Yoruba herbalists and priests enlist the aid of Osanyin, the spirit of herbal medicines,[1] or Opa Erinle, in their work against mental and physical illness caused by malevolent forces and individuals. The Yoruba believe the power of Osanyin is vested in a wrought iron staff, called an Osanyin staff, that is placed on altars to this Orisha.
The staff is composed of a circle of small birds and a shaft in the middle that elevates a large bird above smaller ones. Babatunde Lawal suggests that the reason for this division could be to suggest the relaying of metaphysical powers from the celestial to the terrestrial realm. Lawal evokes the Yoruba reference to Osanyin as "The one who sees everything, like Olodumare," allowing him a vantage point from which he can protect all of humanity below.[2]
The birds, emissaries of Ogun, refer to the herbalist's understanding of and power over these malevolent people. There are typically sixteen birds, invoking the most sacred number of divination, surrounding and confronting the central bird, which represents the smallpox god.
[3]
The birds on Osanyin staffs suggest an iconographic link with the birds on Obas' crowns.[4]
^Susan Vogel, ed. (1981). For spirits and kings: African art from the Paul and Ruth Tishman collection: Exhibition held at the Metropolitan museum of art, New York, 1981. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN 0870992686.
For spirits and kings at archive.org
^Lawal, Babatunde (2007). Embodying the sacred in Yoruba art: featuring the Bernard and Patricia Wagner Collection. Atlanta, Ga.: High Museum of Art. ISBN 1932543201.
^"Herbalist's Staff (Opa Osanyin or Opa Erinle)". Yale University Art Gallery eCatalogue. Yale University. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
^Drewal, Henry John; John Pemberton; Rowland Abiodun (1989). Allen Wardwell (ed.). Yoruba: nine centuries of African art and thought (2nd print. ed.). New York: Center for African Art. ISBN 0810917947.
believe the power of Osanyin is vested in a wrought iron staff, called an Osanyinstaff, that is placed on altars to this Orisha. The staff is composed of a...
also known as Obaluaye. Ṣọ̀pọ̀na is also the word for smallpox disease. Ọ̀sanyìn - Òrìṣà of Plants, magic, Medicine, and patron of the healing professions...
sticks. All of the sticks are curved at the end, and resemble a shepherd's staff or crook. The language of the songs has been referred to as "Trinidad Yoruba"...
over iron, fire, hunting, agriculture and war Okó - a hunter and farmer Osanyin - orisha of the forest, herbs and medicine Oṣùmàrè - divine rainbow serpent...
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remains vital and influential today. Much of the art of the Yoruba, including staffs, court dress, and beadwork for crowns, is associated with the royal courts...
President of Nigeria & Balogun of Owu Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiedome; Former Deputy Governor...
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at the Center for Cultural Studies of the University of Lagos were Bode Osanyin, a strong follower of Bertolt Brecht and advocate of total theater. There...
sojourning) and Ọ̀pá Ọ̀rẹ̀rẹ̀ ( A royal symbolic staff). It had been foretold that wherever the staff is firstly placed consciously or by a mistake, would...
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