Yoruba
Yoruba religion and mythology is a major influence in
West Africa, chiefly in
Nigeria, and it has given origin to several
New World religions such as
Santería in
Cuba,
Puerto Rico and
Candomblé in
Brazil.
Itan is the term for the sum total of all
Yoruba myths,
songs, histories, and other
cultural components.
Many ethnic Yoruba were enslaved and taken to
Cuba,
Puerto Rico,
Brazil,
Trinidad and the rest of the New World (chiefly in the
19th century, after the
Ọyọ empire collapsed and the region plunged into
civil war), and carried their
religious beliefs with them. These concepts were combined with preexisting
African-based religions,
Christianity,
Native American mythology, and
Kardecist Spiritism into various New World lineages:
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Santería (
Cuba) (
Puerto Rico)
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Oyotunji (
USA)
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Idigene (
Nigeria)
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Anago (
Nigeria)
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Candomblé (
Brazil)
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Umbanda (
Brazil)
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Batuque (
Brazil)
The popularly known
Vodun religion of
Haiti combines the religious beliefs of the many different African ethnic nationalities taken to the island with the structure and liturgy from the Fon-Ewe of present-day
Benin and the Congo-Angolan culture area, but Yoruba-derived religious ideology and deities also play an important role.
Yoruba deities include "" (
wind goddess), "
Ifa" (
divination or
fate), "
Ẹlẹda" (
destiny), "
Ibeji" (
twins), "
Ọsanyin" (
medicines and
healing) and "
Ọṣun" (
goddess of fertility, protector of
children and
mothers),
Ṣango (God of thunder)
Human beings and other sentient creatures are also assumed to have their own individual deity of destiny, called "
Ori (Yoruba)", who is venerated through a sculpture symbolically decorated with cowrie shells. Traditionally, dead parents and other ancestors are also believed to possess powers of protection over their descendants. This belief is expressed in worship and sacrifice on the grave or symbol of the ancestor, or as a community in the observance of the Egungun festival where the ancestors are represented as colorfully masquerade of costumed and masked men who represent the ancestral spirits. Dead parents and ancestors are also commonly venerated by pouring libations to the earth and the breaking of kolanuts in their honor at special occasions.
A significant portion of the population either follows the traditional religion called
Ifa or consult with the clergy of traditional diviners known as
babalawo, or "Father of secrets."
The majority of contemporary Yoruba are
Christians and
Muslims, with indigenous congregations having the largest memberships among Christians.
The chief Yoruba cities are
Lagos,
Ibadan,
Abeokuta (Abẹokuta),
Akure (Akurẹ),
Ilorin (Ilọrin),
Ijebu Ode (Ijẹbu Ode),
Ijebu-Igbo (Ijẹbu-Igbo),
Ogbomoso (Ogbomọṣọ),
Ondo,
Ota (Ọta),Ìlá Ọràngún,
Ado-Ekiti,
Shagamu (Ṣagamu),
Ikenne (Ikẹnnẹ),
Oṣogbo,
Ileṣa,
Oyo (Ọyọ), and
Ife (Ilé-Ifẹ),(Osun)
Osogbo.
Traditionally the Yoruba organized themselves into networks of related villages, towns, and kingdoms, with most of them headed by an
Ọba [King] or
Baale [a nobleman or mayor]. Kingship is not determined by simple primogeniture, as in most monarchic systems of government. An electoral college of lineage heads is usually charged with selecting a member of one of the royal families, and the selection is usually confirmed by an Ifa divination request. The Ọbas live in palaces usually in the center of the town. Opposite to the king's palace is the
Ọja Ọba, the king's market. These markets form an inherent part of Yoruba life. Traditionally the market traders are well organized, have various guilds, and an elected speaker.
Yorubaland stadia include the
National Stadium,
Lagos (55,000 capacity), Teslim Balogun stadium (35,000 capacity), Liberty Stadium,
Ibadan (40,000 capacity), Mọṣhood Kaṣhimawo Abiọla Stadium
Abẹokuta (28,000 capacity), Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan (25,000 capacity)
Yoruba people play board games like Ayò.
Politics & Leadership
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Obafemi Awolowo, first Nigerian Premier of Western Region, Nigeria's first parliamentary Leader of the Opposition
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Samuel Ladoke Akintola, second Nigerian Premier of Western Region
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Olusegun Obasanjo, President, retired General
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MKO Abiola, politician, businessman, democracy activist, President-Elect of Nigeria
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Gani Fawehinmi, lawyer/attorney, democracy/civil rights activist,
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Bola Ige, lawyer/attorney, democracy/civil rights activist, Federal Minister of JusticeThe Professions
*Dr.
Thomas Adeoye Lambo, Physician
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Tai Solarin, teacher, school proprietor, democracy/civil rights activist,
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Afe Babalola, lawyer/attorney
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Seye Iwarere, Engineer & Economist
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Beko Ransome-Kuti, Physician, democracy/civil rights activist,
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Babatunde Lawal*
Victor Adebowale*Dr.
Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, Physician, professorThe Arts
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Wole Soyinka, poet, dramatist, playwright, Nobel Laureate
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Fela Anikulapo Kuti, musician, inventor of Afro-beat musical style
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Duro Ladipo, dramatist (Oba ko so)
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Hubert Ogunde, dramatist
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Oyin Adejobi, dramatist
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Dr. Julius Olaiya, musician
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Amos Tutuola, author (The Palmwine Drinkard}
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Kola Ogunmola, dramatist (Opera 'The Palmwine Drinkard', after Tutuola's work)
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King Sunny Ade, musician
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Ebenezer Obey, musician
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Babatunde Olatunji, musician
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Sade Adu, Musician, balladeer
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Seal, musician
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Sylvia Del Villard, Afro-Puerto Rican activist, actress, and dancer
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Sir Shina Peters, musician
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Lagbaja, musician
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Majek Fashek, musician
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Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, ActorThe Religions
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Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, first Bishop of West Africa
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Archbishop Peter J. Akinola, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican CommunionSports
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Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets basketball superstar
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John Fashanu, British Soccer StarKings
*Sir Olateru-Olagbegi KBE, Olowo of Owo
Tunde Baiyewu; Musician LightHouse Family
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Yoruba language*
Yoruba mythology*
Yoruba Wedding Traditions*
Yoruba Program - University of Wisconsin - Madison*
Yoruba Language Task Force - goal is to inject a new and unified spirit into the teaching of the Yoruba language at the post-elementary level in the U.S.
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Institute of Yoruba Language and Culture - language instruction
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Yoruba - University of Pennsylvania*
Orita.YORUBA*
Egbe Isokan Yoruba - promotes the cultural, social, economic and political welfare of Yoruba
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Radio Abeokuta - promoting the Yoruba culture of Togo, Republic of Benin, and Nigeria, West Africa
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National Association of Yoruba Descendants in the United States - mission is to cherish, uphold and project the honor and dignity of Yoruba culture, language and tradition worldwide
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Yoruba Information - includes brief summary of language, religion, history, and art
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World of the Yoruba - ritual and performance in Yorubaland
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Talking About "Tribe" - looks at Yoruba identity
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Yoruba Overview - includes information on colonialism, religion, and myth
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Yoruba: Exploring an African Culture - interactive exhibit about the art and culture of the Yoruba
