The "Oriki" of Alajire

the_oriki_of_alajire-alcheringa_1-2_summer-1971_1_-2.pdf

This piece is a Yoruba praise poem, called an oríkì in the Yoruba language, specifically addressing Alajire, the god of suffering and disease. The subject of this poem involves appreciating the might and wrath of Alajire. This praise-poem also recognizes that, through suffering, humans can gain wisdom and be strengthened through the suffering brought about by Alajire.

Alcheringa does not include a transcription of this praise poem in the original Yoruba language and I was unable to find a copy of the poem in the original language anywhere online.

I found the repetition within the first three 'paragraphs' to be interesting and the pattern reminded me of a criticism, followed by a complement, perhaps to soften the blow and/or placate the subject of the criticism.

The first three 'paragraphs' begin with a plea from the speaker(s) of the poem.

 "Alajire we ask you to be patient"
 "Alajire we ask you to be moderate"
 "Alajire we ask you not to be jealous"

The second lines of the first three 'paragraphs' are a claim or observation about a characteristic of the orisha, Alajire.

 "You are very quick tempered"
 "You are wildly extravagant"
 "You are madly jealous"
 

Each of the first three paragraphs finish with a praise portion - as if to placate the god that, despite their observation about the orisha's quick temper and jealous disposition, they adore and worship Alajire for each of these attributes.

I also found it very interesting that Alajire is considered a wrathful deity who is believed to inflict diseases like smallpox and even AIDS as a punishment for wrongdoings, but is still seen as a guide to wisdom with the ability to teach the Yoruba people grace and strength through their suffering.

During the rest of the poem there is the repetition of certain lines, such as:

 "Alagire, you fall gently like a withered leaf" 

The imagery of a lion mangling its prey, a raging fire devouring a forest, and the smell of corpses are also recurring themes within the poem. Not only do these lines and themes add a certain horrifying and threatening dimension to this praise poem, but they also seem like they could have been used as devices to aid the memorization of this praise poem to help the speaker recite it.

The Yoruba language is spoken mainly in West Africa by the Yoruba people. Praise poetry, called Oríkì in Yoruba, can be centered around a range of subjects including individual common people, Gods/deities (called òrìṣà in Yoruba), and kings. The praise poems can involve strings of names inherited from ancestors, new names given to someone for a special occasion or accomplishment, or long strings of attributes and characteristics about the subject of the praise poem, as in the case of The Oriki of Alajire.

Praise poetry is customarily spoken aloud, usually either performed by the poem's subject of praise, or in their presence. Praise poetry about òrìṣà is also performed aloud, much like an oral prayer. The praise poetry performances can be chanted or sung and have varying timbres, pitches, tempos, etc. depending on the subject of the poem.

Adeniji-Neill D. (2014) I Will Chant Homage to the Orisa: Oriki (Praise Poetry) and the Yoruba Worldview. In: van Wyk B.

Beier, Ulli. “Alajire, God of Suffering.” African Poems, africanpoems.net/gods-ancestors/alajire-god-of-suffering/.

“Orisha.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 May 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orisha.

“Oríkì.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 May 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Or%C3%ADk%C3%AC.

'Tunji Vidal. “Oriki in Traditional Yoruba Music.” African Arts, vol. 3, no. 1, 1969, pp. 56–59. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3334460. Accessed 16 June 2021.

“Yoruba Language.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 June 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_language.

— Haley E. Brown 2021/06/29 20:50

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