Yoruba: Into the depths of African religion

Throughout the centuries, the Yoruba people, who live in large parts of West Africa, particularly Nigeria, have maintained their distinct religious traditions. Yoruba beliefs interweave local customs, folklore, proverbs and music, reflecting the cultural and social dynamics of the region in western Africa.

Basic beliefs

According to traditional Yoruba beliefs, each person passes through Ayanmo, meaning fate or doom, with the ultimate goal of attaining Olodumare, a state of union with the divine creator and source of all energy. In the Yoruba religious system, life and death represent a continuous cycle of existence in various incarnations in Aya, the physical world, as the spirit progresses toward transcendence.

Olodumare, also called Olorun, represents the divine, supreme entity responsible for the creation of all things. As an omnipotent figure, Olodumare transcends gender limitations and is often referred to using the pronoun "they." As a rule, Olodumare does not intervene directly in the affairs of mortals, and people seek communication with him through intermediaries - orishas.

The story of the creation of the world

The Yoruba religion has a peculiar account of the creation of the world, in which Olorun dwells in the sky with the orishas, and the goddess Olokun rules the waters below. Wanting to create dry land for other creatures, Obatala obtained Olorun's permission and descended from heaven with a sack containing a snail shell filled with sand, a white chicken, a black cat and a palm nut. Descending on a long golden chain, he scattered the sand beneath him and released the chicken, which began to scatter the sand, forming hills and valleys.

Planting a palm nut, Obatala saw it grow into a tree and multiply, and they began to make wine from its nuts. One day, driven by loneliness, Obatala drunkenly created creatures out of clay, many of which were imperfect. By calling upon Olorun to breathe life into these figures, he thereby summoned humanity to life.

In addition, Yoruba religion recognizes Ashe, a powerful life force inherent in both humans and divine entities. Ashe permeates all natural elements such as rain, thunder, and blood, similar to the concepts of qi in Asian spirituality or chakras in Hindu belief systems.

Deities and orishas

Similar to the role of saints in Catholicism, Yoruba orishas act as intermediaries between humanity and the supreme creator, facilitating communication with the divine realm. Although they often act in defense of people, sometimes the orishas can act in ways that bring trouble or problems to people.

There are different types of orisha in Yoruba religion, some of whom are believed to have witnessed the creation of the world, and others who were once human but have attained semi-divine status. Many orishas manifest in natural forms such as rivers, mountains or trees, embodying elements of the environment. Like humans, they engage in activities such as celebrating, eating, drinking, creating relationships, and enjoying music, reflecting aspects of human nature.

In addition to the orishas, there are ajoguns who represent negative cosmic forces. These entities can cause illness, accidents, or other misfortunes, which is akin to the role of demons in the Christian faith. To counteract the influence of ajoguns, people suffering from them often seek the advice of an ifa, or priest, who performs divination rituals to determine and eliminate the root cause of the problem, either by pacifying the orisha or dispelling the negative energy.

Practices and festivals

About 20% of the Yoruba population continue to adhere to the traditional religious practices of their ancestors. Central to these is the veneration of Olorun, the creator god, and the orisha, with elaborate ceremonies and sacrifices to appease deities associated with natural phenomena such as rain, sunlight, and agricultural abundance. Yoruba religious festivals provide a vibrant occasion for community fellowship, combining spiritual rituals with celebrations of family life, language, music and dance. These festivals cover various life events, from birth to death, and rites of passage such as initiation. During annual festivals such as the Ifa festival, which coincides with the yam harvest, offerings are made and prayers are offered to ensure the well-being and prosperity of the community in the coming year. Similarly, the Ogun festival involves solemn vows and sacrifices to appease the anger of the deity, promoting harmony and protection within the community. Despite the influence of Christianity and Islam, traditional Yoruba believers have found ways to integrate their beliefs with those of their non-traditional neighbors, providing an example of harmonious coexistence in which the celebrations of the two faiths reflect a shared desire for collective well-being and the blessings of the various deities.

Reincarnation

Yoruba spirituality differs from many Western religious doctrines in that it emphasizes the importance of a virtuous life, and reincarnation is seen as a positive aspect of existence. Reincarnation is reserved for those who embody goodness and virtue, serving as a reward for their righteous behavior, while those who exhibit unkindness or deceit are denied this privilege. In Yoruba culture, children are often seen as the embodiment of deceased ancestors, a belief known as atunwa, reflected in names such as Babatunde and Yetunde, which mean "father returns" and "mother returns" respectively. Gender plays no role in the process of reincarnation in Yoruba beliefs; it is believed that with each rebirth a person transcends gender boundaries, carrying the wisdom of ancestral spirits of the past and the cumulative knowledge accumulated over a lifetime.

Influence on modern traditions

Although Yoruba religion is predominantly found in West Africa, particularly in countries such as Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, in recent decades it has been steadily gaining momentum in the United States, resonating primarily with black Americans. For many, Yoruba spirituality provides a deep connection to the spiritual heritage of the pre-colonial era and before the transatlantic slave trade, contributing to a sense of cultural identity and continuity. Moreover, Yoruba beliefs have had a significant influence on various religions of the African diaspora, including Santeria, Candomblé, and Trinidad Orisha. In Brazil, for example, enslaved Yoruba transported their religious practices, leading to the emergence of Umbanda, a syncretic faith combining African Orisha, Catholic saints, and indigenous ancestral concepts, demonstrating the enduring legacy and adaptability of Yoruba spirituality across cultures.