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Eshu
Èṣù is a pivotal Òrìṣà/Irúnmọlẹ̀ in the Yoruba spirituality or Yoruba religion known as ìṣẹ̀ṣe. Èṣù is a prominent primordial Divinity (a delegated Irúnmọlẹ̀ sent by the Olódùmarè) who descended from Ìkọ̀lé Ọ̀run, and the Chief Enforcer of natural and divine laws – he is the Deity in charge of law enforcement and orderliness. As the religion has spread around the world, the name of this Orisha has varied in different locations, but the beliefs remain similar. Overview The other names of the Irúnmọlẹ̀ called Èṣù includes; ''Ẹlẹ́jẹ̀lú'', ''Olúlànà'', ''Ọbasìn'', ''Láarúmọ̀'', ''Ajọ́ńgọ́lọ̀'', ''Ọba Ọ̀dàrà,'' ''Onílé Oríta'', ''Ẹlẹ́gbára Ọ̀gọ'', ''Olóògùn Àjíṣà'', ''Láàlú Ògiri Òkò'', ''Láàlù Bara Ẹlẹ́jọ́'', ''Láaróyè Ẹbọra tí jẹ́ Látọpa''. Èṣù is powerful, relevant, and ubiquitous to the extent of having every day of the four-day ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yoruba Religion
The Yorùbá religion (Yoruba language, Yoruba: Ìṣẹ̀ṣe), West African Orisa (Òrìṣà), or Isese (Ìṣẹ̀ṣe), comprises the traditional religious and spiritual concepts and practice of the Yoruba people. Its homeland is in present-day Southwestern Nigeria and Southern Benin, which comprises the majority of the States of Nigeria, states of; Oyo State, Oyo, Ogun State, Ogun, Osun State, Osun, Ondo State, Ondo, Ekiti State, Ekiti, Kwara State, Kwara, Lagos State, Lagos and parts of Kogi State, Kogi in Nigeria, the Departments of Benin, Departments of; Collines Department, Collines, Ouémé Department, Oueme, Plateau Department, Plateau in Benin, and the adjoining parts of central Togo, commonly known as Yorubaland (). It has become the largest indigenous African tradition / belief system in the world with several million adherents worldwide. It shares some parallels with the Vodun practised by the neighbouring Fon people, Fon and Ewe people, Ewe peoples to its west ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yoruba People
The Yoruba people ( ; , , ) are a West African ethnic group who inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, which are collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute more than 50 million people in Africa, are over a million outside the continent, and bear further representation among the African diaspora. The vast majority of Yoruba are within Nigeria, where they make up 20.7% of the country's population according to Ethnologue estimations, making them one of the largest List of ethnic groups of Africa, ethnic groups in Africa. Most Yoruba people speak the Yoruba language, which is the Niger–Congo languages, Niger-Congo language with the largest number of native or L1 speakers. Geography In Africa, the Yoruba culture, Yoruba are contiguous with the Yoruboid languages, Yoruboid Itsekiri to the south-east in the northwest Niger Delta, Bariba people, Bariba to the northwest in Benin and Nigeria, the Nupe people, Nupe to the north, and the Ebira to the northeast in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ifá
Ifá or Fá is a geomantic system originating from Yorubaland in West Africa. It originates within the Yoruba religion, traditional religion of the Yoruba people. It is also practiced by followers of West African Vodun and certain African diasporic religions such as Cuban Santería. According to Ifá teaching, the divinatory system is overseen by an ''orisha'' spirit, Orunmila, who is believed to have given it to humanity. Ifá is organised as an initiatory tradition, with an initiate called a ''Babalawo, babaláwo'' or ''bokɔnɔ''. Traditionally, these are all-male, although women have been initiated in Cuba and Mexico. Its oracular literary body is made up of 256 volumes (signs) that are divided into two categories, the first called Ojú Odù or main Odù that consists of 16 chapters. The second category is composed of 240 chapters called Amúlù Odù (omoluos), these are composed through the combination of the main Odù. They use either the divining chain known as ''Opele, � ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orisha
