Obi Agbon: Lukumi Divination with Coconut

Very well written and informative! Great level of research put into the subject matter. Sure to help initiates every where!

"Obi Agbon Lukumi divination with coconut" by Miguel (Willie) Ramos is well written and an excellent work of research on coconut divination in the Lukumi tradition in the Cuban Diaspora as well as cola nut divination in the Nago tradition in Brazil.I have been a worshiper in the Lukumi tradition since 1969 and a member of the priesthood of the Lukumi tradition since 1978 and it did not take having to read it for very long to learn that "Obi Agbon Lukumi divination with coconut", is a book that is about much, much more than the title implies.A lot of what I am referring to can be found in the first 32 pages of the book starting with the first page of the preface. If you decide to buy this book be sure to read the preface. If you already own a copy of this book and you have not read the preface please go back and read the preface!On the first page of the preface Obi Agbon speaks of the "marked and gloomy decline in the level of basic philosophical, ritual and practical knowledge professed by the Lukumi community." Still on the first page of the preface we learn that "a dangerous internal current threatens to undermine the legacy of our ancestors with new and questionable theologies, mythologies, rituals, and hierarchies that reflect the growing hegemonic tendencies of some Lukumis at the expense of our heritage and traditions."On page vii we meet two of the priests of the Orisha Shango who worked establish the foundation the Lukumi tradition and the ordination process as it still is practiced by many. These two priests who came to the Cuban Diaspora in chains were Ajayi Latuan also known as Ajayi Lewu and by her "Slave name" Timotea Albear when she was owned by Count Albear, the other was Oba Tero, whose slave name was Monserrate Gonzales.Both Ajayi Latuan and Oba Tero were trained to do the work of Oriate which is to say that they were experts in rituals and ceremonies and expert Dilogun diviners before the came as captives to Cuba and it was they who established the standards of community, religious obligation and the concepts of gratitude and loyalty to ones Godparents.The preface speaks of the very real fact that not everyone is born to ordained into the priesthood, and that pride and arrogance and I must add ignorance among those who are new to the religion and new to the priesthood have worked to make superfluous and disposable religious obligations, as well as gratitude and loyalty to ones Godparents. Page 5 of the introduction tells us that Ajayi Latuan who lived until the 1930s had to suffer the indignity of arrest as did Cuban born elders like Susana Cantero who was arrested as late as 1932 and it offers a recount the time 1940 when a group of priests were arrested in the middle of an ordination ceremony as was the person being ordained.I am pointing out all of this because it is extremely important that it be known that were it not for the work of Ajayi Latuan, Obatero and Cuban born elders like Susana Cantero, Tomas Romero and Jose Roche who both worked as Oriate and a host of other Olorisha the Lukumi religion would not have survived into the twenty first century and a work like "Obi Agbon Lukumi divination with coconut" might never have been needed or written.

They ususally say that if a book can't capture your attention in the first page it's a lost cause for the rest.The book had me at the Preface.As a practitioner of the Lucumi religion for the past ten years and now a new priest, this book is invaluable. Yes, for the obvious reason of how to do Obi divination, but also the historical backing that is offered is refreshing. In the last ten years that I have delve into personal studies there are very few books that come from a factual and historical standing as Ilari Oba has done in this work. Many come from a very emotional, and dare I say, theatrical standpoint which further assists in feeding the portrayed "Hollywoodness" of our faith. I appreciated the presentation of the pioneers of our faith which, as a new priest, this is important to me to know how hard pioneers fought to advance this faith. With this in mind I am placed with a bigger responsibility to not only uphold this faith in righteousness, but to also respect it by making sure that I stay true and not deviate from the work that has been put forth- we truly stand on their shoulders. As you can see I have not moved from the preface yet because there is so much presented there that is not talked about once you become an active practitioner of this faith. From the preface alone I am in a place where I am challenged to continue the foundations of this faith in the grounded truth that has been established- Ilari Oba definitely makes that standard so that you have that tangible responsibility that kind of "sits on your shoulders" as you read the rest of the book.I have read other books on Obi but they failed in that they did not offer the historical point of view. They also failed as they did not offer the depthness of explanation of prayers and the meaning of how Obi falls. I appreciate the clear diagrams and pictures- he does a great job here, which leads one to ask other questions of Lucumi cosmogony, which hmmmmm, maybe next?! Seriously, I appreciate the respect of not only this divination system that is exuded in this work that also translates to the reader that this spiritual life and walk is grounded and founded.In respect I can't speak for older priest and what this work does for them, but as a new priest I am grateful for this work. The veil is truly lifted so that it's a little more than that sigh of relief when all of the cocos fall white side up and you think that secret "yay", but now there is meaning to the other positions as well and the immediacy of the communication from the Orisha is present. I love books that offer a two-in-oner- this work offers a multitude of gifts in that it gives history, names and accolades of our pioneers, respect to Obi and meanings/definitions so that prayers are spoken in surety and power. For the price point this book is a "must" to have, and not one that is read and sat on the shelf but it should be dog-eared, highlighted, stuff written in the columns, and protected (so make the borrower go get their own-LOL).

The book was engrossing for me because it gave a historical background/research of Obi as it is utilized now in our tradition rather than the simple “there were no kola nuts in Cuba so we use coconuts” explanation. Instead it delves into the questionable facet of apere which I always questioned as a new, possibly esoteric, practice. Apere always felt like how casting bones in some Afro-American traditions (possibly limited to Hoodoo) relied on the pattern the bones fell and not only whether they landed “face down” or “face up.” The historical thread that allowed for our communication with the Divine is detailed in this book which obviously demonstrates the author's immersion in historical documents and research. This book benefits Lukumi/Santeria priests as well as those interested in this religious practice on a potential spiritual and/or anthropological level.

Baba Willie Ramos has left no stone unturned in his revised book Obi Agbon. He has taken each bit of information new or old and painstakingly followed it through its journey of truth. The integrity of the information in this book has become a historical benchmark for all olorishas on their journey of truth and the continued unfolding of the will of Olodumare, Eggun, and Orisha on this plan of existence. Obi Agbon has given a clear way to journey into the unknown and discover the true nature of our work here.Thank You!