World Religions: Religious Tradition of the Yoruba

1. Location:

The Yoruba people are located in Western Africa, specifically the present- day countries of Nigeria and the Republic of Benin (and certain sections of Togo.). Currently, they are located in the modern day range of West Africa that extends from the Savanna, in the north, to a region of tropical rainforest in the south.The Yoruba make up one of the largest ethnic groups of Sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 5.5 million people currently living there.They are also among "the oldest and most influential of all African cultures".

The traditional religion of the Yrouba people is Orisa, which is based on "play" (which in Yoruba tems means spontaneity) and transformation. They originated from a people called the Oyo, who were a popular trading partner with the Portuguese people. The majority of the Yoruba people live in Nigeria, in a region that is formerly known as the "Slave Coast.".

2. Beliefs:

In the Yoruba tradition, The Yoruba people believe in a Supreme Being, Olodumare, who they do not worship directly (similar to the supreme being of Hinduism, Brahma). They also believe in a being that is "the counterpart to the physical world", the god Orun. The Yoruban people also believe that they are all related through the same ancestor, 'Oduduwa". There are several different stories concerning his coming to Earth. In one version, he was sent by God from Heaven to create the Earth and the human race. It is said that he "descended from Heaven with his lieutenants", and landed at Ile- Ife, "the cradle of the Yoruba people and mankind", and there his mission continued. He "descended with a handful of sand and a cock", and the cock spread the sand over the Earth, which was covered by water, creating the land. Yoruba tradition states that he is the creator of the Yoruba people, and of all humans . Also, as with other African religions, the Yoruba believe that the ancient ancestors are still present on Earth.
Image: Olodumare creating the earth from sand and a cock.
3. Sacred Symbols:

The Akoko Tree is regarded as one of the Yoruba's most sacred symbols. It serves as a symbolic marker for important sacred and religious spots, and plays a very important role in certain versions of the Yoruban creation story. Also, there are many other symbols that are just as important to Yoruban society. For example, Yams are considered important symbols of Thanksgiving, due to the fact that the Yoruba people's main occupation is farming. They would also use the symbols as a way to honor the gods of their religion. For example, Yoruba fishing communities would offer new yams to the divinities before they would eat them themselves, and give them to others in Yoruban society.

Both the Akoko tree and the yam are considered very important and sacred symbols in the Yoruba tradition. Another sacred symbol for the Yoruba people is the Kola nut. It is a very important aspect for the Yorba people in Nigeria. The Kola nut is given as a symbol of hospitality, friendship and respect, and is given out to guests at social gathering, such as weddings, funerals, and "infant- naming ceremonies.” It is grown on Yoruba land in the western part of Nigeria.

Also, women in Yoruba society are forbidden to perform and sort of ritual (this includes prayers). In most Yoruba communities, the male head of the family, or the oldest male present during that time, must lead the prayers for the entire family.

4. Sacred Locations:

One of the most sacred sites in Yoruba tradition is Ile- Ife. In Yoruba tradition, it is known as "the land of the most ancient days (the dawn); where the work of creation too place; where the dawn of day was first experienced; the head or nucleus of the whole universe."

5. Major gods (Good, Bad and Trickster):
In the Yoruba tradition, there are more than 401 known gods. (Due to the number of gods, the Yoruba have been compaired to the ancient Greeks, as there are many similarites between the structures of the gods of those two religions.). Some of those other gods include Sango (the god of thunder and lightning), Ogun (god of Iron), Shokpona (god of smallpox), Iya- Nla (Great Mother- "Guardian of Life"), Ifa (who imposes order on the world -to build civilization), and Eshhu (messenger of the gods). Out of those, they believe in a "Supreme Being".

In the Yoruba religion, there is only one major trickster- god. He is know by two different names: Eshu and Legba. Although he is not considered a "bad" or "evil" god by the Yoruba people, he has been "dubbed" by Europeans as the Devil, or the "evil" force in the Yoruba tradition. However, his job is instead to "try man's faith". He does no intentionally harm or tempt other people, but he tests how strong in faith a Yoruba is at the different points throughout their life.

6. Totems, Fetishes, and Taboos:
The Yoruba people have many taboos amongst their ancient traditions. Some of these effect certain families, while others apply to all that practice the Yoruba religion. There are also many taboos realted to death, marriage, and birth, and they are all applicable to all the indigene of Ile- Ife. One example of this is the restrictions that the Yoruba have on keeping dogs as pets (in the home), due to and ancient story passed down from the ancestors. In this story, a king's child, after being beileved to be dead, is abandoned by the king and his wife. The child is found five days later with a dog, who has offspring of her own. The child is alive, and is raised by the dogs, living off of the milk that the dog produced. The king believed that the fact the the child was raised by dogs would greatly offend the gods. Due to this, Yoruban society forbids people from keeping dogs as pets.

Another taboo is if a woman dies as she is still mourning her husbans's death. The woman will not be buried by her family members, she will she will instead be buried by Ohisoro. Ohisoro are members of Lokore family, and they are responsible for maintaining all the shrines in Ile- Ife. (they offer sacrifices, etc.). Ohisoro will perform a ritual before carrying her to the forest to be buried.
In Yoruba society, there is also a taboo on death by hanging. The only one that can unite the victim is the Ohisoro. Family members are not allowed to see the corpse, or else death by hanging becomes hereditary in that family. Similarly, if a woman dies during a pregnancy, a special ritual must be performed. It is considered an abomination in the Yoruba tradition to bury a pregnant woman with the baby. The special ritual serves for a way to avoid reoccurances of this tragedy in the family's future.

7. Role of the Shamans/ How they view magic:
Shamans play an important role in Yoruban society. The Shaman is a "spirit worker.". He is someone who "has access to and influence in the world of benevolent and malevolent spirits". They perform rituals and practice the arts of divination and healing.

7. Rituals: Among other rituals and art forms, the Yoruba practice the art of Divination. For the Yoruba people, Divination is the traditional method of telling fortunes. The Yourba would "cast bones), throwing small objects auch as shells, stones, strips of leather, and flat pieces of wood. Many of the rituals associated with the Yoruba people include others as well. For example, in Yoruba society, the marriage of two peole are arranged by only the parents.
Although there are several different rituals, all of them have a deeper meaning to the Yoruba people, Many reflect on the "rites of passage", which symbolize a "rebirth' for the Yoruban people. One example of this is the fact that marrages are always arranged by the parents of the bride/ groom. Another very important rite, is a boy's passage into adulthood (sent into the wilderness for 3 days, etc.)
They also have several different "naming" ceremonies. When a newborn is given a name, he/ she becomes a part of the Yoruba society.
African dance: Yoruba in Nigeria [Credit: Frank Speed]

African dance: Yoruba in Nigeria [Credit: Frank Speed]

Dance in honor of the god "Shango".

Traditional Yoruba Art: Images that reflect the art of their people:
The Yoruba people had a wide variety of artistic forms. These included pottery, weaving, beadwork, metalwork, and maskmaking. Usually, most of their artwork is made to honor the gods and ancestors.
Yoruba cap mask [Credit: Photograph by Jenny O’Donnell. Indianapolis Museum of Art, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Eiteljorg, …]

Yoruba cap mask [Credit: Photograph by Jenny O’Donnell. Indianapolis Museum of Art, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Eiteljorg, …]

Yoruba Cap Mask: 1930-60 Yoruba female figure [Credit: Photograph by Katie Chao. Brooklyn Museum, New York, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gerofsky in honor …]