Àṣẹ, also spelled aṣẹ, ase, or ashe, is a Yoruba philosophy representing the power that makes things happen and produces change within the Yoruba religion. It is believed to be given by Olódùmarè to all things — gods, ancestors, spirits, humans, animals, plants, rocks, rivers, and voiced words such as songs, prayers, praises, curses, and even everyday conversation.
According to Yoruba thought, existence is dependent upon àṣẹ.
In addition to its sacred characteristics, àṣẹ also has important social connotations, translated as "power, authority, command."
A person who, through training, experience, and initiation, learns to use this essential life force to willfully effect change is called an aláàṣẹ.
Rituals invoking divine forces are designed to address the autonomous àṣẹ of particular entities. Recognition of the uniqueness and autonomy of the àṣẹ of people and gods structures society and its relationship with the otherworld.
Àṣẹ and Yoruba Art
The concept of àṣẹ influences Yoruba art composition. In the visual arts, designs are often segmented or seriate — discrete units sharing equal value. This can be seen in:
- Ifá trays and bowls
- Veranda posts
- Carved doors
- Ancestral masks
According to Drewal:
"Units often have no prescribed order and are interchangeable. Attention to the discrete units of the whole produces a form which is multifocal, with shifts in perspective and proportion... Such compositions mirror a world order of structurally different yet autonomous elements. It is a formal means of organizing diverse powers, not only to acknowledge their autonomy but to evoke, invoke, and activate them into the phenomenal world."
Art and ritual are therefore integrally linked in Yoruba culture.
The Head (Orí) as the Site of Àṣẹ
In Yoruba thought, the head (orí) is the site of a person’s àṣẹ and their essential nature (ìwà).
In sculpture, the head is often rendered four to five times larger than proportionate size to signify its importance.
- Òde: The outer, physical appearance, which can mask or reveal inner qualities.
- Inú: The inner head, representing character traits such as patience and self-control, which should dominate outer appearance.
The head also connects the person to the spiritual world. The Ìmorí ceremony ("knowing-the-head") is the first rite after a Yoruba child’s birth, where a diviner determines if the child comes from their maternal/paternal lineage or from a specific òrìṣà.
If from an òrìṣà, the child undergoes initiation in adulthood, during which the orí inú becomes the vessel for that òrìṣà's àṣẹ. Preparations involve shaving, bathing, and anointing the head.
Types of Àṣẹ
- Máyẹhùn
- Àfọ̀ṣẹ
- Gbétùngbétùn
- Olúgbohùn
Modern Usage in the Diaspora
Since the late 20th century, especially during the Afrocentricity movement in the Anglophone diaspora, "Àṣẹ" has become a common term in the United States, signifying affirmation or hopeful wishes.
It is also used in Black Christian religious contexts as an equivalent or replacement for Amen.
In Popular Culture
- Viola Davis, American actress, founded Àṣẹ Audio, which signed a deal with Audible for podcast production.
See Also
References
- Bascom, W. R. (1960). "Yoruba Concepts of the Soul." In Men and Cultures. Ed. A. F. C. Wallace. University of California Press, pp. 408.
- Prince, R. (1960). "Curse, Innovation and Mental Health among the Yoruba." Canadian Psychiatric Journal, 5(2): 66.
- Verger, P. (1864). "The Yoruba High God - A Review of the Sources." Paper presented at the Conference on the High God in Africa, University of Ife.
- Ayoade, J. A. A. (1979). "The Concept of Inner Essence in Yoruba Traditional Medicine." In African Therapeutic Systems. Crossroad Press, pp. 51.
- Fagg, W. B., & Pemberton, J. (1982). Yoruba Sculpture of West Africa. Alfred A. Knopf, pp. 52ff.
- Drewal, M. T., & Drewal, H. J. (1983). Gelede: A Study of Art and Feminine Power Among the Yoruba. Indiana University Press, pp. 5–6, 73ff.
- Jones, O. O. J. L. (2015). Theatrical Jazz: Performance, Àse, and the Power of the Present Moment. Ohio State University Press, pp. 215–243.