Unit: Syncretic Retentions from African Iron Age

Theme: Dances of the Orishas

Introduction

Cultural retention, such as capoeira, is the act of retaining the culture of a specific ethnic group of people, especially when there is reason to believe that the culture, through inaction, may be lost. Many African-American cultures experience cultural retention as a result of the influx of Africans into the Americas during the slave trade. The larges group brought to Cuba, for instance, was the Bantu (colloquially referred to as Palo Monte, or the rule of Congo), then the Yoruba (colloquially referred to as Lukumi). While the Bantu imported the "rule of palo (stick) Mayombe, the Yoruba brought the "rule of Ocha-Ifa and Lukumi." Regla de Ochá (Santería) is a religion with a rich history, a history that began in slave quarters and now thrives in black communities.

These religions were syncretized with Catholicism. Syncretism is the practice of combining different beliefs and various schools ofthought. Syncretism involves the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thus asserting an underlying unity and allowing for an inclusive approach to other faiths, manifested in this case through dance,chanting and drumming.

Question 1

What is cultural retention?

Learning Objectives

Understand the importance of the God of metals
Explain the relationship between dance and rituals in the context of Yoruba rituals
Gather an awareness of the influence that Yoruba dances have had on Caribbeans cultures
Experience the explorations of dance moves from the Yoruba pantheon.

III

Main Lesson

Syncretic Retentions

Mother Africa

There is no movement without rhythm.

Link: https://youtu.be/lVPLIuBy9CY

In this video rhythm is shown as part of a way of life. Rhythm is present in every aspect of African ancestral living culture. When that changes and industrial society takes over, one can assume that rhythm no longer belongs to the people's culture. This documentary expresses the determination for rhythm to remain a part of African life no matter what.

Question 2

What does the expression "there is no movement without rhythm" mean within the context of African dance?

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Brazil

Capoeira Circle

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian cultural practice – simultaneously a fight and a dance – that can be interpreted as a tradition, a sport and even an art form. Capoeira players form a circle at the centre of which two players engage with one another. The movements require great bodily dexterity.

Question 3

Based on the video, what are the main characteristics of capoeria?

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Haiti

Haitian Voodoo

Wade Davis

(6:50 -

Question 4

According to Wade Davis, what is the definition of Voodoo?

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Cuba

Chant to Eleggua / Sexto Sentido

Chant to Oggun . Lazaro Ros

Chant to Oshun / Sintesis

Chant to Yemaya / Obba de Melli

Question 5

What are the main characteristics of each orisha addressed above?

Chant to Oya / Baobab

Chant to Shango / Ricardo "Sant Cruz" Gomex

Chat to Babalu-Aye / Ochumare

Chant to Obatala

Question 6

What are the main characteristics of each orisha addressed above?

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Video

Wemilere

Link:

https://vimeo.com/312332715

Question 7

After watching the video:

Briefly describe the main characteristics of Oggun, the orisha of iron showcased in the video.

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Oggun

Santeria: The Religion by Migene Gonzalez Wippler (Page 44)

Read the pages about Oggun.

Question 8

Why was Oggun an important deity?

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Group Activity # 1

Read and Discuss

The Fashion of Rituality

(Section # 7, paragraph 3)

Question 9

What is Tomas Gonzalez Perez trying to say?

A Note to Remember

The African nations that became part of the cultural makeup of our continent as a result of the slave trade brought with them their culture, their gods and their dances.

Case Studies

Conjunto Folklorico Nacional

Cantos y Traducciones de Oggun

(Chants and Traductions of Oggun)

by David Ala Aggayu

Spanish

La palma revuelta es el vestido the Oggun el herrero.

The twisted palm is the dress of the Oggun the blacksmith.

Yo digo que lo cubrire con esto, y asi sere libre, el vestido de Oggun el herrero

I say that I will cover it with this, and thus I will be free,

the dress of Oggun the blacksmith

Oggun acepta salvame del problema, la cabeza de la medicina salvadora, el salvador.

Oggun agrees to save me from the problem, the head of the saving medicine,

the savior.

Oggun el extrano ambulante de Ire, ha llegado, el esta en todas las casas, Ogun esta las casas, Ogun esta en el camino, el esta en todas las casas.

Oggun, the traveling stranger from Ire, has arrived, he is in all the houses,

Ogun is in the houses, Ogun is on the road, he is in all the houses.

Es un vestido de sangre, Oggun llega, en un vestido de sangre, Oggun llega, Oggun se adorna para que nosotros lo busquemos 7 veces.
```
It is a dress of blood, Oggun arrives, in a dress of blood, Oggun arrives, 
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Oggun adorns himself so that we look for him 7 times.
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Nosotros venimos a honralo, Oggun de las palmas frondosas, Oggun usted limpia el matorral como cazador, dueno de la casa, navaja de afeitar que corta la palma, Oggun llega fuerte.
```
We come to honor you, Oggun of the leafy palms, Oggun you clear the bush as a hunter, 
```
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owner of the house, razor that cuts the palm, Oggun arrives strong.
```

Nosotros venimos a honrarlo, nosotros venimos a tener la compresion, no bloquee o haga guerra al lado del iniciado. Nostros venimos a obtener el honor Oggun jefe de Ire. No hagas guerra al lado del iniciado.

We come to honor him, we come to have the understanding,

do not block or make war on the side of the initiate.

We come to obtain the honor Oggun chief of Ire.

