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Showing posts from August, 2023

SÈKÈRÈ

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The Yorùbá people are musically inclined. Music among the Yorùbás permeates every aspect of life and culture, from cradle to death. Ritual  festivals, religious and non-religious ceremonies and performances accompanied with either vocal or instrumental music are part of the regular yearly activities among the different Yòrùbá age groups, strata and kingdoms at large. The Yòrùbás celebrate and participate in different occasions like the colourful Ọdún Egúngún and Ọdún Òrìsà festivals, Eré ìtàgé and Orin ìbílè, Egbéjodá, Ekún Ìyàwó, Arò, Ìwúyè and other musical performances. Ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀ is a Yoruba percussion instrument consisting of a dried gourd with beads or cowries woven into a net covering the gourd. Ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀, which originated in Yoruba land, is common in West African and Latin American folkloric traditions as well as some of the popular music styles. In performance, it is shaken and/or hit against the hands. The instrument is made from vine gourds that grow on the ground. The shape

20 August 2023, Isese Day

Isese Day is the day of celebrating the foundation, the beginning, the togetherness, the creation. This is not a celebration of Ifa or any Orisa, today is to celebrate the whole of Spirituality, the Universe, water, fire, air, earth, life, the male genital organs, the female genital organs, the totality of all things. Today is also to make us understand that there's nothing like “a non-living” thing, everything has life, everything is alive, everything has Ori. So take your time today to appreciate the Mother Earth, all that encompasses Isese, all that makes you You. Your father is Isese Your mother is Isese Your Ori Is Isese Ifa Is Isese Ogún, Sango, Osun, Egbe, all Irunmole are Isese Togetherness is Isese! Happy Isese Day to us all.  Ase! Omo-Awo Ifagbenusola Popoola Owomide

OBATALA and the SICK

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I am from Obatala - Ogun lineage traditionally. Obatala deity frowns at mocking the sickly people or handicapped but sets its rules for the sick not to be mocked. That's the reason handicapped traditionally called  Omo Orisha Obatala don't present themselves to be kings in Yoruba land else they will be mocked. Or have you seen any physically challenged Oba in Yoruba land? No way. It's an agelong maxim in Yoruba land that : "Omo Orisha ki n'je Oba". Handicapped don't become kings. In Yoruba land (Egba land especially) physically challenged are referred to as "Omo Orisha Obatala" because it's believed Obatala is responsible for the moulding of people's bodies and can give congenital or acquired illness at creation or thereafter. Traditionally, if you are sick and you are treated with our own brand of calamine lotion, ie white powder spiritual lotion applied to all parts of your body, you are advised to keep indoors for you not to be mocked

Àgànjú

S hort History About  Àgànjú  Yoruba mythology, Aganju is the Orisha of volcanos, the wilderness, and the river. He is associated with Saint Christopher in the Caribbean.  Àgànjú was born in the center of the earth. The name Àgànjú has been said to mean "power over the other world" and "to look as far as the eye can see". Algayu represents the earth, high places, mountains, inaccessible and remote places, struggles and obstacles, bad luck, brilliant careers, the time of day, the night, elders, deformations, winter, the cold, mines, social dignity, professional ambition, and travelers/hitch hikers. As the third Òrìsà said to have come to earth, Aganjú is an Òrìsà of great antiquity. Lukumi followers of this religion believe that Aganjú is a force that, like the sun that is his symbol, is essential for growth, as well as a cultivator of civilisations. Like the volcano with which he is also associated, he forms the foundation upon which societies are built and is the c

Osanyin

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Ancient Yoruba used Osanyin as the symbol for  pharmacy and medicine. The symbol of a rod and snake used today comes from an ancient Greek legend. It is a combination of symbols representing Aesculapius, the Greek god. Let us reclaim our culture and history and replace the snake and rod with Osanyin. Who is Osanyin? Osanyin is the Orisa(not god) of Herbs and leaves. He can be seen as the father of Medicine, Most of the names given to plants and herbs in Yoruba land were believed to be by Osanyin.His staff is composed of a circle of small birds and a shaft in the middle that elevates a large bird above smaller ones. Credit Thinkers The beautiful piece below was sold at auction, to show that our Yoruba artifacts are valued. #greatyorubapeople

Nkrumah reacts upon receiving information that he had been overthrown.

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Nkrumah's plane was still in the sky over China When he was overthrown in a CIA backed coup. He therefore  knew nothing about it. At the Beijing Airport, was the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, standing in the cold wind, waiting  to receive the Ghanaian leader.  Enlai had already  received the news and was not only worried on how to break it to his guest but also how to receive and handle this diplomatic problem.   When Nkrumah's plane  finally landed in Beijing, he was warmly received by Zhou Enlai who took him to state Guesthouse. After the guests and the host sat down in the reception room, the Chinese leader whispered to him that a coup had taken place in Ghana and showed him a message from the foreign news agency. At first, Nkrumah rejected this reality. But when he read the message, the reality slowly dawned on him.  He bowed his head in his trembling hands but he was very calm. As soon as the rumours  were confirmed, the huge delegation made up  of 90 Ghanaian  officials qui

WOMAN AS A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY IN YORÙBÁ SOCIETY

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WOMAN AS A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY IN YORÙBÁ SOCIETY That a daughter is born in a family is seen as a good omen unlike in some societies. Both genders are welcome in the Yorùbá family with all fanfare. The family members would even posit that ‘Owo ero lo fi bere (lit. She starts with softness/gentleness) when a wife gives birth to a baby-girl. ‘Gbogbo lomo (Either male or female child, there is no difference); ‘Ko si iketa omo; atokunrin atobinrin’ (there is no third child after male and female). Thus, woman is seen as a full and important member of the family from birth. As the female child grows up, she assumes her roles and responsibilities ordinarily as a member of the family, NOT as a female. Although she is expected to fulfill extra responsibilities; it is as a form of further and former training to be able to meet up with her higher tasks as a mother in the not too far future in the same society. If she is not well trained, no suitor would want to seek her hand in marriage. It is o

ONÍṢÈGÙN (HERBALIST)

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You want to know who’s a real Oníṣègùn? He’s the one who doesn’t say "I AM ONÍṢÈGÙN" He doesn’t ask you to come to him. You’ve got to go and ask him. And you’ll find he’s always there among his own people. Oníṣègùn is a role model of what it is like to live in harmony and balance with the Creator. It takes a long time, a lot of sacrifice and discipline to become Oníṣègùn. ONÍṢÈGÙN is humble and never crass about anything. He knows he lives to do the will of Olódùmarè. He knows he is to help the people. He lives very low key – the more low key he lives, the more people seek him out – and such is life. The more one serves the people and is quiet about it, the more he is sought out. The quieter he is, the more powerful is his Isegun. Iba Olódùmarè! Ìbá Òsanyìn, Iba Olubikin. Olódùmarè, allow me this day to be humble. Allow me this day not to seek attention*, *but to live quietly and keep my focus and attention on serving You. Amb.Olusegun Daramola #adulawotv #dropsquadkitchen #o