Artistic Objects & Forms of expression in the context of the cult of the ôri§á • Objects: Depictions of the Orisha, Dance Wands, Fans, Calabashes and the like • Expressive arts: Drumming, Dancing, Oriki, Rituals that last for several days. Ô§un Cult of 0§un in Oshogbo » Water is carried in Brass-Containers from the River to the shrine of the Deity » Adepts wear bangles of brass » Priestess carries a fan: Lizards & birds » Cross: the meeting of two spheres, divine & natural forces ôrun & ayé ^8% Universität Initiated Media (Women) receive the ôrisá in a state of possession Cult-groups, locally organised; may be inherited, may be by a „call" Yearly festivals for ôrisá, different cult- groups také part, sacrifice to communicate a§é There are depictions of the ôrisá, but more often their adepts are represented in artwork; their power resides in the otan (stones in calabashes) The annual festival for Obátálá in Ifé • Yemoja (Yemôó) • Oluorugbo: Onisoro Obalase • Eluyare represents the Igbo under Obawinni • Ôoni v. Ifé • Obátálá - Priests headed by Onisoro Obalale The cult of ôri§ä Obátálá The annual festival for Obátálá in Ifé Tag 3: Ojó Orů Day of Invocations Tag 4: Isule Procession Tag 5: Oké Mé Vigil Tag 8: Itápá Visit of the palace Tag 10: Ojó Odun Celebration day The annual festival for Obátálá in Ifé • Carved figurine of Obátálá • Carved figurine of Yemoja • ôri§á Mare (male) • ôri§á Yeye (female) • Alajagun (war lieutenant) • Drums • Gongs The annual festival for Obátálá in Ifé Ojó Orů : day three- day of invocations Morning: Sacrifice/Oracles at the shrine Afternoon: Sacrifice, Cooking, Dancing • Dance of all devotees (about Obátálá's fate) • Dance of the priests in white clothes around the shrine The annual festival for Obátálá in Ifé Ojó Orů : day three- day of invocations 1. The intenion of O to go to exile 2. Gratitude of O towards Obawinni 3. The Ôóni: War betweem Igbo and Ifé 4. Smallpox 5. Oath of secrecy 6. Optimistic Song: Erfolgsaussichten 7. Dance, where the whole crowd joins in: withdrawal of O. from war The annual festival for Obátálá in Ifé Isule: day 4: procession to Ita-Yemôó • Procession from Obátálá-shrine • Gathering of the 201 herbs • „Office hour" of Obátálá • Producing of a medicine The annual festival for Obátálá in Ifé Interpretation of the procession to Ita-Yemôó • Relationship to myth of Obátálá • Relationship to myth of creation • Framework of healing • Sacral kingship • Binding male power to female power The annual festival for Obátálá in Ifé Oké Mé: day 5 -Vigil Statues of Yemôó & Obátálá Yemôós stool Bottle with herbal medicine Gongs 16 snails, bush-rats, fish, and cola-nuts each Oracle Procession to the shrine outside the town The annual festival for Obátálá in Ifé Oké Mé: day 5 -Vigil • Dance of the priests in 3 phases: • With statue of Yemôó • With statue of Obátálá • sacrificing the goat • Dance of all devotees • Present of the Ôóni • Symbolism of the snail • Symbolism of Returning The cult of ôri§ä Obátálá The annual festival for Obátálá in Ifé Itápá: Day 8: Visit of the palace • Reintegration of the Igbo-group • Selection of the Mediums; Purification, gender-role • Inhabitants: Ifé-Gruppe • Priester: Igbo-Gruppe • Messengers of Ôóni • Direct contakt of Ôóni and Yemoja is a taboo Ojó Odun - day 10:Celebration Day • Magba = „high priest" • Elégůn = Media (special hair-style, special clothes; when in trance „wabi" is worn and the dance-wand becomes part of the clothing) • Laba = Bag of Magba • Edun-ara = „Thunderbolts" = neolothic celts • Sere = Shaker • 0§e §ángó = The dance wand of §ángó Cult of ôri§ä §ángó uiiversitat Annual festival for §ángó • End of October/ Beginning of November • 1 month before the exact date is found out • 3 Phases • 1. day: Invocation ceremony & Vigil • 2.