The Ibeyis or Jimaguas

The Ibeyis, the mabaças, jimaguas or the holy children. Orishas represented by the twins. The tireless and unstoppable. For them there is no obstacle that frightens them, not for nothing did they defeat the devil himself, those are the twins.

Who are the Jimaguas or the Ibeyis?

These twin deities, contrary to the erês, considered infantile entities related to all Orishas and human beings, are infantile divinities, that is, Orishas children.

Because they are twins they are associated with the principle of duality. Their childlike characteristic makes them relate them to what begins and sprouts as: the birth of a river, the birth of human beings, the germination of plants, and all origins in general. They are known under the names of: taewo and kainde.

Who is the mother of the Jimaguas?

The jimaguas are children of the orisha oshun and his father is Shango. They were raised by Oyá who greatly appreciates them.

Characteristics of the jimaguas

The Ibeyis or Jimaguas are deities that represent fortune, luck and prosperity. The ability to save from death and evil influences is attributed as a major virtue. They can be located on the paths within the mountain, and therefore, they are opportune protectors of the walkers.

Their most important symbol are the drums, thanks to which they managed to defeat Abita (the demon). Twins can be identified in three combinations: female and male, two males, or two females.

Day of the Ibeyis

Its celebration due to the traditions of syncretism takes place on September 27.

Necklaces and colors of the Ibeyis

Their colors are: red, white and blue, therefore, their necklaces are made with sections of those same colors.

Its number is 2 and all its multiples. Its receptacle is two small jars, normally one is white or red and white and the other is white and blue.

Its attributes include a hand of snails, four elongated stones in the shape of a penis, four round stones in the shape of a vulva, two dolls (one dressed in blue and the other in red) that sit on two chairs, two maracas (acheré) , two drums.

How to attend the Jimaguas? Adimuses and offerings

The most popular food of the Ibeyis is the yellow rice with chicken that is made with the chickens of their consecration. You are offered sweets and candies. They are served with eku (smoked jutia), eya (smoked fish) and awado (roasted corn).

Traditional dishes of Afro-Cuban cuisine are also offered such as: okuo con abola (yam shredded with mushroom sauce). Ekuru (black bean tamale). Adalu (red bean tamale). Ekru (caritas bean tamale). Olele (face bean tamale with bija). Ekru ara (face bean tamale with shell). Agbado agulu were elede dindin (refined corn, with fried pork) eja dindin (fried fish) bread and rosettes or popcorn.

They are also offered all kinds of fruits such as: mamey de Santo Domingo, sugar apple, soursop, canistel, orange, mango, platanillo, guava, mamoncillo and pineapple.

Chickens and pigeons are slaughtered.

Herbs of the Jimaguas

Cagadiña de gallina, hicaco, small leaf, mamoncillo, manaju, paste, cat tail, sapote, tomato, among others.

The Ibeyis in the Catholic religion

The syncretism of the Ibeyis or Jimaguas is carried out through the Catholic saints San Cosme and San Damián. His relationship with these Christian doctors, in addition to the obvious because they are brothers, is due to the fact that Cosme and Damián are very popular for their ability in the practice of medicine, which is related to the twins to be representatives of the fight for the salvation of its devoted and worthy workers against evil.

Another characteristic in common is that these Catholic saints exercised their profession in a disinterested way with the sole purpose of helping and saving others, always representing their faith in actions, even being tortured, being burned alive, surprisingly surviving, then being beheaded by Diocletian's order in AD 300. C.

What is common in their circumstances is the fervor with which both deities carry out their mission, the twins were also not afraid to face the same demon, and until today their mission is maintained as they are deities that even in the most difficult moment and before the More complex adversity does not stop fighting to help us. 

Prayer of the Ibeyis «Jimaguas» in Yoruba

Se b'Olodumare Oba ni, Oba Olodumare lofejire jin or loje ko or bi'beji le ekan soso o.

Eniti 'a re ba mo l'Oluwa fun lore.

Eni Ejire ba n wuu, bi laye ko yaa ni 'wa tútù ko ni un ure n lotus.

Igi Olowo mo se.

O ji fi 'lu kii be eni r'Aláàfin Orun a ji jija du ewa.

O ji fi 'lu kii be eni r'Aláàfin Orun a ji jija du ewa.

