resources for olorisa*
*Olorisas are initiated priests and priestesses of Orisa tradition. There are three main branches of ministry within Ifa/Orisa tradition: 1) Traditionalist (Nigeria), 2) Lukumi (Cuba), 3) Candomble (Brazil).
Abimbola, Wande. 1997. Ifa Will Mend Our Broken World. AIM Books.
Abiodun, Rowland. 2014. Yoruba Art and Language: Seeking the African in African Art. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Brandon, George. 1997. Santeria from Africa to the New World: The Dead Sell Memories. (Blacks in the Diaspora). Indiana University Press.
Brown, David H. 2003. Santeria Enthroned: Art, Ritual, and Innovation in an Afro-Cuban Religion. University of Chicago Press.
Carr, C. Lynn. 2016. A Year in White: Cultural Newcomers to Lukumi and Santería in the United States. Rutgers University Press.
Edwards, Gary, and John Mason. 1998. Black Gods: Orisa Studies in the New World, 4th Edition. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
Elebuibon, Ifaemi. 1994. Apetebi: the Wife of Orunmila. Athelia Henrietta Press.
Fama, Chief. 2002. Fundamentals of the Yoruba Religion, Revised 2nd Edition. ILÉ Òrúnmìlà Communications.
Fakayode, Fagbemijo Amosun. 2012. Ori Mi Gbe Mi: Ori, Support Me. Oyeku Ofun Temple.
Karenga, Maulana. 1999. Odu Ifa: The Ethical Teachings. Kawaida Publications.
(Note: All of Baba John Mason's books are must-haves, particularly for Lukumi practitioners.)
Mason, John. 1990. Adura Orisa : Prayers for Selected Heads. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 1993. Four New World Yoruba Rituals. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 1996. Olookun: Owner of Rivers and Seas. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 1997. Orin Orisa: Songs for Selected Heads. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 1999. Idana Fun Orisa: Cooking for Selected Heads. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 2002. Adura Orisa: Prayers for Selected Heads 2nd Edition. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 2003. Who's Knocking on My Floor?: Esu Arts in the Americas. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 2012. Araaraara: Wondrous Inhabitor of Thunder. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 2015. Baba's Esu-Elegba Tales. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 2016. In Praise of Our Mothers. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 2016. Orisha: Black Gods New Worlds. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
Oggunbemi, Maria. 2015. Ritual Use of Plants in Lucumí Tradition, 3rd edition. Lulu.com.
Okemuyiwa, Lanre D. 2014. Ori, the Supreme Divinity: Ifa Verses, Ritual, Companion CD. ObafemiO.com Publications.
Olupona, Jacob K., and Terry Rey. 2008. Òrìsà Devotion as World Religion: The Globalization of Yorùbá Religious Culture. University of Wisconsin.
Onilu, Chief Yagbe Awolowo. 2016. Erindilogun = Cowrie-Shells Divination. http://yagbeonilu.com/erindilogun-cowrie-shells-divination-part-1/
Oshun, Ota Omi Olo. 2009. Pataki of Orisa and other Essay's for Lucumi Santeria. Lulu.com.
Perez, Elizabeth. 2016. Religion in the Kitchen: Cooking, Talking, and the Making of Black Atlantic Traditions. NYU Press.
Ramos, Miguel. 2014. On the Orishas' Roads and Pathways: Oshun, Deity of Femininity. Eleda.org Publications.
Washington, Teresa N. 2015. Our Mothers, Our Powers, Our Texts: Manifestations of Aje in Africana Literature. Revised and Expanded Edition. Oya's Tornado.
Abimbola, Wande. 1997. Ifa Will Mend Our Broken World. AIM Books.
- A must-read for everyone.
Abiodun, Rowland. 2014. Yoruba Art and Language: Seeking the African in African Art. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Excellent study of the relationship between Yoruba scripture and art with Yoruba religious/spiritual culture - throughout the diaspora. Pay attention to the chapters on Ori, Ase, Osun, and Orunmila. However, the entire book is very valuable study. Meaningful learning for Orisa ministry.
Brandon, George. 1997. Santeria from Africa to the New World: The Dead Sell Memories. (Blacks in the Diaspora). Indiana University Press.
