Meh horse Ozy shared this on my FB page this afternoon.

At first, I was elated! Estatic to find Daddy on youTube, but I played the clip and my grief rushed over me and instead of hearing Mansa Musa, master drummer for the Orishas, professional rebel, original loudmouth, educator, musician, playwright, I heard my DADDY.

And I missed him, I miss him… I miss my Papi.

Video – Mansa Musa – Tribute To Ogun.

• Currently playing in iTunes: When I Think of You by Janet Jackson

The ceremony was simple and beautiful, and I was glad we waited until my sister and one of Dayo’s godparents Faizah got to Bim to do the job.

The people I chose to help me look out for him over the years, were with one exception present. For most of them, this was there first experience with an traditional African rite, so Faizah made sure to explain each step as she went through the ritual.

I was in tears most of the time.

When it was over, I gave Faizah a hand-made paper wishbox I had created for her, and she loved it.

May everyone’s good wishes take my little King through life.

You can see more photos of the beautiful day under the cut.

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I was just about to knuckle down and be productive today, when I came across this post to one of my yahoo groups.

Apparently a pseudo-documentary on the “black sheep of religion” Voodoo and its tenets aired October Channel 4 in the UK. The location of the piece, which is ostensibly in support of the video, notably #160has #160″can_you_believe_it/debates/” in its URL. You can read it here.

Unfortunately I found even the intro article to the actual video footage, offensive.

The subtle snide mocking derision in the piece, as well as some clear lack of research regarding use of names etc. I found disappointing. One would have hoped that someone doing a piece like this would be a little more serious, but there`s a distinct note of someone having a lark about it to me.

I am yet to watch the entire video, and will reserve further comment until then. This is mostly directed at the written article which also notably does not have a name attached to it. However, the little bit I`ve seen of the video, makes it clear the white boy who went off looking for voodoo certainly appearsto take what he is doing seriously, but there still seems to be a slightly hollow quality to the exploration.

Meanwhile, by all means go over and have a look at the video. If you have broadband, live in the UK, have PC, use Internet Explorer and use Windows Media you can view it online here. But only for another week or so. For everyone else, there`s a torrent, and it`s on YouTube as well. I`d be interested in what other people thought of the video.

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media, african traditional religion, atrs, voodoo, orisha, quest

Found a marvellous photo essay on Voodoo on BBC.co.uk. Check it out. Click on the link below to view the whole essay.

Spiritual force

Voodoo is a state religion in Benin – the West African country where the practice started, before being taken to Haiti and elsewhere by slaves.

Some 65% of the seven million population are adherents. They say it is a positive force, bearing little resemblance to the popular image of people casting evil spells by sticking pins in dolls.

Priestess Na Danon says the word “Voodoo” means both the religion and the spiritual forces within natural phenomena such as water, fire, earth and air.

From: BBC NEWS | Photo journal | Voodoo priestess | Spiritual force

Ochun says you’re feeling drained away, something which is pretty unusual in so restless a person like you. Action is the keyword in your character. The point is you feel disappointed and anxious deep down inside. Your guarding Orisha recommends you to pour some beer all over you before taking an ordinary bath. Let the suds dry and then proceed to take a normal shower.

From: Caribbean Inside: a portal of the Caribbean and the America

There’s a new installation of I.M.P.’s Eleggua comic online.

I love the artwork and colouring in this strip, but I always find the stories a little disjointed. Well worth a look though… In this one Shango and Eleggua dust it up.

Ochun says you’ll need to shine your own light these days to bring projects off and clear whatever snags might be on your way. This Orisha recommends you to wear a golden piece these days. The metal’s glow will light up your way and push you through the hard times. Before wearing that piece of jewelry, show it to the sun.

From: Caribbean Inside: a portal of the Caribbean and the America

So on Sunday afternoon, I took off to Kilburn High Street to do a little shopping.

While up there, and seeing the whole place just bustling with activity, I thought I’d try my luck at getting something I could use to create a more permanent shrine for my Egun (Ancestors).

