July 18, 2024
Tambor Oshun - a Celebration
Article and Photography by Holland Hook
At the River for Oshun
Tambor Oshun, the June moon service giveaway, brought us an altar shining in yards and yards of shimmering yellow and gold cloth with piles of fruit and flowers, offerings to the beloved Orisha of Sweet Waters.
The People first gathered to create the elaborate Adimu Oshun, an offering of calabash-a pumpkin-like gourd, filled with honey, cinnamon, oranges, roses, and candles. This was reverently carried to the river, where it was set afloat amid many blessings from a senior Oshun Priestess, blessings of joy, love, prosperity, and abundance upon the people.
Honoring the Orisha.
After a brief, tasty snack, the Tambor itself began. It featured the sacred Bata drummers, playing and singing to the Orishas for the benefit of the people. The drumming was mesmerizing, and we danced and sang joyously for Oshun. It was beautiful to see people new to the culture learning the responses to the songs and adding their voices to the ancient call and response songs.
This was followed by some very sacred moments which I can not reveal, because they were only for the people who attended, but a lot of blessings were brought to us through the auspices of the consecrated dancer at this time.
Finally, we concluded the beautiful ceremonies by breaking bread together with a traditional Cuban meal of rice, beans, and pollo con papa-chicken and potatoes which some very dedicated folks had spent all day cooking! A delicious end to a wonderful day!"
The Trono