Nana Buluku, also known as Nana Buruku, Nana Buku or Nanan-bouclou, is the female supreme being in the West African traditional religion of the Fon people (Benin, Dahomey) and the Ewe people (Togo).[1][2][3] She is one of the most influential deities in West African theology, and one shared by many ethnic groups other than the Fon people, albeit with variations. For example, she is called the Nana Bukuu among the Yoruba people and the Olisabuluwa among Igbo people but described differently, with some actively worshiping her while some do not worship her and worship the gods originating from her.[1][4]
In Dahomey mythology, Nana Buluku is the mother supreme creator who gave birth to the moon spirit Mawu, the sun spirit Lisa, and all of the universe. After giving birth to these, she retired and left the matters of the world to Mawu-Lisa. She is the primary creator, Mawu-Lisa the secondary creator, and the theology based on these is called Vodun, Voodoo or Vodoun.[5]
According to Maya Deren, some Vodouwizan believe that Nanan-bouclou is both male and female.[6]
The Vodoun religion of the Fon people has four overlapping elements: public gods, personal or private gods, ancestral spirits, and magic or charms.[5] In this traditional religion of West Africa, creation starts with a female supreme being called Nana Buluku, who gave birth to Mawu and Lisa and created the universe.[5] After giving birth, the mother supreme retired and left everything to Mawu-Lisa (Moon-Sun, female-male), deities, spirits, and inert universe. Mawu-Lisa created numerous minor imperfect deities. In Fon belief, the feminine deity Mawu had to work with the trickster Legba and the snake Aido Hwedo to create living beings, a method of creation that imbued the good, the bad, and a destiny for every creature including human beings. Only by appeasing lesser deities and Legba, in Fon theology, can one change that destiny. This appeasing requires rituals and offerings to the lesser gods and ancestral spirits, who are believed to have the ability to do favors for human beings.[5][7][8]
AmericasEdit
As millions of West Africans were captured and enslaved during the colonial era, then shipped across the Atlantic to work on sugarcane, cotton, and tobacco plantations, they brought with them their religious ideas, including those about Nana Buluku. She is celebrated as Nanã in Candomblé Jejé and Tambor de Mina and as Nana Burukú in Candomblé Ketu, where she is pictured as a very old woman, older than creation itself. She is found in French, Dutch, and British West Indies in particular, such as among the African heritage communities of French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Brazil, Trinidad, Martinique, Haiti, and other Caribbean islands.[9][10]
^ abTeresa N. Washington (2005). Our Mothers, Our Powers, Our Texts: Manifestations of Àjé in Africana Literature. Indiana University Press. pp. 63–64. ISBN0-253-00319-9.
^Greene, Sandra E. (1996). "Religion, History and the Supreme Gods of Africa: a Contribution To the Debate". Journal of Religion in Africa. Brill Academic Publishers. 26 (2): 122–138. doi:10.1163/157006696x00037.
^Toyin Falola; Nana Akua Amponsah (2012). Women's Roles in Sub-Saharan Africa. ABC-CLIO. p. 70. ISBN978-0-313-38545-2.
^Geoffrey Parrinder (2014). West African Religion: A Study of the Beliefs and Practices of Akan, Ewe, Yoruba, Ibo, and Kindred Peoples. Wipf & Stock. pp. 28–29. ISBN978-1-4982-0492-7.
^ abcdMolefi Kete Asante; Ama Mazama (2009). Encyclopedia of African Religion. SAGE Publications. pp. 270–273. ISBN978-1-4129-3636-1.
^Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti by Maya Deren, page 55
^Sara A. Rich (2009), The Face of "Lafwa": Vodou & Ancient Figurines Defy Human Destiny, Journal of Haitian Studies, Vol. 15, No. 1/2, Haitian Studies Association 20thAnniversary Issue (Spring/Fall 2009), pages 262-278
^Cosentino, Donald (1987). "Who Is That Fellow in the Many-Colored Cap? Transformations of Eshu in Old and New World Mythologies". The Journal of American Folklore. 100 (397): 261–275. doi:10.2307/540323. JSTOR 540323.
^Patrick Taylor; Frederick I. Case (2013). The Encyclopedia of Caribbean Religions. University of Illinois Press. pp. 742–746, 1134–1139. ISBN978-0-252-09433-0.
^Miller, N. L. (2000). "Haitian Ethnomedical Systems and Biomedical Practitioners: Directions for Clinicians". Journal of Transcultural Nursing. 11 (3): 204–211. doi:10.1177/104365960001100307. PMID 11982109. S2CID 33589193.
