On Thursday, June 27th 2024 at HCC’s Heinien Theater, the H-Town Orchestra, Opera, and Theater Company through Jampac Entertainment put on the production of Once on This Island…As Told by the Gods! This version of Once on This Island: As told by the Gods! excluded all human characters, creating a one-on-one storytime and reggae jam session between the “gods” and the audience! One of the four “gods” was the “goddess” Asaka, played by Antonia Adams. Here is a bit more info on understanding Asaka’s spiritual essence, and the correlations between Asaka and Her older depiction, the Orisa Onile. In the Haitan Vodou Traditions, Asaka is the “goddess” of harvest. In some beliefs, Asaka is a male.
We popularly know the Mother Earth Spirit as Mother Nature, or Gaia(GUY-AY-UH), but Orisa Tradition calls Her Onile(OH-KNEE-LAY).
When we recognize the Earth as a living thing, we seek to live in harmony with Her. She is the ultimate womb that takes in the seeds, cultivates them to fruition, and brings forth fruitful harvests. She doesn’t really influence the choices of humans. She ensures that we reap what we sow by simply harvesting what we plant in seed…or deed. Onile is a keeper of Divine timing, teaching all of us patience as we journey to our destined harvests. As Ecclesiastes speaks, a time and place for everything. She spins on her own time, making sure that what goes around comes in the full circle of Her dance. That dance translates to humans as seasons.
If The Most High God is angry, Onile brings stagnance, famine through chaos and crop failure. She decomposes the dead to bring forth new life. She gives a great Mothers’ love to all creatures through providing food through vegetation, healthy trees for building, fertility for repopulating, and countless other things…no matter what road in life we take. Everything we touch comes from Mother Earth, one way or the other. She reminds us to mimic Her in giving, because She put more than enough here for us all.
This is what makes the song “Mama Will Provide” so key. Although Asaka did not agree with Ti Moune’s choices, She still provided all that was needed for Her journey. Asaka(Onile) ensures that everything grows, including people. It is by our own free will that we become fruit trees…or Venus flytraps. Either way, She will harvest!
This is two of a four part teaching series of the four “gods” that appear on Once on This Island. Return to the main article HERE for the scoop on Agwe, Erzulie, and Papa Ge! Make sure you check out https://jampacentertainment.com/ for more information about booking, past productions, and future projects!
Listen to the audio version of this article in Tuesday’s rotation of 222.9 The Mothership Internet Radio, infused with the old school groove of the Divine Fathers of Song!
Ase in Love,
iiiYansaje T. Muse
