun in the Old and the New World. Myths of these three goddesses are interconnected. The Yoruba people in Cuba believed deities such as Oshun, Yemoja, Olokun and Oloosa protected the African slaves on the seas when they were bought and brought to

the New World. Out of gratitude, reverence and awe, the Yoruba in Cuba have good memories of Oshun and other divinities (Matibag 1996:62-6Q.

A. African as Lucumi: Over a period of time, the Yoruba in Cuba have gone further in welcoming other tribes from other African countries to freely worship Osun with them. Unlike the Yoruba

Osogbo where the majority

of her devotees are Yoruba, the majority of

worshippers in Cuba are not of Yoruba descendants who came from Osogbo.

Osun

All Yoruba

from different towns came together in Cuba as one. Africans usually discriminated against each other when they were

in African villages, but

overseas, they became

brothers and sisters. Black Americans and African immigrants still show mutual bonds in the twenty-first century.

133

Yoruba love speaking their language in religious worship of Osun. A priest is said to have acted in the following ways in Cuba as it is being done in Osogbo today. He drops the shells and counts those that land with their serrated "mouths" up. Oché is the name of this odu (Lu.), or divination figure. 'Maferefún Ochún. Thanks be to Ochún. Oché speaks of the blood that runs through the veins (Sp. Za sangre que corue por las venas) (Mason 2002:16).

Similarly, during Osun worship, Yoruba people in a community often gather together

one family. The Egba, Egbado, Ijebu, Ijesa, Awori, Ketu, Ekiti, Oyo, Ife, or Kwara in Cuba call themselves Lucumi as a united brotherhood and sisterhood. Lucumi or Lukumi

is a Yoruba phrase known as'oluku mi' meaning "my friend". Another interpretation is

"Olokun mi" (my dear one). It is a phrase used in exchanging greetings among the African descendants in Cuba. Secondly, Lucumi is a reference for the Yoruba and Nupe (Takpa) people who were born in Cuba as slaves. The Yoruba descendants began to use it as one the words to refer the people who have a common source of origin.

Thirdly, Lucumi is a language that unites the people of African descent in the New World.

Lucumi, a dialect of Nigerian Yoruba, is still spoken by a number of Cubans. In Trinidad, as in Jamaica, Hindi is still important to most of the descendants of migrants from India, at least for special purposes, while the same is true of Tamil in Martinique (Mintz 1989:23). Speaking a common language in a foreign country is a way of retaining religious and

cultural memories. Language promotes relationships, history, culture and aids the spread of religious myths.

t34

Fourthly, 'Lucumi' was used among the Negroes of Mexico. A mystery has been traced to the Yoruba form of greeting, known as oluku mi 'my friend.

It is more

than

likely that the reasons and explanation given above are an answer to the mystery of the word

"Lukumi". It is important to note that the Yoruba people in Brazil preferred to be

referred to as Nago, a name given mainly to the Fon people of Dahomey the neighboring

country

of Yorubaland. The

name the West African groups bear abroad was not

important as a deep brotherhood and sisterhood that bound them together as one.

In Cuba, the Yoruba language is known

as Anago,

which is another name for

Yoruba group in the Yoruba kingdom (Matibag 1996: 24,53; Bastide 1960: 94,

6). It is

possible that the majority of slaves in Cuba are members of the Anago areas of Yoruba

tribe because the Anago people live very close to the Atlantic Ocean which would have made them the most common victims of slavery. The Anago version of the Yoruba was

also easier to leam than the Oyo pronunciation of Yoruba language. No wonder the majority of slaves in Cuba called themselves Anago (Verger 1976). Pierrre Verger rightly argues that the Yoruba is known as Nago

in Brazil, and they are called Lucumi in Cuba.

The only people who are called Anago among the Yoruba are those who live in Idiroko border of Nigeria. Thesre are small Yoruba groups with a distinct dialect, Yoruba has close to

fifty different dialects, but

the majority of them understand each other.

One of the features of the Yoruba religion in Cuba is that it blends in well with

the Cuban religions and with many other West African religions, with which they share

different attributes. The religions of the Bantu, Ewe-Fon, Mandinga, and Carabali are similar to the Yoruba religion. It was rightly noted "that Cuban culture in the first half of the twentieth century could accept and assimilate African-based mythical and religious

135

thought" because of the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood that people had (Matibag 1996: 1 1).

B. African Religion in Cuba:

Initially, African social and religious elements were held "equally hostage to the dominant white culture" and this of feeling of insecurity "led to an aggressive cultural

nationalism" (Okpewho, Davies,

Manri 1999: xvii). When slavery

was abolished, it

gave the people in Cuba religious freedom as well. Many Yoruba in Cuba then returned

to their religious and cultural practices. In their search for the lost cultural and religious identities, Sidney Mintz and Richard Price said that the Africans in Cuba created a new

social structure which was grounded on African traditional beliefs (Okpewho, Davies,

Mazuri 1999: xix). Antonio Benitez describes how the African elements became one of the most cherished points of cultural reference in Cuba (Okpewho, Davies, Mazuri 1999:

xvii). Davis Evans also explained how the African musical instruments, which

are social

instruments of enjoyment, became the accepted musical instruments for the musicians. This eventually contributed to the survival of the African religion in the Cuba (Okpewho, Davies, Mazuri 1999: xvii).

A Nobel Prize winner, Wole Soyinka, in the twenty-first

century also states that Yoruba music is rich in traditional myth and poetry (Badejo 1995: 117; Soyinka:147).

C. Yoruba Religion in Cuba:

The spirit of Osun is recognized as important in the Santeria tradition. De La Torre the word Santeria is from the Spanish word santo (saint), and it means "the way of

136

saints" (De La Torre 2004: xi). The use of the term started as a pejorative reference to religious worship such as Osun. The Catholic clerics in Cuba use Santeria to refer to what they considered "a heretical mixture of African religious practices with the veneration of the saints" in Cuba (De La Torre 2004: xii). The term became "popular in 1940s in the Cuba cities of La Havana and Matanzas where large concentrations of Yoruba settled" (De La Torre 2004: xii). "The initiates of Santeria are santeros I santeras" (Bjoring 107). They believe greatly in the activities of the spirits.

The African worshippers see the new movement as a way of expressing their spirituality within the Catholic majority of the time. Today, Santeria is flourishing in Cuba, Latin America and in the United States of America (Bjoring 1988: 105). Santeria and Voodoo are similar in origin and beliefs for both religious groups borrow a lot of idea

from the African religion.

Yoruba beliefs and practices formed the major aspects

Anthony Lum states that,

"it is their

pantheon

Santeria. Kenneth

of deities or orisha, and the

legends

(pwatakis) and customs surrounding these, which form the basis of the syncretic Regla de Ocha cult, better known as Santeria" (Cameron 2004: 425).

It is interesting to note that

Santeria has different name. Today, "Santeria is non-

sectarian and non-prosel¡izing, co-existing peaceful with both Christianity and the Regla Conga or Palo Monte cult" (Cameron 2004: 425). This is the original nature and attitude of Osun worshipers in Yorubaland.

D. Osun Worship in Cuba:

t37

The slaves worshipped at Catholic altars, but in their minds they were worshipping the

African gods. Osun welcomes the use of candles. Monaghan states that "various rituals emerged to honor her, ranging from candles

lit in Christian churches to possession by her

spirit in midnight dances" (Monaghan 2004: 192). These are new innovations, but whatever symbols and materials that makes Osun happy are employed in her worship and remembrance. Osun has a multiple images in Cuba. She is a diviner, dancer and the one who can

be anything to anybody.

Isabel Castellanos shows us that five roads of Ochun in Cuba take their devotees down different paths in understanding the goddess and themselves, ranging from Ochun Ololodi, the serious diviner, to Ochun Ibu Kole, the powerful buzzard, to Ochun Yeye Moro, the gorgeous dancer. There is indeed one Ochcun but she is the unknown source of the different roads, and their destination (Murphy and Sanford200l:7).

To the Yoruba in Osogbo, Osun is known for her involvements in religious, political, and economical affairs of the people. For the Yoruba in Cuba, "Ochun has been called the

Yoruba Aphrodite: or the goddess

of the Oshun river in West Africa and sister of

Yemaya" (Matibag 1996: 64). Osun is known to have territorial authority over most West

African towns and villages. In Santeria, Osun is a spirit. She is an intermediary spirit who posses power. As

being, she retains her personal name and identity among other Yoruba spirits in Cuba. She appears to people and communicates to them, She can be contacted through diviners

and mediums. Her worshipers use pebbles, water, rituals and incantations dwing divination. Drums, dances and songs increase the possibility of Osun spirit possessing people during worship.

138

Oceans, Rivers, Lakes: In Cuba one of the symbols of Osun is water. Monaghan

reiterates the point by saying,

Water is preeminently the symbol of Oshun. In Voudoun, when she 'rides' or possesses a dancer, the woman will make swimming motions, jangling her arm bracelets as she does it, while others welcome Oshun's appearance with shouts. Altars to her may hold shallow dishes of water; her festivals often connected with bathing in rivers, lakes, or seas (Monaghan 2004: 192). People make use of water day by day.

It is an essential commodity to survive in life. The

rivers, lakes and oceans of the New World have become emblems that illustrate the power and being of Osun in the Yoruba communities. Fresh water is a necessity. All the

living beings live on water. Osun the owner of fresh water reminds the people that Osun has the power to sustain

living things.

Osun's authority and symbol is not limited to water,

covers the areas of

"beauty, love, and sexual desire" (Badejo 1995 1995:10-11; Matibag 1996:64). Osun is very beautiful with, "her dark skin is as sleek as velvet" (Waldhen 2007). She is thought

to have an irresistible image. Osun's loveable attraction draws men and women to her. Human beings and gods want to be her lover. A myth survived in Cuba about how Osun mother jealously kept her away from men who were crazy to marry her:

Men from miles around would come to Oshun's house when she was young, begging her mother for Oshun's hand in marriage. No one knew the young orisha's name, but her beauty was renowned. Her mother tumed them all away until one day, yearning for the hordes of would be suitors to leave her alone, cried, "Enough! I will consent to a wedding to any man who can figure out the name of my daughter!" Among the men was the great diviner, Orunla; he was confident the oracle would reveal to him the beautiful young orisha's name. But try as he might he could not get them to tell him, and he eventually asked his friend Eleggua the trickster to help. Eleggua hid by the door of Oshun's house. Days went by, but the mother was careful never to mention her daughter's name. One day, however, the old woman became exasperated when the girl spilled a mixture of herbs and water on the floor.

r39

"Oshun!" she cried. No sooner had he yelled Orunla marched triumphantly up to his beloved's mother and demanded to wed to Oshun now that he knew her name (Miguel 2004:75) People make the heart in the logo of Osun (Monaghan 2004: 193). In spite of Osun later marriage to Sango, Osun encourages fidelity in maniage.

Osun's personality encourages and promotes romance between lovers. The beach and maritime areas are places of romance. She is the goddess of love.

Ochun rules the heart and gives people the human love they need. She is the basic connection between people that keeps society functioning, and in many of her stories she solves a problem by making contact with another supernatural power. Through their "rule" of different domains of human endeavor, the orichas affect the lives of their followers (Mason 2002:95). Orisa Osun loves water and the vicinity is a place for romance with nature and people. As a couple is joined in marriage, the next thing they pray for are healthy children. After the

wedding, Yoruba people expect the new couples to have children within the first year of marriage.

As we have mentioned in part one, Osun gives children to barren women who visit her at the river (Castellanons 2001:39-40). She works with other divinities to fulfill this task (Castellanons 2001 : 42). The power of fertility, reproduction and enjoyment of sex belong to Osun. Yemoja, Oba, Olokun and Osun are women gods who network who cure

infertility. Osun, in particular, is the owner of female genitalia and the female

eggs.

2. Love, Beauty and Sex: As quoted above, Osun is in control of beauty, love,

and

sexual desire in Cuba. The heart becomes the emblem of Osun (Monaghan 2004: 193).

