Divination Obi abata - oracle with split Kolanuts • 2 „female", 2 „male" inner sides • simple usage: yes/no-questions, 5 figures • more complex usage with respect to the „sex" (9 figures) and distribution (16 figures) Communication with Ôrun lili Divination Obi abata All up (inner side): Alafia All down (outer side) Oyeku 2 up / 2 down Ejife 3/1 Etawa 1 /3 Okana Im Ifá-Orakel: II Oyeku .. Okanran II Divination Obi abata All up (= 2M/2F): All down (= OM/OF) 3 down/1M 3 down/1F 2down/1M&1F 2 down / 2M 2 down/2F 1 down / 2M/1F 1 down/2F/1M Communication with Ôrun Divination: If á-Oracle Use Rituals of Initiation Ikose w'aye: step into the world Imori: knowing the „head" Itefa: establishing the self Isode / Itude : to tie / untie the bond iniversitat > 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 : knowing the ori • 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 Kauriemuschel: wealth/poverty Große Muschel: 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 Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Cult of the ancestors EGUNGUN-SOCIETY • Masked Dancers • Exclusively Men • The whole body is covered • In former times women were not allowed to watch J pAlr Tt ^M f^5 jA 1^1 J>//— Ü H^^^f Ír-' ~ * * i - fl /. • v P Z I j* ■ Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Cult of the Ancestors EGUNGUN-SOCIETY • Bringing down the ancestors • Special tasks during funeral rites (e.g. Oro-night) •Appearances in public rituals Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Cult of the ancestors Gělědé Ojú o ba ri Gělědé ti de opin iron The eyes, that have seen Gělědé, have seen the ultimate spectacle Gělědé • Masking festival, esp. among the western Yorůbá • Since the end of the 18th century • In the context of the cult of the ancestors • Normally, it is held once a year • Central Protagonists: the Gělědé-society • More or less an affair of the whole community Gělědé • Central Deities: • female ancestors or founders • (earth or water-deity) • male ancestors or founders • Other deities: E§u, Ogún • Offerings to the ancestors of lineages • Main aspect: • Mystical power „of our mothers" Gělědé The Gods of Gelede are so called "the great ancestral mothers". The Power of the Great Mother is manifold. The ancestors, when they had a problem, would assemble to determine the cause and the remedy.....and, if it is found, that Gelede should be done, to bring about rain or the birth of children, it should be done and it will be so. The Great Mother has power in many things .... she is the owner of everything in the world, She owns you. We must not say how the whole thing works. Communication with Ôrun Ori§á egbé: Ori§á of society • of the whole society • of egbé Gělědé • Elders, Ancestors, Goddesses • Women, that turn into birds at night Gělědé No orisha can do good witout the mothers. The mothers could spoil any good action if they wanted to. Therefore Sango himself cannot help his worshippers without permission of the mothers. The prophecies of the babalawo will come to naught if he has not appeased the mothers. • In the beginning, Olódůmarě gave the power to Odu (woman) • After abusing it, it was taken from her and given to Ôri§ánlá • He should exercise it, but woman would retain control over it •According to a diviner from south-eastern Yorůbáland, Ôdu gave the wisdom to Orúnmilá Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Gělědé It is believed, that from the beginning, the creator-God put women in charge of all good things on earth. Without their sanction, no healing can take place, rain cannot fall, plants cannot bear fuits and children cannot come into the world. Gělědé • ájé: the mystical power of women (the term is used with caution) • it will not only do harm, but also work positive wonders • awon iyá wa - our mothers • iyámi - my mother • iyá ágbá - old and wise one Communication with Ôrun uiiversitat Gělědé a Efe: At night Gělědé: In the afternoon v At the market j Gělědé Symbolism of the market Metaphor for the world: ayé ľojá, ôrun n'ilé Otherworldliness: liminal place Women govern the market Gélédé = within the female area „The mothers" also have access to the otherworld Gělědé: Efe Symbolism of the night • áisůn: without sleep • Gělědé, Egúngún, Rituls for ôri§á, funeral rites • Cooler, more enjoyable • Staying awake is also a sign of committment • Funerals: ensuring the transfer of the soul • Spirits are most attentive at night • At night, the power of „the mothers" is active Gělědé Market as a place of transition, of intermingling of the two worlds Nighttime as the time of transition, of intermingling of the two worlds Pairing: Day/Night; Pairs of masks Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Gělědé Verse from Ifá: When Orunmila enters the towen of the owners of birds (eleiye) he has to be cautious Masking of the face Women's head-ties Leg rattles Basic elements of all Gělědé- Masks Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Gělědé Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Gělědé Communication with Gělědé Ôrun uiiversitat Communication with Ôrun iniversitat Gělědé Gělědé-rituals are re-enactments of the mythical journey of Orunmila into realm of the eleiye (owners of birds) Efe: the night of songs