Yoruba An African Religion
Dec 18, 2015
Yoruba
An African Religion
An African Tradition: the Religion of the Yoruba
Africathe second largest
continent in terms of landmass
home to some four hundred million people and several hundred religionsincluding 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 IjebuIfe 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
HeavenInvisible home of the
gods and the ancestorsEarth
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
Olorun: the High God
Supreme God: Olorun Original source of power in the
universe All life forms owe their
existence to OlorunUninvolved in human affairsNot worshipped in ritualsNo shrines are assigned to
himNo sacrifices are on his
behalf The orishas, other gods,
function as mediators between Olorun and human beings.
OrishasLesser gods
Truly significant Are a source of sacred power and can help or harm human beingsWorshipped in ritual
To be appeased
Orisha-nlaOgunEsu
Orisha-nla: Creator godCreated the earth
Ogun: god of Iron and WarOnce was
humanFirst King of
IfeAfter he died,
he became a god
Now lives on the border between ancestors and other orishas
Esu: TricksterMediates between heaven and earthHas a place in every shrine Contains both good and evil
properties These characteristics make him a
trickster figureA mischievous supernatural
beingPart human/animal/divineFunctions 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:1. Family ancestors
Gained their supernatural status by earning a good reputation and living to an old age
Worshiped by their own families
2. 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 ancestorExamples: 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
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 livingWearing ceremonial
masks and costumes this specialist becomes
a living representation of an ancestor by dancing at festivals
When an important person diesThe specialist imitates
that personsThe specialist conveys
comforting messages from the deceased to the living.