fufufafaThe sun, a molten disc, sank below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of bruised purple and fiery orange. Along the West African coast, where the vast Atlantic Ocean met the land, the people of the Fon kingdom, and many of their neighbors, would gather as twilight descended. They would share stories, passed down through generations, tales woven from the very fabric of their world – the rhythm of the tides, the fury of storms, the boundless expanse of the sea. Among these treasured narratives is the myth of Mawu-Lisa and the Eternal Sea, a story that speaks to the profound connection ancient peoples felt with the natural forces that shaped their lives.
This myth originates from the traditions of the Fon people of Benin, and also resonates with the folklore of neighboring Yoruba and Ewe cultures. These were societies deeply intertwined with the natural world. Their lives were dictated by the cycles of agriculture, the bounty of the rivers and the sea, and the ever-present forces of weather. In a time before scientific understanding, the world was a place imbued with spirit and intention. The vast, unpredictable ocean, in particular, held a dual nature: it was a source of sustenance, a highway for trade, and a provider of life-giving rain, yet it was also a realm of immense power, capable of destruction and mystery. The myths of these people reflect this awe and respect, personifying natural phenomena and attributing cosmic significance to them.
At the heart of this tale lies Mawu-Lisa, a complex and fascinating figure. Often depicted as a dual deity, Mawu-Lisa embodies both the feminine and masculine principles, the sky and the earth, the moon and the sun, the creative and the destructive. Mawu-Lisa is not a singular, static being but a dynamic entity, representing the fundamental forces of existence. When viewed as feminine, Mawu-Lisa is associated with the moon, wisdom, and the nurturing aspects of creation. In this guise, Mawu-Lisa is the gentle mother, the weaver of dreams, the keeper of secrets. When perceived as masculine, Mawu-Lisa takes on the attributes of the sun, strength, and the assertive, driving force of life. This duality is crucial; it reflects the ancient understanding of balance and interdependence in the universe. Mawu-Lisa’s symbolic attributes are vast, encompassing creation, fertility, destiny, and the ultimate source of all that is. It is important to understand these attributes as metaphorical representations of natural processes and human experiences, not as literal divine pronouncements.
The narrative of Mawu-Lisa and the Eternal Sea begins in a time when the world was still forming, a vast expanse of water stretching to the horizon. The primordial sea was a place of infinite potential, a deep, dark, and restless entity. It was from this boundless water that Mawu-Lisa emerged, bringing order to the formless. Some versions of the myth tell of Mawu-Lisa, in its unified form, observing the endless, unfathomable sea. The ocean, in its eternal motion, was a reflection of the divine, a testament to the ongoing processes of creation and change.
As Mawu-Lisa began to shape the world, the sea remained a constant companion. It was the womb from which life emerged, the canvas upon which existence was painted. Mawu-Lisa, with its dual nature, directed the ebb and flow of the tides, commanding the waves to rise and fall, influencing the weather patterns that brought life-giving rain or devastating storms. The sun, a fiery orb, and the moon, a pearlescent disc, were seen as Mawu-Lisa’s eyes, watching over the world and influencing its rhythms. The sea, in turn, mirrored these celestial bodies, its surface shimmering under the sun’s glare and reflecting the moon’s ethereal glow.
In some retellings, Mawu-Lisa would speak to the sea, its voice a gentle whisper or a thunderous roar, depending on the mood of the primordial waters. The sea would respond with its own language of crashing waves, murmuring currents, and the deep, resonant groans of the ocean floor. It was a constant dialogue, a cosmic dance between the creator and the created, between the divine will and the elemental force. The creatures of the sea – the fish that swam in its depths, the whales that breached its surface, the countless organisms that teemed within its embrace – were all considered manifestations of Mawu-Lisa’s creative power, born from the union of the divine and the aquatic.
The symbolism embedded within this tale is rich and multi-layered. For the ancient Fon and their neighbors, the Eternal Sea likely represented the vastness and mystery of the unknown, the primal source of life and the ultimate destination. Its constant movement and change mirrored the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth that were central to their understanding of existence. Mawu-Lisa, as the figure who commanded the sea, embodied the power of creation, the order that could be brought from chaos, and the balance inherent in the universe. The duality of Mawu-Lisa spoke to the recognition that life is composed of opposing forces – light and dark, creation and destruction, male and female – that are not necessarily in conflict but are essential for a complete whole. The story may have also served to explain the power of nature, offering a framework for understanding the seemingly capricious forces of the ocean, and by extension, the world.
In the modern era, the tale of Mawu-Lisa and the Eternal Sea continues to resonate, albeit in different contexts. Within academic circles, it is studied as a vital piece of cultural heritage, offering insights into the cosmology, beliefs, and worldview of West African peoples. In literature and art, the themes of creation, duality, and the power of nature explored in this myth can be found inspiring new narratives and visual interpretations. While not directly incorporated into mainstream global popular culture like some other mythologies, the underlying concepts of a primal creator deity and the elemental power of the sea are universal themes that find echoes in various forms of storytelling. Cultural studies departments and anthropological research continue to explore these myths for their historical and sociological significance.
It is crucial to reiterate that the tale of Mawu-Lisa and the Eternal Sea is a traditional story, a product of ancient human imagination and a way of understanding the world. As Muslims, we recognize that only Allah (God) is the true, singular Creator and Sustainer of all existence. The stories and myths of other cultures, while valuable for their historical and cultural insights, do not alter this fundamental belief.
Ultimately, the tale of Mawu-Lisa and the Eternal Sea serves as a powerful testament to the enduring human capacity for storytelling and the universal desire to make sense of the vast and wondrous world around us. It is a window into the past, revealing the wisdom, fears, and aspirations of those who came before. By understanding these cultural narratives, we gain a deeper appreciation for the richness of human heritage, the diversity of human thought, and the timeless power of imagination to connect us to our shared past and to the profound mysteries of existence.
