Mazo for Erinle

My guardian orisha is Erinle, or "Inle" the riverine orisha of the hunt, medicine, divination, wealth and intellect. Most olorisha encounter Erinle as an orisha they may receive as an adimu orisha, that is, an orisha who is ritually received post-priesthood initiation prescribed in ita and through subsequent divination. Often Erinle is mandated due to his life affirming and health-giving attributes. He is the healer and physician of the orisha pantheon. He uses Osanyin's herbs to heal. A staff or trident called Ibojuto is also received when Erinle that is consecrated for the initiate. The staff, much like the winged caduceus is a potent symbol of Erinle's mastery of herbalism. It is also a symbol of the hunt and of divination.

While Erinle has many benevolent qualities, he is also a hunter as are his brothers, Ogun and Oshosi. Warrior orisha are able to reside both within the home (socially) or in the forest (solitary, untamed and untrammelled energy) where instincts of the hunt and strategy of survival and protection are primary attributes for each of these ebora orisha.

Erinle is specifically praised as Oba Kobaye, the King of Kobaye, his underwater domain, said to be located in one of the eddies of the Erinle River near Oshogbo in Osun state, Nigeria. Additionaly, Erinle is an orisha of wealth and rarefied and refined taste. He is adorned with red coral, jet (azabache), and gold. This splendour is reflected in the various ceremonies performed for Erinle where attention to detail is crucial. His offerings are elaborate, and can be thought of as haute cuisine.

Ritually, Erinle is attributed many colours that are used to adorn his shrine and reflected in his accoutrements. Vestments such as the initiation gown and panuelos made for Erinle can incorporate blue, yellow, gold, green, turquoise and dusky pink. His "true" eleke is made of the aforementioned real gold, coral, and jet. Given the high cost of these materials, over time, they have been replaced completely or interspersed with Erinle's signature glass bead that is yellow with red and green stripes. In the absence of available striped beads as they have themselves become quite rare; green, yellow and blue glass beads are used to represent Erinle in necklaces.

The mazo I made for my Erinle took many months. First, I had to source all of the beads I needed which took several weeks. I wanted to incorporate real gold, jet and coral beads in the design as well as his signature striped beads. The tassles are finished with stone fish beads in various colours associated with Erinle. Whilst darker, royal blue, is more often than not used in Erinle's beadwork, I opted for the lighter, torquoise blue in honour of his hunting characteristics, and also to differentiate the mazo from the blue used in Yemaya Ogunte's mazo which is also found in Oshosi's mazo.