Understanding The Odun Tradition

The Odun tradition is a basic feature of the social and religious life of Maroon Tribes living in Africa today. This secret group, common among the Boni and the Saramaka, corresponds to the cult of Gwangwela (Grantata) among the Djuka.

Myths to explain the relationships between the Boni god Nana and Odun lack, but it is clear that Odun was sent to humanity by the supreme God of the Boni people known as Masa Gadu as law-giver and judge.

ㅤㅤThe laws of Odun are negative; certain acts are forbidden to the Maroon tribes who have taken a binding oath. Odun punishes violators by death or illness without the intervention of men.

Odun forbids: 

1. Sorcery (actions designed to kill) 
2. Vengeance (if one believes he is a victim of witchcraft, he must not invoke counter-witchcraft or invoke his ancestors against his enemy; one can only seek protection under obia (positive magic) - and sooner or later Odun will kill the wrongdoer 
3. Violence (it is a grave offense against Odun to make human blood flow) 
4. Restraint on the freedom of persons to reside in a particular place 
5. All evocation of the spirits of the dead other than public ceremonies prescribed by custom; for example, no one can go to the cemetery to pray individually at the grave of his ancestors.

Violence can be pardoned if the offender repents and makes an offering of tafia (rum) or leaves tobacco in the chapel for Odun.