Input on the Tortoise Shell

After viewing the exhibit Joseph M. Murphy of Georgetown University wrote Mark Leone with his comments regarding the tortoise shell artifact on display. With his permission I've included an excerpt from his email below.

"One item grabbed my attention in particular, the carved tortoise shell from Brice House. The plaque explaining it seemed to invite speculation about its meaning, so I thought I would pass on to you an idea of mine for whatever its worth. In the Afro-Cuban Lucumi traditions that I've studied the tortoise "ayapa" is sacred to the orisha Oshun, but also to Shango, the orisha of lightning. The placement of the shell at the base of the lightning rod at Brice House at least suggests the practice of offerings to Shango at lightning-attracting trees such as the araba in Yorubaland and the ceiba and royal palm in Cuba (and Miami). Anything "touched by lightning" in this way would carry Shango's power or "ashe"... I, of course, have no idea if any of the practices by the African Americans in Brice House are specifically Yoruba and we've learned with great profit to seek the African origins of African American practices from the baKongo. Still it's an interesting connection."

Thank you for your interest!