The heart desire of women and men is to find the love of their life who intends to bear children for them. A goddess who controls the quality and quantity of beauty, love, and

t40

sexual desire cannot be easily forgotten among those who aim to have children. Osun is a goddess of beauty (Lawal 1974: 239).

Osun is the goddess of love and lust. Karen Tate stated that "Her experience in the arts of lovemaking have earned her the name La Puta Santa, or Whore-saint, as well as

Puta Madre, Mother-whore" (Tate 2006: 132). Osun became the goddess

the

prostitutes because she is thought to be a prostitute too. She encourages freedom of selfexpression and satisfaction. Stephanie Palmine reported that, "mostly in Cuba, Chango may reveal himself a loudmouthed braggart, Ogun may turn into a wanton destroyer and Ochun into a f,rckle prostitute willing to sell her affections to the highest bidder" (Palmie

2002:194). Explanations had been given forthe reasons behind herprostitution as, "she

is more accurately the sexually liberated woman who gives pleasure to herself and of herself when she so desires, reflecting the true meaning of the Virgin Goddess who is

powerful within herselfl' (Tate 2006: 132). The Americans have made Osun into

feminist advocate and the Yoruba morals became relative in the New World.

Miguel A. De La Torre shared her experience with Osun worshippers as follow: o''When

was young,

I would often witness brawny men who were

possessed by Oshun

begin to display seductive feminine characteristics, while dainty women possessed by Oggun would become belligerent intimidators" (De La Torre 2004: xi). This form

sexual movement is not condoned in Osogbo today. People have probably been educated over the period of time while the Africans in the Americas still allow the tradition in their worship.

Anybody who is involved in prostitution in the Yoruba community is seen as a disgrace to humanity. Yoruba make a distinction between two kinds of beauty, ewa-ode

r4l

"bodily beauty," which is more of an outward appearance and ewa inu "beauty-incharacter." The most precious and desired beauty is the latter one which has an intrinsic

quality. In Yoruba thought, too much beauty could be a sign of being evil or being connected to wicked spirits. Osun worshippers have been accused of not only prostitution

but of homosexuality.

Mythologically, especially in Cuba, styled as the seductress of various male gods, Ochun fuither exemplifies, not just a moment of irresistible sexual attraction, but female sterility. Some divination proverbs style her as a divine prostitute, but, more important, perhaps, she stands for "all that is sweet in life," including, not just sexual pleasure, or self-enhancement through wealth, but the treacherous sweetness of sugar (Palmie 2002: 282).

In the footnote the author

goes fuither

to say, "at least today, male devotees of female

deities, particularly Ochun, are pewasively rumored to be at least latent homosexuals. In the inimitable and untranslatable words of a babalawo with whom I worked in Miami..."

(Palmie 2002: 282). This is a serious allegation for a religious worship of dignity from Osogbo. These people who tumed Osun worship into such role in Yoruba community are

called emere or elere "the still-bom baby." Emere are dangerous children in a Yoruba

family. People pray not to have any of them as a child. The emere children die before their parents; this is a curse in Yoruba land and among Yoruba people anywhere in the world.

3. Osun's New Names and Personalities: Osun accepts different personalities names in the New World. Osun became the Lady

of Charity in the Catholic

and

churches

(Castellanons 2001:40). She is also known as Our Lady of Cobre among the Catholic

Church Saints. The people worshiped Osun in Catholic churches as they openly declared

r42

that Osun is a daughter of Olofin. Osun's houses became holy symbols of spirituality to the Yoruba descendants in Cuba.

The worshippers still retain the African attitude

dancing, singing, and

celebration during Osun worship in the New World. Whenever the Africans are holding

their worship services, sounds of Yoruba music

fill

the air. People use different kinds of

musical instruments in celebrating Osun. Examples of these materials include stones, planks, and locally made drums. They improvised many of the materials that their parents were using in Osogbo. One of the reasons for the worship of Osun is that the people were

able to express their emotions in worship. For the Yoruba descendants, the Catholic worship was too slow and dull.

Santeria worship, the worshippers offer a

lot of

frankincense, oil, and candles to "St. Osun" and dance until the spirit of Osun possesses them.

E. Osun in Santeria: The Yoruba made different images of Osun. Benitez Rojo traced the similarities

of Osun icons in Cuban saying that "the Spanish Virgen de Illescas as Yoruba Ochun Yeye Moro and the Taina goddess Atabex or Atabey are similar

in appearances"

(Matibag 1996: l1). It was difficult to differentiate the personality of Osun from that of other icons. One would require the help of spiritual leaders who are familiar with the icons to differentiate one image from another. The interesting thing about the abovementioned divinities is that "these three divine personalities did not however merge into

one but maintained their separate identities as three-figures-in-one-entity" (Matibag 1996:

ll).

In a religious setting where Osun worship does not dominate the history,

t43

culture, ethics, and government of the people as it does in Osogbo,

it is easy to confuse

the personalities and characters of Osun with other divinities. Two or more divinities may

be similar in appearance and attributes, but their functions and beings may be opposite. This point supports a religious argument that"a syncretic artifact is not a synthesis, but a

signifier made out of difference" (Matibag 1996: 11). As Osun stood out as a deity from Yoruba, she could not be merged or submerged into Christian saints. No doubt, myths contribute to the continuity of the Yoruba culture and tradition in Cuba. By devoting themselves to the Yoruba religious images, the elements from West African religion and

Catholic belief systems converged to transform Cuban religion (Matibag 1996: 11). Osun worship developed in Cuba as the Africans concealed it from the authorities (Okpewho, Davies, Mazuri 1999: 34). Yoruba men and women came with the ideas and beliefs of

their gods and traditional folklores. The Yoruba language, myths, proverbs and religious worship were firmly established in Cuba. Hence, polytheistic, animistic beliefs, ritual meditating and practices gained ground in Cuba. Among all the African peoples in Cuba, the Yoruba were very committed to their ancestors and gods (Bastide 1971). They looked for every way to sustain their interest

and knowledge of their ancestral religion in Cuba. They practice initiation rite, spiritpossession, sacrifice, divination, magic, and casting of spells using the name of Oshun and other Yoruba gods. Osun worship is growing in Cuba (Badejo 1995: 13).

During the early period of the Yoruba in the New World and their subsequent migration to the Americas, the people had to accept the reality

give-and-take in

practicing their religious beliefs. In Cuba, for example, Osun's names, pronunciations, beliefs and rituals underwent some changes. Cross Sandoval explains more about these

t44

changes that almost made Osun worship into a "made-in-America" religion (Matibag

1996:57). In Cuba, Roman Catholicism changed the nature of the Osun religion to such

an extent that the Vatican finally recognized her as one of its saints. Her identities, and ontological status, have been adjusted to Catholicism.

names,

It is wlitten,

"the

Virgen de la Caridad del Cobrel, Ochun, became Cuba's patron saint by decree on May 10, 1916, under Pope Benedict XV. She is celebrated on her feast day, September 8, in Santiago de Cuba" (Farrow 1996: 14: Matibag 1996: 57-58). Thus Osun entered into

official records of the Church. Her position of pahon saint is an important one. As Osun was incorporated into the family of the saints, worshippers gave her new attributes that she did not have

in Osogbo. Osun becomes the goddess "who owns and loves money,"

attributes that were never part of her image in Yorubaland (Matibag 1996: 58). Money was not a means of trade before slavery in Yoruba land. People were doing business using trade-by-barter until the beginning of the eighteenth century.

Osun' Favorites: Miguel A. De La Torre expressed the bias of the media to Santeria

in the Americas by

saying "But

Eurocentric manifestation

all too often, when compared to the normative

of Christianity,

Santeria is presented to the world through

Hollywood movies and the news media as idolatrous, dangerous, or a product of backward people" (De La Torre 2004: xii). Whereas Santeria is the worship of Yoruba

deities in the Catholic churches where icons are used as educational-religious items (Matibag 1996:52-53). Osun has different icons that represent her in worship. The icons of Osun are in

private homes and churches in Cuba. Diedre L. Badejo assesses the significance of the

t45

African icons by saying, "thankfully, the key to African worldviews remains within reach. The primary knowledge base which is the iconography of African images persists

like African American spirituals..." (Badejo 1995: xv). This popularity of African icons positively revived other religious activities such as rituals, myths, prayers, and dances.

Images: The icons

of Osun in

homes and churches are constant reminders to the

worshippers.

In an abstract, decontextualized sense, Ochun is understood as a young, beautiful, light-skinned black female oricha who has many lovers and is extremely fond of perfumes, fans, mirrors, jewelry, and all kinds of finery. She loves music, dancing, and celebrates the joy of living. She is also skilled in the arts of seduction and lovemaking. Ochun Yeye-Moro and Ochun Ibu-Akuaro are the "best examples" of this prototypical Ochun (Castellanons 2001 : 35).

As a young divinity in the Americas, Osun will always remain young in that context. That quality accorded her an opportunity to be one of the Cuban Catholic saints. As she was known in Haiti, Osun is a mulatto with a dark skin (Owusu 2002:27). She has been compared with Venus in Taurus (Kaldera 2004: 141). Her youthfulness is winning her more followers from the teenagers.

In Cuba, Osun is known as Our Lady of Charity, Lady of Cobre. Like other saints, Osun loves music, dancing and to celebrate life. There are poems, with the wordings related to the sea and old river, summarizing where Oshun came from. She is known as

the source of fresh water. A non-androgynous being, Osun is a female virgin and this statement reminds us of how the Arugba Osun

in Osogbo is expected to be a virgin.

Virginity proves one's character, chastity and self-control is worth emulating by young people.

t46

Osun is dark in complexion in Cuba because they know that she is originally from

Africa. She is as black as coconut sweets sold at the markets. In Cuba, the appearance of any fire beetle is a reminder for people of Osun. Osun and Olofin, another African goddess, work closely to produce fresh water

for people and their farms. Osun waters the plantations of sugar and the grain fields. The palm-trees are woven as her dress. The coves and inlets

of the river are under the

command of Osun. As she controls the Osogbo River, Osun controls water sources in the

New World.

ii.

Sexual Activities: Cabrera

Yemaya Ochun sees Osun as "the Lover, the

personification of sensuality and love, of the force that drives the gods and all creatures to seek out one another and to unite with one another in pleasure" (Matibag 1996:64). Osun

is portrayed as a divinity who encourages sexual relationships among human beings and

also in the spiritual

world. Osun's appearance is inesistible to men who were

her

to fall in love with her.

She

contemporaries. Her beauty lured two Yoruba divinities

married more than one Yoruba god, Chango (Shango), and Orunmila (Badejo 1995:2, 56). The myth states that:

The oricha Ochun and the oricha Oba were both married to the kingly deity Chango. Oba was unhappy because she felt [the] Chango spent more time with Ochun and not enough time with her. She went to Ochun and asked how she might entice Chango to pay her more attention. Ochun replied that Chango loved her cooking and that is why he spent more time with her; she also suggested that Oba make a soup from her ear because the excellent taste of the soup and the devotion of giving an ear would surely win Chango's affections. Oba made the soup and served it to Chango who commented on how good it tasted. "'What is in it?" he asked. "My ear," replied Oba as she removed her head covering to reveal the bandaged ear. Chango was repulsed and fled for [from] Oba. It is said that he never forgave her (Mason 2002:53; Ecun 1885:253).

t4l

Osun's first known lover was Orunmila (Castellanons 2001: 41). And later, Osun became

the favorite wife of Sango (Matibag 1996: 65). Osun's rival in marriage was Oya, the goddess

of Yoruba rivers. Shango eventually divorced both Osun and Oya because of

their constant frghts and jealousy at home. With all of Sango's power and ability to control thunder and lighting, he could not control his two beautiful but quarrelsome wives. This story becomes a powerful reminder for the worshippers of Osun in Cuba, and a

repetition of it sustains worship of Osun. The stories surrounding the marriage of Osun to Orunmila also spread in the New

World. As we have heard, Orunmila is a Yoruba god who is in charge of divination, wisdom, knowledge, medicine and healing. Orunmila gives visionto babalal4ro "priests," onisegun "herbalist," and sdaunse "juju

mai." A number of slaves in the New World

continued practicing or at least visiting the herbalists. Yoruba slaves patronized them because they thought that western medicine could

diseases

not cure or heal all of the Yoruba

in the foreign land. Spiritual problems require spiritual attention which

the

herbalists could deal with.

iii. Color: In the New World, Osun and her devotees have a favorite

color: yellow.