 Do not wage war on the side of the initiate.

La palma frondosa uniformemente, oscilante, da la forma, Oggun jefe de Ire, el jefe de Ire.
```
The leafy palm evenly, swinging, gives the shape, Oggun chief of Ire, 
```
```
the chief of Ire.
```
Oh, grita honra, oh grito de honrar, yo actuo solo como dueno de la calabaza del encanto, de la cabeza escogida.
Palma frondosa, yo estoy trabajando para usted. Yo estoy actuando con Oggun.
Cazador, nosotros siempre lo visitamos a usted. Cazador nosotros siempre visitamos a Oggun, nosotros nos volvemos a el, guerreando para ser salvados con el.
Nosotros venimos, yo estoy a sus pies.
El respeto se recibe por el rey que rompe y corta los descansos y el corte; yo hablo de Oggun.
Sobre una hiena manchada llega Oggun, Oggun el dueno de la tierra.
Ah, siete Oggun,, siete, Oggun son siete.
El cortador es fuerte, capaz, jefe de los iniciados son saludados. Yo actuo solo con Oggun.
El usa la fundicion para forjar las herramientas.
Nosotros nos hemos hecho ricos. Oggun el poseedor de Ire. Nosotros nos hemos hecho ricos.
Nosotros queremos la bondad de la felicidad. Nostros queremos la bondad de la felicidad.
El es un padre bueno, el herrero es de buena fe, el nino saluda y me saluda con honor.
El no esta lejos, el esta cerca de nosotros. El no esta lejos, Oggun, el dueno de la tierra, no esta lejos, el nunca estara lejos de nosotros.
El degolla cortando, el dogolla cortando. Nosotros corrimos, nosotros corremos lejo, nosotros corremos lejos porque el degolla mientras corta las cabezas.
Oggun esta mas de cazador, Oggun el verdadero cazador. La corona tiene el dinero, tiene la piedra, tiena tela, el es el dueno de los ojos que hacen que el cuerpo regrese.
El gallo de la granja comedor de piedras pequenas, el maiz de Oggun es para siempre.
Sus testiculos
El fracturador, dislocador, Oggun victorioso llega a la cabeza.
La casa de Oggun acaricia al dueno de la casa. Oggun acarica al dueno de la casa.
El machete que viaja es el cuchillo de Oggun. Oggun lo usa para reunir a los cazadores.
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(Chants and Traductions of Oggun)

by David Ala Aggayu

Translated by J. L. Morejon

English

1. The twisted palm is the dress of Oggun the blacksmith.

2. I say that I will cover it with this, and thus I will be free, the dress

 of Oggun the blacksmith.

3. Oggun agrees to save me from the problem, the head of the saving

 medicine, the savior.

4. Oggun, the traveling stranger from Ire, has arrived, he is in all the

houses, Ogun is in the houses, Ogun is on the road, he is in all the

houses.

5. It is a dress of blood; Oggun arrives, in a dress of blood; Oggun

arrives; Oggun adorns himself so that we look for him seven times.

6. We come to honor you, Oggun of the leafy palms, Oggun you

clear the bush as a hunter, owner of the house, razor that cuts the

palm; Oggun arrives strong.

7. We come to honor him; we come to have the understanding; do

not block or make war in the presence of the initiate.

8. We come to obtain the honor from Oggun chief of Ire. Do not wage

war in the presence of the initiate.The leafy palm evenly, swinging,

gives the shape; Oggun chief of Ire, the chief of Ire.

9. Oh, shout honor, oh shout of honor; I act alone as owner of the

gourd of charm, of the chosen head.

10. Leafy palm, you, I am working for you. I am acting with Oggun.

11. Hunter, we always visit you. Hunter, we always visit Oggun; we

turn to him, fighting to be saved with him.

12. We come, I am at your feet.

13. Respect is received for the king who breaks and cuts the breaks

and the cut; I'm talking about Oggun.

14. On a spotted hyena comes Oggun, Oggun the owner of the land.

15. Ah, seven Oggun, seven, Oggun are seven.

16. The cutter is strong, capable, chief of the initiates are greeted.

I act only with Oggun.

17. He uses the foundry to forge tools.

18. We have become rich. Oggun the possessor of Ire. We have

become rich.

19. We want the goodness of happiness. We want the goodness of

happiness.

20. He is a good father, the blacksmith is in good faith, the child

salutes and greets me with honor.

21. He is not far away, he is close to us. He is not far, Oggun, the

owner of the land, is not far, he will never be far from us.

22. The beheader cutting, the beheader cutting. We ran, we ran away,

we ran away because he cut the throat while cutting off the heads.

23. Oggun is more of a hunter, Oggun the true hunter. The crown

has the money, it has the stone, it has fabric; it is the owner of the

eyes that make the body return.

24. The rooster of the farm eats small stones, the Oggun's corn is

forever.

25. His testicles

26. The fracturer, dislocator, victorious Oggun reaches the head.

27. The house of Oggun caresses the owner of the house. Oggun

caresses the owner of the house.

28. The traveling machete is Oggun's knife. Oggun uses it to gather

the hunters.

Group Activity # 2

After reading the translation of the chants above, what would be the message for the believers?

VII

Group Activity # 3

Students learn the orisha-dances and then create groups to focus on just an orisha of their choice.

MUSIC

Eleggua

8:30

Oggun

3:00

Oshun