Gelede

According to Gelede in the Yoruba tradition, it is believed that older women have powers that are equal to or greater than those of the Orisa. These women are referred to as "our mothers" and are elders, ancestors and forces that have special spiritual powers that can be both beneficial, by providing fertility and health, and harmful by causing disaster, which is why the Gelede performances occur. The great grandmothers are also called Orisa Egbe, which means "gods of society." The term egbe also refers to the society of women who can turn into birds and hold secret meetings or observe secret meetings, whether it be secret male initiation rituals or people in the community.

This concept of "our mothers" is fundamentally important in Yoruba society, because without "our mothers," the Yoruba community would not exist in the world. Also, because of their ability to give birth, it is believed that women are the secret of life, the secret of the world (sacred Odu: Ogbe Alara), and therefore possess the power to bring life into the world, and consequently to take it out. 

This is the female form of Ase which is the power to bring things into existence/manifestation...!

Iya Niko Titilare 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Iya ni Wura

Image
Iya Ni Wura  In the 1800s Books and travellers' accounts described Yorùba women as powerful traders, warriors, priestesses, mothers and political voices. They held down families, towns and trade networks.  Finance & Economy – Yoruba Women dominated local markets, from kola nuts to textiles. Some became wealthy merchants, controlling trade routes that linked the Yoruba to coastal ports. Spiritual Authority – As priestesses of Òrìṣà like Ọṣun, Yemoja, and Ọya, women carried immense influence in guiding communities through rituals and festivals. Family & Society – A Yoruba woman was the backbone of the extended family system. She was both nurturer and strategist, raising children, managing farms, and ensuring survival during wars and displacements of the 1800s. Resilience in Crisis – During wars and slave raids, women organised escapes, rebuilt settlements and town as well as negotiating peace in some regions. European visitors often wrote with surprise about how independ...
Read more

Owe ni Yoruba

Image
There is a popular Yoruba proverb which says:  A kìí je míjì l'ábà Àlàdé We do not eat two things at Àlàdé's compound. Let me tell you the full story behind this proverb so you will know when to use such proverb.  The story is from sacred Odu Ifa Ogbe Ofun and the verse goes thus:  A s'ore ìsetán níí jé méè l'óríyìn Adífá fún Àlàdé oníwàtá Tí ń lo rèé dá'ko èbá ònàn Ebo wón ní ó se Half good deeds doesn't makes one to be appreciated  These were Ifa declarations to Àlàdé oníwàtá  When going to farm at the road side.  He was advised to offer ebo. Àlàdé decided that he wants to be doing good to people so that everyone can always praise him for his good deeds now and after he's no more.  He decided to plant Yam at the road side and he made this yam free for those who are starving. He also provided a very big bowl of water beside it. If you passed by his farm hungry or thirsty, you've got no worries. But he had a rule and a popular saying which was:  A...
Read more

Why a union?

In any union, first you would have after careful consideration made a choice to form a union. Perhaps the people believe they would be better together. Perhaps there were economic benefits. Perhaps it was for security reasons. The point is one becomes part of a union to gain something. In the case of the Yoruba in Colonial enterprise Nigeria, they did not agree to be in a union, instead the British hijacked their sovereignty to form their trading post. They gain no economic benefits. They gain no security, in fact Yorubaland has become more insecure.  The Yoruba are losing their culture, their traditions, their language, their resources and others are trying to steal their land.  The Yoruba do not believe they are better together and in fact consider it a union of death. Work will continue to extricate the Yoruba  until  Nigeria is buried and becomes history. #Yorubanation  
Read more