Each orisha has a series of praises that are exclaimed at important times in ceremonies and celebrations. For example, when you hear someone singing for Elegua, you may hear a cry of “Laroye!” It is a way of honouring the deities, and flattering them. Two of the most commonly heard praises are for Oshun and…
Oshun by Afolabi
This is an essay on Oshun by the late priest of Yemaya, Afolabi. Oshun by Afolabi I come from a House of Osha that is full of Oshun’s children. Nowhere is Oshun’s beauty more evident in all her glory, both sweet and sour, than in the forms in which she appears through her children. I am…
Shokunin: An Active Attitude to your Skill and Craft
I really like the Japanese idea of Shokunin, where you practice your craft with diligence and precision, striving for you to work your best for the betterment of the person and the process. “The Japanese word shokunin is defined by both Japanese and Japanese-English dictionaries as ‘craftsman’ or ‘artisan,’ but such a literal description does…
Asojano’s Ja and Kacha
Asojano /Asowano / Asohano – Babalu Aye uses a straw broom to clean people and restore health. The ha (ha is a Fon word meaning broom) is made from palm fibers. Within the beaded handle part is an elaborate concoction that is wrapped in cloth, imbibing the straw broom with the power to heal. The…
Agogo Oduduwa Orisa Aiye
This is an agogo (sacred bell) used in the worship of Oduduwa. Oduduwa or Oddua is an orisha funfun (white orisha). He is the closest Lukumi deity we have to Olodumare. The difference between Oduduwa and Olofin in the Lukumi religion is that Oduduwa set foot on the earth, but Olofin did not. Odua’s agogo…
Oya’s Vainas
The vaina is Oya’s sacred musical instrument, used to call the presence of the deity of transformation to be present. It is the seed pod of the flamboyán tree (Delonix regia) which has beautiful flame-red flowers when in season. The pod acts like an ashere (rattle) unique to Oya. I really enjoy making these vainas…
Oshún Ibu Akuaro Idé
This is an idé made for an old friend who is about to crown his second Oshun. Oshun Ibu Akuaro, also called Aparo or Acuaro is Oshosi’s wife. She is a hunter and uses a net. She also takes the skins of birds, such as the quail and pheasant. There are several different ways of…
My Beading Manifesto
I have done a lot of beadwork for a lot of people, and it has been wonderful. I have a day job, so I try and bead for others in my spare time and can be a little slow when my bread-and-butter work gets hectic. I wrote the following a while ago when I had…
Keeping in Touch and buying Beadwork
You can buy our beadwork from the designated Etsy Store Click on the link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OrishaBeadBoutique You can also find more examples of beadwork on our dedicated website: http://www.olorishas.com Finally, we have a Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/orishaarts That lot should keep you busy! If you want to email us, please do! We also make custom orders. No glue,…
Praising His Name In The Dance: Spirit Possession in the Spiritual Baptist Faith and Orisha Work in Trinidad, West Indies
Praising His Name In The Dance: Spirit Possession in the Spiritual Baptist Faith and Orisha Work in Trinidad, West Indies (Studies in Latin America and the Caribbean) Kenneth Anthony Lum The author provides a detailed portrait of the Spiritual Baptist Faith and Orisha Work, two religions that share a common basis in the traditional religion…
Book Vlog: Botánicas by Joseph Murphy
This is a wonderful book on the healing and spiritual stores called botánicas dotted across the US but especially concentrated in cities such as New York, Miami, Chicago, and Los Angeles. They are a mix of Afro-Atlantic and Latin American religions, traditions, and aesthetics. Joseph Murphy is an exceptional and insightful scholar on Afro-Atlantic religions…
Dueños de la Encrucijada: Estéticas de Exú y Pomba Gira en el Río de la Plata
This is an interesting book, unfortunately difficult to find. If you see a copy for sale, please let me know. It is written in Spanish as it covers Argentina and Uruguay in looking at the Pomba Gira and Exú arts and aesthetics that derive from Afro-Brazilian religions such as Candomble and Umbanda. It is a…