NOTE : I AM A FRENCH-SPEAKING STUDENT IN ECONOMICS. ENGLISH IS OUR SECOND LANGUAGE. I DO MY BEST TO TRANSLATE THIS TEXT FROM FRENCH TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES.
(You can send corrections to vozkoffi@gmail.com)
MAWU,VODU, ZOKA, AZE
Before defining a larger concept (the voduism) it is necessary to make a focus on all the elements that form the basis of this concept. The voduisme is a concept that Africans can export that is to say, teach the world because this concept has allowed Africans to avoid religious wars and ensured peace education in African child. I will even venture to say that the education of the African is coded in vodu language because it is the education that prepared the ground for the opening of the African to other religions. Other non-voduic cultures (not coded in vodu language) as Arab culture, are less open to other religions.A Ewe adage "Ta babla afe be tsona" which can be interpreted as: "It is only at home that you can get your basic education." This implies that exogenous education (the outside world one) is a complement of endogenous education (family, ethnic one) and no exogenous education can replace the endogenous education. You can shine culturally, if and only if your basic education, the pillar, the cornerstone, the foundation is rigidly solid. The illness of our era is that many Africans see only the surface of the black African endogenous education or do not have it at all! This fact prevents them from understanding certain African realities as the VODU, the ZOKA(magic), AZE (witchcraft) and MAWU (God in Ewe language).
It is therefore justified to clarify these concepts which remain unclear or non-existent in the minds of those who are supposed to know it. It reached the height of absurdity when those who know nothing about their own culture, begin to criticize it.
· MAWU what is its meaning ?
In Ewe language MAWU is composed of ME and WU.
"ME" is a personal pronoun meaning "I" and "WU" is a verb meaning "to overcome." It is clear that the etymology of the word MAWU gives "I surpass" or if we take into account the conjugation, we fall on "Unsurpassed". Hence we can say that: MAWU is Being or the Supreme Intelligence that surpasses anything in the cosmogony of the Ewe.
The Ewe people's concept of MAWU is deeper: MAWU is the first energy, this basic force that created everything namely Earth, vodus, nature and men, makes justice and takes care of everyone . That is why, before sleeping, the Ewe say " MAWU ne fon mi" which means " may God wakes us up." Also add that word MAWU does not use the plural! Mawu admits neither representation nor worship. That's why the colonists believed that Africans do not worship God without knowing that it is FORBIDDEN to worship God because only the forces of nature like adoration and worship. Those who claim to worship God only have to show us what they do not dedicate themselves to another force of nature! Question of theology!
King AgbanonII of Glidzi gives this definition of MAWU :
"The Mina-like all blacks- also believe in a Supreme Being who created everything: the vodus and the universe, with all it contains. They call this supreme deity Mawu,." The Unsurpassed " . He is uncreated, powerful, invulnerable and immortal. Everything happens according to His will, good and evil. It lies everywhere. It is also well up in the depths of the heavens, in the depths of the earth. It has no precise form. It uses the world and exceeds it with all his mind and with all his power. But God, by its very greatness is hardly occupied that He doesn't need to work on this world. It has agents who do this work, to which he gave all power: they are vodus ". in History of Little Popo and the United GUIN. 1934.
Any individual endowed with reason knows that Ewe aware of an unsurpassed bieng before any contact with the imperialists. Thus we have names derived from MAWU as:
"ME" is a personal pronoun meaning "I" and "WU" is a verb meaning "to overcome." It is clear that the etymology of the word MAWU gives "I surpass" or if we take into account the conjugation, we fall on "Unsurpassed". Hence we can say that: MAWU is Being or the Supreme Intelligence that surpasses anything in the cosmogony of the Ewe.
The Ewe people's concept of MAWU is deeper: MAWU is the first energy, this basic force that created everything namely Earth, vodus, nature and men, makes justice and takes care of everyone . That is why, before sleeping, the Ewe say " MAWU ne fon mi" which means " may God wakes us up." Also add that word MAWU does not use the plural! Mawu admits neither representation nor worship. That's why the colonists believed that Africans do not worship God without knowing that it is FORBIDDEN to worship God because only the forces of nature like adoration and worship. Those who claim to worship God only have to show us what they do not dedicate themselves to another force of nature! Question of theology!
King AgbanonII of Glidzi gives this definition of MAWU :
"The Mina-like all blacks- also believe in a Supreme Being who created everything: the vodus and the universe, with all it contains. They call this supreme deity Mawu,." The Unsurpassed " . He is uncreated, powerful, invulnerable and immortal. Everything happens according to His will, good and evil. It lies everywhere. It is also well up in the depths of the heavens, in the depths of the earth. It has no precise form. It uses the world and exceeds it with all his mind and with all his power. But God, by its very greatness is hardly occupied that He doesn't need to work on this world. It has agents who do this work, to which he gave all power: they are vodus ". in History of Little Popo and the United GUIN. 1934.