V/orshippers of Osun usually made an effort to have yellow as part of his or her daily dress (Mason2002:71). Shopona, the god of smallpox and the dry season, shares the use

of yellow color with Osun (Verger 7976: 171). Whenever a slave dresses in a pure yellow

it is a statement that the person is either a follower of Osun or Shopona. As Osun's favorite color is yellow, Orunmila's color is green (Matibag 1996: 119). In the history of Cuba, at one time the use of color led to public disputes. On September 4, 1933 the revolution against Machado raised a conflict on the use of yellow and green.

148

iv. Number: The use of special numbers also

became important

in Osun worship in

Cuba. Osun perfect number is five, "and five are the diaphanous scarves she

wears

around her waist" as typical of her images (Matibag 1996: 65). Devotees are reminded

Osun when the number five is mentioned at social or religious circles.

v. Food: Regarding food, Osun devotees in Cuba think that Osun loves honey and pastries more than any form of food (Matibag 1996: 65). She also loves watermelon and

yellow pastries as parts of her dishes (Mason 2002: 16). She loves sweet pastries with sweet baked oranges and chicken (Ocha'ni lele 2003: 221). We should note that the above mentioned items are not parts of her favorite menu in Osogbo.

But to be on a safe side, worshippers in Cuba still consult the priests to know what to offer Osun during services.

After this intensification of the realities of life, the diviner offers a method to transcend the situation. "Ochun wants partridges," he tells her. Each oricha has particular foods: Ochun is partial to hens, f,rsh, partridge, eggs, shrimp, oranges, and fine pastries. The conflicts are further intensified by the deity wanting something (Mason 2002:25). Some of the Yoruba special food that the Cuban worshipers give to Osun in worship is

olele (Ocha'ni lele 2003: 222). Ole or olele is the mixture of blacked-eye peas, eggs, red pepper, garlic, palm-oil and tomato sauce. Osun had special plates for her sacrif,rces. She "owns albahaca, or basil, which is used in many magical and medical mixes" (Matibag 1996: 65). Her food must be served

in a clean

calabash. Her devotees have to

build altar or throne for her where they must

place the plaza of fruits (Ocha'ni lele 2003: 220). They are obliged to be careful in their

presentation

of sacrifice, "the omo-Ochun or child of the goddess prepares for her a

favorite dish... made from shrimp, watercress, and almonds. Other favorite foods [she

t49

likes are] she-goat, fish, hen, and beans" (Matibag 1996: 65). Osun's food comprises sea

food and bush-meats. She even has to share some of her favorite menu with other divinities:

The orichas share together at the level of ritual practice, but this detail usually indexes some mythic explanation as well. Ochun and Aganyu share castrated goat, and santeros explain this fact by pointing to their strong association with the river; they are of the same place and eat the same food (Mason 2002:75).

This is a kind of African union of deities in foreign land. Goats are regular meat of the Yoruba people and their divinities.

vi. Materials: Osun also adores smooth round stones from the river shore. She is known to be associated with small rivers, as stated here: "associated primarily with the flow of sweet (as opposed to marine) water, Ochun's powers are also felt

in movements of

circulation, not just of earthly waters, but of blood and money" (Palmie 2002: 281). Water is a natural element that reminds worshippers the personhood of Osun in the New World, so is the flow of the blood serves as her reminder too (Mason 2002:4).

In addition to the items from rivers, the flow of blood and money was an innovative idea of Osun worship in Cuba. This was a new thought added to the worship

of Osun in Cuba (Matibag 1996: 65). The Yoruba-Cubans are well organized and more careful in preparing Osun's sacrifrces. As she is a goddess of the river, most of her sacrificial items are from the river and few other domestic items are added to Osun's sacrifices. She is therefore the goddess of the land and the sea. Osun's beauty is directly

credited to the kinds of food she eats from sacrifices offered to her by people (Badejo 1995: 10-1 1).

150

Osun likes using mirrors and jewelry. Monaghan says, "But Osun is also the

playful goddess who loves, above all else, beautiful jewelry and mirrors

the later so that

she may better admire her beauty" (Monaghan2004:192). Improving self-image is one

of the popular ideologies of the people in the Americas. Osun becomes their role-model and idol. Jewelry and mirror are essential symbols of beauty in the New World.

vii. Poetical Verses: In

reverence

Yoruba words and phrases

of the personhood of Osun, her devotees still

in daily

prayers and incantations. Here

is one of

use

the

descriptions of what goes on at Osun's shrine:

of the ancestors. She names one, then another, and then another. She asks for the blessings of the orichas and makes a long prayer to Ochun. Then she cuts off the braid. Many people repeat this She asks for the blessings

process, each one invoking their ancestors and orichas before cutting away at my hair (Mason2002:5). These regular prayers are in the form of recitation or incantation which could also involve

the cutting of ones self with a razor blade (Abiodun 200I: 25). Sociologist Fernando Ortiz wrote articles on the influence of the African religion on Cuba's art, religion, and language. Lydia Cabrera also indicated that Africans had influenced almost everything in

Cuba with their lifestyle (Matibag 1996: 1-3). This influence has been called different things by different people including "cultural transplantation, diffusion, and synthesis" to name a few (Matibag 1996:1-2).

In addition to the sociologists' observations,

Jose Sanchez-Boudy also published

works on Afro-Cuban poetry. Cubans are the whitest in complexion among the people

the Caribbean islands, but the black people's influence on the island's culture

and

religion are immeasurable. It is widely accepted that most of these African elements came from the descendants of Yoruba slaves. Joseph Murphy's work on Santeria and African

151

spirits in America suggests that the Yoruba divinities in American religions are in different forms and shapes (Matibag 1996: 8-9). The orisa in the New World have myths supporting the spiritual activities of their

worshipers. Every step must be guided according to the dictate of the divinity. Sarah Cameron states that

"for every orisha there is a complex code of conduct,

dress

(including colour-coded necklaces) and diet to which his or her hijos must conform, and a series of chants and

rh¡hms played on the

sacred bata drums" (Cameron 2004: a25). By

abiding with requirements of the orlsa Osun one could experience religious phenomenon such as spirit possession.

2. Spirit Possession and Initiation in Osun: Initiation rites, spirit possessions

and

consulting divinations are common practices in African religions both in the Old and in

the New World (Badejo i995: 13). African myths, folktales and proverbs form the conceptual frameworks for sustaining these religious experiences. One of the common features in Osun Worship is spirit possessing the worshipers.

It is usually the next experience after a devotee is initiated into Osun religion. De La Torre stated that "during possession, gender lines can blur as male orishas spiritually possess female bodies and vice versa" (De La Torre 2004:

xi). This is one of the religious

experiences that men and women have in common. Other religious phenomena are the

initiation rites and the practice of divination. Spirit possession in a secular setting would be spectacular for those who had never witnessed it before. People manipulate the spirit-

world for their own financial gain or social recognition (Mason 2002:7).

r52

3. The Yoruba Language in Osun Worship: One of the factors of spirit possession in Osun worship is music and drumming. Yoruba music and drums follow the lyric of

Yoruba language. Osun worship is usually

in Yoruba. Initially, the use of

Yoruba

language helped the early Africans to conceal their intention of Osun worship from their masters (Mason 2002: 9). As

it is written,

"some of the oral texts themselves serve as

refractions of the knowledge brought by those who had crossed the Middle Passage [sea]" to the New World (Wamer-Lewis 1999: 12).

Every Yoruba word, phrase, and sentence is rich in meaning and it takes a deep understanding of it to know what is being said. For instance, the Yoruba word igba could

mean time, rope, two hundred, or garden-egg;

depends on the context. Where one

places accents in writing and one tone or emphasis in speaking determines what one means in that context. In most cases, the context determines the meaning of each Yoruba

word of a sentence.

At the early stage of Osun worship in Cuba, the slave-masters did not understand most of Yoruba language. It therefore was a tool of communication that concealed the truth of African religion from other people. It was a means of religious expression among the people and with their divinities both in singing and chanting incantations to their gods

(Matibag 1996: 8-9). Yoruba songs and music are not merely for entertainment but full of religious and ritual messages. Messages and customs are encoded

in the beating of drums. Thus the Yoruba

could secretly communicate to their members and their gods. It is one thing to understand

the Yoruba language, but it requires training of ears to understand the language of the

153

drums. Before the arrival of foreigners in Yorubaland, the sound of special drums often wamed the community that something was about to happen in the village or town.

Drums and drumming are part goddesses have favorite drums.

worship that divinities enjoy. Gods and

It is honorable to understand

and to be able to play

Yoruba drums. This special ability and training can make one

a celebrity in

the

community. Yoruba would say that one gbo ilu"hears and understands drums". It means one's understanding is deeper and better than many people in the crowd, for drumming communicates secret messages, most especially, the talking-drum otherwise known

gangan or iya-ilu.

Yoruba drums come in different sizes and different forms.

set of drums and

drummers could be playing different sounds, beats, regulating the moves of the dancers.

This is one of the beauties of Yoruba religious festivals (Bascom and Herskovits 1959: 56). Combinations of beautiful tones, rhythms, movements, and graphical gestures add meaning to Yoruba religion and worship. John Roberts has argued that African oral narrative, especially in drums and dancing, contributes to the continuation of the African

religion in the New World (Okpewho, Davies, Mazuri 1999: xix). As we have discussed earlier, bembe is the favorite drum of Osun.

Drums speak African, a united language

in Cuba, partly because

drums are

essential instruments in African entertainment. The language of the drums is a means

keeping bonds tight in a foreign land. Europeans who loved music were also drawn into the group.

A later challenge was that the grandchildren

and great-grandchildren of the

Africans did not understand the Yoruba language well enough to understand the language

t54

of the drums. Only a few of them could understand little phrases and sentences of their parents' language, and none of them could speak the Yoruba language fluently (Matibag 1996: 53). Where the Yoruba language had failed

in reminding them of the African

religion, African drums and music still generated interest in it. The drums and music bring the Yoruba in Cuba together in the worship of divinities. In addition to Yoruba language and talking drums is ritual dance in Cuba. Ocha'ni lele described how the Osun dance is in demand. "In Oche, Oshun may want the client to

give her a huge party with lots of music. The bigger the party, the greater the blessings

this Orisha will bestow" (Ocha'ni lele 2003: 2003). Yoruba people love to party. Either social or spiritual, initiation or christening, everything is marked with a huge parly. One should not be surprise that Osun expected a huge party from somebody who is expecting abundant blessings.

In summary of the importance of Osun in Cuba, she became the divinity of lakes, rivers and the ocean.

It is reported that "Ochun, for instance, eventually lost among

Cubans her identification with a specific African river setting

no longer relevant in the new

and expanded her role as the "owner" of all rivers" (Castellanons 2001: 36), She

is also remembered because of her interest in African drums (Castellanons:42).

155

Osun in Brazil

Heike Owusu paints the picture of Osun in Brazil. Osun is known as Oshun, Oxum,

Ezili or Erzulie in Brazil. Osun is the Loa-Gods of Candomle, which is similar to Voodoo and Santeria. Osun in known in Candomble as having the follows particular symbols:

Attributes: Goddess of love and of creative powers, mistress of abundance and passion - beautiful, seductive, young. Sacred places: Mountains, running waters Symbols: Jewelry, mirror, fans, gold, little bells, parrot, peacock, quail, clams, hawk Day:Thursday Colors: Coral-red, yellow, green Number:Five Favorite food: Cake, oranges, cinnamon, honey, melon Planets: Venus, waxing Moon Ritual Place in the house: Bedroom, kitchen Salutation: Ori Ye Ye O (Owusu 2002: ) Before we discuss these myths of Osun in Brazil, let us take a moment to talk about the Yoruba

inBrazil In the last section, we detailed how Osun became a saint of the Catholic Church in

Cuba in the tradition of Santeria. The papacy recognized her and Osun became one of the

most popular saints

Santeria (Matibag 1996: 58). This section

probes the significance of Osun worship in the tradition

of the dissertation

of Candomble (Farrow

1996:

t2).

