Today, Di 4, 6264 (the name of the month of Di means illumination), we move into a new season and phase with the coming of the Summer Solstice, or Azandin in the Ajã language of southern Benin Republic. Of course this also marks the beginning of Glanu, or the Summer season, whose cardinal direction is south and whose color is yellow. Also very ganji (auspicious) about this time is that this Azandin starts during the last day of the appearance of the Sunfifo, or New Moon. In addition, the new month of Di, which began on the Gregorian June 18 2023, began on the Sunfifo! We say that all of this is ganji in the Vodùn tradition and Ajã language.
This would be a great time to start new things as well as reinforce projects already started. This is the year 6263 for us as Afrikans. It is a time to prepare for coming disasters and not just pray about it. This Azandin falls on the 7-day week day of Hennuzangbe – day of the extended family and community (Wednesday of the Gregorian week). As it relates to the solstice and implications, this tells us as a people that during this season, our power (Glanu means “a thing of power” in Ajã language) will come from our extended family and community. It is time we seek to build or realize we have family with those that we do not necessarily share a blood connection to. Some that we call xɔ́ntɔ́n (friend) are also our hennu.
Again, the ganji (auspiciousness) of this date is consistent in that, in our sacred 9-day week, this day is governed by the thunder goddess Avéjì Da. The color for the day is the same color as that for the season of Glanu, which is yellow.
Avalu Avéjì Da mavɔ mavɔ!
Nǔ yo nú gbɛtɔ́ e ma nɔ xwedó nǔkplɔ́nmɛ mɛdídá lɛ́ɛ tɔn ǎ, bó ma nɔ́ dó hwɛhutɔ́ lɛ́ɛ gbɛ́ ǎ, bó ma nɔ jínjɔ́n ayǐ xá mɛ e nɔ ɖɔ slǎmɛ Hùn wú lɛ́ɛ ǎ é.
This is a time that we, as humans, can better harness the power of the sun. Things one can do are chants, set bon fires, set off fireworks, gather family and friends and contemplate what it means going forward as Afrikans empowered. Get out and nature and truly feel its nurturing embrace. Bring something to life and consistently tend to it. Go and greet the sun, and again, at night keep that energy going with a fire. Do the chant at the end of this article over fire or at a bon fire. Though this is a period of fire, remember also that the thunder deities are also associated with rain. Take some time to immerse yourself in water. If it is not taboo, get to the beach and immerse. At home, fill your tub with water, essential oils, certain herbs and the like. Remember the Yorùbá proverb Omi ko l’ọta – Water has no enemy. In conjunction with the bath, burn copal resin incense on charcoal. And before or after the immersion celebrate, celebrate, CELEBRATE!
At this time it would be a very good thing to appease the thunder and lightening deities. These deities are intricately involved with work related to family development, intelligence, leadership, and nation building. As this is the season of power (Glanu), at this time we honor and praise thunder deities like Xɛviósó, , Sógbó, Ṣàngó, Jǐso, Avéjì Da, Gbade, Aklonbe, Dagwesu, Da Ahwangan, Jǐhùn, Jǐgbo, and Jǐxɔ́sú, Oyà, and Sótin (a thunder deity that emerged here for New Afrikans). Offer fire to them. Keep a thunder stone in your home. Offer red apples and plantain in a forested area for them.
Brief chant to the thunder deities
Mi sa vɔ nu So hùn bi
Mí sa vɔ nu Xɛviosò kpo do hoho kpo.