Obatal Obnl:

This is another female Obatal whom some

say comes to
us from the Arara influence on the Yoruba in both Cuba and
Nigeria;
in their language, her name is Seyitenu, and it means "the
light
who
gave hope to our world." She is known as the godmother of
the
Holy
City Il If, and takes a special interest in protecting
that
city
and it's people. In her sopera should be some semi-precious
stones:
four clear quartz and four rose quartz. She is a very
elevated
spirit, very pure, and takes a lot of white flowers,
especially tuby
roses. She is from the court of Odua, and it is very
important that
within eight years of their ocha, Obnl's children receive
Odua if
they hope to live up to their destinies. So tight is the
pact that
these two orishas have that everytime Odua eats, she must
eat with
him. Also, Ochanla should eat with the two of them when Odua
eats,
and before receiving Odua the Obanla priest should have
Ochanla as
well. There are four orishas that the initiate of Obanla
must receive
before receiving Odua. Those four orishas are Ochanla,
Bromu, Brosia,
and Aguidai; those four, plus Odua, completes the ach of
the
Obanla
priest.

To clear up some matters and misconceptions. Obanla is a

female
aspect of Obatala who among the Arrara is called Seyitenu.
She is
the light that appears and is Iyanla (godmother) of Ife. Her
tools
are the same as Obatala's but there is an addition of a sun
with 16
rays, a precious stone, 4 more snakes, and a blessed
sacrament (un
santisimo).
Obanla has 2 Osuns that are made to stand outside of her
tureen. One
of the Osuns is a silver cane with 3 crowns descending in
size and
the other an Osun with doves at different heights. The
latter must be
charged which is something that is overlooked constantly
when this
orisha is received. There is also a small cane that is
wrapped in
beads which have a distinct pattern (16 white beads, one
green) this
encases the cane as a whole. The cane is then mounted on a
piece of
wood so it can stand or you can place it on the tureen. I
have
personally made several sets of tools for this orisha and
was
thrilled to learn of their meaning, all of which a recipient
of this
orisha learns when they receive it. The necklace for Obanla
is 16
white beads, a transparent rose bead (rose quartz), a green
bead, and
a transparent rose bead (rose quartz), till a desired length
is
reached. There is also a Agboran (hand-carved doll) of a
woman with
a moon in her hand. She wears a skirt of blue and mother of
pearl
white. The doll must also be charged with certain
ingredients that
once again is the realm of oriates and ozainistas. This doll
is then

fed Eya tutu (fresh fish) and Etun fun fun (white guinea
hen) with
Obatala and Ozun. Obanla is the spirit which accompanies
Obatala, if
the person has Odduduwa then Obanla eats with him.
The ceremony to receive this orisha is very solemn and very
reminiscent of an Odduduwa ceremony. Needles to say this
path of
Obatala requires the usual set of animals and 8 additional
white
doves. The ceremony for receiving the orisha also requires a
special
ceremony during the matanza, which if not done or omitted
then you do
not have the pact with Obanla and your Ori.
Obanla also has an Eleggua that goes in her tureen and has
some
special ingredients in addition to the regular charge. This
Eleggua
should be washed with Obanla and not in a separate omiero,
as there
are key differences between the omiero of the normal Eleggua
and
Obanla.