The Feminine Orixas (Orisha) Dances

Afro Brazilian dance, together with its music, is the strongest expression of the rich cultural composition of the Brazilian people. In this work, based in a research on the Brazilian Orixas, we point the rhythms played by the instruments Rum, Pi and Le ( drums used by the Afro Brazilian religions in their ceremonies) and we propose to tell, using the body consciousness, the mythology of the Africans Goddesses (the feminine Orixas): their tribes celebrations, their games, their ideas and their emotions in a journey that will take us to the truth of our tradition. In this way, we bring back to the present the movements of our feminine ancestors, seeking for the pure consciousness of our body.

Respectfully, with the Yalorixas authorization,

The Feminine Orixas

Iansa

She is the storms and the winds Divinity. People related to this Orixa are daring, powerful and authoritarian.

Salutation: "PA HEY!"

The legend:

After that, she left the forest going smoothly in direction to the city market without noticing Ogum had seen everything. After she left, he took the bundle to himself, went home, kept it at his corn barn and followed to the same market Iansa had gone. There he found the beautiful woman and flattered her.

Iansa was really gorgeous, the most beautiful woman of the world. Her beauty would make any man desire her at first glance. Ogum was not an exception, he fell in love immediately and asked her in marriage. Iansa just smiled as the refused it kindly. Ogum insisted and told her he would wait for her. He had no doubts she would accept it eventually. Iansa went back to the forest and she could not find her skin nor her horns. "Oh, what a terrible inconvenient!" she said, "What could have happened? What should I do?"

Iansa returned to the market, already empty at that time, and she recognized Ogum there waiting for her. She asked him what he had done to the things she had left at the anthill. Ogum pretended he was innocent and declared he had nothing to do nor with the anthill, nor with what was in it. Iansa did not believe him, so she told him: "I know you know I'm an animal. I know you hid my skin and my horns. I know you won't tell me where is the hiding place. Ogum, I will marry you and live at your house. But there are certain rules of behavior you must respect. These rules should also be followed by everyone at your house. Nobody will be able to say that I am an animal. Nobody will be able to use dende's shell to make fire. Nobody will be able to roll a pestle on the house floor." Ogum understood her conditions and took Iansa with him.

Arriving home, Ogum gathered his others wives and explained them how they should behave. It had become clear to all of them that nobody could have any argument against Iansa nor even insult her. Time passed by. Ogum used to go hunting and to cultivate the ground. Iansa has sought for her skin and horns repeatedly without any result. She gave birth to a child, than to another one, than to the third one... in the end she gave birth to nine children. But the others wives were so jealous that they could not stand Iansa's beauty.

One day they were so desperate that they decided to reveal the mystery of her origin. One of them managed to make Ogum so drunk that he could not control his own speaking and finally reveled the secret. He told his wives that Iansa was, in reality, an animal and that her skin and her horns were hidden at the corn barn. But Ogum insisted: "You must not see it, otherwise you may frighten her, as you should never say she is an animal!"

After that, the soonest Ogum left the house, the woman were already insulting Iansa: "You are an animal! You are an animal! You may eat and you may drink, you may also show yourself, but your skin and your horns are hidden at the corn barn!"

One day, all the women went together to the market and Iansa took this opportunity to go to the barn. She opened its doors and, in its very end, under a great corn cob she found her bundle. She dressed up her skin and her horns, she shacked herself with great energy. Each part of her body was again at the same place it was before inside the skin. As the women arrived from the market they found that buffalo breathing very hard. It was a terrifying massacre. With her strong horns, Iansa lacerated their bellies , stepped over their bodies and threw them away.

She obviously spared her own children who were crying and saying: "Our mother, our mother! Is that you? Our mother, our mother! What will you do? Our mother, our mother! What will happen to us?" The buffalo comforted them slightly grazing its body at theirs, telling them kindly: "I will go back to the forest, but there is not a good place for you. I will leave you a remembrance." She took off her horns and continued: "Whenever you find yourself in any danger, whenever you need my advice, you rub those horns in each other. Anywhere you might be, anywhere I might be, I will hear your complains and I will come to protect you". That is why two buffalo's horns are always put on Iansa's altar.