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Nana Buluku also known as Nana Buruku Nana Buku or Nanan bouclou is the female supreme being in the West African traditional religion of the Fon people Benin Dahomey and the Ewe people Togo 1 2 3 She is one of the most influential deities in West African theology and one shared by many ethnic groups other than the Fon people albeit with variations For example she is called the Nana Bukuu among the Yoruba people and the Olisabuluwa among Igbo people but described differently with some actively worshiping her while some do not worship her and worship the gods originating from her 1 4 Nana BulukuNana as pictured in Candomble Venerated inWest African Vodun based religions Candomble Louisiana Voodoo Haitian Vodou and Dahomean religionPersonal informationChildrenMawu and LisaIn Dahomey mythology Nana Buluku is the mother supreme creator who gave birth to the moon spirit Mawu the sun spirit Lisa and all of the universe After giving birth to these she retired and left the matters of the world to Mawu Lisa She is the primary creator Mawu Lisa the secondary creator and the theology based on these is called Vodun Voodoo or Vodoun 5 According to Maya Deren some Vodouwizan believe that Nanan bouclou is both male and female 6 Contents 1 Observance 1 1 Africa 1 2 Americas 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksObservance EditAfrica Edit The Vodoun religion of the Fon people has four overlapping elements public gods personal or private gods ancestral spirits and magic or charms 5 In this traditional religion of West Africa creation starts with a female supreme being called Nana Buluku who gave birth to Mawu and Lisa and created the universe 5 After giving birth the mother supreme retired and left everything to Mawu Lisa Moon Sun female male deities spirits and inert universe Mawu Lisa created numerous minor imperfect deities In Fon belief the feminine deity Mawu had to work with the trickster Legba and the snake Aido Hwedo to create living beings a method of creation that imbued the good the bad and a destiny for every creature including human beings Only by appeasing lesser deities and Legba in Fon theology can one change that destiny This appeasing requires rituals and offerings to the lesser gods and ancestral spirits who are believed to have the ability to do favors for human beings 5 7 8 Americas Edit As millions of West Africans were captured and enslaved during the colonial era then shipped across the Atlantic to work on sugarcane cotton and tobacco plantations they brought with them their religious ideas including those about Nana Buluku She is celebrated as Nana in Candomble Jeje and Tambor de Mina and as Nana Buruku in Candomble Ketu where she is pictured as a very old woman older than creation itself She is found in French Dutch and British West Indies in particular such as among the African heritage communities of French Guiana Suriname Guyana Brazil Trinidad Martinique Haiti and other Caribbean islands 9 10 See also EditOlodumare nbsp Traditional African religion portalReferences Edit a b Teresa N Washington 2005 Our Mothers Our Powers Our Texts Manifestations of Aje in Africana Literature Indiana University Press pp 63 64 ISBN 0 253 00319 9 Greene Sandra E 1996 Religion History and the Supreme Gods of Africa a Contribution To the Debate Journal of Religion in Africa Brill Academic Publishers 26 2 122 138 doi 10 1163 157006696x00037 Toyin Falola Nana Akua Amponsah 2012 Women s Roles in Sub Saharan Africa ABC CLIO p 70 ISBN 978 0 313 38545 2 Geoffrey Parrinder 2014 West African Religion A Study of the Beliefs and Practices of Akan Ewe Yoruba Ibo and Kindred Peoples Wipf amp Stock pp 28 29 ISBN 978 1 4982 0492 7 a b c d Molefi Kete Asante Ama Mazama 2009 Encyclopedia of African Religion SAGE Publications pp 270 273 ISBN 978 1 4129 3636 1 Divine Horsemen The Living Gods of Haiti by Maya Deren page 55 Sara A Rich 2009 The Face of Lafwa Vodou amp Ancient Figurines Defy Human Destiny Journal of Haitian Studies Vol 15 No 1 2 Haitian Studies Association 20thAnniversary Issue Spring Fall 2009 pages 262 278 Cosentino Donald 1987 Who Is That Fellow in the Many Colored Cap Transformations of Eshu in Old and New World Mythologies The Journal of American Folklore 100 397 261 275 doi 10 2307 540323 JSTOR 540323 Patrick Taylor Frederick I Case 2013 The Encyclopedia of Caribbean Religions University of Illinois Press pp 742 746 1134 1139 ISBN 978 0 252 09433 0 Miller N L 2000 Haitian Ethnomedical Systems and Biomedical Practitioners Directions for Clinicians Journal of Transcultural Nursing 11 3 204 211 doi 10 1177 104365960001100307 PMID 11982109 S2CID 33589193 Further reading EditCharles Spencer King Nature s Ancient Religion ISBN 978 1 4404 1733 7 Charles Spencer King IFA Y Los Orishas La Religion Antigua De LA Naturaleza ISBN 1 4610 2898 1External links EditThe Children of Dahomey at the Wayback Machine archived April 4 2005 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nana Buluku amp oldid 1148440383, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
