By Darasia Selby-Adebisi | April 1, 2014 The melting of the snow, longer days, and the warmer weather can only mean one thing: Spring is finally here! After a very cold winter most of us are probably relieved to see the first signs of spring. But spring is not only a time of increased light […]
Author: darasia
Orisa Stories: My Journey in the Orisa Tradition
Written by Baba Faseye Sangobukunmi (Jamel Cherry) | Edited by Darasia Selby-Adebisi | April 1, 2014 I began my spiritual journey in the church. Yet as I got older, my soul still searched for something more. During my high school years I delved into Islam where I learned how to read and write Arabic, yet still […]
Interview with Basha Alperin and Joe Quinones on the premiere of Sango Gunmi: The Emergence of Yorùbá Tradition in the African-American Community
by Darasia Selby-Adebisi | November 1, 2013 On December 7, the Orisa Community Development Corporation and ZEYBRAH are proudly featuring the 14th annual Moment in Time Festival, featuring a staged reading of Sango Gunmi: The Emergence of the Yorùbá Tradition in the African American Community. Written by Essence best-selling author Karen E. Quinones-Miller and directed […]
Our Esteemed Elders: Featuring Iya Aina Olomo
Eriwo Ya! had the privilege of interviewing Chief Iya Aina Olomo, priestess of Sango and author of The Core of Fire: A Path to Yoruba Spiritual Activism for this edition’s Our Esteemed Elders column. We thank Iya for her time and her insightful words. Eriwo Ya!: Iya Aina, as a Yorùbá chief and priestess, you […]
What is a Priest?
By Kemba Mchawi Twenty-two years ago I copied a definition of “priest.” I amply displayed it on the empty wall space between the double-mirrored dresser in my Bronx bedroom. I wanted to know exactly what was I getting myself into. Having recently been initiated into the Yoruba religion, I was an iyawo, yet I knew […]
Orisa Communities Around the World: Yoruba Study Group of Detroit
The Yoruba Study Group of Detroit (YSGOD) was founded on July 17, 2009 by Kefentse Akim Bandele. Kefentse, an omo Sango, felt led by his ancestors to form a group to provide fellowship for Ifa/Orisa practitioners in particular and anyone interested in learning introductory information about different African cultural traditions in general. Participation in group […]