Flashes of Insight

Dancing with the Orishas/Yemonja has her Night!

Last night, I had the honor to be invited to the 28th Year Celebration of Yemonja by my African Family/friends Omi Aladora Ajamu and Baba Olomide

Omi’s elder brother Baba Owheno opened the ceremony after some jams by one of the local Afro pop bands led by Femi on the drums and vocals..

I am most often the only white person or one of a few white folks present at these events and over some 17 years, I have been accepted as family by this family of Priests.
Some of the young Priests[Yawos, newly initiated’brides”of the Orisha] were Omi’s sons who I had known since they were knee high. it was so wild seeing them towering over me now with children of their own.

The place was full of kids running wild all over the place and basically having a ball with each other. Just the Fashion alone made this a night to remember, each woman and man dressed in colorful African garb. It was also a night for seeing many old friends that I hadn’t seen in some time. Oyabi from Miami hadn’t been around in years and we hugged each other for a long time. Abiola,Aboku,Sade,Odun,Efunyahle,Baba, and so many others came and went as the evening went on.

I can’t believe that I rushed to get here because Lesbian,Rasta,Indian, or Hippie time has nothing on African time which puts them all to shame in the length of time one might wait. All that being said, I was sooo glad to be here. I brought 2 young women friends along who I knew would love the experience but being there was also so bittersweet.

My wife and best friend Tara who had shared this space with me so completely for years was not here, she passed away suddenly in the Jungle of Ecuador and there were moments tonight that that loss was almost unbearable. She was much loved by these people too and Olomide’s sister addressed me as Tara and quickly apologized in shock for what she had done. I made her feel OK about it but my heart was hurting and I really was missing my dear friend tonight. Actually at one point, I was sure that she was within me and I am sure that she was as she would never miss a Yemonja Festival. Our marriage was blessed by Ayoka in the name of Yemonja and I missed Ayoka’s presence as well. She was my first connection with the Yoruba people in Gainesville. Louisah Teish had opened this world to me earlier but it was Ayoka who made it real for me here.

Tara and I had been invited to visit the Oyotungi Village for their annual Yemonja Festival the summer we got married and we were so honored. It was a fascinating journey to a place where Yoruba practitioners live work and play very much as they would in Africa. I remember when we first arrived that day, Omi’s brother Owheno welcomed us in the Horseman Bar announcing that the Festival could start because the Witches had just arrived. This was also a time of the Gelede who were seen as the Witches in Yoruba tradition so I guess it was a perfect time for us to be there.

Being present here in Gainesville and seeing the altar to Yemonja piled high with fruits of every kind, especially bananas and watermelons brought a familiar joy to my heart flooding me with warm memories. This is a very beautiful religion with a celebratory and engaging spirit.

Clearly, Yemonja was here for the evening no doubt with other Orisha vying for attention as the various drum beats and chants welcomed each one to the gathering. I am very familiar after all this time with the various beats and chants for Eleggba, Shango, Oya, Yemonjaa, Oshun, Ogun, Egun, Obatala, and Olokun.

It is not at all unusual for one of the dancers to become possessed by the Orisha,in fact, it is desired for this to happen and Priests are on standby to support those who whirl and spin swept up by the fervor of a particular Orisha. You can tell which one too as the person who is “being ridden” shows similarities with the Orisha in question.

As Omi began to whirl and become Yemonja, I moved in closer.She looked gorgrous as usual in her glittering blue and gold outfit with her headress piled high over her dreads. No doubt about it, she was the Goddess, the orisha incarnate, Yemonja!

The heat in the central ritual area had risen at least 10 degrees and the air was thick with magic and energy. She began to speak most emphatically, what I have come to know as her message from Yemonja. She speaks of the need for African Americans to keep African Values as these values are their roots and soul and the core of who they are in this world. She is urging them to abandon the ways of the streets for solid ethics and grounding in the ways of the Ancestors. I was as many so caught up in the moment that I can remember little else but this was a most beautiful ceremony.

After we saluted all of the Orisha, it was time to make our offerings of gifts to Yemonja through her Priests Omitoawade and Omi. I came up to the altar and touched the mat as I handed Omito a large handful of incense. I didn’t have Omi’s fave Ocean Atlantis but I gave several others. Then I was instructed to go honor the King who was making a royal visit from Oyotungi Village in Sheldon, SC.

He is a young man with an elaborate gilded umbrella over his head enshrined on a rattan throne surrounded by his wives and children. After honoring his presence, he shook a horsetail over me and I felt as though I had had enough. I had been up and working on the first class for Moonhaven Mystery School since dawn and it was time to give it all a rest but what an awesome and powerful day.