Bjoring indicated that "Candomble is a name given to a variety of African traditions which were established in Brazil in the nineteenth century. Bahia, or Salvador de Bahia, is the center of Candomble" (Bjoring 1988: 108). Language, music and icons

contributed significantly to African worship in this religious tradition. The African myths and symbols sustain the tradition in Brazil. How the tradition started is not known but

"Iya Nasso, a Negro priestess, was instrumental in organizing a Candomble community

rs6

in Bahia in 1830" (Bjorling 1988: 108). She contacts the spirits of Yoruba gods for people who are in crisis.

A. African Myths in Brazil:

African myths, rituals and practices exist in Brazil today as by-products of slavery. One of the myths states that "Ochun felt sorry for Babalu-Aye and told Orunmila

to smear her best honey on the walls of Olofi's place. When Olofi tasted Ochun's honey he immediately wanted more. Ochun responded:

"I will not give you any more of my

honey unless you bring Babalu-Aye to life." God complied and Lazarus was resurrected thanks to Ochun's intervention" (Castellanons 2001:38). This is an example of the kind

of myth that people of Yoruba descent believed in. It has been said that "this faithfulness

to African cults" kept the slaves together as one (Verger

1976: 470). Social

transformation and relocation could not rob the African people

of their solidarity in

Brazil. Africans in Brazil gained religious and political freedom through a series of public revolutions and demonstrations. It got to a point where the religious and political authorities in Brazil perceived Africans to be a nuisance.

It is written that, "the

black

population and above all the Africans, were however a source of disquiet: there were a great many slaves and they were felt to be a menace. In 1792, the Haiti revolt had led to the victory of the blacks; in Brazil, it had fìlled the whites with panic and the blacks with

hope" (Verger 1985: 10). The whites became more suspicious of the Brazilian blacks and mulattos. The whites knew that they had the potential to form revolutionary groups. It is stated that "the

judicial enquiries that followed the 'Male revolt' in 1835 gave insight into

t57

certain problems of co-existence of the African slaves and freedmen in Bahia and showed

certain aspects

of their division" (Verger 1976: 459). Two of the major

causes

disagreement between the whites and the blacks were religions and the inhumane treatment people of African descent received from the Brazilian authorities. However,

one university took a positive step to reconcile the different minority groups on its campus. On the cover

of the brochure produced by the University of Bahia for

the

Intemational Conference of Brazilian and Portuguese studies, were the names of Bahia saints, the Virgin Mary, Sango, Sopana and Osun (Verger 1976: 168-171). We should

point out that Sango, Sopana and, of course, Osun were divinities that had their origins in

Africa.

B. The Yoruba in Brazil as Nøgo Community:

As we have examined the treatment of Africans in Brazil, we need to focus on how the Yoruba were identified in Brazil. The Yoruba population contributed to a high percentage of blacks in Brazil. The mulattos, who were the children and grand-children

of African-Bruzilian couples, helped to ease the religious tension seen initially in Brazil.

As a sizable minority, descendants of the Yoruba and the mulattos started coming together to worship the African-initiated divinities. These people were mixing African beliefs with the Catholic religion.

The people who initiated this new form of religion were mostly descendants

the Yoruba, which people referred to as "Nago". The word "Anago" was a reference to a

Yoruba dialect group from the south-west of the kingdom. "Anago" was too diffrcult for the Brazilians to pronounce and they shortened it to "Niga".

158

Yoruba people

in Brazil came from different parts of

Yorubaland, including:

Ketu, Ijebu, Awori, Egbado, Egba, Oyo, Ife and lbadan. In Brazil, all of these groups of people became one Yoruba nation from Africa. Initially, the Yoruba who had resided close to the border of the Republic of Benin were called Anago, but eventually Niga,a derivation, became the name of all black Africans in America.

Lucumi is another name given to the Yoruba in Brazil (Matibag 1996:24,53). For

in a place such as Bahia, the former capital of Brazil, the Yoruba

worshipped the

divinities of their ancestors known as orisha. This group of people address themselves with the term lucuml meaning "my comrade" (Verger 1976: 1680). The word Lucumihas

its origin in a Yoruba word. At such meetings the people reminded themselves of the past, encouraged themselves in their present struggles, and hoped for a better future.

Yoruba Descendants as Farmers: The high percentage of blacks in the population of

Brazil contributed to the country's socio-religious development. The African religions survived chiefly in the sugar-growing regions of the northeast. In the sugar plantations, Yoruba slaves had freedom of worship and enjoyed holding small group meetings. The

same

also true

of the cattle-raising

areas

of Brazil where the Yoruba

people

acknowledged the "moral values and the intellectual richness of their ancestral beliefs" as

they wandered in the natural habitats (Platvoet, Cox and Olupona 1996: 331). These people had enough time to meditate on the "questions of right and wrong, true and false" as they

worked in agricultural settings (Bourdillon 1996:149). Yoruba people in Brazil were not only found on farm settlements, indeed most of

them were living in cities. City life offered them the freedom of anonymity. Cities were

r59

for everybody. A city environment weakens social control of the blacks. Africans enjoyed the company of the crowds which lived in cities.

2. Yoruba Cults: It was reported that in Brazil, "the Nago-Yoruba of the Ketu 'nation' met in the church of Barroquinha and formed the brotherhood of Nossa Senhora da Boa

Morte, which came out in a procession every August 15.

It was in the shade of

this

church that the fìrst participants in the cults of African gods from this Ketu nation met

(Verger 1976: 465). As time went by, different Yoruba cults grew in different parts of Brazil as they had opportunities to come together more often for religious meetings. The Yoruba held ipade "meetings" of small groups after the general meeting. The churches in

Brazil allowed Yoruba groups to meet after Catholic services to share their common cultural and spiritual interests, which, of course, were African in nature. Life in the city gave the Africans the opportunity to hold meetings regularly and they became recognized groups.

Yoruba people had money to spend on refreshments during traditional meetings

and festivals.

At the time, the number of blacks in Brazil was growing

rapidly,

approximately three and a half million were counted towards the end of slavery. This number grew considerably from the eighteenth century due to arrival of shipments of

more people to mine gold in Brazil. The abolition of slavery gave them freedom to relocate to better places. Since the first day of their arrival in the New World, Africans' religious, cultural

and social heritage started spreading in Brazil. Their heritage survived alongside the Portuguese religion, culture and social institutions. For a group with strong ancestral

160

foundations, such as the Africans, it was difficult,

for

a new one. The

if not impossible, to forego their faith

majority of the slave masters had no interest in converting their slaves

to Christianity. They were indifferent to their spiritual life. The slave-owners were liberal

in allowing slaves to follow their religious convictions. However, Catholic priests

and

converted black Africans tried to convince their black African colleagues to become Christians. In 1713, some individuals attributed the failure of the spread of Catholicism to a lack of resident chaplains who could do a

follow-up on the small number of converts.

C. Challenges Encountered By Yoruba Worshippers in Brazil: During religious festivals, there were occasional ¡ecollections of the unfavorable

conditions of slavery their forefathers had suffered. This generated anger among the Yoruba in Brazil. This bad feeling between Yoruba tribes and memories of inter-tribal wars sometimes hindered free worship among the African people (Verger 1976:460).

Few Catholic leaders attempted to impose their religious convictions on loosely connected African people. The Catholics welcomed the African slaves

in the church.

Fellow Africans discriminated against the Africans who genuinely became Christians. The "Africans in Bahia were often separated from one another by religious matters" (Verger I976:460). Their levels of commitment to Christianity and African religion were different. There was evidence of religious discrimination among the converted slaves and

their descendants.

It is believed among some devoted Christians that when one is

converted to Christianity, he or she must totally reject ancestor worship.

161

African convefis regularly met in worship and to talk about their newfound faith. Organized African-Christian groups borrowed ideas from the Freemasoffy practical administration guidelines so that they could be recognized by the govemment. The Brazilian govemment made idol worship easy for the Africans there. Part of

the government policy was to promote cultural diversity among its citizens. Africans quickly seized the government's given opportunity to organize themselves according to their religious interests and tribal origins.

It was annoying to loudly.

some people hearing African slaves' songs repeatedly and

At work, individually and collectively, the Yoruba slaves enjoyed

singing

religious music and worship when they remembered their homeland. As they worked, the

African slaves sang and danced to their native songs which motivated them to productive and

fulfilled. In situations

where the slave owners were noticed to be very

strict on religion, the Yoruba would pretend to be singing Catholic songs whereas they were honoring their African divinities.

It is written that when they

were singing and

dancing: The whites believed them to be dancing to the glory of the Blessed Virgin or the saints, but the Virgin and the saints were more fsignificant] than masks. The steps of those ritual ballets, whose significance quite escaped the masters, ...The music of the drums abolished distance, bridged oceans, momentarily bringing Africans to life and creating a communion of men in one end and the same collective consciousness, in an exaltation that was at once frenetic and controlled (Badejo 1995: 54).

Most African descendants used various available objects and instruments to make music to their gods and goddesses (Verger 1976: 470). African religious music used naturally gifted voices in making melody to the divinities. One scholar stated that in Brazil he saw that the Africans were committed to their performance to a point of "savage enthusiasm"

162

in their songs and dance (Verger 1976: 471). "Savage enthusiasm" was a negative phrase

to describe the mood of the African descendants in Brazil. A savage enthusiasm is

genuine spiritual expression in worship and this deep involvement in worship is missing

in Catholicism. In spite of the lenient Brazilian government policy, the African "nations" in Brazil

were too few

number

to have a widespread influence on leadership or to

own

buildings, unlike other nationalities which had fraternities, monasteries and sanctuaries.

The Brazilian civil government did not know that as they were promoting a peaceful religious and cultural co-existence in Brazil, they were also contributing to the growth of the minority religions. It was not too long before they realized what they were doing in

promoting paganism

"in

1768 the existence of true African shrines was denounced" as

illegal (Verger 1976: 470). But it was too late to undo their mistakes for African religion had put down roots in the social, political and religious structures of Brazil.

The Africans had adapted themselves to a new social setting. Although the New

World superstructures were foreign to them, they functioned well within the religious parameters. Back in Africa, the Yoruba believed in a family lineage, clan identity, village

system and hierarchical structures that helped them to behave ethically (Afolabi 1974:

44-58).In Brazil, the religious institutions adopted some African hierarchical system of goverrrment at home and followed the leadership of their masters as a norrnal lifestyle. As

time went by, African religion in the New World was changing its appearance as one generation passed the beliefs to the next generation.

D. The Yoruba Religion in Catholic Faith:

t63

The type of Catholic faith that the Portuguese brought to Brazil encouraged the growth of the African religions side-by-side with Christianity. They formed an alliance as both groups acknowledged the subjects of ancestors and saints regularly featured as one

in their faiths. Catholicism favored and revived the veneration of saints who shared similar profiles with the African ancestors. Particularly, Catholic superstitions were compatible with African religious practices. Unlike in Europe where the veneration

saints was monitored, the Brazilian Catholics experienced less supervision from the Vatican. Due to various reasons, Brazilians were isolated from Rome, therefore, people did things the way they thought best. In fact, Africans had more freedom to worship their ancestors under the leadership of Catholics immediately after the abolition of the slave

trade than when they were under the monitoring of their slave-masters. Religious symbols, values and the ideas of the Catholic Church and the Yoruba religions were used interchangeably in Br azil.

1. Yoruba Churches Operating Under the Catholic Faith: As the slaves saw the similarities, Catholicism later encouraged African-Christians to start their own parishes.