-6. Tag: Trance & Manifestations • 7. Tag: The „grand finale" Day one • §ángós calabash is brought to the river in the morning •Afternoon: Praise-singing Ceremony • Night: §ángós priests dance his dance (lanku) • Possession in the moment of sacrifice: Day 2 to 6 • Dances of possession • Manifestations of §ángós power • Sacrifice and meals • Processions to the marketand the royal palace Day 7 • Gathering at the market or the palace • Groups of worshippers of E§u and Obátálá • Conection to the Myth of Obátálá, §ángó & E§u • Feuerprozession Divination: Ifá-Oracle Odu • The name of the wife of Ôrúnmilá • Name of one of the 256 „chapters" • Each odu has a couple of „verses" (Numbers given differ, might be symbolic) • A beginner as a babaláwo has to know 4 „verses" for each Odu • 256 Figures are combinations of 16 Main Odu Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd II II II II Ogbe Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd II II II I II I II II Ogbe Oyeku Communication with Ôrun liÉjKŕÉ» |MÉ Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 mair i n II I i n 1 II i n 1 II i n II I Ogbe Oyeku Iwori iniversitat Communication with Ôrun liÉjKŕÉ» |MÉ Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 mair i n II I i n 1 II i n 1 II i n II I Ogbe Oyeku Iwori Edi iniversitat Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I I II II Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I I II II Irosun Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I I II II II II I I I II II II Irosun Owonrin Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd Irosun Owonrin Obara Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I I II II II II I I I II II II II II II I Irosun Owonrin Obara Okanran Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I I I II Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I I I II II I I I Ogunda Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I I I II II I I I Ogunda Osa Communication with Ôrun Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I I I II II I I I II II I II Ogunda Osa Ika Communication with Ôrun Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I I I II II I I I II II I II Ogunda Osa Ika Oturupon Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I II I I Communication with Ôrun Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I II I I I I II I Otura Communication with Ôrun Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I II I I I I II I I II I II Otura I rete Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I II I I I I II I I II I II II I II I Otura I rete 0§e Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd I II I I I I II I I II I II II I II I Otura I rete 0§e Of u n Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main 1111 m m n m II I I II I II II I Ogbe Oyeku Iwori Edi 1 1 II II II II 1 1 I II II II II II II I Irosun Ow o n r i n Obara Okanran 1 1 1 II II 1 1 1 II I II II II II I II Og u n d a Osa lká Ot u r u p o n 1 II 1 1 1 1 II 1 I II I II II I II I Otura Irete Ose Of u n Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The 16 main Odd Their order in Ifé I I I I Ogbe I I I II Og u n d a II II I II Oturupon I II I I Otura II I II I Ofun Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: 11 Fá-Or, acle The 16 main Oc 1. Ogbe 5. I rosu n 5. Obara 2. Oyeku 6. Owonrin 6. Okanran 3. Iwori 7. Obara 7. Irosun 4. Edi/ldi 8. Okanran 8. Owonrin 9. Ogunda 11. Ika 11. Irete 10. Osa 12. Oturupon 12. Otura 15. Oshe 13. Otura 13. Oturupon 16. Ofun 14. I rete 14. Ika Communication with Ôrun uiiversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The Odu I II I II I I II II I I II I I I II I I I Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle The Odu I II I II I I II II II II II I I I I II I I I I Oturupon-Ogunda Communication with Ôrun Divination: Ifá-Oracle i M n n i M n i i I i i n M i n Oturupon-Ogundc i Iwori-Owonrin iniversitat The Odu I I I I Communication with Ôrun Divination: Ifá-Oracle i M n n i M n i i I i i n M i n Oturupon-Ogundc i Iwori-Owonrin iniversitat The Odu I I I I Ogbe-Ofun Kommunikation mit Ôrun uiiversitat Divination: If á-Oracle l l l l l l l I Ogbe Meji Eji Ogbe II II II II II II II II Oyeku Meji Eji Oyeku II II I I I I II II Iwori Meji Eji Iwori The Od lu 1 II II 1 1 II II 1 Edi Eji Meji Edi Divination: Ifá-Oracle TheOdů • The „Mejľ'-Figures: Sons of Ifá-Orunmila • Ogbe-Meji is Father of Ogbe-Oyeku a.s.o. • The Meji-Figuren were living on earth (like the Gods) • Not looked at as divine beings (Ôrisá) • They are central figures within the Ifá-verses (Diviners) Ranking of the Odu • Important for yes/no-questions • Two alternatives given: • First Odu stands for yes • Second Odu stands for no • Ranking is decisive • Two times the same Odu : yes („confirming") • Certain Odu „close" • 2 Alt.: no second Odu is cast • 5 Alt.: the highest ranking before • Example: Ofun Meji Communication with Ôrun