PRAISING THE ANCESTORS

Chief Ifabowale S. Somadhi, M.A.; ATR

In traditional Yoruba culture in America, one of the first lessons godparents teach their
godchildren is the importance of maintaining a good positive relationship with one's
ancestors. God-parents teach that life is everlasting. When a person dies their physical
body is dead to this world and is buried. However, their Soul or Spirit continues to live on a
higher plane. If the deceased is one's parent, grandparent, or some other elder person in
one's immediate or extended family then that deceased elder family member becomes one's
ancestor. A person has to be a deceased elder in one's own family blood line to be classified
as an ancestor. A child that dies in youth is not considered an ancestor, until he/she
becomes older in age and then that person will become an ancestor to those youth in
his/her own bloodline.

In America, godchildren are instructed the proper way to set up an ancestor shrine in the
privacy of their own home, according to the way it is done traditionally in the godparent's
house. However, back in Nigeria, in Yorubaland, personal ancestral shrines are not set up
in the house, because there is no need for them. In traditional Yoruba households in
Nigeria, the deceased is buried right inside the house in a grave beneath an earth floor or
the deceased is laid to rest just outside the house near the front door. This second type of
grave is usually covered with beautifully coloured marble stone. Therefore, when a person
from a traditional Yoruba, household wants to communicate or appease an ancestral spirit
all that is required is for the family member to go to the head of the grave, pray and do the
necessary ritual ceremony.

Needless to say, there are strong laws in other countries that govern how and where a
person may be buried. The only place a person can be laid to rest in other countries is in a
licensed cemetery.

Another interesting fact in dealing with ancestral worship in the Diaspora is that during
slavery in the Diaspora, all overt aspects of Yoruba culture and religious worship were out-
lawed, forced to go underground, and was later disguised in the worship of the saints of
Catholicism. Slaves and ex-slaves were allowed to erect small altars in their homes for the
worship of the saints. In fact, as good Catholics, they were encouraged to burn candles and
make Novenas to saints for special blessings. This practice of setting up altars in one's
home for the saints, I think, in all probability is the source of today’s practice by Yoruba
devotees in America, setting up personal Ancestral shrines in their home.
Many godparents teach their god-children to "worship" Ancestors by setting up Ancestral
shrines in one of a number of ways. We will share a few of those ways and explain step-by-
step how to set up an ancestral shrine.

1. The shrine is set up in a corner, on the floor in the house.

2. The shrine is set up on a small table, with nine glasses of fresh water.
3. The ancestors are "birthed" in a clay or iron pot.

The first step in setting up any Ancestral shrine is to clean the room by sweeping and
mopping the floor. Now you are ready to set up your shrine.

1. Place an African wooden carving of an old man on the floor, in one corner of the
room. The use of candles is optional but if you use them, place a new white seven day
candle on the floor in front of the carving (use the candles that are incased in glass).
Next, use white chalk to draw a half circle on the floor, extending from the base of the
wall on one side of the candle to the base of the wall on the other side. This chalk
marks off and divides divine space reserved for your Ancestral spirits. This divine space
becomes divine because you "named" it so, and by the sacred activities preformed
there.

2. The second way Ancestral shrines are installed or set up in one's home is by placing a
small table along the back of the main wall, in the house. Ancestral shrines are usually
located in the back room rather than in the front room, for all to see. Your shrine should
be kept private. However, because of space limitations some people do put their shrines
in the living room. After you find a suitable table, next get a new white cloth that will
serve as a table cloth.

Put eight new, small, plain glasses filled with fresh water, in the centre of the table in a
circle. Place one new large plain glass filled with fresh water, in the centre of the eight
small glasses. Now, find as many photos of deceased family members as possible and
place them just behind the nine glasses of water. Place a new white seven-day candle
on the table, in front of or next to the nine glasses. You may also use an African carving
of an old man or woman to put on the table, this will serve as a focal point when
communicating with your Ancestral spirits.
 Now, create a list of all your Ancestors, especially all those who were known to have
good character and were a benefit to their community. When creating your list of
Ancestors, you should start with the name of the oldest male on your maternal side,
down to the youngest male. List the oldest maternal female, down to the
youngest. Create a similar list using the names on your paternal side of the family. If
you were adopted or have no knowledge of your parents family bloodline don't worry
about it. Just use the names of those Ancestors in your adopted family or if you do not
have any names to use just set up your altar. When you pray, just explain the situation
to your Ancestral spirits. Your family bloodline is your bloodline, and your Ancestors will
understand. The most important aspect of "Ancestral Worship" is sincerity.

3. The ancestors are "birthed" in a clay or iron pot, by an initiated Yoruba, priest or an
Egungun priest. Whatever way your shrine is set up it is important to have an Isan
Eegun1 on it.

In some countries in the Diaspora godparents teach their godchildren that Ancestors should
be greeted at the shrine weekly. Most any day will do except Saturdays (we will discuss the
days of a Yoruba, week in a later
article).

Some preliminary preparation should be observed before greeting one's Ancestor

spirits. First, make sure you are clean. Take a bath and put on clean fresh cloths (some
people wear all white for this special occasion). If you have indulged in sexual intercourse
on the day you wish to greet your Ancestors at your shrine then make sure you bathe
before greeting them. Never approach your Ancestor shrine in the nude; always be
dressed. Keep your mind clear of negative thoughts. Secondly, make sure the glass or
nine glasses on your shrine are filled with cool fresh water from the tap. Have a new white
seven-day candle (if you use them), a jar of red palm oil, a bottle of dry Gin or Emu (palm
wine), and Obi Abata (kola nut) on hand for offerings to your Ancestors. Now you are
ready to greet your Ancestor spirits.

Stand in front of your Ancestor shrine and begin your prayers in the Yoruba, language by
saying IGBA or MOJUBA, which in English, means "I give reverence".
Next, call out aloud the name of your first Ancestor, three (3) times and then continue
calling out the names of your other Ancestors from your list. Therefore, the Igba or Mojuba,
will go something like this:

Mojuba Joe Blow Sr.. Joe Blow Sr. Joe Blow Sr.,

Mojuba Joe Blow Jr. Joe Blow Jr. Joe Blow Jr.;

Mojuba Jim Blow Sr., Jim Blow Sr., Jim Blow Sr. Mojuba, etc.

After you finish saying the Mojuba, you can say any other prayer you choose to. For
example, one might choose to pray to Olódùmarè (God), for the salvation and continued
blessing of your Ancestors. Pray to your Ancestors, and tell them all about your day-to-day
problems and blessings in life. Ask your Ancestors to bless, guide, protect and aid in all
your positive endeavours.

Tell your Ancestors, "I have given you light (the fire of the candle) and cool water." Rub a
little palm oil on the African carving of the old man. Pour a little gin on the carving and you
can even blow cigar smoke on it. Tell your Ancestors all you have given to them on this day
and ask for their blessings. Remember, the most important aspect of "Ancestral Worship" is
sincerity.

You have learned to set up your Ancestral shrine, now it is up to you to develop positive
energy at your shrine.

May Olódùmarè and your Ancestors continue to bless you.

Go to your shrine today and pray for long life, good health, peace and prosperity, for
yourself and us at Ile Òrúnmìlà Shrine Inc. Ase

1
Isan Egun, are sticks from the sacred Atori tree in Nigeria, and fed during a special ceremony.