Brown, David H. 2003. Santeria Enthroned: Art, Ritual, and Innovation in an Afro-Cuban Religion. University of Chicago Press.
- Really well done history of Orisha tradition as it emerged in Cuba and then throughout the diaspora. This text outlines the African originators of Lukumi, such as: Efuche, Obadimelli, Ma Monserrate Gonzalez, Ferminita Garcia, and Felipa Calderon, to name a few. Important book for gaining a solid historical foundation on Ifa/Orisa tradition as it was birthed in the Black Diaspora.
Carr, C. Lynn. 2016. A Year in White: Cultural Newcomers to Lukumi and Santería in the United States. Rutgers University Press.
- An anthropological ethnographic study of varied responses to navigating the initiatory year after the Lukumi kariocha ceremony. Good insight into how people approach embracing their spiritual experiences.
Edwards, Gary, and John Mason. 1998. Black Gods: Orisa Studies in the New World, 4th Edition. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
Elebuibon, Ifaemi. 1994. Apetebi: the Wife of Orunmila. Athelia Henrietta Press.
Fama, Chief. 2002. Fundamentals of the Yoruba Religion, Revised 2nd Edition. ILÉ Òrúnmìlà Communications.
Fakayode, Fagbemijo Amosun. 2012. Ori Mi Gbe Mi: Ori, Support Me. Oyeku Ofun Temple.
- Really effective, yet simple, prayer book for Ori. Great for bedroom end table as a reminder for daily prayer to your Ori (your head).
- A useful English version of the Kardec prayer book.
Karenga, Maulana. 1999. Odu Ifa: The Ethical Teachings. Kawaida Publications.
- Meaningful contribution to unpacking the moral and ethical verses within the Holy Odu corpus.
(Note: All of Baba John Mason's books are must-haves, particularly for Lukumi practitioners.)
Mason, John. 1990. Adura Orisa : Prayers for Selected Heads. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 1993. Four New World Yoruba Rituals. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 1996. Olookun: Owner of Rivers and Seas. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 1997. Orin Orisa: Songs for Selected Heads. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 1999. Idana Fun Orisa: Cooking for Selected Heads. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 2002. Adura Orisa: Prayers for Selected Heads 2nd Edition. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 2003. Who's Knocking on My Floor?: Esu Arts in the Americas. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 2012. Araaraara: Wondrous Inhabitor of Thunder. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 2015. Baba's Esu-Elegba Tales. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 2016. In Praise of Our Mothers. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
_____________. 2016. Orisha: Black Gods New Worlds. Yoruba Theological Archministry.
Oggunbemi, Maria. 2015. Ritual Use of Plants in Lucumí Tradition, 3rd edition. Lulu.com.
Okemuyiwa, Lanre D. 2014. Ori, the Supreme Divinity: Ifa Verses, Ritual, Companion CD. ObafemiO.com Publications.
Olupona, Jacob K., and Terry Rey. 2008. Òrìsà Devotion as World Religion: The Globalization of Yorùbá Religious Culture. University of Wisconsin.
Onilu, Chief Yagbe Awolowo. 2016. Erindilogun = Cowrie-Shells Divination. http://yagbeonilu.com/erindilogun-cowrie-shells-divination-part-1/
Oshun, Ota Omi Olo. 2009. Pataki of Orisa and other Essay's for Lucumi Santeria. Lulu.com.
Perez, Elizabeth. 2016. Religion in the Kitchen: Cooking, Talking, and the Making of Black Atlantic Traditions. NYU Press.
Ramos, Miguel. 2014. On the Orishas' Roads and Pathways: Oshun, Deity of Femininity. Eleda.org Publications.
- Excellent tome on the various roads and manifestations (even the rare ones) of the Orisha, Oshun.
- Good resource, but goes in and out of print; hard to find.
- Good resource, but goes in and out of print; hard to find.
Washington, Teresa N. 2015. Our Mothers, Our Powers, Our Texts: Manifestations of Aje in Africana Literature. Revised and Expanded Edition. Oya's Tornado.
- This is the revised and expanded edition on the original 2005 text.