An in Depth Look into the World of the Yoruba Religion
Kassandra Grullon
Introduction to African Indigenous Religion and Culture
Dr. Burdette Lowe
March 9, 2022
Table of Contents
Introduction
Scared Way of Life
Culture
Women’s Role Prior and After Colonization
Yoruba Religion influence
Conclusion
Introduction
Throughout the world there are over four thousand active religions that have had tremendous impact on society as we know it today. Although, these religions have proven to be impactful none can be more significant than the ones that have come from West Africa. Those religions that have stemmed from the great lands of Africa have paved the way for new world religions to come and have even influenced their beginnings. The Yoruba religion is perhaps one of the largest religions to stem from Africa and shape other world cultures.
The Yoruba culture and religion dates back five thousand years and begins with Ile- Ife in the southwestern parts of Nigeria. The kingdom was founded by the deity Oduduwa (creator of the world). Yourbaland was initially apar of the Oyo empire before British forces came into Africa and colonized them. Currently, Yoruba people speak the Niger-Congo language, depite there being multiple dialects. Over the years the people of Yourbaland have be known for their craftsmanship and creativity.
Sacred Way of Life
Bond together by their common language, history, and culture; the Yorba people of the western portion of Africa developed their own religion that consist of indigenous beliefs, myths, legends, proverbs, and songs. To understand the Yorba religion, one must understand its beliefs. The religious beliefs of the Yorba people are complex but, rooted on the notion that before one is born, they determine their destiny. They decide long before their arrival on earth what they will be doing in the world, where they will live, who they will love, and even how they will die. Therefore, individuals try to remember and claim the future they mapped out before they came into this world.
In the Yoruba religion, there are beings known as “Ajogun” which represent the negative forces that may cause accidents, illnesses, depression, or any other form of calamity in society. Yoruba practioners believe that the “Ajogun” should be avoided at all costs, and those affected by it must visit a priest to perform divination rituals and prescribe a way of getting rid of the troubling spirit. Reincarnation in the Yoruba religion focuses on living a good life. Children are believed to be the reincarnation of their ancestors and are given names to emphasize the concept of reincarnation within their community. It is believed that those who are defiant, commit suicide, and are cruel will not reincarnate onto the next life. The Yoruba religion largely believes in the “Ashe” concept which is a powerful force that can cause good or bad into the world. In the Yoruba religion everything in nature contains the “Ashe” including the forces of lightening, hurricanes, blood, and even people’s names.
To further understand the Yoruba religion, one must understand the “Orishas” and their one major god. The Orishas are numerous sub-gods that function as intercessors between the world of humanity and the divine world. There are over four hundred known Orishas that are worshiped, including Sango (the God of thunder and lightning), Ogun (god of iron), and Iya-Nla (the Great Mother – “guardian of life”). The many different types of Orishas are believed to either have been part of the world’s creation or actual human beings that later transcended into a semi-divine state to act for those who believe in the Yoruba religion. The supreme deity of the Yoruba is “Olorun”, who is the ruler of the heavens, creator of the world, and Orishas. Humans who practice Yoruba do not worship Olorun directly he is a distant god that does not partake in rituals. There are no shires or sacrifices that are made directly to him, those who want to worship can send prayers in his direction but must worship one or more Orisha.
The traditions of the Yoruba people and the stories of their gods have been passed down to generations through a mixture of oral tradition and written text. The origins of Yoruba culture like most African religions is embedded in the art of storytelling and an oral tradition which transfers information pertaining to the moral codes of their community, and to the genealogy of members of their community. This ‘edutainment’ ensured that an otherwise ‘illiterate’ people could be taught the communities values and learn about their ancestry and history. As technology advanced and people became more educated, The Yoruba world view and stories about their origins have been preserved in what is called the Yoruba Odu which are written sacred verses that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Culture
Followers of the Yoruba religion practice the traditional religious rituals of their ancestors which often includes elaborate celebrations honoring the Orishas and animal sacrifices that will be offered to the ones that control the rain, sunshine, and harvest. During the Yoruba religious festivals and rituals, those who participate are intensely involved in ritualistic re-enactment of folktales, myths, and other events that help celebrate their ancestors or worship their desired deities. Religious rituals are a time in which family life, dress, language, music, and dances are celebrated and expressed. Rituals are a time of building community amongst one another with the social purpose of preserving the rich heritage of their ancestors.
Some of the most common rituals and ceremonies of the Yoruba religion include the celebration that marks birth, marriages, death, incitation, and other rites of passage. The Naming and Death Ceremonies are the two most important rituals in Yoruba culture. The Naming Ceremony is taken seriously in this religion because it is believed that children play a very important role in this culture. Children are esteemed and appreciated, and it is believed that they will eventually live out the meanings of their names. Thoughtful research and family traditions are considered before a name is picked for a new baby in Yoruba culture. A child’s name is commonly derived from the family circumstances before the child is born, the birth process, ancestors names, and religious names. The naming ceremony is one of the most elaborate In Yorba culture, it entails several rituals including prayer, songs of praise, presenting the child with symbolic items, food, and dancing. The naming of newborn children is a means of keeping Yoruba traditions alive for generation to come and fulfilling the wishes of the ancestors.
