Numbering about fifteen to twenty million in Nigeria alone, where they inhabit the southwestern part of the country, the Yoruba, who are also to be found in the neighboring countries of Benin and Togo, are the largest single black African ethnic group. Elsewhere in West Africa there is a very strong Yoruba influence among the Creole population of Sierra Leone, where the liberated Yoruba slaves known as Aku have since the nineteenth century played an important role in the cultural, economic, educational and political life of that country.
The strongest influence of Yoruba culture outside of Africa is to be found in the Americas, especially in Cuba and Brazil. The Yoruba people who were taken as slaves to the Americas have developed in Cuba a form of religion known as Santeria and in Brazil another religious organization called Candomble. These two religious groups and similar organizations are now spreading quickly among the white and black populations of several American countries including the United States and Puerto Rico. Santeria, which originated in Cuba, is now spreading in several American countries, including Puerto Rico and Venezuela. In the United States, Santeria is strong in Florida and the New York area. Candomble originated in Brazil and is strong in the state of Bahia. There are other forms of religious organizations in Brazil which are related to Candomble but which are not as closely associated with Yoruba religion.
Therefore we speak of Yoruba religion, a religion which is practiced by a large West African population and which has very strong influences in the Americas. In recognition of this fact, the present writer and other leaders of Yoruba religion have formed an international body, the International Congress of Orisa Tradition and Culture, which first met in 1981 at Ile-Ife, Nigeria, the birthplace of the religion.
Yoruba religion, whether in West Africa or the Americas, is based on belief in important forces of nature such as the ocean (Olokun), the lagoon (Olosa), lightning (Sango), the mountain (Oke), implements of iron (Ogun) and hundreds of bodies of water such as Oya (the Niger river), Osun, Erinle Oba, Yemoja, Yewa (all rivers of the Yoruba country). All these forces of nature are indigenous to Yorubaland. The Yoruba country is therefore regarded as a sacred land while Ile-Ife, its original headquarters, is regarded as the African Garden of Eden from where all the races of humankind migrated away to all parts of the world.
Since the Yoruba believe that their land is the cradle of all the races of the world, their religion and thought system do not harbor any form of racial discrimination, which explains why it is spreading among the white and black populations of the Americas. On account of its self-consistent principles and universal appeal to all peoples of the world, the Yorubas believe that Yoruba religion is the religion of tomorrow.
Sacrifice is a very important notion in Yoruba religion. The Yoruba conceive of the universe as a place governed by two opposing forces, one of which is benevolent while the other is malevolent. The benevolent forces are collectively known as Orisa, and they are manifested in forces of nature as already mentioned above. The malevolent forces are collectively known as Ajogun. They include: Iku (Death), Arun (Disease), Ofo (Loss), Egba (paralysis). The Orisa are four hundred and one in number while the Ajogun are two hundred. Hence the saying:
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