Inside the Shrine: Priestess Patience Obazelu’s Journey with Olokun and Mammy-Wata
Patience Obazelu has served as a dedicated priestess of Olokun and Mammy-Wata in Benin City since her secondary school days. In her early practice she used a harmonica and drew chalk iconographs—like the two-headed snake and fish—on the shrine floor to honor the water spirits. Her path began after a severe paralysis and twisted head left her unable to walk or speak normally. Initiation into Olokun and later into Mammy-Wata worship brought remarkable transformations. She even experienced electrical “Oriri” shocks until final initiation soothed her spirit and body. Patience’s vibrant altar blends local and foreign imagery—chromolith prints of snake charmers delineate her Mammy-Wata space from Olokun’s. At her feet, mystic symbols map each divinity’s realm. Since her 1990–91 field interview, her life has flourished under these devotions.
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