J.
Arrencivia, Herramientas del Olokun del camino de Ifa , hand carved wood,
unfinished surfaces; head: 5x3x4"; masks: 3 1/2"; standing figure: 5 1/4," Havana,
2000. These "tools of Olokun" consist of an anthropomorphized head, a janus
male-female standing figure (a form of Echu), nine masks of the egun (ancestors), and two fish. The head, the fish, and the janus-figure are perforated
and capped with wood plugs in order to be "charged." The head is an anthropomorphised
representation of Olokun, master of the mysteries of the bottom of the sea,
a great constitutent of the Creation, and a principal mediator between life
and death. It's form, particularly the low- relief fleur-de-lis style crown,
attempts to reproduce the ancient Nigerian Ife cast bronze heads of deceased,
deified kings (900-1100 C.E.), which were associated with Olokun (see inset).
The status of Olokun as an oricha has been a subject of debate within
the Cuban Lucumi religion. This class of Olokun tools is dedicated to the "true"
Olokun, according to babalawos , which is consecrated under the supervision
of Orula. The objects are "charged," and embedded within a cement-sealed
tinaja (tall terracotta vessel), which is painted blue and incrusted with
seashells and "charged" "loads" ( carga ) on its surface. In contrast,
Babalawos define the Olokun of orisha priests ( santeros ) as a "road" of Yemaya, called "Mayeleo," which contains cast lead "tools"
similar to those of the Yemaya received in the Lucumi initiation: e.g., oars,
a ship's wheel, life preserver, anchor, and a standing female figure with outstretched
arms), and remains unsealed.
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