Names as to why we Operate in the World the Way we Do
When we have a proper African concept of names, it helps to explain a LOT about people. It also causes us to reflect and think on WHY certain people move in a certain way.
When engaged in Afrikan traditions, along the way you receive certain names. They are given before and during initiation. Let’s take myself as example. This will also let you know why I move the way i move.
When I first became involved in the culture, pre initiation, i received the names Awotunde and Ifáṣeyin. Awotunde is a male reincarnated awo, or reincarnated Ifá priest. It literally means “the awo has returned“. This, of course, means I was a Babaláwo/Ifá priest in a previous life time: not just an initiate, but an actual trained functional working priest. Ifáṣeyin means “one who will make sure Ifá (the sacred oracle and the repository of Yorùbá knowledge) is respected“.
When I was initiated to Ifá as a priest in the Iṣẹṣẹ aspect, the name Dòsùnmú was revealed as my priestly name. This name means “one who holds on to the sacred òsùn staff“. The òsùn staff is a symbol of a babaláwo’s authority and connection with Ọrúnmìlà – deity of Ifá divination. Of important note, this staff also represents CULTURE and all that it contains.
When initiated to Fá in the Afrikan Vodùn system (Ifá in Yorùbá) the sacred Ajã name of Fáwɛnsagun was revealed for me. This name means “messenger of Fá“, and of course Fá is very similar to the sacred Ifá oracle but from the Ajã (Fòn) perspective. Thus, one can clearly see a connection between Fáwɛnsagun, Dòsùnmú, and Ifáṣeyin. All three of these names point to someone who comes here to uphold, and defend culture and ancestral laws. Additionally, my day name is “Yao – a male born on a Thursday” in the Twi language of the Akan. Yao people are often very political and not in a democrat or republican sense. They are also often viewed as militant. What I always say it is simply the Maroon spirit in them. They often create new lanes and are most often non-conformists
From this personal example, you can see that when you are involved in a living culture, you can overstand why people move the way they do; why I move the way I do. I came here to do what you are witnessing exactly the way I’m doing it. It’s my destiny. It is built into me. So when we are equipped with this knowledge we learn how to support the destiny of the individual and not sit in confusion and off-centered assessments.
So now the question is what does YOUR name say about your destiny? And are you willing to find out?
Ayìnɔ̀n Àgɛ̀lɔ̀gbàgàn Jǐsovì Azàsinkpontín Àgbɔ̀vì I
Say the above chant 3 times over your offerings and then present them in a forested area or at an Èṣù if you have one.