Since moving into my flat, I haven’t done much in terms of prayers for my Ancestors, because of the size of the place.

They say it’s not good to set up a shrine in the room you sleep; especially if you’re planning to have sex in the same room. It’s kind of like having sex in front of your grandparents… it’s also dangerous, because a shrine is a conduit between this world and the next, and while you’re sleeping you’re vulnerable to forces beyond your control.

So for my part, I held off on creating a new shrine.

I wanted to find a cupboard that could be completely enclosed and hidden from prying eyes, and sealed the space that I honour my Ancestors in.

So I saw this little furniture shop and went in. Looked around, but there were only two possibilities; both of them with doors that had decorative slits. Both of them runing around £130. Mind very beautiful, but just not quite what I wanted.

That was a good deal more than I had hoped to spend, but the guy in the shop was being very solicitous and even offered to pay a cab for me to take it away.

However, this little voice in my head and a feeling in my stomach very much protested against this and so I listened. I told the guy I wanted to walk around a little, then come back after I decided.

He tried to hard sell me, lowering the price and trying to sweeten the pot.

However, I diplomatically extricated myself and kept on walking.

The same little voice told me, “Look left…” and when I did, there was a little store with beautiful wooden shelves and cupboards spread out on the sidewalk.

I crossed the street and went in and after half a turn in the cramped, crowded musty but charming little shop, there it was… EXACTLY what I wanted… a kind of used, slightly banged up little cupboard with stunning brass detailing and check this: £60 less than the cupboards I had seen just a half an hour before.

I paid for it on the spot, and here are the pictures.

I know my ancestors guided me to the house they wanted, and well I plan to clean it and prepare it, cook a feast for them and finally after nine months in England, get them a house to live in.

So I was wandering through eBay and found this auction: eBay item 5575415872 (Ends 28-Apr-05 23:46:04 BST) – Help me become a Priest of the Orisha Oya.

Hi, I have been chosen by the Orisha twelve years ago to serve them. It was very strange to me as I had almost no knowledge about the tradition. What was told to me is that once I take my Elekes, the spirits etc that were always bothering me would leave me alone.

Today 12 years later, I would say, they show respect. And, when I went to visit the Temple where I was initiated, for a Bembe, Oya came down and claimed me. Telling me I was hers and that I am to be a Priest to her.

That is all good, but to levitate money quickly is a little difficult. But, I know the Orisha will guide me. I own a small business. So, bid on me and there is probably a website, webhosting, content management system, or something else I can do for you.

Maybe a very accurate reading? You can have me petition the Orisha to help you with your everyday life!

So, gift me money and you will be blessed by the Orisha.

I am horrified by this!

Not only does he want to be a priest of Oya, but he’s going to petition the Orishas for help on your behalf? If you give  HIM money, the Orisha will bless you?

What a fraud!!! What a total misrepresentation of the tradition.

I wonder if he divined and was told that that was a good idea.

Shameful!!

I found this excellent article posted on the Santeria Meetup Group’s Message Board, but it comes to use by way of Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye.

It offers excellent advice for the process of choosing God Parents, one of the most important steps towards life in devotion of the Orisas.

(Copyright and link is at the bottom of the post.)

GUIDELINE

- Get the names of those who trained the priest or priestess in question.

- Formulate questions related to qualifications.

- Determine how and why they selected his or her senior

priestsÂ’ over other choices.

- Inquire about the specific religious lineage, contributions to the faith, and community.

-Ask about resources. Does the priest or priestess make use of referrals? If not, ask why?

- In the area of experience, ask what common types of cases are handled.

- Ask and observe the diversity of students and devotees seeking guidance.

- Determine what professional qualities other than priesthood they may have.

- Beware of those who want to make you dependent. Guidance and free will is the way.

- Evaluate attitudes. Is he or she humble? Egocentric? Grandiose?

Years of Priesthood Can Be Misleading!

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