San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival 2006
Olorounbi Oshun the Akara Seller
Villagers on their way to market pay daily homage to the Iroko tree, petitioning this spirit for prosperity and fertility. The barren Oshun begs Iroko for a child and in exchange promises abundant offerings. After being granted her child, she becomes overwhelmed and forgets her promise. Iroko thus casts illness on her child and spreads chaos in the village via the Loro, a parrot spreading word of illness, loss and struggle. The powerful warrior Ogun, is sent to cut down the tree in order to put an end to what is seen as the source of the turmoil. Realizing the magnitude of the circumstances, Oshun seeks help from a babalawo to prescribe an ebbo, as offering to satisfy Iroko. Through her beauty of spirit, Oshun reclaims the situation by reminding the villagers of Iroko’s abundant power of blessings and goodness and she calls out for everyone to celebrate the sacred tree’s spirit once more.
You will need QuickTime to view these videos. DOWNLOAD QuickTime. |