Oxum (Pronounced Oh Shun)

She is the river's divinity whose name is the same as a Nigerian river, in Africa. Oxum is the Goddess of all living beings fertility and the people related to this Orixa are commonly an icon of beauty and charm.

Salutation: "ORE YEY !"

The legend:

Oxum was really pretty, affective and charming as women usually are. She used to appreciate showy clothes and she has a great passion for copper jewels. This metal was very precious, a long time ago, at Ioruba's land. Only a very elegant woman could wear such rare copper jewels. Oxum was the copper trader's special client.

Omiro wanran wanran wanran omi ro !

"The water flows making the noise from Oxum bracelets!"

Oxum used to clean her jewels even before cleaning her children. Although she has a great reputation of being a good mother and to concede the appeals from women who desired very much to have children. Oxum was Xango's (pronounced Shango - he is the Orisha of Thunder and Lightening) second wife. The first one was Iansa and the third one, Oba.

Oxum has a capricious and mutable humor. Some days, her waters flow softly and peacefully. It flows gracefully, fresh and clean through the riverbanks covered with bright vegetation; Lots of gaps give people the possibility to cross from one side to the other. Some other days, her waters are tumultuous and disturbed, than it flows strongly, overflowing and flooding the forest. Nobody would manage to cross the river because no bridge would dare link the riverbanks. Oxum would never allow such a daring! When she is furious she throws away and destroys any dugout which tries to cross the river.

Olowu, Owu's King, was going to the war followed by his army. Unfortunately, they had to cross the river in a bad day, when it was very angry. Olowu made Oxum a promise, he declared: "If you could low the water level to help me and my army to get to the other side and yet, if I return as the battle winner, I promise to give you "nkan rere" what means a good thing. But Oxum misunderstood his promise as she thought he was offering her his wife Nkan, daughter of the Iaban's King. She eventually lowered the water level and Olowu continued his expedition.

When Olowu came back as the winner bringing a considerable quantity of booties with him, he found Oxum again in a disturbed humor, the river was tumultuous and turbulent. Olowu ordered his soldiers to throw in the river every valuable thing he had, the promised nkan rere: clothes, jewels, cows, hens, slaves, honey and mulukum meals (a table delicacy in which it's mixed onions, beans, salt and shrimps). But Oxum gave everything back as it was Nkan, Olowu's wife she really wanted. Olowu was obligated to obey Oxum's request and threw his wife to her. Nkan was pregnant, so she gave birth to her child in the deepest of the river as Oxum explained, scrupulously returning the little child to the father: "It was Nkan who was solemnly promised to me, not the child, you may take it back!".

After that, the water level was finally lowered and Olowu went back home, very sad. When Ibadan's King found out what had happened to his daughter, he declared, completely indignant: "It was not to serve as an offering to any river the reason why I let her marry Olowu!" Than he fought against his son-in-law and eventually expelled him from his country.

The Oxum river passes through a region where its waters are always abundant. This is why Laro, the first king of this region has set up at this place and has made an alliance pact with Oxum. At the time he had arrived there, one of his daughters went to the river to bathe herself, but she fell inside it being suddenly taken under its waters. She only left the river on the day after, and she was wonderfully dressed when she told everybody that Oxum had taken good care of her in the deepest of the river. Laro, to show his gratitude, brought offerings to Oxum. Hundreds of fishes, divine messengers, came to surface to eat what Laro was offering, showing they had accept that. A big fish came near Laro and spot some water which was quickly taken into a recipient by Laro, who also drank it, as sealing their pact.

Afterward, he stood his arms above the water and the big fish jumped over it. This happening is said in Ioruba "Atewo gba eja", what has originated the name "Ataoja" that means the condition of king at this region. Ataoja, (Laro), so, declared: "Oxum gbo!" which means "Oxum is mature, her waters are abundant.". This originated the Oxogbo City. Every year, people from Oxogbo give big parties in celebration to all of these happenings.

Oba

Also a Goddess from Nigerian river, she possess great strength, she is the strongest warrior of all men and women. People related to this Orixa are valorous and miscomprehended, with tendency to become political actives.