Omo to wole oloro ti ò de si ore alákìsa or so alákìsa d'onigba asor. TOse.

Traducción:

It is the Creator, the King, it is the Creator who blessed him with twins. That is why you had two in one go.

Twins are awarded to a person whose warmth is pure.

Let her have the illusions that someone with twins adopts a kind character that allows them to be honest and transparent.

I collect the firewood of that splendor.

Twin stelae on top of a roll of royal drums, similar to those of the King of Heard in Heaven who awakens to fight the battle for the art of beauty.

The twin sees the rich man and forgets about him because he loves people dressed in rags. The twin will transform that person into a model with a royal outfit and wealth, thus transform us. Asé.

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Learn: Ideu, the son of Oshun

Song to the Jimaguas or Ibeyis

Akuon: Omo Belli Omo Be Osha rere.

Chorus: Gueregerenya.

Akuon: Omo Belli Omo Be Osha rere.

Chorus: Gueregerenya.

Akuon: Arabauna Kairobo Inarere.

Chorus: Gueregerenya.

Akuon: Omo Belli Omo Be Osha rere.

Chorus: Gueregerenya.

Akuon: Mellire Omoledun Mellire Omoledun Belli Mellila Abedun oyare.

Chorus: Mellire Omoledun Mellire Omoledun Belli Mellila Abedun oyare.

Akuon: Beautiful Karaa Beautiful Kara Mabo Yare.

Chorus: Beautiful Kara Beautiful Kara Mabo Yare.

Akuon: Beautiful Kara Maboyare Beautiful Kara Maboyare

Chorus: Beautiful Karaa Beautiful Kara Mabo Yare.

Akuon: Son Do lo Jimawua Son Do Alabella Aure.

Chorus: Son Do lo Jimawua Son Do Alabella Aure.

Akuon: Son Do lo Jimawua Son Do Alabella Aure.

Chorus: Son Do lo Jimawua Son Do Alabella Aure.

History of the Ibeyis

Birth of the Ibeyis (odu oshe bara).

Oshun happened to be living with Shango in the ñomu ñomu lands and was pregnant. Shango always traveled and one of his trips took longer than usual. It was then that Oshun gave birth to 2 children at the same time whom he called: Taiwo and Kainde. For that reason she was criticized by the people of that town, they had never seen a woman give birth to two babies, so they said that Oshun had been unfaithful to Shango.

Desperate and scared of being defamed wherever she went, Oshun took her two children to a malangal and covered them with ewe ikoko (malanga). He immediately left for Orunmila's house, who saw this Ifa that emphasized language, gossip and slander.

Orunmila made the corresponding sacrifices and sent her to Olofin's house. He received her quickly and said: You gave birth in the ewe ikoko, but another one called iddeu has yet to give birth, but to give birth you have to go to the river with the kuekueye (duck) that you made ebbo (sacrifice) and leave it in the river bank. There you will order taking a lot of akara, oñi, ekru, and with 3 malaguidi. Then you will bury the kuekueye on the shore and recite the following:

Idemoro omo edun omo shiyi wuaye edun yovi edun egbogbo edewu onido.

Olofin ended his sentence saying: the children you had no longer look for them because they are in the power of Oya who took them, but now you will have another child. Oshun did the ebbo and the ceremony that Olofin told him and gave birth to another son. After that, Olofin called everyone who lived in that land and told them: now everyone will have to learn and your Shango for letting yourself be carried away by languages, you should also know that from now on every woman will be able to give birth to twins and triplets and there will be no infidelity as there was not from Oshun towards Shango. In the same way, from now on to be born omo Orisha, ewe ikoko has to be present to remove all the araye and the oguede (bananas) so that it is known that Shango recognizes that birth, taking away all the bad things that this initiate had before being born. .

It is from this story that it is understood why when the initiate is to consecrate himself in kariosha he is taken to the river to bathe him and his secret must be wrapped in ewe ikoko, it also explains the reason and importance of placing a bunch of green bananas in the door of the house or the door of the saint's room to have Shango's blessing.

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Pataki of the Jimaguas

It happened that at the beginning of the creation of the world the roads were closed and those who ventured out never returned. For this reason, communications were impossible, it was not possible to go to other lands. However, there were men who took risks, they preferred misfortune to living a monotonous life, getting lost in unknown places.

