human material and spiritual elements
given by,1: 69
invocation of,1: 346
male-female duality of,2: 465
monotheism and,2:464–465
names of,1:346,2: 464
naming rituals and,2:439–440
number 6 symbolism of,2: 464
Nyamedua (God’s Tree) and,2: 465
spiritual properties of,2: 465
sunsum,2:637–638
as Supreme Creator, Originator of the
Universe, the Infinite,2:464,2: 712
words related to,2:465–466
Nyankopon.SeeNyame
Nyerere, Julius,2: 522
Nzambi, 2:466–467
all creative activities of humans and,2: 466
compassion and generosity story of,2:466–467
Supreme God of Bakongo people and,1: 90
See alsoBakongo
Oaths, 2:469–470
Okomfo Anoky oath and,2: 469
ceremony of great solemnity and,2: 469
power of sacred object or entity belief
and,2: 469
verbalvs.written oaths and,2: 469
Obatala, 2:470–472
Aida Wedo similarity to,1: 21
characteristics associated with,2: 471
creation story and,1:xxvi,2:470,2:475,2: 489
creativity and justice “white gods” from,2: 471
deity of disabled people and,2: 470
depictions of,2: 471
in diaspora communities,2: 471
five-toed chicken and,1: 124
foods associated with,1:275 (table)
humans from clay created by,1:170,1:185,
1:212,2: 470
Ifa and,1: 331
Ilé-Ifè and,2: 470
as “King of White Cloth” and,
1:173–174,2:471,2: 715
Mawu-Lisa and,1: 411
names of,2: 470
Obawinni and,2:470–471
Oduduwa and,2:470–471,2: 475
Olurun, Olodumare and,1:xxvi,2: 470
as orisa of wisdom and purity,1: 174
Orunmila and,2: 489
palm oil, wine and,2:470,2: 489
praise song for,2: 471
of Santeria,1: 174
sea and sky deities and,2: 474
Obawinni,2:470–471
Obeah(Comfa religion),2:472–473
adaptive vitality characteristic of,2: 473
Bantu cosmology is,2: 471
Comfa religion and,2: 471
communal and democratic values of,2: 472
divination system of,2: 472
as faith systemvs.religion,2: 472
good and evil in,2: 472
identity symbols as motivation and power
sources and,2: 471
restrictions placed on,1: 177
terrestrial spirits of,2: 472
Thanksgiving and terrestrial services of,2: 472
Twiobeyeconcept and,2: 471
Ocean, 2:473–474
Agwe and,1:19–20,2: 559
Atlantic Ocean as gateway to Heaven
below and,1: 209
Fon sea pantheon and,2: 473
life-giving fluids and,2: 473
male and female deities of,2: 474
Nun deity of primal waters and,2: 474
Obatala, Olokun, Orunmila, Olorun
and,2: 474
physical ocean water and,2:473–474
primordial ocean and,2:473–474
purification and,2: 473
Yoruba Olókun divinity and,2: 474
See alsoNun deity of primal waters
Oduduwa, 2:474–475
as chosen of God,1: 239
creation story and,1:185,2:336,2:470–471
dual gender of,1:294,2: 475
Obatala and,2:336,2: 475
Odu Ifaand,2: 475
Olodumare and,1:185,2: 475
as Yoruba ancestor and deity,1:180,1:212,
1:336,2:470–471,2:474–475,2:505,2: 739
OduIfa,2:475–478
Eniyan and,1:239,1: 240
ethics of,2:476,2: 739
goodness of the world teaching and,2:476–477
humans threatened by earthly forces and,
2: 477842 Index