Any individual endowed with reason knows that Ewe aware of an unsurpassed bieng before any contact with the imperialists. Thus we have names derived from MAWU as:
Mawunyon : God is good
Mawuena: The grace of God
Mawulolo : God is great
Mawulawoè : God will do it
Mawufemon : Path of God
Mawuse : God has heard it
Mawuenya : God knows it
Mawugbe : The voice of God...
Leopold II, King of the Belgians writes on January 12, 1883: "The purpose of your mission is not to teach blacks to know God, they already know Him from their ancestors. They speak and submit to Nzambi-Mpungu; Mvidi Mukulu; Mungu etc ... "The imperialists know that we know God before their arrival.
· What is the meaning of VODU ?
Contrary to popular belief, the word VODU does not come from Fon because the Fon is a language derived from the Ewe. The Fon people and Ewe people had a common history; they were called together Adja-Ewe, before splitting into two groups at Allada (see Gayibor 1985). Therefore, seek to understand the word VODU from the Fon, is like trying to understand the word philosophy from English!
The word VODU has two Ewe roots: VO and DU
VO : Verb, which means « To free », « put comfortable »
DU : noun, meaning « society », « village,town, country,city »
The etymology of the word VODU therefore gives an idea of everything that releases or offers comfortable society, village, town or country. Its religious dimension gives this: Is called VODU any religious entity that releases or offers comfortable society. Before sleeping, the Ewe NEVER say "Vodu ne fon mi" to mean " May vodu awakens us! ". Names like vodu, vodusi, voduvi or vodugan are reserved for people who have made the convent. The word vodu is so common that it is applied to all those with whom we feel comfortable: vodua! is a very common interjection of Ewe young people.
GBADEGLA
(picture of Vozz Koffi, July 2011)
Unlike a versatile MAWU, the vodu is an entity specialized in a more or less precise areas. So do we have different types of vodu: vodus specialized in the field of accident problems, illness, family, witchcraft ...
GU ou EGU
(picture of Vozz Koffi, July 2011)
NYIGBLIN
AHOLU:
(picture of Vozz Koffi, July 2011)
Nota Bene : The general rule is that the vodu does not kill and has a capacity to judge what is asked before acting on the situation. For example, if you ask the vodu, a promotion at work while this promotion will generate jealousy and make you unhappy, it will not do it for you! Or if a woman wants to marry a man who will break all his love life, the vodu will refuse to give him to her! This is a crucial difference between vodu and ZOKA (which we'll see later). But a vodu "policeman" or a vodu of vigilance as So or Alafia dealing with thieves, murderers, sorcerers, can pronounce and execute a death sentence if a crime was committed or attempted murder happens ! : This action aims at liberating society by cleaning criminals from it.
· ZOKA : What that means ?
ZOKA is derived from two Ewe words: ZO and KA.
ZO : noun, « fire »
KA : noun, « rope »
ZOKA therefore means "rope fire" etymologically speaking. Another word of Yoruba origin means Zoka: This is Bô. But a deeper interpretation is: ZOKA binds the elemental forces of nature for firepower. It's like making a gun from a combination of metals. The ZOKA is a weapon of defense or destruction that anyone can manipulate at will and according to his morality, his moods, his temperament ...
Oral tradition says that ZOKA comes from hunters,who, to face ferocious animals like the lion or leopard, need more than a firearm.
The ZOKA has a name and a naming formula and kicks in when this formula is pronounced: the formula is called "Gbesa" or approximately incantation.
Sometimes people use incantations as name for protection. Names like MLAPA, TSAGLI, AKPO ... are gbesa or incantations, and it is often impossible to explain them in Ewe.
Oral tradition says that ZOKA comes from hunters,who, to face ferocious animals like the lion or leopard, need more than a firearm.
The ZOKA has a name and a naming formula and kicks in when this formula is pronounced: the formula is called "Gbesa" or approximately incantation.
Sometimes people use incantations as name for protection. Names like MLAPA, TSAGLI, AKPO ... are gbesa or incantations, and it is often impossible to explain them in Ewe.
NOTE: ZOKA kills, injures, destroys, makes crazy, usurpes another's property ... AUTOMATICALLY. The ZOKA does not think, it's like a robot that obeys when it is activated. It is very dangerous because it can escape the control of the user and must be fed with the blood of livestock or poultry or human blood! it requires animals like a parrot, lizard, frog ... It is a formidable weapon of war with frightening results.
The Zoka has its advantages and disadvantages:
Poisoning: if someone put poison in your food, there are ZOKA to identify it.
