The Yoruba Universe: Beads, Colors, and the Sacred

 

Objectives:

 

1.  Be able to find the location of the Yoruba lands on a map.

 

2.  Be able to discuss mythological views of Yoruba origins.

 

3.  Be able to discuss and explain the concept of Âse.

 

4.  Be able to explain the relationship of Âse to beauty.

 

5.  Be able to define the three basic categories of Yoruba color chromatics.

 

6.  Be able to explain how the three categories relate to the gods and to the sacred.

 

7.  Be able to explain the relationship of the physical world to the spiritual world in Yoruba culture.

 

8.  Be able to explain the sacred role of beadwork in Yoruba culture.

 

 

Quotation:

 

Ayé lojà, òrun nilé/Life in this world is a journey, the otherworld is home.

 

Outline

 

I.  Brief introduction to Yoruba culture

A.  Who are the Yoruba?

B.  When did they flourish and where do they live?

C.  Video: The World began at Ile-Ife (see film guide)

D.  Yoruba myths: Ile-Ife and the myth of creation

E. The orisha or deities  

I. Olorun: high god

ii.  Orishala: elder brother of Oduduwa

iii. Oduduwa: creator of the first earth

iv.  Sango the thunder god and twins

v. Eshu Elegba, the messenger of the gods and trickster; associated with the                    God of divination, Ifa

vi.  Okin, king of birds (divination, medicine and witchcraft)

II.  Yoruba Art

 

A.  Âse and beauty

B.  What is art for the Yoruba?

 

III.  Yoruba Color Chromatics

A.  Fun-Fun = white = icy cold colors and emotions

B.  Pupa = red = fiery colors and emotions

C.  Dudu = black = earthy colors and emotions

D. Function of beads in Yoruba art

E. Weaving the two worlds together: The interlacing design

F.  Examples from Yoruba art:

I. Priest=s ensemble

ii.  A flask

iii. An elephant

iv.  A dagger sheath

v.  A crown

vi. Various other examples

G.  Summary: the significance of bead work in Yoruba culture

 

III.  Special in-class project: mini-workshop on Yoruba bead making

A.  Your second self-portrait: a Yoruba ring

materials needed: wire and beads supplied by Dr. Vess

B.  You will create a portrait of yourself using Yoruba chromatics in the form of a ring.      Upon completion of your ring, please post a summary of your self-portrait in the bulletin board area.  You should describe your use of Yoruba chromatics and what you learned             about yourself. Compare and contrast the results of this assignment to those of the             preferential shapes project. Please bring your finished rings back to class next Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

The World Began at Ile-Ife

Film Guide

 

After we watch this brief but informative film, you should be able to respond to the following questions:

 

1.  Briefly summarize the Yoruba myth of creation.

 

 

 

 

 

2.  What objects do the Yoruba  use to symbolize the universe?

 

 

 

 

3.  What are the two worlds of the universe?

 

 

 

4.  What is Âse?

 

 

 

5. What is the Yoruba concept of beauty and how does it relate to Âse?

 

 

 

 

6.  What is a divination board? How does it relate to the universe?

 

 

 

 

7.  What is the role of twins in Yoruba society?

 

 

 

 

8.  Describe Yoruba clothing and its significance in their culture.