This made

easier

for Africans to practise their faith in their own way within

Christianity. This allowance eventually led

to the growth of

independent African

churches (Okpewho, Davies, Mazuri 1999: 386). Gradually, pure African rituals and beliefs were being discontinued in Brazil as an independent religion but "in transforming

the African cults, the church, without meaning to, often helped them to survive" by letting traditional African culture be itself in Christianity.

164

African culture is as practical as Christianity. As with other religions, African cultural values were deeply rooted in the moral codes of black Africans in Brazil. Their mental attitudes, modes of behavior and emotional patterns were revisited during birth, adulthood, maniage and burial ceremonies. These sorts of rites of passage are transitional stages

of life, which owe their origins to African religion. Another way in which African religion had an influence in Brazil was in instilling

the belief in magic and religious formalism. The whites were fascinated by the Africans' magical powers. The Porruguese migrants were as superstitious as the African slaves, but the Africans contributed to the sustenance of religious magic in Brazil. Both the African slaves and the Portuguese immigrants had many things in common; they were foreigners and they had lost contact

with their homelands. Both groups found solace in the practice

of magic. Magic and magical performances are not religious acts as such, but are the means to manipulate human minds, and magic enhanced the image of Africans in Brazil.

2. Osun in Yoruba Worship: Osun worship continues ln Brøzil

myth and culture jointly create traditional

etiquettes

because the Yoruba

the mind of the African

descendants in the region.

i. Authority and Power: One leading factor in the growth of African religions in Brazil

is the African gods' and goddesses' claiming of authority over seasons and natural forces.

domestic materials,

It was pointed out that,

Some of the general characteristics of these are respected. Shango rules over the rocks, Ogun over iron, Oxun over sweet water, Yansan over bamboo (because of her connection with death, symbolized by bamboo), Oxossi over forests (where he hunts), Omolu over cemeteries, Exu over crossroads, Yemaja over the sea. But gradually these deities rise from the

16s

plane of natural forces to the plane of moral ones (Platvoet, Cox and Olupona 1996:328). The Yoruba divinities ruled and were remembered in almost all aspects of creation and behaviors

in Brazil.

Sango, according

to the perception of the Yoruba people, is in

charge of thunder and lightening. The slaves often remembered Sango as their god and

their divine father whenever it rained. His efficacy was so powerfully felt that the Yoruba believed that Sango could strike dead anybody who was a thief in the community. Ogun,

on the other hand was believed to be the god of iron and he protected those whose symbols of trade were connected with metalwork. Ogun became so powerful that it took Osun to get too close to him. One day she lured Ogun to her side.

Women offered themselves. But no one could lure the hermit from his hiding place. Ochun decided to try. She went into the forest, intoned a song, and began to move her body to the music. Ogun watched her from behind some bushes. Enchanted, he soon showed his head in order to see better. Ochun came quickly to his side and daubed his mouth with honey. Little by little, Ogun came closer and closer to Ochun, who continued dancing and giving him honey to eat (Castellanons 2001: 38).

Who dare say Osun is not powerful. Her seductive power got Ogun and even Exu. Esu is a devil in Yoruba understanding. He is also the minister of 'justice'. He punishes the wicked people and ultimately kills those who continue in their wickedness before they reach their

full

age (Verger

1976 470).

ii. The Priests (Bøbøløwo): Another religious factor that

sustained the Yoruba religion

Brazil is the presence of the Babalawo, "the Ifa (oracle) priest". The Yoruba in Brazil recognized the babalawo "priests" as their religious leaders. Priests maintained the use

the Yoruba language in communicating with divinities and in prescribing incantations for

clients.

It is widely believed that the gods and goddesses listen to the priests any time

they invoke the divinities in the vemacular. In Yoruba prayer systems there is oju odu

t66

and t'wo hundred and forty sub-servants called omo odu (Olabimtan 1974: 50). The Babalawo (Ifa priests) made voodoo for the Yoruba in Brazil as they practice the Yoruba prayer custom by this they reminded African descendants of the history of the religion.

From time to time, the parties involved in the incantations would sing Yoruba songs praising their ancestors, gods and goddesses, most especially during the making

the sacrifices and rituals. Their attitudes to the divinities were positive as they

sang

traditional songs and used traditional instruments during the rituals.

In Brazil, Osun and Yemanja

collaborated

blessing female reproductve

systems. Yoruba religions cooperated with other African faiths to form the bedrock of the Yorub

Br azllian practi

Ochun and Yemaya, then, are equally essential to motherhood, since the former owns the organs that make conception possible while the latter attends to pregnancy itself and to nursing and caring for the children. Motherhood is equally distributed between these two orichas (Castellanons 2001 : 42).

Osun and Yemoja are partners

in Brazil. For

instance, "Yemanja, the well-known

Abeokuta orisha who is considered the mother of all other orisha, has been confused with

the Virgin of the Conception" because the people thought of them to be one (Verger 1976: 17l).

The use of the color white as a symbol has played the same role Obatala, god

in linking

of creation and Mother of Mercy as one family (Lawal 1974: 242-243).

Yellow connects Oshun to the Virgin of Charity of the Catholic Church, which was not so from the beginning (Verger 1976

l7l).

In conclusion, African religion is embedded

in the history of Christianity in Brazil.

t67

At the beginning of this discussion we

cited Heike Owusu's summary

the

symbols of Osun in Brazil. Osun is Oxum, Ezili or Erzulie in Brazilian Voodoo. Her attributes and characteristics are outlined as follows:

Attributes: Goddess of love and of creative powers, mistress of abundance and passion - beautiful, seductive, young. Sacred places: Mountains, running waters Symbols: Jewelry, mirror, fans, gold, little bells, parrot, peacock, quail, clams, hawk Day: Thursday Colors: Coral-red, yellow, green Number:Five Favoritefood'. Cake, oranges, cinnamon, honey, melon Planets: Venus, waxing Moon Ritual Place in the house: Bedroom, kitchen Salutation: Ori Ye Ye O (Owusu2002:25).

Some of the symbols we found here are: mountains, little bells, parrot, peacock, quail, clams, hawk, Thursday, coral-red, cakes, oranges, waxing Moon, bedroom and kitchen.

Her associations with these symbols add meanings and memory to Osun worship in Brazil. One group that we need to state one mythological narrative behind is the animal category: One of her symbols is the peacock, but the other is the vulture. There is a legend that in her youth, Oshun volunteered for a hideous duty that all other orishas shied from, and they openly doubted her ability to do the job. She accomplished it at a great personal risk by taking the form of a peacock. She flew a long way to give a message, but in the process her beautiful Venus - bright feathers were burn off and she returned as ugly vulture (Kaldera 2004:143).

This my'th makes sense in connecting the importance of wlture and peacock symbols in Osun worship. Symbols

in myths are helpful in the continuation of Osun worship.

Feather forms part of head-dress in Yorubaland.

It is a part of ritual dance customs. It is a

symbol of beauty and beautification (Waldhen 2007:79).

168

In Brazil, the symbols and myths of Osun are similar to those found in the rest of the New World. Monaghan indicates that

"In Brazilian

Macumba, Oshun shows her

sensuous nature by wearing jewels, holding a mirror, and wafting a fan. Altars hold copper bracelets and fans, as well as dishes filled with Omuku (onions, beans, and salt)"

remembrance

of Osun (Monaghan 2004: 193). In addition to other

symbols, fans

became one of her favorite symbols in Brazil.

The influence of Osun in Brazil had spread to the United States as recorded by Pomba Gira. In New Orleans some of the Vodou divinities share the "traits with several

orixas, particularly sensuous aspects of Oshun (Oxum) and Oya" (Gira 2004: 82). This particular work is arguing for the contribution of Osun to the gay, spiritual, bisexual, and transgender practices among the African-Americans.

t69

Osun in Trinidad

The island of Trinidad is "situated at the southernmost end of the Caribbean archipelago which stretches from Florida

in North America to Venezuela in

South

America" (Lum 2002:l). As early as 1790, Trinidad was one of the Spanish colonies. Slaves from Africa and the second generation from the French West Indian islands formed almost 50% of the population of Trinidad (Lum 2000: 218). Starting from 1777 to 1834 slavery was fully established in Trinidad. Afterthe emancipation of the slaves, the

ex-African slaves immigrated to Trinidad in 1839.

A. Yoruba Religion in Trinidad: In addition to the presence of Osun in Cuba andBrazil, we have evidence of Osun worship in Trinidad. It is written: "The Orisha religion began in Trinidad only during the

last century, and its primary components were borrowed from the Old World" (Houk 1995: 115). This is buttressed by the comments made by Melville J. Herskovits about the significance of African worship in Trinidad by saying that: The Bahian post-possession phenomenon termed were... since discovered

Trinidad by Espinet and Eduardo... is a major contribution of Afroamericanist research to Africanist studies. The phenomenon of possession is ubiquitous in West Africa, if not in all African religion. It has often been recorded and in these descriptions the states preceding possession, and possession itself, are invariable treated. But the experience

coming out

possession has

thus far been quite

overlooked

(Herskovits 1966: 21).

Specifically, the Yoruba language and religion have their footprints on the island through

the efforts of free African immigrants who came from Martinique, Guadaloupe and

170

French Guiana

to Trinidad (Lum 2000:

201-202). The number

Yoruba people

outnumbered the rest of the tribal groups in Trinidad as indicated below:

In the case of Trinidad we have to recall the significant number of free African immigrants who arrived during the nineteenth century after emancipation. A distinctive Yoruba identity continued among some Trinidadians well into this century, and Maureen Lewis suggests that little-known Yoruban words continue to be used between close friends (Littlewood 1993: 87).

Yoruba deities and divinities were kept alive with the use of the Yoruba language. James

T. Houk said, "The deities of the Yoruba religion in southwestern Nigeria and the Orisha religion in Trinidad and the beliefs associated with them, for example, are often virtually

identical" (Houk 1995: 53). Idols served the purpose of icons in connecting Yoruba worshippers with the reality of African divinities. A closer scrutiny of religious activities

in Trinidad yielded evidence of Osun worship. It is written: Yemoja, is the symbol of motherhood and the fullness of the sea; Oya, the hurricane, air, the lungs; and Ochun, symbol of female beauty and ruler of the veins of the body. Because of the prominence of West African Yoruba among slaves and immigrants brought to Trinidad, the name of Shango, a king of Oyo state, became generic to Orisha worship, the state religion of Oyo and its politically affiliate city-states (MacGaffey 2000: 405),

Originally Yemoja, Oya and Ochun had their beginnings in Yorubaland. Jointly the three played major roles in the lives of Africans in Trinidad. Among them, Osun was the symbol of beauty and caretaker. She is believed to monitor the body's blood circulation that resulted in making one look and feel good.

1. The Context: Trinidad is a unique historical setting for practicing Yoruba religion. It

is a very small island discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498. Initially the Spanish

t7r

made Trinidad a home for slaves from Africa to work on the plantations (Simpson 1970:

107). Eventually,

1783, Spain opened Trinidad to non-Spanish immigrants to settle

(Simpson 1970: 112). Finally, in 1797 , Britain took over the island and made it one of her

colonies.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth

centuries, many African people came to

Trinidad through immigration, colonial and slavery activities.

In 1835, Negro slavery was abolished in Trinidad (Simpson 1970: 108). In

1855,

the Caribbean Indians received the last group of African immigrants who wanted to resettle in Trinidad. Most of the emancipated slaves, especially the Yoruba, came from other nearby islands to resettle in Trinidad because of the favorable geographical setting and weather. Consequently, Trinidad became the best place for the freed African slaves.

