Avalú - Giving Praises
In our culture, we do nothing or make any moves upon waking, until we honor Măwù (the Creator), our kúlítɔ́/egúngún (ancestors), and all of the spiritual forces that guide and protect us. Here is the short form of an African Vodún-way sample that I personally use. The English translation follows the Fɔ̀n.
ߘߏ ߝߏ߬ߣ ߣߊ߯ ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߦߍߦߌ߫ߣߎ߫ ߥߋ
Do fòn nă avalú do yɛyínú we.
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߡߊ߫ߥߎ߬ ߋߍߜߏ ߟߌߛߊ ߡߊߝ߭ߐߡߊߝ߭ߐ
Avalú do Măwù Sɛgbo Lisa mavɔmavɔ
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߛߍ ߜ߳ߏ߫ߟߌ߫ ߗߋ ߡߊߝ߭ߐߡߊߝ߭ߐ
Avalú Sɛ Kpolí ce mavɔmavɔ
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߞߎ߫ߟߌ߫ߕߐ߫ߜ߭ߊߣߜ߭ߊߣ ߗߋ ߡߊߝ߭ߐߡߊߝ߭ߐ
Avalú do kúlítɔ́gangan lɛ ce mavɔmavɔ
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߝߊ߫ߣߎߞߎ߫ߣ ߖߌ߯ߛߏߝ߭ߌ ߕߏߚߥߌߦߐ߫ ߡߊߝ߭ߐߡߊߝ߭ߐ
Avalú do Fánukún Jǐsovì Toxwiyɔ́ mavɔmavɔ
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߝ߭ߌߘߊߚߐ߫ ߛߊ߫ߜߊ߯ߖߎ ߊߜߐߝ߭ߍ ߖ߭ߏߕߐ ߗߋ ߡߊߝ߭ߐߡߊߝ߭ߐ
Avalú do Vidaxɔ́ Ságbãju zotɔ ce mavɔmavɔ
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߚߥߋߟߍߣߜߐߛߎ ߡߊߝ߭ߐߡߊߝ߭ߐ
Avalú do Xwelɛngbɔsu mavɔmavɔ
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߚߏ߬ ߘߍ߬ ߣߎ߫ ߤߎ߬ߣ ߓߌ ߡߊߝ߭ߐߡߊߝ߭ߐ
Avalú do xò ɖɛ̀ nú hùn bi
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߊߦߌ߬ ߡߊߝ߭ߐߡߊߝ߭ߐ
Avalú do Ayì mavɔmavɔ
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߜߍߡߎ ߓߌ ߡߊߝ߭ߐߡߊߝ߭ߐ
Avalú do gbɛmɛ bi mavɔmavɔ
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߥߍߞߍ ߖ߭ߏ ߍߣߍ
Avalú do wεkε zo εnε
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߖ߭ߊ߯ߣߖ߭ߊ߯ߣߤߥߖߍ߫
Avalú do Zǎnzǎnhwejí
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߕߏߕߋߟߌߜߋ߫
Avalú do Totaligbé
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߜߊߘߊߤߥߋߖߌ߫
Avalú do Gbadahwejí
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߕߏߝߐߟߌߜߋ߫
Avalú do Tofɔligbé
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߣߎ߬ߜߋ߫ ߓߌ
Avalú do nùgbó bi
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߞߌߟߐߡߓߏ ߊߦߌ
Avalú do Kilɔmbo ayi
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߣߐ ߗߋ ߡߊߝ߭ߐߡߊߝ߭ߐ
Avalú nɔ ce
ߊߝ߭ߊߟߎ߫ ߘߏ ߕߏ ߗߋ
Avalú to ce
ߊߤߏ ߊߘߌ
Aho adi
To wake up and give praises is honorable
I give praises Măwù Sɛgbo Lisa (the great Creator and Sustainer of the worlds)
I give praises to My Destiny
I give praises to my Elevated Ancestors
I give praises to
Fánukún Jǐsovì who is my Toxwiyɔ́ (founding ancestor of my lineage)
I give praises to Crown Prince Ságbãju who is my Zotɔ (sponsoring/guiding ancestor)
I give praises to the Xwelɛngbɔsu royal house (the house of my descent)
I give praises to all of the deities who act on my behalf
I give praises to the Earth
I give praises to all of Nature
I give praises to the four directions
I give praises to the South
I give praises to the North
I give praises to the West
I give praises to the East
I give praises to all Truth
I give praises to the spirit of the Kilɔmbo and Maroonage
I give praises to my Mother
I give praises to my Father
So it is!
The above is a small prayer that I do during morning dɛxixɔ (prayer and ritual). One can customize this to their own specific needs. For instance, where I mention my ancestors and the house I come from, you can replace this with your family name and names of ancestors. Note - kúlítɔ́gangan means elevated Ancestors of good character. One can leave it at using this word, but also (suggested) can add names of those ancestors known to have had good character in your family.