Olúrónbí - the case of Yorùbá artefacts being auctioned abroad…

It was the following catalog note that first caught my attention whilst perusing Sotheby’s website some moons ago.
“The Ọ̀yọ́ Ṣàngó Female Shrine Sculpture from the Bloch Collection.
This splendid Yorùbá sculpture is said to have been on the shrine for orisha Ṣàngó in Koso, a suburban hamlet to the west of the crowned town of Ọ̀yọ́. Koso is where the royal shrine for Ṣàngó is located, where the priests of Ṣàngó are initiated who in the past oversaw the organization of the Ṣàngó cult in the provincial towns thereby providing the religious basis for the Aláàfin's authority during the period of the Ọ̀yọ́ Empire (ca.1790 - ca.1836). The facial markings on the sculpture are of a type called àbàjà, which, as the Yorùbá historian Samuel Johnson observes, "are those of the Royal Family of Ọ̀yọ́" (1969: 106). Furthermore, her hair is styled in the five-cone pattern worn by queens and other women of royal stature….”
Then I saw the price this Yorùbá sacred artifact was sold for and the penny dropped!
$1,650,500 (One million six hundred and fifty thousand and five hundred US dollars)!
In my distress, the song of "Olúrónbí" came to my mouth and I began to sing:
Oníkálukú jẹ̀’jẹ́ ewúrẹ́
Ewúrẹ́, ewúrẹ́
Oníkálukú jẹ̀’jẹ́ àgùtàn,
Agùtàn bọ̀lọ̀jọ̀
Olúrónbí jẹ̀’jẹ́ ọmọ rẹ̀
Ọmọ rẹ̀ a pọ́n bíi epo
Olúrónbí ò
Jọin jọin
Ìrókò
Jọin jọin
Translation...
Each person vowed to offer a goat,
Goat, goat.
Each person vowed to offer a sheep,
Healthy sheep.
Olúrónbí vowed to offer her child
Her beautiful fair child,
Olúrónbí O!
Jọin jọin [chorus]
Ìrókò
Jọin jọin [chorus]
The story of Olúrónbí in our folklore is a sad one and it goes like this…
A woman named Olúrónbí was barren. She consulted the magical Iroko tree in her village for help in order to conceive. Generally, people who consulted the spirit of the Iroko tree would offer goats, sheep, yams, or fruit. Olúrónbí however did not bring anything with her but foolishly promised to offer her firstborn child!
After Olúrónbí gave birth, she tried to plead with the Iroko spirit not to take the child. The Iroko spirit however refused and would not be appeased and took the child.
We Yoruba have become Olúrónbí! We have foolishly promised to give away our heirlooms and heritage to the highest bidder and we are doing it right now! Shame on us!
May we have the courage to "shine our eyes".
There are many of our artifacts being sold worldwide. If you want to see more, visit:
Note: Sotheby’s is one of the world's largest brokers of fine and decorative art.
Olobe Yoyon
They told us our treasures were without value, we like fools believed them. Meanwhile they trade them like the priceless pieces they are.
Blogger Tips and TricksLatest Tips And TricksBlogger Tricks