THE YORÙBÁ CONCEPT OF ORÍ The Yorùbá have a strong belief in predestination. They believe that the success or failure of a man depends to a large extent on the type of choice he man in heaven. Some people are said to have chosen a life of poverty and simplicity while others chose a life of affluence and glamour. Some people chose short while others chose long life. This belief in predestination is used to explain the success or failure of every man on earth. If a person suddenly becomes rich the Yorùbá say that it is due to his predestined choice in heaven. The same thing is said when a person dies in the flower of his youth or if he fails in an important endeavour. It follows, therefore, that while human effort cannot be ruled out for success or failure, the greater part of it can be ascribed to predestination. This is meaning of the Yorùbá saying: A kúnlë, a yan ëdá, A dáyé tan, Ojú ñkán ni. We knelt down (in heaven) and chose our destinies, But when we arrived on earth, We became impatient. Predestination among the Yorùbá is known by different names. Sometimes it is known as àyàmô (choice) or ìpín (predestined share) or kádàrá (divine share for man) or ípörí (inner head). Whatever the name by which predestination is known, it is always associated with Orí (the inner head). It is believed that the symbol of free choice is Orí (inner head), which everyone received in heaven. A man’s destiny, that is to say his success or failure in life, depends to a large extent on the type of head he chose in heaven.The belief of the Yorùbá in Orí as the symbol of predestination is manifested in their sayings, for example :“ He who is wise Is made wise by his Orí. He who is not wise Is made more foolish than a piece of yam by his Orí”. Èèyàn ò fê k’á r÷rù k’á sö, Orí ÷ni ní í sæ ni. Other people don’t like to see a man relieved of his burden. It is the man’s Orí who brings relief.The Yorùbá regard Orí as one of the gods in their pantheon. Indeed, in a sense, Orí may be regarded as the greatest god of all. Every man’s Orí is regarded as his personal god who is expected to be more interested in his personal affairs than the other gods who are regarded as belonging to everybody. As a god, Orí is worshipped and propitiated by the Yorùbá. There are many references to the propitiation of Orí in ÷«÷ Ifá, for example: Wôn ní bí mo bá délé, Kí n w÷wô ögáà mi nù ténítén: N w’àpò àgbìrà ögáà mi nù nwöjö nwöjö, N f’adì÷ òkòkò bæríì mi àpéré. I was told that when I get home, I should wash my sacred palm-nuts of divination carefully. I should wash my divination bag persistently, And offer a hen to my Orí as sacrifice.yorubaonline/ori2.htm
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 07:17:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015