The weather and vegetation were similar to the West African tropical region. The

African immigrants introduced most of their cultural and religious beliefs to Trinidad. African songs became part of their daily entertainment. Trinidad became the land of African music and divinities. All African divinities lived side by side with each other:

Two minor Shango powers in Trinidad with whom our Mother Earth has certain affinities are African Queen and Oshun (now Mistress of the Ocean). A number of female water deities are to be found among the AfroCaribbean cults, some of whom appear to be variants of Yemanja; other powers have attributes which are similar to hers and which may have been derived from her or have contributed to her current form. Thus, the Bakweri liengu water spirit, creolized as Mami Wata, was found under this name in the Guianas where a slave revolt appears to have been fought under her name; also known as Minje Mamma (Emanja Mother?) her cult was characterized by the Europeans as some unspecified 'obscene worship' (Littlewood 1993: 140).

Political rallies and political activities were how the immigrants voiced their opinions. As an extension of Osun's attributes, she became the Mistress of the Ocean. Her identity

t72

became larger, she was not just in charge of a river as in Osogbo but she was in control

the ocean (Castellano ns 2001 : 42).

As in Osogbo, Oshun was thought to be too particularly interested in certain areas

of Trinidad. Roland Littlewood in his footnote noted that "Oshun was the presiding power of a small Trinidadian-Grenadan group known as Emanja's Children" (Littlewood 1993: 140). In Trinidad, it was not easy to forget the signif,rcance of African religion in such places.

Professor George E. Simpson was one of the few scholars who had studied the

Shango cult

in Trinidad. As one of the earliest authorities on the subject of Afro-

American religious influence in the Caribbean, he published a work on Shango in 1965 where he argued that Shango cults in Trinidad combined elements of Yoruba traditional

religion, Catholicism and the Baptist faiths (Simpson 1970:11). Originally, the Baptist faith is rooted in evangelical and in the believers' church tradition. It was hard to believe that African religion could have anything to do with the evangelical beliefs, because they are committed to fundamentals, dogmatic and strict statements of faith.

2. Music in Yoruba Religion: One could get information on most of the Yoruba divinities and historical past from the lyrics of the Yoruba songs. African songs provide

"effective and informational" themes on "their traumas and religious belief' of their experience in Trinidad (Bascom 1972). The effects of slavery and religion gave musical

inspiration to the surviving generations in Trinidad to accept their fate and get on with

life (Platvoet 1996: 55). In addition, the African musical groups in Trinidad revived peoples' interest in magic and voodoo through their perfonnances (Simpson 1970:108).

t73

The settlers derived greater satisfaction from African music than they did from other social involvement (Simpson 1970: 108).

The Yoruba religious worship took a new shape

in Trinidad.

Whenever the

Yorubas were celebrating a particular festival or divinity, they would take time to recognize all other divinities. For instance, whenever the Yoruba people were observing

the Sango festival, they would simultaneously offer sacrifices to Obatala, Oya and other Yoruba divinities (Simpson 1970: 103). An additional dimension of African worship in Trinidad is the practice of astronomy, especially in urban settings (Simpson 1970: 100).

In the urban

areas

of Trinidad, African religious worship is more sophisticated

than in the villages. The form of African worship has changed to the extent that one may

wonder whether the devotees of Sango found in the cities of Trinidad are actually from

Africa.

It is interesting to note that the Trinidadians

who participate in Yoruba cults

perceived themselves as "Yoruba people," "the Yoruba nation," "orisha people," or

"African people" (Simpson 1970: 85). Like Osun worship in other parts of the New

World, Sango devotees encouraged people from different nations and cultural backgrounds to join them in worship (Simpson 1970: 85).

B. Osun Worship:

During Oshun worship, drumming, dancing and singing uplifted the people to predispose them to spirit-possession. This religious phenomenon could be traced back to

African practice (Badejo 1995: 54).In Trinidad, Sango devotees would march slowly around the interior of the shrine (Simpson 1970: 26). The beat of the drum controls the

t74

movements of the dancers. In the process, all the dancers bow in front of the drummers to

maintain eye contact with the drummers. People respond differently to the sound of the drums and music during religious

festivals. Those who are spiritually possessed would shake their heads, shoulders and

jerk their legs vigorously at the beat of the drums. Their depth of ecstasy during the ceremony is an indication that the power of Sango is in action (Simpson 1970: 20). This phenomenon is called egun Søngo'spirit possession' in Yoruba language. The possessed

person could be in the state of possession for hours or days depending on the Sango (Simpson 1970: 27). another

It is noted

will of

that the possessed person "can put one after

... lighted wicks in his mouth without being burned" (Simpson

possessed person is normally and completely out

1970: 28). The

of the physical realm and such person

may have no feeling of pain. Herskovits explained that the cultural, psychiatric and social aspects

of possession affect the believers' world view and moral ethics (Simpson 1970:

29). Bastides, in his own analysis, states "that Brazilian blacks make a distinction between

(i)

possession by the gods and

(ii)

possession by spirits of the ancestors and

Eshu" (Simpson 1970:31; Bastide 1960:520). In that setting, those who are possessed by the evil spirits are normally wicked people. It could also be an effect of psychological problems that make them possessed. African worshippers on both sides of the Atlantic

still witness and experience spirit possession. Yoruba people believe

it is possible to secure spiritual power from the divinities

during the period of spirit possession. Like Osun, in Trinidad, Sango has good and evil powers available to those who wish to use them in their "fights for survival" (Simpson

1970:22). Some practitioners use the good power to secure healing for the sick, getting

175

favorable judgment in difficult

civil

cases

in court and so forth. In connection with

Catholicism, "one prominent Sango leader said that it is difficult to get "good" powers to perform "work" during the Christian period of Lent because the gods and goddesses are engaged

in answering the prayers of the Catholic Church members (Simpson 1970: 22).

This, according to their belief, is because Yoruba divinities are very much involved in attending the prayers and fasting sessions of the Catholic Church during

Lent. Yoruba

divinities form a part of the body of saints in Ch¡istianity in Trinidad. During Lent, men and women who use icons in religious worship make use of Yoruba divinities as icons.

1. Sacred Centers and Forests: The

African religion in Trinidad is closely connected to

Yoruba religion.

The Orisha religion, by far the most eclectic and syncretic of the three, began as a transplanted West African (Yoruba) religion and through time gradually took on Catholic, Protestant, and Hindu elements, in that order. Its complexity and eclecticism can be attributed, at least in part, to colonial activity in Trinidad (Houk 1995:37).

As we have seen, with the Osun grove and Osogbo and Osun rivers, Sango's stories contributed to the continuation of Yoruba worship in Trinidad. Sango religious centers in Trinidad are sacred places where people place offerings for their dead relatives

(Simpson 1970: 23). Sango, as we have discussed earlier, was one of the husbands

Oshun. Sango centers in Trinidad resemble the shrines that we had seen in the grove

Osun in Osogbo. In Trinidad, Sango religious centers are full of pierres "thunder stones",

which people believed to have fallen from the sky during rainy periods. In Yoruba language, these stones are called okuta Sango or edun ara.These small smooth stones are

kept on white plates in the shrines in the Chapelle (Simpson 1970:32). The Chapelle is a

t76

small building, about twelve by twelve feet, which is a place of Sango worship (Simpson 1970: 35). The thunder stones are the main weapons of Sango and

if found on the street,

people always return the stones to the Chapelle. It is an accepted fact that Sango fights his enemies with these stones whenever he is provoked on a matter.

In addition to the

sacred stones

in the Chapelle, there are also "statues

and

lithographs of the saints, crucifixes, candelabras, candles, vases of artificial" flowers and

other necessary ritual paraphernalia. Other important paraphernalia

stored

the

leader's home. These include ritual clothing such as "robes, shirts, and turbans for men, and dresses, head wraps, and beads" (Simpson 1970: 36). These materials are innovations

of the Sango worshippers overseas.

Sango's sacred stones, as mentioned above, are purified with water during Sango's ceremony. In Trinidad, as in Haiti, Brazil and Jamaica, wateÍ is an important

ritual element for the Yoruba tribe (Simpson 1970: 33). Not much water is needed during

the rituals; just three drops on the ground during Sango's ritual would be enough to satis$ Sango and other Yoruba divinities.

2. Osun and Divination in Trinidad: In Trinidad,

Sango and Osun share some

similarities. With the assurance of the divine power to protect and to fight for them, Sango devotees were keen to know the future. As mentioned earlier, Sango is the god

thunder and lightning, but his close association with other African divinities such as Osun gives him the ability to know and predict the future (Bascom 1944: 7). Also, as indicated earlier, Yoruba mythology states that Sango's best wife is Osun. Osun has sole ownership

t77

of the Sixteen Cowries of divination of Sango (Badejo 1995: I 15). In Trinidad, religious

divination and the use of cowries are accredited to Osun. Her priests guide and counsel the clients of Sango on matters of life and death. Frobenius, one of the priests of Osun, preferred to use kolanuts instead of the sixteen cowries, which had eight natural sections

for divination (Simpson 1970: 96; Frobenius 1913: 1). Sango's message is revealed by counting the sixteen cowries or the kolanuts on the ground like dice. The revealed message

is known by the number of kolanut pieces that are face-down or

face-up.

Different messages come with different incantations and only the priests have exclusive knowledge and interpretation of them.

In Trinidad, it is said that Sango lives in the sky and hurled thunderstones to the earth whenever he wanted to avenge those who had transgressed against

him. He would

hurl what the Yoruba people called okuta Sango tabi edun ara "thunderstones." Sango possesses a

similar mission of vengeance as Esu'devil' who also has the power to kill.

But Sango seldom kills in the name ofjustice. Like Esu, Sango can only avenge when it is raining.

3. Similarities in Sango and Osun: In Yoruba myths, Sango and Osun are very close relatives. Both shared a similar religious phenomenon which is connected with water:

while Sango operates during the rainy ssason, Osun resides in the river. They are both considered as orisa'god(dess)' by many Yoruba people. The Osun River gains more

power and recognition with downpours

of rain. No wonder, the Osun festival is

celebrated during the rainy season in Nigeria, as is the Sango festival (Badejo 1995:76).

t78

4. Sango's Taboos and Rules: Palmie stated that "in Cuba, the female deities Yemaya and Ochun, are described as the only oricha who

will,

at times, tolerate their powers to be

put to amoral ends" (Palmie 2002: 165). Sango worship in Trinidad shared various practices with that

of Osun. Sango's worship had governing rules for

devotees. For

example, worshippers must abstain from sexual intercourse three days before and three days after Sango's ceremony (Simpson 1970: 24). People are forbidden to smoke in the

palais and from drinking alcoholic rum drinks. Participants are required to fast before the religious feast and before engaging in healing prayer sessions. As a sign of readiness, members are expected to bathe and put on clean clothing before going to a feast. Other

ethical requirements for the participants are to avoid gambling, stealing and eating pork (ham) during the period.

5. Festivals and Ceremonies: Generally, religious festivals provide social and political opportunities for the African people to reconstruct their history and spirituality in the

New World. For example, before the annual ceremony of Sango in Trinidad, leaders spend a

lot of time collecting ritual materials for the occasion. They would collect

general supplies like candles, bottles of olive oil, animals for sacrifices and groceries for

the consumption of the devotees (Simpson 1970: 37). By going from house to house, they shared the joy of the season with their neighbors and the religious leadership got acquainted with the community. Other religious groups adopted the technique of parading

in the streets, dancing in public and pouring libations for their divinities: The Spiritual Baptist religion in Trinidad shares many of the practices of African American spiritual and Pentecostal churches in the United States,

179

including glossolalia, possession by the Holy Spirit, and ebullient and often extemporaneous singing, praising, and praying. The beliefs and practices .... Resemble those of the Orisha religion: for example, the libations of oil and water, the planting of flags for a particular spirit, and the recognition of the orisha as important spiritual forces (Houk 1995: 77). This shows how one religion can benefit from the other. They both contribute to the social and spiritual growth of each other.

180

CHAPTER

OSUN IN JAMAICA AND IN

HAITI

This is the last chapter of this dissertation. We have to confess, unlike our treatments of Osun in Brazil and Cuba, there are a fewer materials on Osun worship in Jamaica and Haiti.

