Mi ku do Kúlítɔ Hɔngbó!
Today, on Hennuzangbe (“Thursday”), date of Gùfon 9, 6264 AX (Gregorian July 26 2023) we celebrate Kúlitɔ Hɔngbó. This word literally means “ancestor portal” in the Fɔ̀n dialect of the Ajã language found in southern Benin Republic West Afrika. This is based on our ancient authentic azanlilen (calendar) going back over 6000 years and used by those who live Afrikan Vodun culture. It was observed long ago that the elevated ancestors used a repeated 27-day cycle to make their presence and power available to us on a larger collective scale than on the personal ancestral veneration scale. On this day, every 27 days, special rites and rituals are done for the ancestral collective of your own blood lineage to empower those that acknowledge the love, benevolence and role these ancestors play in our lives. It is also used to do the continuous work of healing our bloodlines from the various mishaps and tragedies (self inflicted and from the outside) that still plague our families. If it plagues the family then it plagues the community. Thus, making the work of nation building and sovereignty that much harder.
The sacred Odù Ifá Owonrin Méjì states:
The hollow part of a well-trekked road is it that breaks the back of a snake
This was the Awo who cast Ifa for Esin (horse) He also cast Ifa for Agbo (Ram)
When both of them were going to Ooni (the Kings of Ife) house on a spiritual expedition
Both Esin and Agbo, the Awo of the Ooni, King of Ile Ife
They were the Awo who cast Ifa for the Ooni
When he refused to pay his homage to his paternal ancestors anymore
And he was undertaking several ventures…Without succeeding in any
He was advised to offer sacrifice
He complied
I pay my homage to my father
I pay homage to my mother Except if I undertake any venture without reverence May my undertaking be accepted
And finally we learn this from the sacred Odù Ifá Òtúrúpọ̀n Méjì that speaks directly to the state of New Afrikans:
It is now a pitiful play
The Iyere Ifa has now become a dirge
When eyes are two, they watch events unfold
When legs are two, they walk fast
The rumps are two, they sit on a mat
One hand does not jingle Also, one leg will not walk very fast How can one refuse to answer the call from responsible people?
I am asked to kneel and greet those before me I knelt and greeted those before me I am asked to kneel and CALL on those behind me I knelt and called on those behnd me They asked, “Who are those before one?” I said “It is one’s paternal Ancestors before one” They asked, “Who are those behind one?” I said, “the Orisa in one’s paternal household is behind one” When alapandede builds its nest The nest does not touch the sea nor heaven (suspended in heaven) Looking at Oldumare in heaven Looking at human beings on earth Atangegere divined for Odusola, child of Arannase
Whose father died when he was a little child
I am asked to kneel and greet those before me I knelt and greeted those before me I am asked to kneel and CALL on those behind me I knelt and called on those behnd me They asked, “Who are those before one?” I said “It is one’s paternal Ancestors before one” They asked, “Who are those behind one?” I said, “the Orisa in one’s paternal household is behind one” When alapandede builds its nest The nest does not touch the sea nor heaven (suspended in heaven) Looking at Oldumare in heaven Looking at human beings on earth Atangegere divined for Odusola, child of Arannase
Whose father died when he was a little child
Without the knowledge of how to cast Ifa (no real knowledge of his own culture and spirituality)
Without the knowledge of how to print the Odù
And not having been to Ile Ife to witness Ifa festival
When all the ritual elements were assembled for Odùṣola to start propitiating, he broke into tears
When all the ritual elements were assembled for Odùṣola to start propitiating, he broke into tears
Saying he did not know if water was to be offered first
Heavenly spirits, descend and make this ritual a success for me, heavenly spirits
Whether it is gin to be offered first, I do not know
Heavenly spirits, descend and make this ritual a success for me, heavenly spirits
Whether it is obi that have to be offered first, I donot know Heavenly spirits, descend and make this ritual a success for me, heavenly spirits
