{"id":2585,"date":"2025-03-23T12:09:32","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T15:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.djamilaribeiro.com.br\/?p=2585"},"modified":"2025-03-27T18:15:16","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T21:15:16","slug":"orixas-series-oba-the-fearless-amazon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.djamilaribeiro.com.br\/en\/orixas-series-oba-the-fearless-amazon\/","title":{"rendered":"Orix\u00e1s Series – Ob\u00e1, the Fearless Amazon"},"content":{"rendered":"

[She is the guardian of Elec\u00f4, a secret society composed solely of sorceress women].<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Since I began writing in this Folha<\/em> column about the mythology of the orix\u00e1s, I have received many messages asking for reading suggestions for those who want to delve deeper into the subject. Although there is a wide range of publications available, I believe that the Orix\u00e1s<\/em> collection (Cole\u00e7\u00e3o Orix\u00e1s) by Pallas publishing house<\/a><\/strong> is one of the most significant and deserves special mention.<\/p>\n

Founded in the 1970s, Pallas is known for its pioneering publications in Afro-Brazilian literature. The Orix\u00e1s<\/em> collection, first published in the 1990s and recently reissued, stands out for its accessible, profound, and objective texts.<\/p>\n

The Orix\u00e1s collection contributes to democratizing valuable teachings on Candombl\u00e9 and Umbanda, Afro-Brazilian religions with deep roots in Brazil’s culture and spirituality. Each volume addresses a specific orix\u00e1 and is written by specialists who are also practitioners of these religions.<\/p>\n

In this context, anthropologist Vagner Gon\u00e7alves da Silva contributes the book on Exu, the renowned griot and honorary doctor from UFRJ Nei Lopes writes about Logun Ed\u00e9, and philosopher Helena Theodoro discusses Ians\u00e3, and so on. Today, we focus on the warrior orix\u00e1 Ob\u00e1, whose volume in the collection is authored by iyalorix\u00e1 Cl\u00e9o Martins.<\/p>\n

As Martins emphasizes, \u201cOb\u00e1 is the lady of war, the fearless Amazon, a wise and just sorceress.\u201d She earned her reputation through countless battles, masters all weapons, and is the guardian of the Elec\u00f4 society, a secret organization composed exclusively of sorceress women, where men are forbidden. Legend says that \u201canyone who approaches Elec\u00f4 pays with their life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ob\u00e1 is the eldest wife of Xang\u00f4, the ancestral king of Oy\u00f3. In Yoruba culture, polygamy is common, and the number of wives reflects the king\u2019s wealth, who must support them all and their children. The first wife, called ial\u00ea<\/em>, plays a central role in family organization, acting as the eldest mother to the other wives and their children.<\/p>\n

However, Ob\u00e1\u2019s seniority brings challenges, especially because Xang\u00f4 favors his other wives, such as Ians\u00e3\u2014his \u201cperfect match\u201d in ruling Oy\u00f3\u2014and Oxum, his preferred companion in lighter moments. As Cl\u00e9o Martins states: \u201cXang\u00f4 scorns Ob\u00e1 because she is old and lacks charm, but he is terrified of the power she exudes.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the most well-known it\u00e3s<\/em> (sacred narratives) about Ob\u00e1 tells of an episode in which she feels deeply unappreciated by Xang\u00f4. In a desperate search for validation, Ob\u00e1 is tricked by Oxum, who suggests she prepare a stew for the king using her own ears. Determined to win Xang\u00f4’s love and approval, Ob\u00e1 makes the extreme sacrifice and cuts off her ears, presenting them in the dish as a token of her devotion. However, when Xang\u00f4 finds the ears in his soup, he is disgusted and banishes Ob\u00e1.<\/p>\n

This it\u00e3<\/em> prompts reflection on how far we might go to seek others\u2019 validation. For women, this lesson is fundamental. Ob\u00e1\u2014a leader of the Elec\u00f4 society and a victorious warrior\u2014should never have gone to such an extreme. Her rival Oxum, who symbolizes self-love, played a cruel trick on her.<\/p>\n

Various interpretations are possible. Some question the literalness of the story, considering Ob\u00e1\u2019s wisdom and experience. For those who read the it\u00e3<\/em> metaphorically, it offers valuable insights. By handing over her ears\u2014symbolically linked to hearing\u2014to Xang\u00f4, Ob\u00e1 experiences her most devastating defeat.<\/p>\n

For women, believing in themselves, especially within disrespectful relationships, can be a powerful affirmation of the strength that comes from within.<\/p>\n

Xang\u00f4, as a representative of patriarchal power, had to contend with Ob\u00e1\u2019s influence in his own household, where she held sway over the other wives and children. His aversion to Ob\u00e1 may reflect the difficulty of accepting female power within his domain. The story of Ob\u00e1 teaches us the importance of trusting ourselves and nurturing the power that resides within us\u2014or risk a tragic outcome.<\/p>\n

Although her worship is increasingly rare in Brazil, in the Candombl\u00e9 religious tradition, no man can be initiated into Ob\u00e1\u2019s mysteries. The leader of the Elec\u00f4 society only accepts the heads of women.<\/p>\n

Next week, we will continue our series by talking about one of the best-known orix\u00e1s: the powerful and fearless Ogum. See you soon!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[She is the guardian of Elec\u00f4, a secret society composed solely of sorceress women]. Since I began writing in this Folha column about the mythology of the orix\u00e1s, I have received many messages asking for reading suggestions for those who want to delve deeper into the subject. Although there is a wide range of publications […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2586,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[543,536,468,129,418,541,537,275,542,534,415,539,471,535,540,538],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nOrix\u00e1s Series - Ob\u00e1, the Fearless Amazon - Djamila Ribeiro<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The story of Ob\u00e1 reveals the cost of seeking love without self-worth. 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