A. Yoruba and Osun in Jamaica: African religious cults are prominent in Cumina, Jamaica due to the presence of the people of Yoruba descents (Simpson 1970:157). The majority of Jamaicans are black

and their behavior and beliefs are similar to that of the Yoruba people. We can explain the reasons using the following example:

The Jamaican negro was recruited entirely from West Africa. The Maroons probably came from Guinea (the rivers between the Gambia and Sierra Leone) and the Gold Coast: the Koromantis likewise from the Gold Coast; then there was a large importation from the Congo and Angola, the Calabar district (Mokos), the Niger Delta (Ibos), and some thousands from Lagos (Akus), Yoruba Qllagos), and Dahomé (Põpõs) (Johnston 1969: 314).

It is very likely that those who came from Laos (Akus) and Yoruba

Qllagos) revived the

worship of Yoruba deities in Jamaica. African activities contributed to the growth of the Jamaican religious awareness and participation. Drumming, dancing, spirit possession

and divination became common practices in Jamaica (Badejo 1995:54, 157). These religious and social factors became common parts of the daily lives of Jamaicans.

The Santeria people remembered the signif,rcance of Osun and other Yoruba divinities in Jamaica. Life was difficult for the Yoruba descendants. At one time, the Yoruba were homesick and they wanted to go back to West Africaby any means.

181

Still, after entering the British army and reaching Trinidad, Daaga and the other Põpõs and many of the kindred Yorubas of the regiment plotted to rise against their white masters, and after overpowering them to march back to Guinea by land! (Johnston 1969:314).

As of 1955, there was an order that banned the African worship, saying "do not worship old African gods such as Legba, Damballa, Oogun, Obatala, Oshun, and Gede alongside the Catholic saints" (Simpson 1960: 89). But the threat did not eradicate the worship of

African gods in Christianity. Only a few Jamaicans have a deep knowledge of Osun as a diviner and healer but the rest of the people regularly attend their meetings (Badejo 1995: l3). They hear about Osun during the worship of other Yoruba divinities such as Orunmila, Ogun and Obatala.

While Orunmila is widely known as the creator ori inu "human essence" in Jamaica, Osun is thought to be a giver of babies (Badejo 1995: 56). There is no way of dealing

with one Yoruba god without mentioning the others. Osun maintains her distinct image among the rest of Yoruba divinities. She is in-

charge

of waters, love, fertility and gold (Bjoring 1988: 107). Her spirit is

readily

available in support these areas of life. One can make ritual for prosperity, beauty, love, and health through Osun and her

Yoruba associates. This is a prescribed way to get things from Osun: Make a string of pearls with little bells on it, and buy a feathered fan that you spray with an expensive perfume. Place a bowl with honey on your altar and put into it five each on vanilla sticks, pumpkin pits, cloves, dashes of nutmeg, and cinnamon sticks. Stand in front of the altar, arm stretched out, and beg Oshun to fulfill your wishes. Make your entreaty in clear and unambiguous words (Owusu 2002:28).

There is no record that those who followed these steps ever achieved anything in life. This is an individual consumer mentality of the Haitians.

182

B. Yoruba and Osun in Haiti:

Haiti was a suitable place for African descendants. The vegetation, climate and topography

of Haiti had always been suitable for the African religion. Materials for

making herbal medicine, charms and sacrificial materials and ingredients could be easily

found in Haiti because of exception

of a few

it is a tropical region.

desert regions, the whole

Alfred Metraux states, "With

the

of Haiti, from the coastal plains to the

highest mountains, is occupied by the Africans" (Metraux 1960:29). Haiti was thus a safe haven for the Africans immigrants to engage in their religious practices.

In sixteenth century Haiti, the Code Noir

outlawed

all non-Catholic worship.

However, the Africans combined their traditional beliefs and practices with those of Catholicism (Bjorling 1988: 106). The reason why the majority

of Catholic

Church

members contact the spirits of the African gods was that they did not feel totally secure

just going to church services (Simpson 1970:246). They needed extra security by using physical items that could bring them peace and security. Slavery denied the African slaves the freedom of worship. By 1804, the majority

the slaves were still illiterates and their corrunon language was Creole (Fisher 2004: x). Religious thoughts and beliefs were circulated by myths and rumors.

Just as

was on the other islands, traditional African religions had greatly

influenced Haiti. An observer states that:

Anybody who has lived in [a] Haitian valley will recall those African rhythms which, wafted across by the wind, suddenly break the morning silence. Many travelers imagine that these sounds accompany the performance of doing some mysterious rites, but the facts are more prosaic African traditional religion were not done in secret (Metraux 1960: 33).

183

African religions were not only practiced during the day, people also took time to celebrate the African divinities at night

in Haiti. This was a strange form of religious

practice to non-Africans living in Haiti. Some scholars have attempted to play down the significance of African religion in

Haiti. One such scholar stated that "they wish to prove that it is only a harmless... rural folklore with a touch of African background," that Haitians were mistaking for a real voodoo power (Metraux 1960: 59).

In contrast, other scholars including M. J. Herskovits, Alfred Metraux (Metraux 1972) and Harold Coulander, identified the contributions of African spirituality in Haiti.

The growing interest of Haitians in voodoo was directly linked to the Africans. Almost every African on the island sought spiritual comfort and protection by the use of African

power (Metraux 1960: 59). In Haiti, people freely employed voodoo for the purpose of gaining social, economic and political advantages over each other.

1. Voodoo and Osun: Haitians religion of Voodoo is based on the African religion. There are statues and pictures of the Catholic saints, and rosaries standing side-by-side

with the images of Yoruba gods. As a group of the Yoruba images, other African religious symbol of a major Voodoo spirit known as the loa were a conìmon elements of worship. The loa is also called zanger les spirit, and les mysteres (Bjoring 1988: 106). These are the spirits of the African gods especially the Yoruba ones such as Obatala, Ogun and Sango formed the major parts of the /oa.

Voodoo spirituality is based on contacting the spirit of gods. These spirits are vengeance spirits. They fight the enemies of their worshipers.

184

It was a religious custom of

the Haitians to seek the assistance of their guardian spirits in all matters. observed that frequently "the peasants bring sacrifices

attend ceremonies

in ...

has been

to the family guardian spirits,

(temple) and respond to the calls of the drums"

in order

achieve safety and prosperity (Metraux 1960: 59).

2. Osun Worship: Osun worship was initially

preserved as

a part of the Haiti

Catholicism, but when the slavery ended, Osun worship became an independent religious group among the people of the African descent.

Osun worship

expressed more frequently

voodoo rituals and beliefs.

Monaghan indicated that "Haitian Voudoun paintings show her as the Mater Dolorosa

the Catholic Virgin Mary who points to her pierced heart, through which several swords have cut" (Monaghan 2004: 193). Like other parts of the New World, Osun in Haiti became one of the Catholic saints. Her symbol of heart became an emblem of love that had gone through pains. The African worshipers could identify with the struggles, pains and hardships for which a pierced heart symbol stands for.

In Voodoo tradition, "for example, in the African feast cult, the Yoruba deity Oshun was associated with Saint Philomena" just like Yemanja with Saint Ann, Ogun

with Saint Michael, and Osanyin with Saint Anthony (Bjorling 1988: 106). Osun

her love freely with her ex-husbands, Erzulie and Shango. She enjoys freedom of association that people think of her as having many concubines. Heike Owosu says, "In

Haiti, Oshun is worshiped as Erzulie, the divine concubine. None of her liaisons last very long. She was married for a short time to Shango, the god of frre, but since then has numerous affairs with other gods and men" (Owusu 2002:25).It has been suggested that

185

Shango may have been too volatile for Osun's tastes (Kaldera 2004:141). She refused to

be intimidated by male-dominated tradition or to be subjected to spouse abuse. Just

men had the freedom

of association and relations, Osun

became the role model for

women in Haiti.

In Haitian Voodoo, Osun has favorite colors. In her association of Voodoo, "her colors are blue and pink" which apparently are the colors of the Virgin Mary (Monaghan

2004: 193). Osun is still associated with the most popular saints in the Catholic churches, therefore it impossible to forget her role in religious studies.

Osun is also known and remembered for her sexual desire

in Haiti

religious

worship. Osun is also well-known, for "her cult was characterized by the Europeans some unspecified 'obscene

worship"'(Littlewood 1993: 140). Karen Tate explained that

Osun was faithful to her mythological ex-husbands, by saying "while monogamy might

not be Oshun's forte, she is considered loyal, refusing to have her behavior defined by social mores" (Tate 2006: 132). Hence Osun became a model of faithfulness in marriage

for most of her worshipers. Osun likes sculpture and painting. Fine arts are expression of love and passion in

religious studies (Owusu 2002:27). Jewels are rich symbols of Osun worshipers that keep the memory of Osun

divinity alive.

Osun is also a healer. She loves life and she wants her devotees to enjoy divine

healing and divine health. It is written that "she heals the sick over the cool waters that also belong within her realm" (Owusu 2002:25-27). No wonder people on the both sides

of the Atlantic Ocean still recognizethe lordship of Osun.

186

i. Haiti Syncreticism: Osun is known in Haiti as "coquettish Erzulie-Freda-Dahomey" (Monaghan 2004: 192). Osun was renamed to suit the new setting and new people that wanted to connect to the water goddess.

Scholars agreed

in their observations that African and Western

religions

complemented each other in Haiti. After all, it was noted that "having co-existed for two

centuries, Catholicism and African cults are finally merged into [a] conception

of a

universe..." in Haiti's setting (Metraux 1960: 59). The African religion adopted some practical ideas from Catholicism. For instance, firstly,

orgznizational structures and

administration, the African religion has learned from Catholicism

to be orderly.

Secondly, the African groups started paying more attention to hygiene in preparation for

their services.

Furthermore,

it is noted that "usually,

introduced by thanksgiving"

most services

to African gods are

a practice that is not common in Yorubaland.

These

invocations and processional hymns can be traced back to Christian influences (Metraux 1960:59).

ii.

Religious Meetings

- Spontaneous Prayers: African

religious meetings

in Haiti

became daily, weekly and monthly ceremonies (Metraux 1960: 60), African religious groups were opened to anybody to

join. In Yorubaland, most people

celebrate divinities

in exclusive settings, e.g. sacred forest, shrines. In Haiti, Catholic

Christians meet

weekly and sometimes daily, for mass and every member of the public is welcome to attend. In like manner, Africans in Haiti now erect shrines outside their homes and build a canopy

for people to join them in service (Metraux 1960: 59).

187

order

responding

encourage participation, African gods are said

to be quicker in

people's prayers than Catholic saints. Africans involved

magic

encourage quick fixes for their problems. The names of their gods have the power to

perform magic whenever they are invoked (Metraux 1960: 60). Scholars have noted that the Haitian African deities vary in popularity. There are those "which everybody has always known and respected, there exist many whose fame

is recent and local and who are worshipped by only a small group" (Metraux 1960: 60).

The less significant African religions are those that have fewer followers, due to the exclusive membership policy and because they did not meet the general needs of the people.

In Haiti, the less recognized deities' shrines are covered in pictures and

candles

and only a few people pay attention to them and participate in their worship services. One

of the reasons is that African divinities are too specialized in various aspects of human life and, if one does not need them, one has no cause to attend their services. African shrines are available to anybody who may be interested in paying homage

to the African divinities. A shrine may have a couple of visitors in a month (Metraux 1960: 60). The Yoruba pray everywhere and at any time to their divinities. They neither need a priest nor cathedral to pray. Prayers rendered at the shrines are as effective as the ones offered elsewhere.

iii. African Religious Music: Music is a form of prayer in African religion. It is full of memories and histories

of the religion (Olatunji: 69-86).

These people sing just as

Catholic church members chant prayers to Mary, Peter and the rest of the respectable saints (Metraux 1960: 60). Africans use songs to awaken the spirits of the divinities and

188

their ancestors to attend to the prayers (Olajubu 1970:31-51). The difference between them and Catholics is that African music and songs are often very loud and conducted in unison. African music attracts different kinds of people to their services. It was reported

that, "they are an odd crowd, almost impossible to count...", they gather spontaneously on hearing the music, drum and song. People come up with creative songs and musical instruments in worshipping African divinities (Metraux 1960: 60). They saw no harm in dancing all night in honor of their gods and yet going to Mass in the Catholic Church the next day (Metraux 1960: 56).

