First published: 21/09/09.

Anonymous

Osun-Osogbo

Osun-Osogbo (Inscribed)

Osun-Osogbo by Solivagant

I shall never forget my visit to the Osun Shrine, sacred grove and oracle in 1977. My companion was a Catholic priest from Oshogbo. We stopped first at the home of Ms.Wenger. The sight of her descending the staircase of her home leading on a long leash a dog that resembled a great Dane ,for all the world, looked like the figure of Diana of the hunt. The Catholic bishop of that diocese had arranged for us to visit the oracle of Osun.

On the way to the oracle we beheld the majestic sculptures of Suzanne Wenger. At the place of the oracle of Osun, the four of us--the young priest and I a Japanese-American art professor from California and his son, were expected to perform, on our knees, a symbolic lustral cleansing by throwing our hands back over our shoulder. Then we were each in turn given a kola nut and asked what it was we wished for and to tell it to the kola nut in our hand. In a low voice only I could hear I wished for reconciliation between the Christian and Yoruba beliefs. An attendant rang a tiny bell and I was told that I had come in peace and I would go in peace, which I did, leaving behind a lingering memory of Ms.Wenger lost in meditation beside the river.

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