Ase
/ˈɑː.ʃeɪ/noun
In Yoruba religion and related spiritual traditions, aṣẹ is the sacred power or authority believed to make things happen.
Did you know?Aṣẹ is commonly spoken at the end of prayers, blessings, and ritual statements, functioning as an affirmation that the spoken intention may become reality.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial Yoruba tradition
Yoruba
àṣẹ
“Sacred power, authority, or life-force capable of producing change”
18th–19th Century
Yoruba
àṣẹ
“A religious and social concept associated with divine authority, speech, conduct, and efficacy”
19th Century
Yoruba Diaspora
àṣẹ
“A ritual affirmation used in communities shaped by the transatlantic African diaspora”
20th Century
English
ashe
“An Anglicized spelling for the Yoruba concept of spiritual power or creative force”
Modern English
English
ase
“Aṣẹ, especially in discussions of Yoruba religion, African spirituality, ritual, and manifestation”