In one of these isolated villages lived a married couple with 20 children. When the boys grew up they went to those unknown routes. Their mother suffered the loss by never seeing them again. This is how life went by until they entered old age they had a pair of twins. They brought a lot of joy, everyone adored them. The Ibeyis slept in a yawa and had on their neck a cross made of an ox jar with a jet attached to a pearl necklace, in their ashe they had the light of Obatala.

His mother took care of them carefully since Orunmila had told her that they were a gift from Shango I already. One day they told their parents that they would leave the town to put an end to the situation that caused everyone to perish when traveling on the roads on the outskirts of their lands, their mother was immediately scared but Shango through his saint's horses he sent a message telling her not to worry that he and Oya were protecting them and that they would overcome the situation.

Shango gave each one a drum. They went to Orunmila who saw this Ifa, they made ebbo with akuko (rooster), eyele (dove), the ilu (drums) and the crucifixes that they had around their necks.

When all the women of the place left they danced the round of the ibeyis and the mother gave each one a wooden plate and they continued to the outskirts of the town along that road that led to the land of the devil, where everyone was lost and no one. was coming back.

The Ibejis defeat the devil

Following Orumila's advice, the jimaguas slept under the igui (stick) that he had recommended to them, thus receiving greater strength to face what awaited them. In that land you could not go without singing, playing or dancing equal to or better than the devil. When the time came, the twins began to play the ilu while singing:

«Bembe ayina benbe miri miri ayena bembe,

iwa iwa wirili ayina bembe,

iwa iwa wirili ayina bembe.

Gorgodo gongolo weriti ayina bembe ».

During that test one of them played and then hid, being replaced by the other without the devil noticing. His resistance was so great that the devil got tired and was defeated, so the roads were opened and tranquility came to earth.

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How do you assemble the ibeyis by ifá?

These Orishas are given by both santeros and Babalawos. When delivered by Babalawos or "from Ifa" they are known as the Ibeyis Orun, are made from three carved wooden dolls that represent the twins (taewo and kainde) accompanied by Ideú. They are loaded with a series of secret elements and are delivered to the initiate after their corresponding Ceremonial.

How are the Ibeyis "jimaguas" received in Santeria?

After choosing the priest or santero who will deliver this foundation to the initiate, with full awareness that from that moment he will become his godfather or godmother, the ceremonial of delivery of these Orishas is proceeded.

To receive the Ibeyis it is important to bear in mind that you must have all the necessary waxes for their consecration, which are: two small jars or tureens, two dolls with their respective outfits and a set of necklaces, two little drums, and two little chairs.

These attributes will be given to the olorisha who will perform the consecration in the company of the Oba Oriate and another Olorisha who will be in charge of "washing" the saint. After the consecration, chickens and pigeons are immolated, reserving the chickens to make the yellow rice that will be shared with the jimaguas and the participants in the ceremonial on the third day, and then they are handed over to the initiate.    

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What is asked of the Ibeyis?

These Orishas are asked for great blessings. They are asked for their health, especially in times of profound difficulties, in the face of illnesses that require strength and willpower to be able to be overcome. It is asked when going through spiritual wars with witches or sorcerers given to evil and the invocation of evil spirits. It is asked to obtain prosperity, evolution, joy and harmony in our state of mind to achieve our goals no matter how difficult they may seem.

Works or works with the Jimaguas

Work with the Ibeyis to free us from the enemy

A cross of corojo oil is placed on a white plate, 4 mamey or sapotes are put on, corojo oil is spread on them, and the name of the person to whom it is attached is tied with white, red and blue ribbons to each fruit. you want to beat. He stands in front of the twins, he notices them and he says to himself: as you ripen these fruits, so and so may be defeated by me. It is covered with a white cloth, 2 candles are lit and when it rots it is taken to a path.

Ebbo with the twins for prosperity

A yellow rice with chicken is prepared, it is placed on a mat with sweets and fruits next to the jimaguas, the person is also seated on the mat with 7 children sitting on the floor around them. The twins are told that this attention is done to ask for their favors in terms of prosperity and then they proceed to share everything offered with the children seated there who will eat with their hands and at their leisure.

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Phrases of the Ibeyis

The jimaguas say: "As long as I have the blessing of the jimaguas my enemy will not be able to defeat me."

The Ibeyis say: "The key to success is not being afraid to fight until we achieve what we want."