Qui est Aje dans la religion yoruba ?

Aje est l'orisha de la richesse, du commerce et de la prospérité dans la religion yoruba. Associée aux cauris, ancienne monnaie d'Afrique de l'Ouest, et aux marchés dont la tradition la dit fondatrice et gardienne, elle accorde la réussite économique. Les fidèles l'invoquent pour la prospérité des affaires, particulièrement les jours de marché.

Quelle différence entre l'orisha Aje et les aje appelées sorcières ?

Le yoruba est une langue à tons : écrits sans signes diacritiques, deux mots distincts se confondent. L'orisha Aje est la divinité de la richesse et du commerce. Les aje, prononcées différemment, désignent les puissances mystiques féminines appelées avec respect awon iya wa, nos mères, célébrées et apaisées par les masques Gelede. Les deux notions ne doivent pas être confondues.

Comment Aje est-elle vénérée ?

Son culte s'exprime surtout les jours de marché, lieu par excellence de la circulation des richesses dans la culture yoruba. Les offrandes traditionnelles comprennent cauris, miel et noix de kola. Dans la divination d'Ifa, la bénédiction de richesse, ire aje, figure parmi les bienfaits demandés. Trouver certains cauris rares passe pour un signe de sa faveur.

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AJE

ally

Goddess

☥ SpiritYoruba →Yoruba — YorubaElder

Gender: FeminineSign: richesse

Aje is the orisha of wealth, trade and prosperity in Yoruba religion, sometimes named Aje Saluga. Tradition binds her to Olokun, deity of the riches of the ocean. Her emblem is the cowrie, the shell that served as currency in West Africa, and her domain is the market: the narratives of Ile-Ife make her the founder and keeper of the primordial market of Ejigbomekun. Traders and families invoke her for success in business, and the blessing of wealth, ire aje, counts among the benefits that the priests of Ifa request for their consultants. Her offerings include cowries, honey and kola nuts, and her cult finds expression especially on market days. One clarification is needed: in Yoruba, a tonal language, the word aje also designates, with a different pronunciation, the mystical feminine powers respectfully called awon iya wa, our mothers, often translated as witches. These powers, celebrated and appeased by the Gelede masks studied by Henry John Drewal and Margaret Thompson Drewal, are not to be confused with the orisha of wealth: only the toneless spelling brings them together. The figure of Aje remains alive in Nigeria, where the faithful honour her for prosperity, and the Lucumi tradition of Cuba, born of the Afro-diasporic pantheons, knows Aje Shaluga as an orisha of fortune.

Powers & Attributes

wealth

Role in the ROHO universe

Keeper of abundance. AJE makes goods circulate among humankind and prevents sterile accumulation. Bound to the Yoruba pantheon.

Sacred Mask

An ancient ritual mask of sacred wood, old metal and black stone, engraved with symbols of wealth, embodiment of the power of Aje

Era

Ancient cycle

Frequently asked questions

Who is Aje in Yoruba religion?

Aje is the orisha of wealth, trade and prosperity in Yoruba religion. Associated with cowries, the old currency of West Africa, and with the markets of which tradition makes her the founder and keeper, she grants economic success. The faithful invoke her for the prosperity of their affairs, especially on market days.

What is the difference between the orisha Aje and the aje called witches?

Yoruba is a tonal language: written without diacritics, two distinct words become confused. The orisha Aje is the deity of wealth and trade. The aje, pronounced differently, designate the mystical feminine powers respectfully called awon iya wa, our mothers, celebrated and appeased by the Gelede masks. The two notions must not be confused.

How is Aje venerated?

Her cult finds expression above all on market days, the place par excellence of the circulation of wealth in Yoruba culture. The traditional offerings include cowries, honey and kola nuts. In Ifa divination, the blessing of wealth, ire aje, figures among the benefits requested. Finding certain rare cowries is held to be a sign of her favour.

Related spirits

OLÓDÙMARÈ (OLORUN)ORÚNMÌLÀ ÒṢUN (OSHUN)

Sources and references

E. Bolaji Idowu, Olodumare: God in Yoruba Belief (1962)
Henry John Drewal et Margaret Thompson Drewal, Gelede: Art and Female Power among the Yoruba (1983)
Wande Abimbola, Ifá: An Exposition of Ifá Literary Corpus (1976)