‘Triumph over negative forces:’ Powerful, coded message of Yoruba community in Jos to Soun with gift of white horse
Femi OGUNLANA
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The visit of the Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, to Ogbomoso sons and daughters in Jos, Plateau state capital, during the week became a big moment of history with the presentation of a white horse to the monarch.
The meeting was indeed with the Yoruba community in Plateau state generally and was very significant.
Presentation of a horse gift is rare in contemporary time, in the face of the wane in the importance of horses as a means of (human) transportation and use in warfare.
However, the ultra-rich still keep the beast as a symbol of wealth and prestige. The gift of a horse to the paramount ruler is thus a recognition of his position and the level of reverence with which he’s held.
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But more than that, a white horse holds much more meaning and significance, ogbomosoinsightonline.com can assert. This is a sequel to online research we carried out, relying on Wikipedia and Google.
An Artificial Intelligence-generated response on the subject notes, “White horses are imbued with significant meanings across various cultures and traditions.”
It affirms white horses are associated with heroism and are symbols of victory over negative forces.
“In many mythologies and spiritual traditions, white horses are associated with purity, heroism, and spiritual enlightenment,” it states. “They often carry patron saints, gods, or saviors, symbolizing triumph over negative forces.”
A white horse also represents power to bring about transformation and rebirth and strength to overcome adversaries in war and conquest as well as fertility and sovereignty.
“White horses may also represent transformation and renewal, as seen in their appearance in myths and dreams, symbolizing a journey towards spiritual growth and self-discovery.
“In Celtic cultural traditions, the goddess Epona or Macha is often depicted as a horse, representing fertility and sovereignty.
“In biblical contexts, white horses are sometimes linked to conquest or death, while red horses signify war and black horses signify famine.’
Many cultures likewise hold white horses as “sacred animals,” and are often depicted conveying gods and goddesses who are held in high esteem and sacred. “In Hinduism, the god Kalki is often depicted riding a giant white horse, believed to punish the wicked and reward the good.”
Concluding, the AI – generated response stresses, “The significance of white horses transcends cultures and traditions, embodying themes of purity, heroism, transformation, and spiritual growth. Whether in mythological, religious, or symbolic contexts, white horses evoke a sense of majesty, power, and reverence, making them a potent and enduring symbol in human imagination.”
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In the same vein, Wikipedia maintains, “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse include one seated on a white horse and one on a pale horse – the “white” horse carried the rider Conquest while the “pale” horse carried the rider Death.”
In addition, Wikipedia unveils, “White horses have diverse symbolism, often representing the triumph of good over evil, as ancient warriors and gods rode them to banish darkness and usher in spiritual light.”
In Christianity, white horse also holds mythical meaning, per Wikipedia.
“In the New Testament, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse include one seated on a white horse and one on a pale horse – the “white” horse carried the rider Conquest (traditionally, Pestilence) while the “pale” horse carried the rider Death. However, the Greek word chloros, translated as pale, is often interpreted as sickly green or ashen grey rather than white. Later in the Book of Revelation, Christ rides a white horse out of heaven at the head of the armies of heaven to judge and make war upon the earth.
“Two Christian saints are associated with white steeds: Saint James, as patron saint of Spain, rides a white horse in his martial aspect. Saint George, the patron saint of horsemen among other things, also rides a white horse. In Ossetia, the deity Uastyrdzhi, who embodied both the warrior and sun motifs often associated with white horses, became identified with the figure of St. George after the region adopted Christianity.
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“Gesta Francorum contains a description of the First Crusade, where soldiers fighting at Antioch claimed to have been heartened by a vision of St. George and white horses during the battle: There came out from the mountains, also, countless armies with white horses, whose standards were all white. And so, when our leaders saw this army, they … recognised the aid of Christ, whose leaders were St. George, Mercurius, and Demetrius.”
In Islamic tradition, white horse is also symbolic.
“Islamic culture tells of a white creature named Al-Buraq who brought Muhammad to Jerusalem during the Night Journey. Al-Buraq was also said to transport Abraham (Ibrâhîm) when he visited his wife Hagar (Hājar) and son Ishmael (Ismâ’îl). According to tradition, Abraham lived with one wife (Sarah) in Syria, but Al-Buraq would transport him in the morning to Makkah to see his family there, and then take him back to his Syrian wife in the evening. Al-Burāq (Arabic: البُراق al-Burāq “lightning”) isn’t mentioned in the Quran but in some hadith (“tradition”) literature.
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“Twelver Shī’a Islamic traditions envisage that the Mahdi will appear riding a white horse.”
In Korea, the founding of the ancient Silla, one of the three earliest kingdoms, is associated with a white horse. According to its founding tradition, “A huge white horse appears in Korean mythology in the story of the kingdom of Silla. When the people gathered to pray for a king, the horse emerged from a bolt of lightning, bowing to a shining egg. After the horse flew back to heaven, the egg opened and the boy Park Hyeokgeose emerged. When he grew up, he united six warring states.”
For the Philippines, another Far East country, “The city of Pangantucan has as its symbol a white stallion who saved an ancient tribe from massacre by uprooting a bamboo and thus warning them of the enemy’s approach.”
In Vietnam, “The city of Hanoi honours a white horse as its patron saint with a temple dedicated to this revered spirit, the White Horse or Bach Ma Temple ( “bach” means white and “ma” is horse). The 11th-century king, Lý Công Uẩn (also known as King Lý Thái Tổ) had a vision of a white horse representing a river spirit which showed him where to build his citadel,” while in Native American, it is recorded, “In Blackfoot mythology, the snow deity Aisoyimstan is a white-coloured man in white clothing who rides a white horse.”
