Making the Gods in New York by Mary Cuthrell Curry

Author:Mary Cuthrell Curry [Curry, Mary Cuthrell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, General, Europe, Great Britain, United States, 20th Century
ISBN: 9781317732167
Google: 9LjwDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2020-07-12T16:00:18+00:00

Receiving Ilekis

Ilekis are bead necklaces made in color schemes appropriate to the various Orisha s. The color scheme and numerical pattern varies from house to house. For example, Shango’s ileki is red and white, one red bead alternating with one white bead. Yemonja’s colors are blue and crystal. In one house her ileki would be one blue bead alternating with one crystal bead or seven crystal beads alternating with seven crystal beads.

The meaning of ilekis are a substitution for tribal marks. To a knowledgeable person, one’s ilekis will mark the person’s house and the roads of the Orisha s for whom the ilekis are made. Secondly, they are deemed to be an extension of the protection of the godparent’s Orisha to the person. Many people interpret receiving ilekis as joining a house, although this is open to varying interpretations.

On the day of the ceremony, the person to be initiated is to come wearing old clothes and bringing a change of new white clothes. A number of priests will be there. At some point, the person will be taken into the Ocha room and the sheet lowered. Songs can be heard and later a laundry tub is pushed out of the room with the remnants of the person’s clothes. After a while the sheet is lifted, the Iyawo is seated on an estera wearing a set of all new white clothes and a new set of ilekis.

One must not touch a Iyawo, but people come to greet the Iyawo. The Ojubona brings the Iyawo food. It is placed on the mat and the Iyawo is given a soup spoon to eat with. People gather around and talk. Everyone is fed, at the Iyawo’s expense. The Iyawo is expected to sleep on the floor that night in the Ocha room. The next day the Iyawo is a full-fledged Alejo.

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