What Is A Pataki ( English Version )

Patakis and Proverbs 

The sacred stories of Santería are known as patakis (pronounced: pah-tah-KEES). They have been passed down orally from generation to generation for thousands of years, sometimes undergoing subtle transformations over time due to varying interpretative skills on the part of the storyteller, and sometimes due to linguistic and cultural shifts caused by migration to new lands.  The patakis recited in Spanish today by members of a particular ilé (religious house) in Cuba may differ from the way the stories are told in a neighboring ilé.   They will certainly vary from the way the stories are told in Yoruba in a village in Africa, or the way they're related in English for people born and raised in the United States.  But the essential structure and message of the patakis remains the same, and all are recognized as part of the sacred body of literature that's the backbone of Santería. 

Traditionally, specific patakis are attached to specific odu, which are the letters or signs that appear during divination with the dilogún (cowrie shells) or the Babalawo's epuele (divining chain).  When a client sees a Santero/a or Babalawo for a consulta (reading), the odu that appears on the mat must be interpreted to help the client understand and resolve his problem.  Because the information doesn't exist in a codified written form, such as a holy book. the diviners have to memorize as much information as possible about each odu.  Interpretive skill is required to coax out the subtle and complex messages of each odu as it relates to the client's situation.  The patakis attached to the odu help the diviner remember and understand more profoundly the messages of the odu because they function as parables, stories with symbolic and metaphorical meaning much deeper than surface appearances.  It's unclear how many patakis exist because there's no single collection that holds them all, and no individual diviner can claim to know all the patakis, no matter how much he or she has studied.  The goal of a skilled diviner is to learn as many patakis as possible, to understand how they relate to the odu, and to be able to retell the pataki in a meaningful way, so the client will understand how it applies to his or her life.

Patakis Teach Us the Principles of Santería as a Religion 

Patakis often tell stories about the Orichás, and help define characteristics and traits associated with each one. They speak about the Orichás' lives on earth, their interactions with each other and with humans, their relationship to God (usually in the form of Olofi), and they explain some fundamental principles of the religion, such as the association of particular elements of the natural world (rivers, oceans, mountains, volcanoes, forests, thunder and lightening, etc.) with particular Orichás. They explain the preference for certain kinds of foods that each Orichá has (pumpkins for Ochún, for example).  They explain where particular customs come from, such as the need to begin all ceremonies by addressing Eleguá first.  Some patakis talk about the creation of the cosmos, and explain decisions made by Olodumare about the nature of human life, such as the reason sickness and death exist.  The odu (signs, letters used in divination) are also personified in some of the patakis, making it clear why certain odu are associated with certain phenomenon, such as slander, gossip, adultery, or domestic violence. They also explain, through example, what kind of ebó (tribute, offering) might be appropriate to solve the problem. In sum, patakis teach the religion to people through stories and examples in short episodes that lend themselves to deeper reflection and thought.  Because the patakis speak through symbols and metaphors, they require a bit of work to interpret correctly, keeping in mind always the historical, social and cultural context of the Yoruba/ Lucumí people. 

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