Orunmila is considered a spirit of wisdom and the god of destiny and prophecy. Yoruba religion practitioners of the yoruba religion, which was developed among the yoruba people of nigeria and benin, believe that before we are born we stand before god and choose our own destiny. He is the creator of the human beings and everything that lives in the planet. The study of yoruba religious tradition in historical.
The yoruba theology teaches us that there are 201 powers of the right iborairumole called orisha whose role is to act as protectors and facilitators of humankind, but there are also 201 powers to the left called ajogun demons whose role is to present humans with challenges and obstacles. Yoruba religion simple english wikipedia, the free. At the east and the north, the yoruba culture arrives at its limits in the niger river. Pdf the religion of the yorubas especially in relation to. The yoruba culture was originally an oral tradition, and the majority of yoruba people are native speakers of the yoruba language. Therefore, according to the yoruba, humans are eventually expected to. Influence of yoruba culture in christian religious worship. The truth about the ancient african yoruba religion the pan. Jun 20, 2019 the yoruba religion system comprises of traditional practices and spiritual concepts which has evolved into a robust religious system.
The yoruba constitute about 105 million people in total. Some have chosen to practice both catholicism and yoruba simultaneously. The file extension pdf and ranks to the documents category. One idea behind yoruba religion is that natural objects, like trees, rivers, stones, metal, have a spiritual existence. The yoruba religion has become widespread throughout the western hemisphere as well as its native africa. Yoruba religion is a traditional west african religion. Olumide lucas book religion of the yorubas15, marks another epoch in yoruba religion scholarship. Yoruba civilization has had a significant impact on the culture and make up of latin america, in particular, cuba, haiti, brazil, trinidad and puerto rico. The number of speakers is roughly estimated at about 30 million in 2010. Yet the syncretism between the yoruban religion that the slaves brought to the island and the catholicism of their masters is, in my opinion, the underpinning of cuban culture.
The religion flourishes in the caribbean, and south america where it has been transplanted along with the peoples who followed this religious path, from africa. If there is a shrine in the home, a plate of food will be placed to it before the people are served on certain religious occasions. The majority of this population is from nigeria, where the yoruba make up 21% of the countrys population, according to the cia world factbook, making them one of the largest ethnic groups in africa. The basics of yoruba an african spiritual tradition. Yoruba religious beliefs are part of itan, the total complex of songs, histories, stories, and other cultural concepts which make up the yoruba society. The basics of yoruba an african spiritual tradition metal. The yoruba religions encompasses the traditional religious and psychospiritual concepts and practices of the yoruba people. This tradition originates among the yoruba people of west africa, in the area of presentday. Most of the yoruba in todays america, originated from what is todays nigeria, benin and togo. The yoruba traditional religion believes that all human beings pass through what is known as ayanmo which translate to destiny or fate. The yoruba religion also referred to as ifa religion is the traditional religious concepts and practices of the yoruba people, is found primarily in southwestern nigeria and the adjoining parts of benin, commonly known as yorubaland. A comprehensive study of yoruba and surrounding nations, including a survey of the major orishas, the deified spirits of ancestors and other spirits, the minor orishas, details of. Yoruba religion is the basis for a number of religions in the new world, notably santeria, umbanda, trinidad orisha, haitian vodou, and candomble. Iran yoruba are an african ethnic group that inhabits western africa.
The yoruba religion system comprises of traditional practices and spiritual concepts which has evolved into a robust religious system. Egba origin born in sierra leone and author of historical notes on the yoruba country and its tribes. This book covers the theory and practice of the pacts of fire and earth. It is customary to offer the first serving of any meal to egun. Other important kingdoms were itsekiri, ondo and owo in the southeastern, ekiti and ijesha to the northwest and the egbado, shabe, ketu, ijebu, and awori in the southwest. Understanding the yoruba religious beliefs and concepts. Some say that yoruba with its many different versions included is the worlds top 6 most practiced religion.
The secrets of the religion were passed on from father to son, and in this way it has been kept intact until this time. As creator he rules over all the parts of the human body, mainly of the head, the thoughts and the human life, owner of the whiteness, and all that symbolize peace and purity. Aug 01, 2015 documental cubano realizado en bahia honda. The orishas divine spiritual forces in the yoruba religion were still respected in the form of saints. Yoruba is classified within the edekiri languages, which together with the isolate igala, form the yoruboid group of languages within what we now have as west africa. Nevertheless, ancestral cultures directly related to the yorubas bloomed to the north of niger. Prayers to the orishas introduction who owns your head. Pdf the religion of the yorubas especially in relation.
Lucas, the first indigene to write about yoruba religion was an. Among the most powerful treatises of ifa, about one of the most powerful spiritual beings of the religion. Diccionario yoruba con imagenes libros grandes, religion. He has 4 otas stones and in the case that is olori, he has 8, his attributes are a handle of silver, igbin snails, slimy, two white ivory eggs, nacre or onyx, takes in addition a white iruke horse tail, snake, sun, chain, full moon, half moon, a hand grasping a sceptre, cayado poaye, metal. Influence of yoruba culture in christian religious worship by odejobi cecilia omobola institute of education, faculty of education, obafemi awolowo university, ileife, osun state, nigeria. Euptologists and ifa school the publication of venerable j. The yoruba people, of which there is at the present time more than 25 million, occupies the western south corner of nigeria, by all the edge of dahomey and it extends until he himself dahomey. The beliefs and rituals of a growing religion in america 2004 was written by. I highly recommend this book to those who seek to grow into a mature relationship with ifa. I highly recommend this book to those who seek to grow into a mature relationship with ifa and their ancesters, etc. When fidel castro gained control of cuba, many of the yoruba priests who no longer desired to live in cuba, came to the united states in the 1960s.
See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Practitioner of this tradition believes in one god, the creator of all things. Aug 27, 20 because of yorubas elasticity, it can adopt other religions quite easily. Obatala is a osha and is in the group of the heads oshas. I do not agree with everything in here but it is interesting. It sufficiently explains the relationship between ancient egypt and the religion of southern nigeria, in addition to providing detailed steps, measures, practices, and initiation into the religion. Use the download button below or simple online reader.
Because of yorubas elasticity, it can adopt other religions quite easily. Every artistic realmmusic, theater, literature, etc. Many people have turned to the yoruba religion in this spiritual revolution. Orisha anime neko magic history awesome books spiritism frases shamanism. Obatala lives in a sopera that can be of silver, some silverplated metal or white slab. Ogunwande abimbola1 babalawo awise agbaye class notes. Abstract religion is the strongest element in african culture and exerts great. In present day cuba, the santeria theology regards the orunmila or orula as as the wise man and he leads the priesthood. Yoruba religion and culture louisville lectures 2004 2005 baba wande abimbola dr.
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