IJIMERE
neutralSpirit
Ijimere, written ìjímèrè in Yoruba, first of all designates the patas monkey, Erythrocebus patas, a primate of the West African savannas. The term nevertheless goes beyond the zoological sense in Yoruba culture, where the monkey holds a place in proverbs and narratives. One tradition evokes Ijimere Baba Obo, presented as the master of the monkeys and a companion of Orunmila, the spirit of wisdom, from whom he is said to have drifted away through lack of discipline. The monkey also appears in the proverbial register, as in the saying that warns the patas about the trees it climbs. This figure belongs to the Yoruba domain rather than to the Fon or Ewe world. Its scholarly documentation remains limited, and it belongs to animal folklore and oral wisdom rather than to a structured cult or a deity of the pantheon.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
Voice of the forest. IJIMERE watches the spirits of the woods and negotiates with the hunters the respect of the places. Bound to the Fon/Eʋe pantheon. Its alignment depends on the invoker's protocol.
Sacred Mask
An ancient ritual mask of fired clay, bronze and fossilised roots, engraved with symbols of forest, embodiment of the power of Ijimere
Era
Ancient cycle
Frequently asked questions
Is Ijimere a deity?
No, not in the strict sense. The word designates the patas monkey and, in the Yoruba oral tradition, a proverbial animal figure rather than a god of the pantheon.
To which people is Ijimere attached?
To the Yoruba of West Africa. The term and its narratives are Yoruba, even if they circulate in a wider cultural space shared with the neighbouring peoples.
What is the link between Ijimere and wisdom?
One tradition presents Ijimere Baba Obo as the master of the monkeys and a close companion of Orunmila, spirit of wisdom, from whom he is said to have drifted away through indiscipline.