Why Doesn’t Anyone in Ifa Talk About ‘The Mothers’
- The Iyalosa
- Jul 14, 2022
- 1 min read
I’m seriously considering doing a podcast on how central ‘The Mothers’ were to precolonial Yoruba philosophy & how post colonial Orisa worship became Orunmila centered. Those of you who studied the Orisa…how often have you heard of ‘The Mothers’ & what did you hear about them?
I watched the documentary on Netflix about Yoruba culture recently. I noticed that they held conversations males more than women. Only Kings and 1 single solitary woman amongst them. Patriarchy has definitely infiltrated the culture.
When Mami Wata called me and I began my journey, this was one of the main reasons I was leery of what I learned of Ifa—it didn’t resonate initially and I kept seeking. Now over 10 years later it truly seems so far away from what was being taught through my soul and how traditional Ewe Mami/Afa elders are teaching me. Within Ewe Vodoun, the elders I’ve been privileged to learn under center around the Mother’s and the women lead most ceremonies with the men serving under them. As always, I’d love to hear what is spoken through you about this topic, it is very near to my heart and I feel the general disregard of The Mother’s is so…
I really want to hear this podcast. Divination itself I learned is feminine, but yet in some ATR traditions the woman is not allowed to divine.
You know I am all for this. The willful blindness to the womb-centrality of the tradition shocks me. It is not just that there is a woman centerEd foundation but that it is specifically mother-centered. A great example is how women would give birth to a child and give the child to a co wife to raise so that woman be accorded motherhood status within the community. Nothing can be made without mothers. Go for it Iya. Thanks
With the exception of one man, I only hear women talk about the mothers. I’ve noticed that people get into the tradition but they don’t fully release their Abrahamic / patriarchal ideologies. This may have something to do with why the mothers are often forgotten.