Orishas (singular: orisha) are divine spirits that play a key role in the Yoruba religion of West Africa and several religions of the African diaspora that derive from it, such as Haitian Vaudou, Cuban Santería and Brazilian Candomblé. The preferred spelling varies depending on the language in question: òrìṣà is the spelling in the Yoruba language, orixá in Portuguese, and orisha, oricha, orichá or orixá in Spanish-speaking countries. In the Lucumí tradition, which evolved in Cuba, the orishas are synchronized with Catholic saints, forming a syncretic system of worship where African deities are hidden behind Christian iconography. This allowed enslaved Africans to preserve their traditions under colonial religious persecution. According to the teachings of these religions, the orishas are spirits sent by the supreme creator, Olodumare, to assist humanity and to teach them to be successful on ''Ayé'' (Earth). Rooted in the native religion of the Yoruba people, mos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elegua
Elegua ( Yoruba: Èṣù-Ẹlẹ́gbára and Ẹlẹ́gbá, also spelled Eleggua; known as Eleguá in Latin America and Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands) is an Orisha, a deity of roads in the religions of Santería, Winti, Umbanda, Quimbanda, Holy Infant of Atocha, and Candomblé. In Africa Elegua is known as Èṣù-Ẹlẹ́gbára and Ẹlẹ́gbá in the Yoruba religion and is closely associated with Eshu. ''Ẹlẹ́gbára'' means the "master of force" in the Yoruba language. Santería Eleguá (Legba) is known in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Colombia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Mexico as the orisha and "owner" of ''caminos'', or roads and paths. Elegua is also known as a “trickster” and is portrayed as both being very young and mischievous as well as very old and wise, encompassing the varying paths and phases of fate and life. Eleguá’s colors are red, black, and white. Their numbers are 3 and 21. All ceremonies and rituals in Santería must first have the appro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pomba Gira
Pombajira (from , ) is the name of an Afro-Brazilian spirit evoked by practitioners of Umbanda and Quimbanda in Brazil. She is the consort of Exu, who is the messenger of the Orixas in Candomblé. Known by many names, or avatars, Pombajira is often associated with the number seven, crossroads, graveyards, spirit possession, and witchcraft. Tradition While Exu represents male sexuality, fertility and strength, Pombajira personifies female sexuality, beauty and desire. She is depicted as a beautiful woman who is insatiable. Pombajira is venerated with great respect and care because of her reputation for possessing great wrath. She is often invoked by those who seek aid in matters of the heart and love. Pombajira is noted for her connection with both transgender women and effeminate male worshippers and is reputed to possess both. Some representations of Pombajira display the characteristics of being promiscuous, talkative and vulgar. However she has many avatars, and will be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Quimbanda
Quimbanda, also spelled Kimbanda (), is an Afro-American religion, Afro-Brazilian religion practiced primarily in the urban city centers of Brazil. Quimbanda focuses on male spirits called ''exús'' as well as their female counterparts, ''pomba giras''. ''Pomba giras'' are often regarded as the spirits of deceased women who worked as prostitutes or in other positions traditionally considered immoral in Catholic Brazilian society. Quimbanda's practices are often focused on worldly success regarding money and sex. A range of Afro-Brazilian religions emerged in Brazil, often labelled together under the term ''Macumba'', which often carried negative connotations. Historically, the term ''Quimbanda'' has been used by practitioners of Umbanda, a religion established in Brazil during the 1920s, to characterise the religious practices that they opposed. Quimbanda thus served as a mirror image for Umbandistas. Definitions The term ''Quimbanda'' came from the Kimbundu word ''wikt:kimban ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Opon Ifá
An ọpọ́n Ifá is a divination tray used in Traditional African religion, traditional African and Afro-American religions, notably in the system known as Ifá and in Yoruba religion, Yoruba tradition more broadly. The etymology of ''opon'', literally meaning "to flatter", explains the artistic and embellished nature of the trays, as they are meant to praise and acknowledge the noble work of the babalawo (diviners). The etymology of the term ''Ifá,'' however'','' has been a subject of debate. Ifá may be considered an orisha, or a Yoruba god — specifically, the god of divination Ọrunmila, Orula. Conversely, some scholars have referred to Ifá merely as the "great consulting oracle" as opposed to a god or a deity, without any divine connotations. Opon Ifá are typically made by Wood carving, wood carvers who specialize in the trays, and are made with designs per request of the patron babalawo or by the carver's own accord. The emphasis on the tray's design is not only du ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Birongo
