Mortar Myths Among the Yoruba

[Apetebi Fagbenro-Amusan]

 

Mortar Myths Among The Yoruba

PROMINENT among Yoruba foods that is highly valued, honoured and respected is iyan (pounded yam), generally referred to as king of food (Oba o ounje). Equally is the implement used in its production called odo which is mortar. The value placed on mortar is so important that it forms part of a traditional gift given to a bride on her wedding day. However, it depends on community to community.Regrettably, little attention is given to mortar even by the intellectuals and book makers till date.

Types Of Mortar
Traditionally, there are two types of mortar

i) The commonly used is the cone shaped type

ii) The other one is the canoe shaped type called Odo Ibule not very common. It could be seen around Ife-Ijesa-Ekiti areas.

Origin of Mortar
The origin of mortar and pestle is as old as human existence. It forms among the first implement of production of the early ages. Its art of carving is not specific to a tribe, it cut across the nation, and, however, negligible differences are only noted on the pestle which is a compliment of the main mortar.

Beside, mortar used for food production, there are others used in shrine. That is, Sango mortar (Odo Sango). However, carvers used the same type of wood in carving. Notable among which are Oro, Oshin and Iroko woods.

Carving Methodology
The instrument used seems simple, but technically very difficult. Among the instruments are axe used in cutting the trunk, chisel, used to hewn the mortar into oval shape and other designs and finally, the gauge, to measure the accuracy of the hollow.

It varies from 30cm to 45cm in diameter and from 30cm to 45cm in height. A scoop of about 15cm deep is hewn into block, and the job is completed by burning, to make smooth the inside. The outer part of the mortar is sometimes decorated.

The pestle locally known as Omo Odo varies in height depending on the locality. Some could be as long as 1.30metres or less. It has the shape of a club, fat rounded head and sometime polished handle. The rounded head may be as long as 20cm while the remaining part of the length forms the polished handle.

The Taboo Surrounding the Mortar
The first notable taboo till date of the mortar, started with transportation. Before a mortar can be moved from one place to another especially from place of production to personal house a coin MUST be dropped inside it. From interviews, it was told that the coin is to prevent possible accident and secondly, to lighten the heaviness of the mortar since it is heavy.

Secondly, it is a taboo for anybody to seat on mortar because:
(i) When it is raining, there is a possibility of being stricken down by lightening because the person will be imitating Sango (the god of thunder).

(ii) If by accident, someone farted while seating on the mortar, the Yorubas believe that the culprit has to carry the mortar round the building seven times to prevent unexpected death, though it is a way of encouraging hygienic living.

(ii)

It is a risk for a pregnant woman to seat on the mortar. The reason is not for fetched. It usually leads to prolonged labour. (our forefathers belief)

(iii) It is a taboo to leave the mortar standing; it must be turned upside down.

Myth
Furthermore, there is a correlation between Odo and Metaphysic. It is very difficult to comprehend to the ordinary. Mortars are conspicuously present in the places of herbalists and are used in herbal medicine production.

Uses
(i) Domestic: For food preparation

(ii) Rituals: Herbalists

(iii) It is an instrument of authority of Sango.

Domestic Uses
(i) It is used for pounding.

(ii) Pounding cassava into fufu.

(iii) Pounding millet or corn into pap.

(iv) Pounding yam flour into amala dudu.

(v) Pounding palm kernel, to separate the oil from the sheaf.

(vi) Used as a stool to display wares.

(vii) Used to place on a tired cassava to extract the acidic content.

(viii) Used as a storage facility. For example, snail from escaping for a while.

(ix) To grind melon.

(x) For peeling beans.

(xi) Used as part of dowry that is, in Ijesa land.

(xii) Used for punishment in the palace, if wives of the Oba are quarrelling.

(xiii) The pestle is used to beat the floor, just to make the foundation strong

(xiv) Means of punishing a child by carrying it in his/her head.

Ritual
(i) To pound medicine. For example, native soap.

(ii) Used to mix concoction by herbalist.

(iii) Used for pregnant women to release them from curses, that is, if the pregnancy is overdue.

(iv) Used by herbalists for pregnant women to prevent them from stepping on charms

(v) Used to kill cats.

(vi) Used to punish food sellers who have not paid their dues.

(vii) Used to issue curses on people.

(viii) Herbalists use it as a storage facility because of its essence (that is, as a hard wood) that can withstand rain and sunshine, ritual or sacrificial materials could be kept there for a very long period unlike pottery.

Instrument Of Authority
(a) Used as a means of power for masquerades.

(b) Used as a seat by Sango.

(c) It is a shrine object, usually in Sango shrines with its emblem on it.

Conclusion
Technology has equally affected positively the production of pounded yam (Iyan). In the first place, yam has been reduced to flour and the hazardous process of pounding has been taken over by machines. It is to be noted, however, that it only look alike but taste different and incomparable to the original process of pounding yam.

Furthermore, the effect of religion has also affected the use of mortars. This is because of its link to rituals and deities. Some Christians are tactly moving away from using it.

Happily, the importance and value of mortar or Odo today keeps on soaring daily even beyond the shores of Yoruba land across to other tribes of the Nation.

Wherever you find mortar, it serves the same purposes earlier enumerated. Now on the lighter note, if you are married and have none, ask your husband to buy it. The reason is that it symbolises the fact that you are there forever. Because it is never easy to move mortar around like other household materials.

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Apetebi Osunfunmike Fagbenro-Amusan
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