Babaluaye African God-
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Babaluaye African God Deity of illness
and Infectious diseases. He was also
the Healer of the Cursed and all other Aliments |
Good afternoon my dearest friends & followers plus a few close dear ones, I have a new post about the Gods of Africa. This God Babaluaye is the God who rules over infectious diseases and healing as while. Babaluaye was one of the most feared and revered of the African Gods because of his power over life and death. The Babalu Aye's worship was originated with the Fon tribe of Benin, in Western Africa, however his influence was so powerful that the tribes within the area's of Western Africa up & down the coast had adopted his worship in ancient times. The God Babaluaye was the patron of those who suffered form many infectious diseases in Africa. He had a special relationship with the Orisha Shango because he was the only one who reached out to assist him when he was sick and homeless. The God Babalu Aye was frequently called upon for his help with healing and to help with overcoming the terrible plagues that would plague the lands.
The History of the African God Babaluaya~
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More of the Modern traditional Babaluaya
African God dance |
Well I thought I would give you a bit of history on this interesting African God of both giving of healing and that of disease and curses of plagues of the lands of Africa too. It seems that the Babalu-Aye God was called the Orisha of Illness too and was called this upon they beggars of Africa. This was also the very sick and the disabled too. For a trip down memory lane to give you dears a feeling of what it might have been like in the day of the God Babaluaya... Here you go~ OBALUWAYE FESTIVAL OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO WAS THE FESTIVAL IN HONOR OF THE YORUBA BABALUAYE DEITY. YEAH! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT! WELL HE WAS VIEWED AS A COMPASSIONATE AND HUMBLE GOD, ALTHOUGH HE CAN JUST AS EASILY CAUSE MASSIVE INFECTIONS AS THE BLACK PLAGUE. YET JUST AS EASILY CURE THEM TOO.
In some Mythology's they have said that the God has been depicted as being covered in sores & his skin was so infections that there were particularly area of his influence. You most also remember that this was a very long time ago, in very ancient times of Africa and only a few folks got to see these Gods and were able to read and write these happening down. This could be that later that the God Babaluaya decided to cover himself more from head to toe so that his people could not see these sores and infections that were starting to attack his immortal body. Later on common symbols of the
God were crutches, reeds, cowrie shells and dogs. Light blue and royal purple were his favorite colors to wear. Another interesting item that I did discover about, God Babalu-Aye, It happened that he was, apparently equated with Lazarus who is a biblical Character.
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| The African God in a different Form |
In the bible, this man who is a beggar is mentioned as one of Jesus parables and in whose names and order in the middle Ages was established to care for those suffering from leprosy-a disfiguring skin disease that ran rapped in those days. The African God Babaluaya, often referred to as Asojano, is the Orisha was responsible for many if not all of the epidemics of the infectious deceases including the millions of people with leprosy.. And the healing of the deceases too. I found another interesting fact about this God of Africa, it seems that his names translates to 'Father, lord of the Earth' and he is the earthly representation of Olorun, a deity. Odd Eh! Well that's my opinion, folks with all that I have learned so far about this god and all that he can do it is quite a frighting thought. He is quite powerful and can heal the people of the world and he can also take life too. That is quite a power to have as a God. The west Africans associate the God Babaluaya with smallpox's will the Americans tend to think of this African God as the Patron of diseases as influenza, Leprosy, HIV, & AIDS too!
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Many versions of the
God Babaluaya African |
To me this sounds like a very dangerous god both in the pass and the present, since he brings these diseases to humankind, even though he is also responsible for curing them all, that is a enormous amount of humans across the globe to cure from those terrible diseases as influenza, Leprosy, HIV and AIDS which many are very hard to cure. The people of Africa often feared him as his job is to punish transgressions, but the people also loved him to because of his healing powers so it was a very completed relationship between the people and the God of Babaluaya of Diseases and healing. Also the God was highly respected and his name is never actually used as it is believed this will bring on an epidemic.
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| Babaluaya African God of diseases and Healing |
As far as the God's lineage, this was a rather hard one to but together, so please don't quote me on the complete truth that it might or might not be. It is only a possibility. With that said, I feel that I can go on... Others have say that he traveled to the Fon people where is he also worshipped. There has also been some dispute as to the lineage of the African God Babaluaya and the consideration that he could be the son of Yemaya. There is also the God Babaluaya's relationship with Nana Buruku which may be very different too. There are some that believe that she[Nana Buruku] was Babaluaya his wife while others stated that she was his mother. Still there were many others that believed that Nana Buruku was the God's mother. No matter who actually gave birth to the God Babaluaya of Africa , there are most that associated him with Osain who is the herb orisha. This could be due to the God's Babaluaya's understanding of the forest and how plants can heal humans.
When the BabaluAya, the African God came over to the Americans when slaves and free people alike came to the continent. Not only did the names vary by where these folks came from, the ritual practices and stories of the African God life did too!
In Cuba, they are referred to as Arara and Lucumi. And the God Babaluaya is one of the most popular Orishas in the country of Cuba as many others associated with the God with Saint Lazarus. Then on December 17th of each year, tens of thousands would travel to El Rincon to the Church & Leprosorium of Saint Lazarus. Here in El Rincon they would honor Asojano & would take knowledge of his rituals . Sack clothes are used in these rituals as Asojano was a humble man who is often portrayed as dressed in burlap. He is easily recognized by his symbols of crutches & two dogs.
The I investigated this African God it seems that there is much more to the amazing deity. Many associated him not only as the God of Disease and healing but also as with the earth as with other material blessing things too. Basically the main emphasis is placed on the materials in human life and its centrality. Another theme is death and its resurrection as do many believe in the resurrection of Christ. Babaluaya symbolizes the circle of life through his experiences with debilitation, exile and restoration. This is more commonly seen in the Americas rather than in Western Africa. Exile and movement are other themes commonly seen associated with Asojano. Well this is very interesting I thought for learning
about the history and legend of an African God. There are many more that I hope to cover over time.
I hope that you all enjoyed the tale of the
African God Babaluaya of disease and healing
I love you all very much my dears friends & followers
hugsssss to you all
YOUR WENDY
