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CALL:--RESPONSE:
Ogboni The old ones--Ogboran Increase with age
Erelu Titled female elders--Abiye May children be born to live
Eriwo ya! The Lord of secrets, descend!--A ya gbo, A ya to! For longevity and prosperity!
(Chant of the Ogboni society)(1)
Edan Ogboni is a pair of male and female brass figures with iron stems, usually joined at the top by an iron chain (Figs. 1-3, 13). (Figs, 1-3, 13 omitted) It is an emblem of membership in the Ogboni society, which wielded considerable political, judicial, and religious powers among the Yuruba, in precolonial times and still does, to some extent today. In the past the society (known as Osbugo among the Egba and Ijebu Yoruba) functioned as a town council, civic court, and an electoral college for selecting a new king and dethroning a bad or unpopular one. It imposed curfews in times of crisis and also executed serious offenders (Biobaku 1952:38).(2)
Much of the society's authority derives from its role as the vital link between the community and the Earth that sustains it. Membership, which brings power and prestige, is restricted to a few individuals who have attained distinction in their professions and have proven to be people of high integrity and mature judgment. In the course of participating in various deliberations, a member gains considerable insights into human nature as well as local politics, traditional lore, religion, and philosophy. Above all, membership provides access to certain occult knowledge and powers for coping with the vicissitudes of life. Bigger, free-standing versions of the edan pair (Fig. 4) are called Onile (Owner of the house) and, sometimes, Onile (Owner of the land). They represent the earth deity on special altars inside the Ogboni lodge, witnessing secret proceedings of the society to enforce confidentiality, fair play, and self-discipline. Regardless of size, an altarpiece is considered more powerful than edan because of the sacred substances used in consecrating it.
In essence, the Ogboni venerates the Earth (Ile) to ensure human survival, peace, happiness, and social stability in the community. The desire for longevity and well-being is evident for the choice of brass (ide) for the figures and iron (irin) for the stem of edan. Brass is distinctive for its luster and permanence. Moreover, it sacred to and attracts...