OSUN- An African goddess

òrìṣà

According to the Yoruba people of South-Western Nigeria and also parts of Republic of Benin, practitioners of the Yoruba traditional tradition and Ifa oral literature believe in a pantheon of 401 gods or deities (orisa) who were sent to the world by Olodumare to protect and govern the world and all forms of human life.

Who is Ọṣun?

Ọṣun can be described as a spirit, a deity or river goddess who is the the goddess of divinity, fertility, femininity, fertility and love. She is believed to be omnipresent and omnipotent. She is very powerful and kind and she is also the saint of the Osun river which can be found in Ekiti State, Western Nigeria.

Ọṣun-Osogbo Festival

The Osun river also passes through the sacred Osun-Osogbo sacred grove and that is where the principal sanctuary of the deity is located. The Osun goddess established her kingdom there. Olaguna(1952:16) writes that many centuries ago, Oba Olarooye of Ipole omu, Olutimehin, a great hunter and their subjects migrated from Ipole omu because of water scarcity and they settled at the Osun groove where the goddess had established her kingdom.

 One day, as they were preparing the ground for the planting season, a tree fell across the river crushing many of Osun tools of trade. It is recorded that the goddess was furious with  Olutimehin saying: "Gbogbo ikoko aro mi le ti fo tan" (You have destroyed all my calabashes).The spirits within the grove pacified the goddess saying:

"Oso-igbo pele o" spirit of the forest we plead
 "Oso-igbo rora o"  spirit of the forest be patient

Olarooye and Olutimehin were shocked because they wondered how the goddess knew their names. Sensing  this, she re-assured them and later advised them to move to the upper part of the river called OHUNTOTO. There Oba Olarooye established another palace as well as a thriving market. 

One day, Olutimehin saw some spirits dancing round a lamp with sixteen receptacles, which he seized through incantation. When the goddess learnt of this, she made Olutimehin and Olarooye promise to celebrate the lightening of the lamp annually, particularly nine days from the grand finale of the Osun festival.

She gave them a calabash containing antiquities with a warning that the contents must never be exposed to the naked eyes. She also decreed that the calabash must be taken to the grove during the festival by a virgin to the reigning king, and who must be chosen by the Ifa. 

On the festival day, the Ataoja (king ) sits on the dedicated stone of authority housed on the Osun temple/shrine where he commune with the ancestors. Osun gave her assurance that if her instructions were carried out, she would  pour a curative substance into the river if sacrifices from the Ataoja were acceptable. According to historical records, Osogbo had been founded as early as  the Oduduwa period. Osogbo, the goddess of Osun river was the queen original founder of Osogbo.

According to Bier (1966:69) there are some heroic roles of historical importance, rendered by Osun goddess especially during the Fulani war of 1842. She was credited with many important achievements, which helped to established the state. She possessed magical powers which inspired her and frightened her.

The relationship between the Osun Osogbo festival which has been celebrated for about six hundred centuries.

Primordial Ọṣun

According to Ifa oral literature, Osun was the only female irunmole (primordial spirit) sent by Olodumare (God) to the world and she encountered difficulties in the course of her duties that she sought the assistance of Sango (god of thunder & lightning). She was mesmerised by Sango's mythical powers that she decided to become his wife. She was honoured by the gods who granted her goddess status based on her loyalty.

Mortal Ọṣun

According version of Ifa literature states that she went to a drum festival where she met and fell in love with Sango. Other versions also mention that she was also married to Orunmila (god of wisdom and divination). The Abẹ̀bẹ̀ is the ritual object most associated with Ọṣun. The Abẹ̀bẹ̀ is a fan in circular form.

Brazillians

The Afro-Brazillians in Brazil also worship Osun who they believe is the goddess of rivers and waterfalls. She is also in control of wealth, prosperity, love and beauty and follows seek Osun when they have marital or relationship issues.  "Lady of Gold" is another name they call Osun. In Brazil dhe is worshipped near waterfalls, and more rarely, near mineral water sources

Ọṣun worshippers

We showcased Osun worshippers at Golcabash2019, an  event I organise annually to showcase and promote Yoruba culture, tradition & customs. Please see the pictures below:

Me with the Osun worshippers at Ewusi Palace Sagamu

Osun priestess & followers making their way into our palace for their performance at Golcabash 2019

                                                              

Osun priestess carrying the sacred Calabash

Me and Osun worshippers at Golcabash2019.

The young Osun follower left me enchanted and full of emotion when she chanted my Oríkì (praise poetry)

Ogun State Govt. Receives Baby Who Was Dumped Beside A River In Sagamu

Ogun State Government Received A Baby Who Was Dumped Near A River In Sagamu. 

Just yesterday 10th of July, 2020 a baby was dumped close to a river at Ijagba, Sagamu but was unable to be swept away due to the refuse dumped close to the river. 