Family is one of most important things to the Yoruba religion. Each ritual is to be passed down to future generations to keep the family name and traditions alive. The death ritual is a way of preserving the family as well as granting the wishes of the ancestors and must happen even if the family accumulates debt. The death ritual consists of the burial rites for deceased family members. Burial rites is an event that goes on for days to praise, celebrate, and remember the life of the deceased family member. In this event music is played, family members dance, and sacrifice rituals are performed.
The use of song and dance are important to all Yoruba religious rituals. Song and dance are a way of reenacting spirituality and acknowledging the power of Olorun and the Orishas. Each orisha is identified with the different and elaborate drum ensembles, songs, and dance styles and can be seen in each Yoruba ceremony. Song and dance evoke the spiritual world to enter the bodies of those who are celebrating and draws them closer to their ditties. Those who perform acts of singing and dancing during traditional ceremonies are welcoming the entrance of the Orishas into their bodies and families to keep their energy and blessings alive. Even rituals for family members who have passed away include the incorporation of song and dance as a means of waking up the spirit of the departed loved one and Orishas. There are no ceremonies without the incorporation of song and dance they are vital to the culture, religion, and beliefs of those who came before them.
Those who practice the Yoruba religion exercise personal prayer and sacrifice to their desired Orisha. Ceremonies, rituals, and prayers are usually led by Yorubian priest who can be either female or male and claim to be direct decedents of the human Orishas. The religious items and practices vary from individual devotees. Most devotees of the Yoruba religion wear necklaces representing the colors pleasing their Orisha and for protection against evil. Other items include small altars with small statues of orishas, cigars, and colorful ornaments.
Prior to British connotation, women in the Yoruba religion were treated drastically different. Years before colonization women were seen as equal counter parts to males. In many instances women were treated with greater respect and authority and their gender was not a factor for ill treatment. After colonization Yoruba women contained their high respect and become highly independent. As years went on Yoruba women became very skilled worker and contributed to much of the wealth and success of Yorubaland. It is safe to say that unlike Western Civilizations and religions women of Yoruba are treated with a lot more respect and included into the everyday functions of society.
Yoruba Religion Influence
While the Yoruba religion originated in the country of Nigeria, its influence and growth has been felt throughout different parts of the world. During the era of slavery, an estimated one million slaves were forcefully taken from parts of Nigeria and brought into the “New World”. This forceful migration aided in the spread of African Indigenous Religions and Yoruba throughout the areas of the Caribbean, North America, South America, and Europe. Although these religions were banned from being practiced by the slaves brought to these areas, they found a way to preserve their religion and identity by worshiping in secret. The work of those enslaved has kept the traditions of their ancestors alive and has caused their religion to continue to spread for generations to come. This is evident through the spread of the Yoruba religion throughout modern day. Up to this point, the Yoruba religion continues to grow and has over one hundred million worshipers from numerous countries around the world. The different worshipers of the religion are responsible for the Yoruba religion being one of the world’s largest ten religions. As the ancient African religion grows, more people are exposed to the cultural traditions of Africa and their religious beliefs. The Yoruba religion will only continue to grow as the years continue to go by.
As one of the leading religions around the world, the Yoruba religion has laid the foundation for several new world religions. Traces of the Yoruba religion can be found in other belief systems that are considered to be part of the African Diaspora. African traditional religions like Santeria, Candomblé, Haitian Vodoo, and Trinidadian Orisha all can trace their roots back to the practices and beliefs of the people of Yorubaland. In Brazil, enslaved Yoruba brought their traditions with them, syncretized them with the Catholicism of their owners, and formed the Umbanda religion, which blends African orishas and beings with Catholic saints and indigenous concepts of ancestral spirits. The traditional religion of Santeria has the most similarities to the Yoruba religion. In Santeria those who practice it also have high priest who can be male or female, have dances in which the spirits of their “santos” enter their body, can pray to their desired santo, and the santos also work in favor or against those who worship.
Conclusion
Today, The Yoruba religion continues to worship their ancestors by including ceremonies, rituals, and song and dance into their daily lives. It continues to keep the vibrant traditions of those who came before through the worship of the Orishas. The Yoruba religion is still practiced in many African countries but is prominent in Nigeria. There will be more growth seen in this religion.
Bibliography
Gbh. “Yoruba Religion of Southwestern Nigeria.” PBS LearningMedia. GBH, December 20, 2020. https://pba.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/sj14-soc-yorubarel/yoruba-religion-of-southwestern-nigeria/.
“Traditional African Religions: Yoruba.” LibGuides. Accessed January 31, 2022. https://research.auctr.edu/c.php?g=404402&p=2752855.
“The Yoruba from Prehistory to the Present – Youtube.” Accessed January 31, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRy92OJCtcY.
“Yoruba.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, inc. Accessed January 31, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yoruba.