C. Summary of Osun Worship in the New World: This thesis strongly agrees with Rebecca Sophia Sargent's statement that "Osun is

an important goddess in many different and Caribbean religions such as Voudoun, Candoble, Santeria, and Shango" (Sargent 2003:191). Some of the myths that survived in

the Old and the New Worlds helped in retaining the memories of Osun worship. Her memories and significances

in the African and African-Americans are preserved in

symbols and images of myths.

To avoid persecution from their masters, African slaves in the New World initially refrained from celebrating their African-originated religion openly. The African slaves had to conceal their religious activities from their masters.

In Brazil, for instance,

"there is no doubt that under the pretext of Catholic festivity, they were really celebrating

African divinities" (Verger 1976: 47I). Most of the Africans in diasporas had vivid recollections of their home-based religions, but because of slavery they had to practice

189

their faith in secret. But, after sometimes, they received goverrrment support in practicing their religion.

In the end, Yoruba deities such as Osun co-exists side-by-side with Christianity. To prove the extent of African religion in the New World, intemet sites are full of omade-

in-America' images of Osun. Religious practices can travel beyond their original boundary without scriptures as

we have seen with Osun in the New World. In a hostile environment, during slavery African religion kept its history and practice alive in the New World. Merlin Hernandez expressed the same sentiments:

A spirit is not something fthat] has a temporal existence. A spirit is an essence, and that essence in India will be given a name; that essence in Africa will be given a name; that essence in Native America will be given a name. And whether you have Oshun in Yoruba.., it's the same essence (Houk 1995: 114).

Osun worship, in particular, was unstoppable

in Cuba, Brazil, Trinidad,

Jamaica and

Haiti. Her history is going through a lot of reconstruction on African-American websites. How did it happen? Here are some coÍtmon denominators.

African religion, in general, finds common ground in different parts of the world. Considering the long years of separation of Africans from their homeland, the slave trade, the abolition of slavery and relocation of ex-slaves, African religious history survived all ordeals. Individuals who returned to Africa shared with others stories of what the lifestyle overseas had in common

with life in Africa. One of the things the returned ex-slaves did

was to change their names to more indigenous names.

It was reported in Nigeria

that

"from the 1880s onwards, the Lagos newspapers were flooded with notices of people who had Brazilian or English names and were changing them to African names" fferger

190

1985: 34). It was, however, a deliberate action on the parts of the returnees to reintegrate

into the local setting of African culture and people.

Africans and the African descendants in the world usually enjoyed a sense of brotherhood whenever they meet each other, especially

in a religious context. In

the

preface to his 1993 work, The African, Harcld Courlander explained that religion is one

of the strong common ties that united the Africans and Black African-Americans together as one. He said that religious beliefs give them "a sense of relationship to the world around them and to the unseen but living forces of the universe" (Matibag 1996: 11).

In this dissertation, we found that Osun was not a mere religious figure in Yoruba

religion but she became a prominent religious figure among the male-dominated deities. Sango was a prominent divinity

of the Yoruba is on the same level of popularity in

religious discusses and recognition in worship. Just like Sango, Osun had followers from different parts of African countries (Simpson 1970: 17; Bascom,

IL 1944:29). As early

as 1852, the Sango cult like many other African religions had fully developed into religious movement in Trinidad (Simpson 1970:

l3). It was noted that one Charles W.

Day "was often annoyed by the drumming and dancing of plantation workers" who jubilantly observed the Sango festival (Simpson 1970: 13). We did not come across of Osun annoying people in this research.

As in Yorubaland, "Osun" became a common prefix in the names of some Yoruba descendants

in the New World. Yoruba

names often reinforce the memories

the

African divinities around the world. African sumames always reflect the family's religious affiliations (Wamer-Lewis 1999: 20-21). These names are symbolical and historical.

191

Most features of Yoruba religion such as offering sacrifice, ritual, drumming and

dancing happened frequently

in the New World. The "cosmological,

theological,

ceremonial, magical and medical aspects" of Yoruba religious activities are common in the New V/orld (Badejo 1995: 54). Africans are one of the most cultured groups in the

New World (Simpson 1970: l1). Osun was an active divinity on the other side of the

Atlantic Ocean (Badejo 1995: 43, 56). Most of the Sango worshippers' regularly organized parties for the children

of Sango (Simpson 1970: 45). Religious

ceremonies

were conducted in a spirit of thanksgiving to all African divinities. One member said, "when you feed the children, you feed the saints" (Badejo 1995: 13). The European influences and reinterpretations of the African religious elements became clearer as they were allowed into the Catholic churches (Simpson 1970: 142).

They freely used magic books and spells in the new setting (Simpson 1970: 105). They

also adopted the use of candles, crosses, crucifixes and incense like the Catholics. Africans were not ashamed to adopt European-influenced religions and cultures (Simpson

i970: 105). To them, culture was dynamic therefore it could be adjusted to suit any historical setting (Bascom and Herskovits 1959: 2). Santeria was born on the other side of the Atlantic. Harry Lefever argues that Santeria is a "textual" religion from which people could rewrite the biography, the history

and the social contexts of its adherents. This study is a representation of how African religions have been retained in the Old and the New Worlds, by focusing on Osun myths. Santeria, a new age religious movement, grew out of African religions, most especially the Yoruba religion. Santeria became a developing religion in Cuba from the sixteenth to

the nineteenth centuries. As syncretism of Yoruba religions, Roman Catholicism and

r92

French spiritism, Santeria became established

in different parts of the New

World

(Okpewho, Davies, Mazuri 1999: 379-380). James Houk states that, "The syncretism

orisha, voodoo or others

of Catholic saints and African

gods-

is one of the more salient and prevalent characteristics of

African-derived religions in the New World" (Houk 1995: i80). Syncretism could be defined as the coming together of African divinities and Christianity in forms, images and

worship. The result of which gave birth to Santeria in which the worshippers practice blood sacrifice, spirit possession, ancestor worship and herbal healing (Houk 1995: 76). Osun became a prominent fìgure

in it. She gained the religious recognition of

the

Catholic saints. Priests and popes recognized her divinity. Hence, African religions in the New World have influenced the papacy to accept a non-western divinity into their lists

saints. As a saint in Santeria, Osun gives people supernatural power over the challenges

of life,

a mediator between God and the people.

In the consumer age, Osun is making her way into the minds of children of all ages and races. Osun can help teenage girls make direct contact with their inner Goddess

energy (Marie-Jeanne 2002: 131). She can assist anybody in mediations, visualizations and other spiritual exercises.

r93

Conclusion The hypothesis of this dissertation is to describe the Osun worship and its spread

an example of the historical developments in African religion. This task is accomplished by using

the myths to explore the continuation of Osun worship in various parts of the world. In the light

this investigation,

I have come to the conclusion

that Osun of Osogbo is the Ochun of Cuba,

Brazil, Trinidad, Jamaica and Haiti. She is a recognized goddess in the Old and the New World and Osun is a canonized saint of the Catholic Church. Her fame has gone beyond anybody's expectation. Osun therefore serves as an example of the development and growth

of African

religion in the twenty-first century. One can say then that African religion is not just "African" any more but now

it is intercontinental.

In chapter one, I started this dissertation by discussing the history of African religious methodologies

by focusing on different methods of studying the Yoruba religion.

briefly

explained the importance of oral tradition by focusing on myths as a form of religious history. I proposed the use of descriptive mythological methodology as an appropriate method of studying

the Osun festival and

discovered that sociological, psychological and other earlier approaches

have a narrow focus in studying the Yoruba religion.

I needed to study Osun on both

sides of the

Atlantic Ocean. Chapter two explored the history of Osun in Osogbo. This chapter demonstrated that

religious figures and sacred sites retain the history of religion and information that forms the religious lifestyles of the people. It was found that, in order to understand the Yoruba frame of thought, one has to study their history through religious festivals. Chapter three focused strictly on studying the historical figures and elements in the annual Osun festival.

I discovered that festivals

t94

are held annually

in order to please the spirit of

Osun and for the followers to remember their historical origins.

All

leaders involved

Osun

rituals had a mandate to obey their ancestor to the letter in the way they carried out their responsibilities. Religious leaders were always available to guide the rest of the participants. This

practice continued from one generation to another

to avoid gaps in knowledge and loss of

memories. The two final chapters explained the spread and the continuation of Osun in the New

World. Cuba, Brazil, Trinidad, Jamaica and Haiti were highlighted, to argue that Osun worship is flourishing due to the retelling of her myths and those of other African divinities. Without sending delegates and without sharing any information on how Osun should be honored and worshipped,

many of their practices are similar to that which exists in Osogbo today.

discovered that after

many generations of separation of the Yoruba people on both sides of the Atlantic, the religious elements still guide their devotion to Osun.

Africans in the Americas gave birth to a new religion known as Santeria. The continuation and the spread

of African religion and culture is

everywhere, even in

Europe, Asia and the Middle East. One can see African influences in dressing, worship,

food and commerce in America, Asia and Europe. African religion and worldview basically form a part of human experience.

An African religious festival is very dynamic but consistent with religious events of the past, which is called tradition, through now called the existential idea

religion. In learning about African religion, one could focus on the religious significance

of a festival in order to gain a deep understanding of it and its relevance to people. A religious festival shows the cosmological, sociological, political and historical dimension

of religion. By comparing various practices and interpretations of Osun worship, we

195

are

able to reconstruct its history.

was manageable as Osun in Yorubaland and the New

World was focused on.

In this work,

I examined how Osun myths spread in the New V/orld.

The

Osun religion in Africa and in the New World is influencing the religious and political structures of the place

it found itself (Badejo 1995:

48). Festival, ritual, sacrifice and

drama are constant reminders of the Yoruba worldview. Religious worship was focused on by using African myths in the reconstructing the history of Osun.

Here are some challenges that were encountered

working on this

dissertation. African religious thought is hidden in myths, folktales, riddles, stories and superstitions. For instance, folktales have elements of fiction. Yoruba narratives are not dogma or history per se, but are reliable materials for history. One other issue raised by

this study is the modem developments in Yoruba cultures. Oral sources remind people of the moral issues and ethics as exemplified by people of the past. These people had an influence on the definition of communal moral ethics that guarded the religious elements

of the Yoruba festival. Today issues of globalization which allow kings and chiefs to travel overseas anytime are affecting the cultural and traditional religious worldview. What we discover some of new development in the significance of

m¡h in

understanding a Yoruba God. The interest of media, religion and culture is apparent in this research. There is a competition for authority and power in the use of myth in gaining

the attention of their audience. Some see the audience as powerless, passive and uncritical of what they make of myth, most especially the Hollywood. In this work we are able to understand how the Yoruba people express themselves in both good and bad times. We see an evolution of their religion in a new religious organization and new

196

geographical setting. The New World

is a larger context and by immigration it

becoming a broader culture. In this case, we notice a spiritual overlaps with intuition, inspiration, illumination and creativity in religious worship. This dissertation does not, in any way, cover all areas of Osun. The influence

of Osun in Europe and the Arab world are areas for further studies. The influences of Osun on teenagers would also be a good area

of study.

Catherine Wishart briefly

mentioned Osun as one of the goddess that guides girls in area of magic, makeup and meditation (Wishart 2003:267-275). Osun in Hollywood could be another area of study. Psychologists could psychologies the action and reaction during Osun festival. Linguists

could compare and contrast the differences in the use of Yoruba language in Osogbo and the New World. Architects could study the images at the Osun sh¡ines. Studies on Osun could be inter-departmental studies.

In conclusion, it can be stated that the study of the myths of Osun is one of the reliable approaches for understanding the Yoruba religion in the Old and the New Worlds. Myths offer significant historical and religious information for believers and scholars in understanding people around the world.

r97

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