The legend:

Oba was a courageous and vigorous woman. She lacked a bit on charm and refinement, although. But she has never feared anyone in the whole world. Her favorite pleasure was to fight. Her vigor was so intense that she had chosen the combat as her profession. Oba has won every combat against the others Orixas. She has defeated Obatala; she has overthrew Oxossi and she has knocked Orumila down. Oxumare could not resist her strength. She has defied Obaluae and she has made Exu run away. It was Ogum's turn.

Ogum was very prudent and consulted Ifa before the combat. The fortune-tellers told him to make an offering of two hundred corn cobs plus a great quantity of okra. He would have to knead everything with a pestle until he obtained a slimy and slippery paste. This paste would be let at some hidden corner at the place where he was going to fight Oba. Ogum followed strictly the instructions he received.

At the combat time, Oba arrived and said: "Our meeting day has come". Ogum confirmed what he'd heard: "We should fight, than, one against the other." The combat begun. Oba seemed to control the situation. Ogum stepped back to the place he had let the paste. Oba stepped in it and slipped and at this moment Ogum took this chance and threw her down. Completely forgetting they were fighting, he possessed her right there, becoming, consequently, her first husband. Later on, Oba became the Xango's third wife, because she was strong and brave. The first one was Iansa, who was pretty and enchanting. The second one was Oxum, who was charming and affective.

A small rivalry has soon grown between Oxum and Oba. Both used to dispute Xango's love. Oba was always tying to discover the secrets with which Oxum used to prepare Xango's meals. One day, Oxum was really fed up with Oba and she decided to deceive her. She invited Oba to watch her preparing a recipe which she considered one of Xango's favorite meal. Oba accepted the invitation. When they met, at the set day, she found Oxum with a scarf around her head. She was preparing a soup where two mushrooms were floating at the surface. Oxum told Oba what seemed to be the mushrooms were, in reality, her ears, as this was Xango's favorite meal. Xango arrived soon, elegant and proud. He swallowed the mushrooms soup delighted and very pleased. He took Oxum by her hands and conduced her to his bedroom.

On the following week it was Oba's turn to take care of Xango. She decided to practice what she had learnt with Oxum, That wonderful recipe. Xango was not even nearly pleased to see Oba had cut off one of her ears. He thought the meal she prepared to him was really disgusting. At this moment, Oxum took her scarf away from her head showing her rival that her ears had not been cut off, not even eaten. Furious, Oba attacked Oxum with all her strength. A great fight took place. Xango, full of anger, thundered his ire. The two women got so terrified that they ran away and changed themselves into rivers.

Until these days, the waters from those rivers are tumultuous and disturbed, in remembrance to the fight which opposed Oxum and Oba in a dispute towards Xango's love.

Iemanja (Yemanya)

She is the Divinity of the sea waters and also of the motherhood. People related to this Orixa are obstinate, protective and strait.

Salutation: "OD IY, IEMANJ ATARAMAGB, AJEJ LODO, AJEJ NIL!"

The legend:

Iemanja was daughter of Olokum, the Goddess of the sea. She has become, at Ife, the wife of Olofim- Odudua, with who she had ten children. Their children received symbolic names and all of them became Orixas. One of them was called Oxumare, the Rainbow, "the one who goes with the rain and holds the fire with its own fists" Another one was called Xango, the storm, "the one who appears with the rain and reveal its secrets." Because she had to breast feed so many children, Iemanja breasts became huge.

Tired of staying at Ife, Iemanja ran away in direction to the "nightfall of the earth" as the Iorubas used to call the West, and she arrived at Abeokuta. There lived the King Okere, the King of Xaki. As Iemanja continued very pretty, Okere desired her and asked her to become his wife. Iemanja agreed, but, imposing him a condition, she said: "You shall never ridicule the hugeness of my breasts."