Around 21 h to 22h gathering at the market From all parts of the society Members of Gělědé-society are a small part Gathering in a circle Place of entrance (made of palm-fronds) Communication with Ôrun uiiversitat Efe: the night of songs Entrance Spectators Elders Spectators Drummers Efe: the night of songs Drums Oméle ako: the male omele Omele abo: the female oméle lyalu: the mother drum Communication with Ôrun Efe: the night of songs The singers arrive first Sängerinnen Puppenspiel Masken (immer Männer, a. i. weibl. M Inroductory Masquerades : first pair • Ogbagba : represents Eshu/Elegba • First as a young boy (Cap & Raffia-fiber) • Than as an adult (Banana-leaves) • Arabi Ajigbale: The one who sweeps every morning • Clears the place • Represents Ogún (the one who clears, makes way) • In a costume of shredded palm-leaves Accompanied by songs commenting on their activities Inroductory Masquerades : second pair Masks handling fire Agbéná: The fire carrier • Blazing grasses or Pot of fire • Moves quickly, so that sparks fly • Forces crowd to step back „The fire in the bush starts without warning Farmers with fields near the bush, beware" Inroductory Masquerades : second pair Masks handling fire Apana: The fire extinguisher „Owner of fire, kill your fire! The hoopoe (a bird) is coming Put down your load Because one does not light fires To regard the bird of the night Inroductory Masquerades Apana closes ritual preparation of the market-place Actions resembling those when establishing a house or settlement, which are presided over by Esu and Ogun Entry - Clearing - Burning of the Remains lyánlá : The Great Mother All lights are extinguished, she comes in darkness She does not speak or sing She comes as bearded woman (lyánlá) Or as Spirit Bird/Night Bird (Eye Oro/Oru) • Her mask is worn nearly horizontally • Wears a withe garment • The elders of the cult shield her from the views of the on-lookers lyánlá : The Great Mother Eye Oro/Oru (Spirit Bird/ Night Bird Spirit Bird is coming The one who brings the festival today Tommorrow the devotees of the orisha will worship You brought us to this place It is your influence that we are using lyánlá : The Great Mother lyánlá come into the world, our mother Kind one will not die like the evil one Ososomu come into the world Our mother the kind one will not die like the evil one The singing Masks • Tetede (The one who comes in good time) or Ayé Tútú (cool world): prepares the way for Oro Efe • Assistants of Oro Efe with special medicines to protect Oro Efe throughaout his performance • Female cult-hread and her assistant dressed in white (ôri§á funfun) with bells, calling Oro Efe to the world • A flute player appears • Oro Efe appears at the entrance („mouth of authority" Oro Efe • With whisks of horse-tail • Replies to the first singing masquerader • Pays hommage to the Gods, Ancestors, Mothers and Elders • Song of self-assertion • Parades the place singing • Drummers contribute praise poems, proverbs and jokes • The end is marked by the appearance of a stilted mask, „hyena" THE SONGS OF ORO EFE • Opening Songs of Honor (ljuba) • Gods, Ancestors, Mothers • Ogun & Eshu • Mothers (Owners of Birds) • Invocations • Self-assertion (ikase) • Prayers • Curses (ěpě) The Forces are called upon to both positiveaims and to counter enemies. THE SONGS OF ORO EFE • Social Commentary • Gender Roles, Morality • Politics: Internally, externally • Religion • Respect towards the Elders • History • Remembrance of Deceased •After rest in the morning, slowly gathering • Masquerader's dances follow each other according to age-groups • Masqueraders have to be perfect in time with the rhythm of the drums •As the festival proceeds, the more experienced dancers appear and the more complex rhythms and dances are performed. Gělědé: Drums iniversitat Äs iniversität IEP Wien Gělědé: Masks «Ä iniversität Hi wien Gělědé: Masks Gělědé : Masks Am u koko iniversitat Gělědé : the Masks of Efé-Night iniversitat Arabi Ajigbale Gělědé : the Masks of Efé-Night uiiversitat Eye Oro Gělědé : the Masks of Efé-Night uiiversitat lyania Gělědé : the Masks of Efé-Night uiiversitat Oro Efe Gělědé : the Masks of Efé-Night uiiversitat Oro Efe Gělědé : the Masks of Efé-Night iniversitat Kôrikô (Hyena) Gělědé : the Masks of Efé-Night uiiversitat Kôrikô (Hyena) Gělědé : Masks iniversitat A priestess of Osůmárě, arched by two pythons Gělědé : Masks iniversitat An adept of Ôgun, with a snake coiled around her neck Gělědé : Masks iniversitat A priest of §ángó, with a ram (sacrificial animal) at each side and the thunderbolts (neolithic celts) of the God Gělědé : Masks uiiversitat An egungun masquerader Gělědé : Masks iniversitat A babaláwo Gělědé : Masks A catholic priest SV_ Gělědé : Masks A muslim priest iniversitat Gělědé : Masks A depiction of sexual intercourse satirical commentary or expression of desire for fertility M J.' ŕj L f w fTg' 4 1 ľ -«dL-J9 « a=^Káŕ« 1 «-»* } uiiversitat Gělědé : Masks Four parrots on a ladder iniversitat Gělědé : Masks An equestrian surrounded by drummers iniversitat Gělědé : Masks A fowl picking at a snake that bites the fowl's foot; relates to a proverb about unnecessary acts of aggression, that will result in a situation of loss for both parties