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181 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett
On your right, that is on OLUKUN'S left, there are figures of the son of OLUKUN with a
nude wife on either side, a boy seated and holding a Kola box and a bottle of water.
Strewn about are shells, chalk, a knife and a bell, while in front of all rises the bamboo
pole with its end split and pushed out cup shape here called 'SA or OYISA.
Next we come to a figure of OLUKUN'S IYASE who is wearing the ODIGBA and frontlet
UDEHS1, collar, armlets and bracelets.
Then opposite to the door at the end of the building we see a great figure of OLUKUN the
teacher dressed as a king and figures of his two Nabori (arm upholders) and four naked
boys or AMADA.
An old priest sits at the feet of this figure near to an altar, half hidden by the long strings
of cowries hanging in front of him from the roof.
While I was there a man and two women came into this temple and going up to
OLUKUN, knelt down and bowed their heads until they touched the step on which
rested the feet of OLUKUN. The priest crushed some chalk and handed some of it to each
petitioner, then they marked themselves and went out. On either side of these great
central figures are two sons of OBIANIMI very old wooden figures (like those into which
nails are driven in the Congo) covered with cowries, bits of cloth, knives, etc., and near
to one of these is the figure of a leopard and to the other the skull of a cow and the shell
of a tortoise.
On the right in a cloister are the figures of the OLUKUN'S great war chief Ezomo (or
OJUMO) wearing his ODIGBA and four necklaces, and his bugler. And
neartothedooragain are the figures of EKIOLUKUN the grandson of OLUKUN wearing
four necklaces, and his wife and AMADA.
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