Okere, nice and polite used to treat Iemanja with total respect and consideration. But, on a miserable day, he drank too much wine so he arrived home completely drunk and dizzy. He didn't known what he was doing. He stumbled over Iemanja who complained saying he was a drunk and a useless person. Okere, feeling insulted, wielded: "You, with your big and trembling breast!" Iemanja, very offended, ran away as faster as she could. While running, she erred and fell down, breaking a bottle she carried with her. This bottle was a gift her mother had given her a long time before. On the occasion, Olokum warned her daughter about the magic potion that was inside that bottle: "You never know what might happen to you. If you need me, you break this bottle throwing it on the ground." So, as the bottle crashed against the ground, a great river raised from it. Its waters conduced Iemanja in direction to the Ocean, where lived her mother Olokum. Okere would not allow her to escape, so, trying to obstruct the way, he changed himself into a large hill, nowadays still called Okere. Iemanja tried to pass through the right, Okere went to the right. Iemanja tried to pass through the left, Okere went to the left. Iemanja, noticing that all the ways to her mother house were barred, asked for Xango, her most powerful son.

Kawo Kabiyesi Xango, Kawo Kabiyesi Oba Kosso!

"We salute the King Xango, We salute the King of Kosso!"

Xango came full of dignity and asked her mother an offering of one sheep and four roosters, a dish of "amala" made with yam flour and a dish of "gbeguiri" made with beans and onions. Than, he promised her that on the next day she would find somewhere to pass through. On the next day, Xango untied all the knots that were holding the rain. Dark clouds started to spread in all directions in the sky. When they were firmly together, Xango came with his lightening. A frightening noise was heard at that moment: kakara ra ra ra... He had thrown his power over the Okere Hill, breaking it in two and suichchchchch... . Iemanja went to her mother Olokum's sea. There she stayed since that day and, until these days, she remains there, refusing to come out to earth. Her children call her and greet her: "Odo Iya, the river's mother, she does not come back anymore. Iemanja the Queen of the waters who wears clothes covered by pearls.".

She has children from all over the world. Iemanja is anywhere the sparkling waves of the sea can reach. Her children make offerings to calm her down and also to please her.

OD IY, IEMANJ ATARAMAGB, AJEJ LODO, AJEJ NIL!

"Mother of the waters, Iemanja, who expanded herself fairly in amplitude. Peace to her waters, peace at home!"

Nana Buruku

She is considered the oldest Divinity of the waters, the still waters from the lakes and the muddy waters from the swamps. People related to this Orixa are usually calm, kind and worthy.

The legend:

Nana Buruku is a very old water's Divinity who comes from very far since a long time ago. Ogum is a powerful warrior chief, who walks always before the others Imales. One day they all go to the meeting of the two hundred Imales from the right and the four hundred Imales from the left. They discuss on their powers. They talk a lot about Obatala, the one who created the human beings. They talk also about Orunmila , the Lord of Men's destinies. They talk about Exu: "Oh, he is a very important messenger!". They say a lot of things about Ogum. They say: "We can only survive thanks for his tools. We declare he is the most important among us!"

Nana Buruku disagrees: "Do not say such a thing! Which importance does he have unless the works he executes?" The others Imales answer: "Only with the tools he makes we become able to cultivate our earth. His tools are what we use to kill the animals." Nana affirmed she wouldn't honor Ogum: "Why wouldn't exist a more important Imale?" Ogum jokes: "Ah. Ah! Considering that all the Imales will honor me, it seems fair that you should do the same." Nana answers saying she doesn't recognize his superiority. Both keep arguing for a long time. Ogum asks next: "So you really think I'm not indispensable?" Nana agrees saying she could repeat this about ten times. Ogum says than: "Very well! You will understand how indispensable I am! Anything you may do you will consequently need my tools!" Nana, sustaining her calmness declares that since that moment, she would never use absolutely anything made by Ogum again and she would still realize anything she wanted. Ogum, really annoyed, asks her: "How will you this? Don't you know I own all kind of metal? Tin, lead, copper, iron. I own them all!"

Nana's sons were hunters. To kill an animal they started to use not metal weapons, but wooden ones, sharpen just like a knife to bring the animals down. All animal offered to Nana must have been killed by wooden tools. No metal is allowed to cut its meat, because of the quarrel that, since that day, opposed Ogum and Nana.

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The fable's texts were extracted from the Book

"African Legends of the Orixas" by Pierre Fatumbi

Verger/ Carybe of Corrupio Publishing House.