Blog Post 17: The Yoruba

1. The Yoruba religion was developed by the Yoruba people in Nigeria and Benin. The Yoruba people themselves are a West African ethic group predominantly in Nigeria. Geographically, they share borders with the Borgu (a region in western Nigeria) in the northwest. The Yoruba have nearly 40 million people in total and approximately 35 million in 2012 making them one of the largest ethnic groups in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Source (http://yorubanation.net/about/)

2. Their cosmology view of the world includes many things about what we do before life on earth. They believe that prior to when we are born, we stand before God and choose our destiny. Also they believe we decide before we arrive on earth how we plan to contribute to the world including where we live, who we love, and the day we will die. Finally they believe when we are born into a world all of our plans and promises, they are dis remembered and we claim the destiny we prepared for ourselves.

Source (http://www.godpaths.com/yoruba-religion.html)

3. The Yoruba, use symbols to avoid forming their minds to abstract entities during worship. The Yoruba use many items to symbolize their religious experience. They use wood, metal carvings, iron shafts and plants and animals as symbols of gods and ancestral spirits. In other words, Divinities and ancestors are their objects of worship and reverence.

Source(http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDoQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fobafemio.weebly.com%2Fuploads%2F5%2F1%2F4%2F2%2F5142021%2F04-1_162.pdf&ei=HjwFUf-wGoeG0QHbnoDoAw&usg=AFQjCNHDzYlDiQ6M_qKnpg-4ov06ZyWb4g&sig2=ymd1TMyOSVA5a4Z9mnyvIA&bvm=bv.41524429,d.dmQ) download link

4. It seems like a scared location to the Yoruba people is anywhere where sacrifices are being made. But one location is the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove. To them, Osun is the goddess of fertility and she is seen as a symbol of identity for all Yoruba people. The landscape of the grove and covered with sanctuaries, shrines, scriptures, and art works. As you can see a very holy ground. Source (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1118)

5. The Yoruba major god and all powerful gods is Olódùmarè. He is believed to live in the sky and is considered most respected by Yoruba worshipers. Another one of their gods is Ajogun. They are beings which give of negative forces that cause illness, accidents, depression, or other sorts of general disaster.

6. The Yoruba totems come in the form of art and sculpture.  An example is a set of two twins which are sacred in Yoruba tradition.  In the city of Ife, there are Taboos that are general that is, that affect everybody and there are some that are peculiar to certain families ), for example, it is a taboo for members of the following compounds to have dogs as pets.   (http://www.yorubareligion.org/_con/_rubric/detail.php?nr=1393&rubric=News)

7.

The role of shaman in the Yoruba religion is the belief that their traditions of worship revolve around their god and goddesses. Also the role of the shaman is a path of healing and getting power for the “good”.

Source (http://www.paganlibrary.com/reference/what_is_shamanism.php)

8. Body and Spirit Possession is one ritual performed by the Yoruba. It is often done with an elaborate dance ritual where certain Orishas are educed with drumming and chanting. And as the priest dance the Orishas rise and “mount” the body and souls of those involved in ritual. Another common ritual for new Yoruba life is titled the Ori Inu.  This is the reading of the inner head and takes place after the child is three months old.  The translation for this reading again comes from Eshu. This practice identifies which ancestor or deity the child is most closely related to and this information helps the parents prepare for the child’s future.

http://www.godpaths.com/yoruba-religion.html