Ase, pronounced as Ashe or Axhe, is a spiritual word of affirmation with its origins in the Yoruba tribe of Nigerian people. It forms an integral and sanctimonious part of their belief system and is often used for praise.
The Origin Of Ase
Ase has its roots firmly planted in the Yoruba culture. The Yoruba people are a community in Nigeria with an elaborate system of beliefs, spiritual connotations, gods, divinities, and deities.
It is not unusual that they have such a strong exclamation of faith manifesting their heart’s desires.
The Yoruba people are believed to have descended from Arabia through Egypt, settling on the Western horn of Africa.
That is why they mainly have several religions. There is Islam, Christianity, and African traditional religions. All these religions are intensely spiritual in their proclamations, making the word ‘Ase’ feel right at home.
Other tribes have borrowed it, and it is not uncommon to hear a Nigerian who is not a Yoruba use the same term in their speech. Yoruba people living outside Nigeria are heard using the term generously, symbolizing identity whenever they are away from home.
Spiritual Meanings of ASE
Ase here has solid spiritual backing from the Islamic and Christian religions. It is proclaimed out loud, with conviction and surrender. It is said at the end of a prayer, a wish, a lamentation, or a supplication.
Ase is directed to a Supreme Being whose actions and decisions must be accepted without further bargaining or badgering because it is an all-knowing Being.
In the African Traditional Religion of the Yoruba people, Ase was and still is directed to the spiritual Deity of Olodumare, or Olorum, who is the single Deity that rules over Earth and the whole universe whose wish cannot be overturned or overruled.
Whatever Olorum wills, the Yoruba people submit to it.
Ase is also proclaimed when we call people to action. When we mobilize a community or a group of people to come out and stand for something that will benefit a larger group, Ase is proclaimed to psyche up the people and drive them to believe in the cause or task at hand.
When chanted continuously during a call to action, people fall into a trance, taking great pleasure and satisfaction in being part of the action that creates the change desired for or by them.
Ase forms a spiritual part of a community’s psyche and drives them to help each other or stand together in times of adversity. The Yoruba people say Ase when they need to work together or collaborate to outwit an outsider.
Ase is heavily used in art, especially songs and dances that accompany agricultural activities.
Other Meanings of Ase
One proclaims this saying whenever they desire to manifest something. Here is what Ase means:
- Ase means the power to create whatever you put your mind and words to. It is an exclamation that gives energy to your words to yourself and others. So when you think of something you want to do, you have to proclaim it out loud with “Ase!” and it shall come to pass, as long as you follow it up with the needed effort or activities.
- Ase means you get what you wish for. If you proclaim something positive, you get something positive. If you declare something negative, you get just that.
- In some context, Ase is not connected to spiritual realms, but social skills and an attitude of positive hopefulness that make a person psychologically healthy and peaceful.
Ase also applies to the energy of our thoughts and actions. Positive energy often gives a positive result, while negative energy breeds calamities.
A vibrant and loving person makes people around them cheerful. A moody, temperamental, unappeasable individual causes grief and worry to the people around them.
Ase as a concept can be likened to ‘Chi‘ in China,’ Qi’ in Japan, or ‘Prana’ in Sanskrit Hindu of the Indian people. In this context, Ase has a heavily spiritual significance as it is the outward representation of one’s soul and Karma.
Karma is a Hindu concept of fates and destinies fashioned by our attitudes, actions, proclamations, and environments. Karma is believed to direct how our lives turn out or what happens in the afterlife.
Ase also means the same as Amen! Amen is a religious proclamation that can be translated as:
” So be it!”
“As you have said!”
“I agree wholesomely!”
“You are right!”
“May it be so!”
The Legacy Of Ase
Ancestors in the Yoruba Kingdom used to chant Ase to command divinities to allow energy flow through beings on Earth, both living and non-living.
Ase was used in spiritual chants to reaffirm faith in the Deity and hope that what the community asked for in faith would be granted. Traditional or modern religious beliefs are similar, concluding that Ase has a solid spiritual concept.
Final Thoughts
With all the interpretations of Ase in mind, it still holds a sacred meaning to the Yoruba people. It translates into ‘Amen’ and ‘Inshallah’ in the Christian and Muslim religions, both of which draw immense strength and positive power. It is part of their religious makeup and should not be used sarcastically to ridicule the Yoruba people.
If we do not understand the spiritual side of the word, we can still use it in conversation to emphasize that we agree with what the other person has said.
In equal measures, as long as we understand all the meanings and uses of Ase, we do not have to belong to the Yoruba community at all to use it.
The word is a deep spiritual tool of manifestation that we could all use to inject positive vibes into our lives.
ASE!
Be sure to check out our page dedicated to more spiritual meanings and how they may apply in your life.