Divination: Ifá-Oracle The Odu II II I I II II I I Owonrin Meji (8 in Ifé) Ofun Meji (16/8) When both are cast, the first one is „stronger" Divination: Ifá-Oracle • Opele (Divination chain) • Apo Ifá (Bag of the babalawó) • Ikin (16 Palmnuts) •Agere Ifá (Container of Ikin) • Opon Igede (Container of ikin) • Opon Ifá (Divination tray) • lyerosun (Wooden dust produced by Termites) • Iróké Ifá (Divination tapper) Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle Opele (Divination Chain) Originally halves of seeds Opele-tree (Schrebera golungensis) Concave / convex = l/lI Concave side is marked in the middle Open end next to the Babalawó Marker for the left and right side Is část with the right hand Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle Apo Ifá Only oba, babalawós & „beadworkers" are allowed to posses beaded objects The crown of the kings ft iniversitat • Oduduwas Sons • Former times: Leather, pebbles, shells • Since the middle of 19. cent.: beads of glass • Face (Oduduwa, ori inu, Olokun) • Bird (okin): mystical female power • Medicine ft iniversitat Ne ori House of the head" Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: -Oracle Ikin 16 Palmnuts „Elais guinensis" African Oilpalm Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Divination: -Oracle Agere Ifa Container of Ikin Divination: Ifá-Oracle Agere Ifa Container of Ikin Ä uiiversität ' lw wien Divination: Ifá-Oracle Agere Ifa Container of Ikin Divination: Ifá-Oracle Opon igede Container of Ikin h iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle Opon igede Container of Ikin Divination: Ifá-Oracle Opon igede Container of Ikin h iniversitat Divination: Ifá-Oracle Opon igede Container of Ikin iniversitat loju opon: opposite of the diviner („head of the tray") 2. Ese opon: next to the diviner („foot of the tray") 3. Ona Oganran: the straight path (right) 4. Ona munu: der direct path (left) 5.Alabalotun: the one who plans with the right hand 6. Alaselosi: the one that works with the left hand ľ.Aliletepowo: One who gets up early and has success 8.Afurukeresayo: One, that has the fly-whisk of a diviner and is happy 9.Erilade opon: The center of the tray holds the crown .fl^řrrtunlul mix*- I*. rf- "■ JOiTťl. The íl« jtrtP by Fnyw*f^ „^ dtfOfcEíiíl. fit ,miEter tr»I "** ^»Hr Id^ncitJi fiKuritian, tiutjřér- hM<> fr""" " Wtfer-í*t fcsfcí. ?• m M/F Only M Only F 92 Divination: Ifá-Oracle Ikose w'aye: step into the world Communication with Ôrun Divination: Ifá-Oracle Imori : knowing the head Emi from the father's or mother's side? Ori = knowing the fate 5 objects for good and bad direction Communication with Divination: Ifá-Oracle Imori: das Ori erkennen • Stone •Seed • Bone • Cowrie • Sea-Shell Thompson Drewal Ôrun iniversitat Stone Cowrie Snails house Bone Porcellaine Bascom Divination: Ifá-Oracle Symbols according to Thompson-Drewal Stone: long life / untimely death Seed: fertility/barren ess Bone: victory over enemies/suppression Cowrie shell: wealth/poverty Seashell: overall success/loss Communication with Ôrun Divination: Ifá-Oracle Symbols according to Bascom • Stone • Cowrie • Snails house • Bone positive long life money marriage children • Porcellaine Victory of enemies iniversitat negative fight need of money sickness death loss Divination: Ifá-Oracle Stone = longevity, because the stone does not die Cowrie = Wealth (served as money) Snails = Marriage because of gifts Bone = Children are „from the bones" of parents Porzellaine = victory: when broken, useless Divination: Ifá-Oracle Stone = fight (?) Cowrie = Need of money (served as money) House of snail = sickness; dirty on the inner side Bone = Death, the skeleton remains Porcellaine = loss: when broken, not repairable Divination: Ifá-Oracle ■ Ebo &Adimu Bone: egungun House of snail: ôri§á funfun Cowries: Ifá Stone: forehead/ori (old man) Porzellaine: back of the head like a pot Other ôri§á receive sacrifice, when indicated by the Odu Divination: Ifá-Oracle itefa Day one: Symbolic journey to grove Reason: Education • appr. 20 m of journey • ritual activities with ikin • symbolic entrance in the grove • Jump over fire, sacrifice to death • Start of seclusion Divination: Ifá-Oracle itefa Day 3 & 7 Divination, Dancing, Singing Other days: Invocation of the ôri§á Day 14: Reintegration • Ritual clothes are taken off • Symbolic work is done