THE MAKING OF THINGS

ACCORDING TO YORUBA tradition, Ayizan, a root Loa, controls the Marketplace and Commerce.  Regarded as the first archetypal Mambo Priestess, she is associated with priestly knowledge and initiation. As a spiritual parent of priesthood, she gives the tool of priesthood, a sacred rattle—Ayizan's Asson—to the initiated future Mambo priest/ess.

Yoruba tradition also perceives the Universe as the two halves of a closed calabash. One half symbolizes the world of the living, Aiyé, while the other one, Orun, represents the realm of spiritual powers. Both halves are held together by supreme God, Olodumare, symbolized by a serpent biting its own tail.

Like the poet who is fascinated by words and sounds, I am captivated by lines and symbols.

Is this the reason for my curiosity about other forms of capturing ideas and meanings, as is the case with Haitian vévés or Adinkra symbolism?

The Palm, one of Ayizan's attributes, is contained in the vévé found on the grip of the rattle’s shaft, so that when the initiated grabs it, the rattle clashes, the gourd sings so as to “never leave time's dancers weary like this tree that makes and mocks our music."

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Martina Pilé has worked as a professional visual artist in Barbados since 1982.  She uses many 2D & 3D mediums as a mean to explore the myths, legends & stories of the 3 main cultures that impacted the Caribbean. She opened MZPilé VisualArt Studio in 2003.  The making of this piece was inspired by the paragraph on “gourds and rattles” in Kamau’s poem.