An African Religion Yoruba

An African Tradition: the Religion of the Yoruba the second largest continent in terms of landmass home to some four hundred million people and several hundred religions including the religion of the Yoruba.

The Yoruba are from Western Africa: Nigeria, Benin and Togo The Yoruba have favored living in cities There are three important cities: Ife, Oyo, and Ijebu Ife has been the center of Yoruba religion It was here that the god Orisha-nla first began to create the world

PURPOSE The purpose of the Yoruba religion: maintain the balance between the human beings of earth and the gods and ancestors of heaven while guarding against the evil deeds of sorcerers and witches

Yoruba Cosmology Yoruba sees reality as being divided into two separate worlds: heaven and earth Heaven Invisible home of the gods and the ancestors Earth Ordinary world, visible home of human beings, descended from the gods Populated by perverted form of human beings, witches and sorcerers, who can cause disastrous harm if not controlled

Gods and Ancestors Primal traditions hold a belief in both a supreme god and a host of less powerful deities. The supreme god of the Yoruba is Olorun The many deities of the Yoruba worship are known as orishas The supreme god, lesser deities, and ancestors all inhabit heaven

Olodumare: the High God Supreme God: Olodumare Original source of power in the universe All life forms owe their existence to Olorun Uninvolved in human affairs Not worshipped in rituals No shrines are assigned to him No sacrifices are on his behalf The orishas, other gods, function as mediators between Olorun and human beings.

Orishas Orisha-nla Ogun Esu Lesser divine beings Truly significant Are a source of sacred power and can help or harm human beings Worshipped in ritual To be appeased Orisha-nla Ogun Esu

Obatala: Creator god Created human beings

Ogun: god of Iron and War Once was human First King of Ife After he died, he became a god Now lives on the border between ancestors and other orishas

Eshu: Trickster Mediates between heaven and earth Has a place in every shrine Contains both good and evil properties These characteristics make him a trickster figure A mischievous supernatural being Part human/animal/divine Functions as teacher: Shows people consequences of certain behaviors acts as a messenger for the other deities He assists Olorun and the other gods by causing trouble for people who offend them or fail to worship them. Everyone prays to Esu so that he will not harm them.

Ancestors The heavenly ancestors are deceased humans who have acquired supernatural status. Possess sacred power that can help or harm the living. They are worshipped through rituals at special shrines. Two types of ancestors: Family ancestors Gained their supernatural status by earning a good reputation and living to an old age Worshiped by their own families Deified (sacred/holy) ancestors Important human figures known throughout Yoruba society Worshiped by large numbers of people E.g. Ogun

Ritual Several types of ritual practitioners mediate between the gods and ancestors in heaven and the human beings on earth There has to be a specialist who can facilitate communication with the deity or ancestor Examples: the head of a family is responsible for worshiping the family’s ancestors in the home at the family shrine The king, or chief, of a city is in charge of the city’s annual festivals and performs a host of other religious functions Priests oversee the various rituals carried out at the shrines of each orisha

Diviners Among the priests who engage in specialized services are diviners. Diviners are priests who can tell people’s futures Diviners have special training, innate gifts and life experience The role is usually passed from parent to child It is taboo for anyone else to perform divination

Sangoma diviners, Botswana Divination Divination is an extremely important aspect of Yoruba religion because knowledge of one’s future is considered essential for determining how to proceed with one’s life. The procedure for divination requires the diviners to memorize hundreds of Wisdom stories the diviner recites the appropriate story for each person who asks for divination Diviners add a ritual aspect – wearing a mask, special clothing/ using implements Sangoma diviners, Botswana

Yoruba Diviner’s Bag

How do you divine your Future: What is your destiny? What will you become in 5 years?, In 10?, In 20? Will you Go to college? If so, what will you study? Get married? Have kids? How many? Live in Bakersfield? Travel the world? Where will you go?

Another ritual specialist mediates between the ancestors and the living Wearing ceremonial masks and costumes this specialist becomes a living representation of an ancestor by dancing at festivals When an important person dies The specialist imitates that persons The specialist conveys comforting messages from the deceased to the living.