“Early to bed and early to rise….”
“Haste makes waste.”
“Cold hands warm heart, smelly feet, no sweetheart.”
“If you can’t say anything nice, sit next to me.”
There are many words of our ancestors that come down to us in the form of proverbs and sayings. The words Mumbo Jumbo, in Ishmael Reed’s book of the same name, are translated to mean grandmother wisdom. In reality the origins of the word go back to the “mojubas,” the ancestor prayers of thanks said in Ifa and other African Traditional Religions. As part of these religions a litany of names from both one’s physical and spiritual family are said as a regular devotional prayer. This helps us to remember where we came from, and to receive proper guidance from the ancestors about the choices and directions we are headed in today. I have just returned from Hawkwind Womens Gathering (an amazing event that I highly recommend) where a similar honoring was performed with the names of the mothers of each woman present. In that spirit I give praise to all my mothers and grandmothers in this world and the next: Edith, Alice, Ida Belle, Mary, Florence, Bonnie, Miriam, Oxun, Nana Bukuu, Maman Brigitte, and the rest.
In the New Orleans Voodoo tradition there is a grandmother entity known as Maman Brigitte. Honored as the first woman buried in every cemetery, she is a representation of all the grandmothers who have come before. Maman Brigitte is given offerings of cotton and oranges. If we are lucky, she shares wise secrets that we hope we can hear. The goddess, or Loa, Maman Brigitte is in charge of justice on every level, but especially justice for women. She protects those who have no other choice. Sallie Ann Glassman refers to Maman Brigitte as the “womb of the earth” in her book Vodou Visions. From her all divine wisdom flows. Her secrets are many and we are wise to listen.
There is more than one grandmother in the African pantheon and the similarities between Maman Brigitte and Nana Bukuu are many. Both are powerful foremothers that have many lessons to teach us. Robert Farris Thompson, in his work Flash of the Spirit,says Nana Bukuu is the “courage and accomplishment of women.” She is worshiped in Nigeria and Ghana and even takes a sacred place in the pantheon of New Orleans Voodoo as well as Bahia.Thompson goes on to describe Nana’s most sacred of tools, her staff. Adorned in straw and sacred blue this has the power to both take and give life. She is a protector against all things evil. A wisdom and a force of justice of the highest authority. Nana Bukuu is the mother of Obaluaiye, also known as Babaluaye, an Orisha of healing. Legendary Voodoo priestess and anthropologist Maya Deren describes Nana as the primal mother. In some Haitian Vodou houses she is seen as the one who birthed the Marassa, Mawu and Lisa the divine twins. The Marassa energies are responsible for balance and interdependence between all things. They help us to feel connected to the universe and the ancient wisdom of our ancestors. Both Nana Bukuu and Maman Brigitte are powerful female protection goddesses blessing us from the past and guiding us towards a brighter future.
Remember to listen to your grandmamas, and do this mama a favor and please share this post!
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