Re: Esu Elegbara: Change, Chance, Uncertainty in Yoruba Mythology by Ayọdele Ogundipe - Publication of a Long Awaited Work in Yoruba Studies and the Trickster Motif in World Mythology
Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju
Kwara State University Press' Esu is arguably the least understood of all the numerous deities in Yoruba pantheon, despite his being venerated by the devotees as the Yoruba gatekeeper god, messenger of the deities, and close associate and errand boy of Ifa, god of divination; one who brings both fear and joy to his devotees, because he brings both blessings and trouble to them. Ayodele Ogundipe’s objective in this insightful book has been to provide a better understanding of the ubiquitous deity in Yoruba pantheon, an objective which is brilliantly achieved. The author’s extensive fieldwork involved close interactions with the leaders and votaries of the Esu cult, particularly in two major Yoruba cities where the cult traditions are kept alive. The author also extends the coverage to Esu traditional worship in the Yoruba Diaspora, particularly in Dahomey, now Benin Republic and Brazil. Several praise poems in the original Yoruba language, aptly translated into English by the author, as well as several mythological stories about the deity, told by the worshippers and reliable informants, form part of this work. The author, Professor Ayodele Ogundipe, currently teaches in the Department of Sociology, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State'.
Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju
Emeagwali, Gloria (History)
History Department
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2018 10:26 AM
To: usaafricadialogue; tvol...@gmail.com; Yoruba Affairs
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Esu Elegbara: Change, Chance, Uncertainty in Yoruba Mythology by Ayọdele Ogundipe - Publication of a Long Awaited Work in Yoruba Studies and the Trickster Motif in World Mythology
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Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju
Harrow, Kenneth
hi toyin,
so, i suppose one could say, it's just a myth, meaning you don't have to believe it, whereas for theology, you have to believe or not believe it, and to disparage it you'd say, it's just a myth. that issue was crucial for christian studies years ago when bultmann and others tried to invent a term like myth that still admitted of the respect in claiming that christ existed, that the events described in the evangelical writings described something real etc. we could say for any tradition, like my jewish one, that the encounters with god and moses or the israelites could also be real in some quasi-truthful reading.
my own view, in answer to your comment, is that there is no difference between myth and belief or theology, as you describe it, in the sense that both are grounded in ways we make sense of things, of the world, of narratives,
etc. the need to establish reality and truth is a universal human need, and weakness, that we read through the lens of such narratives we construct about the past--or even the present, as seen in the continuing construction of "divinely" inspired figures as
prophets, serignes, and so on. i am actually not disparaging this creation of figures like Ahmadou Bamba. one of my favorite authors who evokes that figure is Alan Roberts whose book onthe profit is nothing short of amazing. i would say, take the "myth" the
"theology" and build on it, not so much through a belief system, but rather a system that enables us to see the world through the vision they provide.
[it goes without saying that when "theology" insists on its way as the only way we open the door to monstrous acts, like those committed by fundamentalists of ALL stripes, without exception, from Sri Lankan buddhists to brooklyn ultra-orthodox jewish sects, to christian evangelicals and muslim djihadists. Before praising theology and belief you have to be able to condemn these abhorrent extensions of it and account for them. and i include eurocentric beliefs that extended to colonial discourses and their aftermath in this same world-construction of extremist monstrosities. if we don't figure out what the need for belief generates, we won't really understand the positive and negative sides of belief]
sorry for the length of the ratiocinations
ken
To: usaafricadialogue
Cc: tvol...@gmail.com; Yoruba Affairs
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Esu Elegbara: Change, Chance, Uncertainty in Yoruba Mythology by Ayọdele Ogundipe - Publication of a Long Awaited Work in Yoruba Studies and the Trickster Motif in World Mythology
Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju
Emeagwali, Gloria (History)
Yes. I think this is what Robert Farris Thompson does in Flash of the Spirit: African & Afro American Art & Philosophy - a wonderful 1983 text by the Yale Art historian that captures the vision.
Incidentally I am hoping that Random House will bring out a second edition of that highly- rated, brilliant text of 1983-
that effectively grasps the fundamentals and brilliance of Black cultures with a focus on Yoruba, Kongo, Haitian,
Mandinka and African American examples. I wonder why they have not done so as yet.
We can comfortably modify the subtitle of Flash of the Spirit, to "African & Afro-American Art, Philosophy, Mythology and Theology."
Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju
Harrow, Kenneth
i second the praise for robert ferris thompson, a great art historian. all his work is amazing
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OLAYINKA AGBETUYI
This message is eligible for Automatic Cleanup! (i second the praise for robert ferris thompson, a great art historian. all his work is amazing
To: usaafricadialogue
