Oya In Praise of the Goddess

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction: A Bit for the Goddess

PART ONE:

Recalling the Elements

The Goddess as Fire and Wind

To Pacify a Tornado

Oya’s River

Thinking Lightning

part TWO:

Of Masquerades and Woman-Power

The Cloth of Contention

As Assemblage of Boundaries

Collaboration between Cloth and Soil

The Cloth of Containment

Sister Crown

Brother Palm Fringe

Ndako Gboya

Iyalode and Royal Nupe Women

Taking Title

Masquerade as Monkey Business

Tree of Ribbons, Whirl of Rhododendrons

part THREE:

Buffalo-Woman and the Hunters

Conceiving Animals

Night Hunting

Buffalo-Woman Becomes Oya

Sanene-Kontron

Buffalo Is Being Seated

PART FOUR:

Oya of the Necklace

Oya of the Necklace

Typology

Oya of the Market

Oya of the Nine Pieces

Notes

Glossary