''Birongo'', also spelled ''Bilongo'', is a spiritual tradition found among Afro-Venezuelans in rural areas of Coastal Venezuela, especially that of Southern coastal Lake Maracaibo and in the subregion of Barlovento, Venezuela, Barlovento but with similar forms existing in Cuba and the Dominican Republic to describe magico-religious traditions and folk healing of African origins as they are done among Afro-Venezuelans. Etymology The term "birongo" comes from the Kikongo word "bilongo", which is used to describe ingredients of magical use but the term is used in Venezuela to describe folk medicine, and even witchcraft. Practices Practitioners of Birongo, known as curanderos or ensalmaderos, use various herbs and ingredients to heal both spiritual and physical illness such as mal de ojo, and other forms using various herbs and preparations such as baths and teas to heal the victim. Alongside this, they use the psychological medicine of prayer and soothsaying to heal the patient as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Everworld
''Everworld'' is a fantasy novel series co-authored by Katherine Applegate and her husband Michael Grant, writing together under the name K. A. Applegate, and published by Scholastic between 1999 and 2001. It consists of twelve books and a companion music CD titled ''The Everworld Experience''. The Plot The series features five protagonists: David, April, Christopher, Senna and Jalil. When Senna is kidnapped by the wolf Fenrir , the remaining protagonists in an attempt to save her are catapulted into an alternative fantasy world, called Everworld. The protagonists live in both worlds, Everworld and the normal world. Every time they fall asleep, they can see what they are doing in the normal world; where they continue to lead their lives as usual. In Everworld, however; often accompanied by the god Loki , they will have to face powerful enemies and visit places that they thought existed only in fairy tales and myths, trying to survive, to prevent evil creatures from opening a pas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Umbanda
Umbanda () is a religion that emerged in Brazil during the 1920s. Deriving largely from Kardecist spiritism, Spiritism, it also combines elements from African diasporic religions, Afro-Brazilian traditions like Candomblé as well as Roman Catholicism. There is no central authority in control of Umbanda, which is organized around autonomous places of worship termed ''centros'' or ''terreiros'', the followers of which are called ''Umbandistas''. Adherents of this monotheism, monotheistic religion believe in a single God who is distant from humanity. Beneath this entity are powerful non-human spirits called ''Orisha, orixás''. In the more Spiritist-oriented wing of the religion, White Umbanda, these are viewed as divine energies or forces of nature; in more Africanised forms they are seen as West African deities and are offered animal sacrifices. The emissaries of the ''orixás'' are the ''pretos velhos'' and ''caboclos'', spirits of enslaved Africans and of Indigenous peoples in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amulet
An amulet, also known as a good luck charm or phylactery, is an object believed to confer protection upon its possessor. The word "amulet" comes from the Latin word , which Pliny's ''Natural History'' describes as "an object that protects a person from trouble". Anything can function as an amulet; items commonly so used include statues, coins, drawings, plant parts, animal parts, and written words. Amulets which are said to derive their extraordinary properties and powers from magic or those which impart luck are typically part of folk religion or paganism, whereas amulets or Sacramental, sacred objects of Organized religion, formalised mainstream religion as in Christianity are believed to have no power of their own without faith in Jesus and being blessing, blessed by a clergyman, and they supposedly will also not provide any preternatural benefit to the bearer who does not have an Disposition#Religion, appropriate disposition. Talisman and amulets have interchangeable meanings. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
