A chant of praise to Oxum, the Orixá of beauty, gold, and the mirror. Listen in the video above and follow the lyrics.
Adé kojú iyá, meiwura (miwa)
meiwura (miwa), meiwura (miwa)
lei oma de xirê iwa
mori wa o mon je iwo
The lyrics and meaning
The spelling is phonetic, as sung in the circle. Two elements help to understand the praise:
- Adé means "crown" in Yoruba, a reference to Oxum's royalty and her golden ornament. Oxum is the Orixá of gold and sacred vanity, frequently represented with a crown and mirror (abebé).
- Wura / meiwura refers to gold, Oxum's metal par excellence.
The chant celebrates Oxum in her dimension as a crowned queen of gold, mistress of beauty and wealth, the same one who looks at herself in the mirror and cares for the shine of life.
Who is Oxum
Oxum is the Orixá of fresh waters, love, beauty, fertility, and gold. Her metal is gold/brass and her symbol is the abebé, the fan-mirror with which she contemplates her own beauty. Greeting: “Ora yêyê ô!”. See the complete profile of Oxum.
When this chant is sung
It enters the xirê, the circle of chants that greets each Orixá. It is sung to call and celebrate Oxum, normally in the ijexá toque.
Frequently asked questions
What does "adé" mean in the chant?
Adé means "crown" in Yoruba. The word evokes the royalty of Oxum, the crowned orixá (orisha), mistress of gold and beauty.
Why is Oxum associated with gold and the mirror?
Oxum rules wealth, beauty, and sacred vanity. Gold is her metal, and the abebé (golden fan-mirror) is the symbol with which she contemplates her own image, hence the connection with the mirror.
