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183 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett A seat made of clay. Cows are sacrificed to OVIA, OLUKUN. Dogs to OVIA and AWRE. Goats to AWREOMO, OKWHAIHE, OGBA, AKE, IGBAGON ALEDE, OKUMA, AKWIAMA, AKKWA, OGBEHE, OKWO. Altars in Houses are found to OVIA, OLUKUN, OKWHÃIKE, AKE, IGBAGON, OKUMA, AKWIAMA. Women may not eat the flesh of the thing sacrificed to OVIA, OKWHÃIKE, OGBA, OGBEHE, OKWO. These sacred rivers are known by the name EBAMI, and the word EBAW means sacrifice. I should say that the meaning of EBAMI is a "power" to which things are sacrificed. OTHER GROVES NOT SACRED TO THE RIVER SPIRIT. AROVATO is situated near to Geduma. In this Grove there are always some logs of wood (OBEKE). ARO ERRHEIN at ERUWA near Geduma. ARO OGUN (blacksmith) Iron stones are placed in this Grove, and Goats are sacrificed. ARO ERUMIA near AHO on the IKPOBA road. There are sticks (UKHURE) there. It is also a household altar. Its dancers dress like those of OVIA at the beginning of the dry season. Women may not eat the flesh sacrificed. ARO OWO or OBO at UZALA on the IKPOBA road. UKHURE are there. Dancers wear masks surmounted with the feathers of the fowl. Women may not eat the flesh sacrificed. CERTAIN ANIMALS HAVE GROVES SACRED TO THEM. AROEKME in Benin City, near to the chief OBASEKI's old house, is sacred to the Leopard. AROENIMI to the Elephant. AROGWUNAME to the Hippopotamus. I could get no information from the Bini about Groves sacred to the Winds. www.globalgrey.co.uk
184 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett The presence of an ODIGI, or sacred well, is generally made known along the roads to one by a tree and a mound of earth and cowries. Human sacrifices were made to the following three in OBA OVERAMI'S time:- ODIGI NO'R'UDO on the UDO road. ODIGI NOBA on the IFON road. ODIGI NIRIWE on the GEDUMA road. There is a story that two women, a maiden and a pregnant woman went down to the UDO well for water. The pregnant woman, against the advice of the maiden, drank some of the water, and in consequence had a miscarriage. As far as my observations have taken me, there are only six sacred trees, though parts of many others enter into medicines and form part of dresses, etc. OLOKU (OROKO) Chlorofera Excelsa. This tree is found in OVIA'S sacred grove. It is also a sign marking the place where the king had his harem. The IKHIMI, one of the Bignoniaceæ (possibly the Spathodea Campanulata), the UNWETIOTA and the OTWA are always growing close to the fences guarding the entrance to the grove. OME. The palm tree, from the leaves of which the dresses used by the dancers of the OBUDU are made. EBE. The kola. There are rows of kola trees at the entrance to all towns, varying from two miles to a few yards in length. War between two towns of people in the olden days was frequent, but peace could always be made provided that no kola trees had been cut down. Kola nuts as a welcome would never be given to anyone who had destroyed a kola tree in another village. The Yoruba have a saying, as the grubs eating the Iwo and the grubs eating the OBI (kola) lodge within the Iwo and the OBI nut, so he that betrays you is not far from your person. OMENS 1. A falling star foretells the death of a prince. 2. When the owl OKUKU says OKURUKURU it is well, but when it cries U U U that is a bad sign. 3. When the bird AHIAMINUKYUYA cries OYIOWO it is a bad sign, but when it sings OMGWOGWO it is well. 4. When one goes to see something and the eyelid quivers all is well, but should the under part of the eye quiver then it is bad. 5. When the right shoulder throbs all is well, but when the left one throbs it is not well. www.globalgrey.co.uk
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TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE CHAPTER I
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