Anonymous asked: When I finally write my Epic African Inspired Fantasy Novel, I'll have to put this blog as my inspiration. Thank you so so much!
Aww, it would be even better if you put down my real name. :) jks jks
Fox DivinationOne evening, as the sun began to set, a Dogon priest called a “diviner” traced an intricate drawing in the ochre sands that lie at the foot of Bandiagara Cliffs. A series of six connected squares and an elaborate set of symbols were drawn in a pattern that represent the potential futures of the family, the village, regional peace and harmony, life and death, and the wishes of God.
The diviner next placed tiny sticks in the sand panels, representing God and the family. Several “I”-shaped tracings symbolized peace and death. Small heaps of sand with minute holes represented other concerns: harmony within the village, illness, next season’s harvest, even one’s own mortality.
As the diviner priest drew the patterns into the sand, he chanted to invoke the sacred fox to come weave a path of prophecy for his village across his creation:
“Fox, tell me please
is there something?
Will there be shame next year?
Fox, speak clearly.
Let the people coming to the field
stand eye to eye.
Throw your traces.
Give me your nails to mark the sand.
Be clear. Whatever you see, tell me
Give me your footprints.The Dogon priest finished his chant as the last light of the day lingered in the western sky and then disappeared. The priest returned to his village. Nightfall invited the fox to visit the sacred Dogon markings.
At dawn the following day, sunlight traced the shadows of the fox path across the sand drawing. Indeed, the fox had visited in the night during our trip and with its tracings had foretold the future of the village of Yougou Piri. With these fortuitous markings, the fox had symbolically acted out the ritual of an oracle, a Dogon tradition that keeps life in balance for yet another year.
(via cosmicyoruba)
"There was a young girl named Imola who was preparing to marry her beloved boyfriend. According to custom, before a girl could be married, a pot of walnuts would be cooked overnight and shared with the relatives of the would-be groom. If the walnuts were bad, unhappiness would plague the marriage. The jealous second wife of Imola’s father burned the walnuts in secret overnight; when Imola discovered this, she climbed up toward the heavens in search of good walnuts and became the moon. Her suitor then followed her up into the sky and became the North Star."
— Imola & the Moon (Celestial Folklore)
(Source: cosmicyoruba)
Help
Hi. I know this is slightly outside of the realm of this blog, but I could really use your help. Can you recommend any books about daily life in medieval sub-saharan Africa? Anything about how people lived on the ground, day to day, in the Ghana/Mali/Songhai empires, would be incredible. There are so many books about the daily lives of Ancient Egyptians, and so few about the regular lives of the REST of the continent.
Short of that (a difficult request, I know), know any good books on contemporary daily rural/tribal life (basically, outside of cities) in sub-saharan Africa? If you could point in me in the right direction, I would be greatly appreciative.
Thanks, for both your help, and for running this great (and much needed) blog.
Not sure about this one if anyone knows please help baltimoresci-fi out
Sun Birds
Origin Shona (Zimbabwe)
Dzivaguru goddes of light, darkness and rain clouds, owned to golden swallows of light. she would release them to bring warmth and light to the people and sealing them away to bring back the night and cool air.
Nosenga son of the sky god caught the sun birds and releasing them to the world. Without having Dzivaguru to seal them away the golden birds flew fast, high and low often causing droughts.
crankycritic asked: WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME WHY HAVE I ONLY JUST BEGUN FOLLOWING THIS AMAZING BLOG
Oh you
Anonymous asked: ARE THERE TRIBAL FAIRIES
snacks-ex-machina asked: Can you please tell me where the image in your header comes from? Who is it a painting of? It's really beautiful. Wonderful blog, btw.
The orisa—all 401 of them—are real. They exist, not as metaphors or parables, but as genuine sources of energy contained in every aspect of our universe. The Ifa devotee or orisa worshiper is constantly striving to open his or her channels to these energies. This is not a process that can be achieved through “understanding” but only through ritual.
Words and explanations can take us to the door, but if we are to enter, experience, and benefit from the vast reservoir of energy that is available to us through Ifa, words and explanations must be left outside. In many ways Ifa is the original instruction book for the rituals that allow us access to this boundless energy. Learn it, work on it, and when you are finally able to leave the words at the door and experience it, you will have found your path home.
THE WAY OF THE ORISA
(via hamburgerjack)
Amadioha (Igbo literal meaning “free will of the people”) is the Alusi (god) of thunder and lightning of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. He is amongst the most popular of Igbo deities and in some parts of Igboland, he is referred to as Amadiora, Kamalu (which…
