40 Primal Questions

1. They are primal because they come before traditional religious practices
2. The Ancestors turned the formless land into a landscape. They created humans and before they left, created natural landmarks, rock paintings, etc.
3. The Ancestors' spiritual essence
4. Totem- an object believed to have spiritual significance Taboo- an act that defies religious customs or beliefs.
5. Rituals bring in the Ancestors' spirit into the human being
6.  The Ancestors during the Dreaming, taught them to the humans
7. Initiation gives the person meaning in his/her life
8. 8.       Death is symbolized by the taking out of two teeth or marking scars on the back or neck
   9.      Nigeria, Benin, and Togo.
   10. Ife is where the universe began
   11. Heaven is where the Orishas live.  It is divided into upper and lower segments, with the most powerful Orishas residing in the upper areas while the other Orishas remain in lower heaven.  Earth is where life dwells.
   12.   Olorun is the mother of all Orishas. She created the form that Obatala shaped.
   13. Orishas are the children of Olorun.  They control the aspects of life.  They are important because Yorubas believe that their lives are dedicated to one specific orisha, and that is how they orient themselves.
   14. Obatala is the Orisha that created life and form. He is the emissary of Oludumare.  His wife is Yemaya and together they gave birth to all the other Orishas.
   15.   Tricksters are neutral Orishas- doing good or bad things
   16. Ancestors are either familial, being worshiped by their family, or Deified, being worshiped by most Yorubas because of their contributions to Yoruba history
   17. They lead the rituals and bring the gods and ancestors into an earthly communication
   18.   Divination is seeking the outcome of one's future so that correct choices will lead to a good life.
   19.   Humans crossed a land bridge between Russia and Alaska called the Bering Strait.
   20. Most of the Plain Indians follow the same religion
   21.   Wakan Tankan created everything and is made of 16 other deities
   22.   Inktomi taught the Indians useful things but also taught some falsehoods
   23.   Death releases 4 souls in a person. 3 are reborn and one is judged to determine whether it can continue on through the Milky Way or have to return as a ghost.
   24.   Vision quests reward supernatural prowess in areas like hunting and curing.
   25.   Sweat lodges are sealed tents where steam is released in an effort to sweat a person profusely, cleansing them physically and spiritually.
   26.   Participants gain either a visit from and animal or an inanimate object.  Sometimes this will be a guardian spirit that protects them for the rest of their life.
   27.   A woman with an outstanding moral character
   28. It is the center of the universe or the supreme god. For the sun dance it represents the lunar month
   29.   Mutilators believe that since their body is theirs only, it is the only suitable sacrifice to give
   30.   Aztec tradition is done with many people in a city. It is similar to other primal religions because it links myth with ritual
   31.  Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
   32.  Quetzalcoatl created everything. Teotihuacan is the city for the cosmos
   33.   Quetzalcoatl provided the golden age of cultural brilliance. He became the role model for Aztecs
   34.   The age of the fifth sun. They thought the sun would be destroyed and replaced for the next age.
   35.   There are four cardinal directions to the universe and at the center is their Great Temple
   36.   Heart and mind are the center of humans and are what links the earth and the cosmos together.
   37.   The Knowers could talk to the gods and make sacrifices to them
   38.   Aztecs mistook Cortes for a God so they embraced him and in return, he enslaved them all.
   39.   The day of the dead reunites the dead spirits with their families.  The Aztecs had similar traditions in reuniting with their dead.
   40.   Axis Munid, Rituals, and Myths.
   

   
   

Yoruba Girls!!!

1. Where are they located, both in location and the type of geography.




The Yoruba religion formed as large numbers of people were taken as slaves.  Yoruba, being a language as well, allowed the enslaved to combine their beliefs into one religion, influenced by Catholicism.  This new religion had originated on the West Coast of Africa but had spread to the Americas and Caribbeans because of slavery.  Now it is extremely popular in Nigeria, Benin and Togo.
http://www.howard.edu/library/reference/cybercamps/camp2002/YorubaFaith.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/ifa.htm

2.What is their cosmological view of the world?
Yorubas believe that the Supreme God, Olorun, combined Her scorching glory with that of her eldest daughter's Oludumare.  Their glory is water and they tipped the water to form stars and the oceans.  Oludumare instructed her "emissary," Obatala, to climb down a golden chain dropped from heaven and to pile dirt into the waters below.  Obatala was also given a hen which he placed on the pile of dirt so that the hen would spread it with her feet.  After Obatala finished he returned to heaven where Oludumare sent a chameleon to see that the Earth had been successfully created.  Before, Olorun retired, Oludumare gave Obatala another emissary named Yemaya. Together they gave birth to many more powerful beings called Orishas.  Together their powers form the world we know today.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/ifa.htm
http://www.orishanet.org/ocha.html
http://anthonyuu.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/yoruba-religion-and-the-rapture-of-being-alive/

3. Explain and describe some of their sacred symbols (at least 3).
Yorubas use lots of art in order to focus their worship towards whichever Orisha they choose.  Art is a large part of their worship ceremonies.  Pottery, seen as a craft, is vital to their story of creation.  From Olorun's pot flowed the powers of creation.  Finally,women wear geles, or headwraps.  This symbolizes imperfection in humans and their drive to be like Yemaya.
http://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1075&context=mzwp

4. What are their sacred locations?
Because of the dispersed Yoruba traditions, there are no sacred places above Church or their place of worship.
http://www.howard.edu/library/reference/cybercamps/camp2002/YorubaFaith.htm

5.  Identify their most important gods (good, bad, and trickster).  More than the name of the god is needed here.
Olorun is the mother of all the Orishas.  From her glory comes the creation of the universe.
Though there are no evil Orishas, Eleggua, can be considered "bad."  He decides what happens in the worlds and so he allows for evil.
Shango is the god of earthly pleasures and symbolizes temptations.  He has relations with most of the female Orishas, even the married ones and is cited for his hot temper.

6. What are their totems, fetishes, and taboos?
Yorubas partake in large worship ceremonies with drums, dancing, and singing.  Yorubas have a system of life called the Ifa divination.  In this aspect of the religion one must study and master teachings of Olorun.  Because of the European influence, many of Yoruba's totems have been destroyed.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/ifa.htm

7. What is the role of the shaman?  How do they view magic?
Yorubas do not have Shamans.  However, they belieive in magic, witchcraft, and sorcery.  Magic is used to term good things in the world.  For example, healing, success, and positive feelings are considered magic.  Witchcraft is a female attempt to harm someone with psychic powers.  Sorcery is an attempt to harm someone through evil rituals.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/ifa.htm

8. Identify and describe at least 2 or 3 rituals.
Yorubas have rituals for almost any situation including, improving financial status, becoming fertile, or getting married.
The ritual for worshiping Oludumare takes place outside to show her limitless power.  A circle is drawn in chalk, a kolanut is placed in the center of the circle and cold water is poured on to it.  The nut is then split in half and offered to Oludumare.
A daily ritual for whichever Orisha is chosen has the participant stand before a shrine, either a personal home shrine or a public one, pour water onto a kolanut, ask for something and then split the nut in half.
http://obafemio.weebly.com/uploads/5/1/4/2/5142021/04-1_162.pdf

9. Images that reflect the art of the people, the people themselves, and their geography.
See above.