Infidelity: There are ZOKA that can block both partners during sex if the husband or wife of one of the partners has it. This is to ensure that your partenanire do not deceive you. Here is a palpable example in Kenya (sorry the video is in French) :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFMHZkbRg94
The Zoka has its advantages and disadvantages:
Poisoning: if someone put poison in your food, there are ZOKA to identify it.
Infidelity: There are ZOKA that can block both partners during sex if the husband or wife of one of the partners has it. This is to ensure that your partenanire do not deceive you. Here is a palpable example in Kenya (sorry the video is in French) :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFMHZkbRg94
Ambush: If you fall into an ambush, there are ZOKA for you to be unscathed.
Accidents: You can get out alive explosion aircraft with ZOKA! Example: Eyadema miraculously released from the explosion of Sarakawa, Guillaume Soro also out of a helicopter exploded ...
Rains: Make it rain at will even in times of drought.
Example: Pastor Wiliam Tété of Togo can attest, he dared to provoke Togovillois!
The labor force: Power to grow acres and acres of land with a simple hoe!
Rains: Make it rain at will even in times of drought.
Example: Pastor Wiliam Tété of Togo can attest, he dared to provoke Togovillois!
The labor force: Power to grow acres and acres of land with a simple hoe!
(Picture of Vozz Koffi, July 2011)
There are more caracteristics of Zoka that I can't finish to name as teleportation, protection against bullets .... However, intruders can use ZOKA to cause an accident and use another one to get out unharmed and kill all the other! Or cause the rain to ruin a ceremony!
In conclusion, ZOKA is a brute force capable of good and evil that anyone can use at will. This is why some old, before dying, bequeath their ZOKA to their most conscientious children; when children are too selfish or arrogant, old prefer to destroy them before he dies.
· AZE or witchcraft
This is pure and simple sorcery. The AZE is different from ZOKA and vodu in the sense that, for witchcraft, it is the same person who is transformed into a supernatural force by a third person as a sister, parents, grandparents ... Many women are in this area unlike ZOKA which is very popular among men. The essence of AZE wants AZETO (witches and wizards rarely) live in community. They can take on the appearance of a bird (usually an owl) and operate at night or just at noon. They "contribute" human beings and sometimes their own children! They eat human or flesh them into mutton or beef for sale.
Often, the "donors of AZE" transmit their AZE by putting it inside food, for example. Children may have AZE unintentionally early age. Unlike ZOKA which can be destroyed, AZE is not destructible: once witch, witch for life. A sorcerer can be rehabilitated by a better use of witchcraft by a vodu in the most productive areas such as war, intelligence, science .... Western science is also considered "yovo fe aze" (white witchcraft)
- Usefulness:
The AZE is the excellence secret service of Kings in olden days in the sense that the AZETO (the one who ones AZE) is able to spy on the enemy undetected because it can turn into a bird and take another look. The AZETO can therefore indicate the position of the enemy in time of war or provide any information that can help the troops of the King. The AZETO can also explore the dimension of time to make predictions about the result of a war or occurrence in the future.
Video 2
GENERAL CONCLUSION :
Many tend to put the vodu and zoka in the same basket beacause of ignorance. They did not seek to know either because there was a prior work vampirisation of our cultures and traditions to prevent Africans to discover the riches that abound in our traditions. The Vodu has nothing to do with the devil or demon as they wanted us to believe: this is a campaign of demonization of Africans through the demonization of its culture and religion. The colonists even more aware of the value and effectiveness of a vodu as they are likely to pick up their happiness in Africa in vodus. It is enough to live in a house of vodu like me to attend these realities. Many also believe that the imported religions have sounded the death knell of vodu but they forget that it is more than 16 centuries that these religions have failed to dislodge the vodu. Africans know the vodu too powerful to abandon. Many go to church but when they are in front of concrete problems, they return to see the vodu. My grandfather is great vodu priest, but he was baptized and has always taken her communion until his death without having problems with vodus! Vodou is not satanique because SATAN doesn't exist in vodu culture (Video 2)
People like to say that BOKO HARAM sect , northern Mali islamists and the Christian Crusades are fruits of a misinterpretation of "holy writings" but I note that there are in Africa, several vodus with different or antagonist principles that never led to the wars of religion! Africans were fighting but never for religious reasons. The barbarity of religious wars came with the Arab and European successive colonization.
People like to say that BOKO HARAM sect , northern Mali islamists and the Christian Crusades are fruits of a misinterpretation of "holy writings" but I note that there are in Africa, several vodus with different or antagonist principles that never led to the wars of religion! Africans were fighting but never for religious reasons. The barbarity of religious wars came with the Arab and European successive colonization.
DO NOT BE TAKEN IN THE CLIENTELISM TRAP OF THE IMPORTED RELIGIONS. Many pastors, priests and other so-called men of god, do fight for money and material well!
Tsetula TSAGLI
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