However with the intervention of an NGO,  the ONAJI Foundation contacted the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development about the safety of the child and took him to the state head quarters of the Nigeria Police Force at Elewe-Eran, Abeokuta. 

In pursuit of the safety and welfare of the abandoned child, the Director of Social Welfare in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mr. Egbeolowo Kehinde received the child from the State Police Force headquarter and he's in good care of the state government while the police force promised to unravel the person behind such monstrous and hard-hearted act.

In her appreciation message to the ONAJI Foundation, Commissioner for Women Affairs And Social Development, Hon. Mrs, Efuwape Funmilayo expresses her gratitude to the Foundation National Secretary,  Hon. Folarin Oluwole for making the Ministry work easier and promised that the well-being and vitality of the child is now the responsibility of the state government at the children orphanage.

Jada-Pinkett-Smith And Her Many Men

Jada-Pinkett-Smith, wife of famous actor Will Smith, recent came out that she had a romantic relationship with 27 year old singer August Alsina. 

It is also  allegedTupac once wrote a poem for Jada Smith which had the lines “ you bring me to climax without sex”. It has been widely circulated that at the time of his death, the rapper was still very much inlove with her. 

It has never been a secret that their relationship was rather 'unique' as they were in a type of open relationship. 

It appears Will smith loved Jada so much that he wanted to see her happy even if it meant she wanted to see other people. 

She recently confessed to having an affair with August Alsina, who lived with the couple at some point. She also debunked claims that Will was in support of the affair although she did claim to have been at a 'low' point in her life and also confessed to not 'knowing' Will any more. 

August himself seems to have been mesmerised by the actress that he remarked  “I can die right now and be ok knowing I had that type of love” he spoke in detail about how glad he is that he experienced that love from Jada.

I don't know what kind of kayamata she's using or what type of ill nana she has but whatever it is, it seems to be hooking brothers so deeply they are willing to do anything to have her. 

NNPC Staff Tortures Househelp, Burns Her Private Part

A staff of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Kaduna, Mrs Yemi Awolola has been arrested for allegedly torturing and sexually abusing her 14-year-old house help.

She picked the victim from an Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camp in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna 15 months ago.

Daily Trust Saturday gathered that the victim had been given to Mrs Yemi by her parents on the agreement that she would be supported to go to school. Mrs Yemi and her family members had allegedly tortured the victim, including using a lighter to burn the victim’s private part and also inserting the lighter in her private part.

The Kaduna State Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development, Hafsat Baba on Friday said the victim had been made to sleep in the toilet and often times is made to drink toilet water by Mrs Yemi, adding that the offence is contrary to the Kaduna State Child Welfare and Protection Law.

Baba said though the victim is presently receiving treatment at a private hospital, she would be transferred to the state-owned Barau Dikko hospital, adding that the state government will mate out sanctions on Mrs Yemi on three counts of child labour, violence against children as well as sexual violence.

She said the suspect is presently in police custody and urged them to ensure that she is prosecuted while assuring that she would personally write letters to the NNPC to notify them of the involvement of their staff.

Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed confirmed the arrest of the suspect, saying the case has been forwarded to the state CID for investigation.

Ogun State Loses Three Obas Within A Week

Ogun lost three Obas in one week

No fewer than three Obas were reported to have died in Ogun in a space of one week. 

DAILY POST reports that Obas died between Saturday and today.

The first to die among the Obas was the Alakija of Ikija Orile Egba, Oba Shamusideen Ayorinde.

It was reported that Oba Shamusideen Ayorinde, died in the morning, on Saturday, Saturday, July 4.

According to reports, the monarch died after a brief illness.

He died at the age of 88.

Oba Ayorinde was also the pioneer monarch to be crowned as the Alakija of Ikija, in Oke Ona Egba.

His remains was laid to rest on Sunday, July 5 in accordance with Islamic rites. 

A day after his demise, the Olu of Oke-Odo Ilupeju, Oba Mufutau Akindele, also kicked the bucket.  

The Aare Baaroyin Egba, Lai Labode, disclosed that the late Olu of Oke-Odo was an intimate friend of the Oba Alakija.

Akindele was buried on Monday. 

He was said have died at the ripe age of 90.

Likewise, the Olu of Imasayi, in Yewa North Local Government, Oba Olusola Gbadebo Oni, have also died.

The Ogun State Government broke the news of his death on Friday.

According to a press release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, Oba Gbadebo Oni died at the age of 77.

He also died as a result of a brief illness

Many may be wondering why the Obas died almost at the same time. It appears everything was just a coincidence.

The Obas are old enough, even though we didn't want them to go now, there is nothing we can do.

The Alakija was 88, the Olu of Oke-Odo was 90 and the Olu of Imasayi was 77.

They were all said to have died after a brief illness. 

May the souls of the Obas rest in peace.