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The Yoruba religion (Yoruba: Ìṣẹ̀ṣe), also known as West African Orisa (Òrìṣà) or Isese (Ìṣẹ̀ṣe), consists of the traditional religious and spiritual practices of the Yoruba people. Its origins lie in present-day Southwestern Nigeria, covering the majority of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, and Lagos states, along with parts of Kogi state and adjacent areas of Benin and Togo, collectively known as Yorubaland (Yoruba: Ilẹ̀ Káàárọ̀-Oòjíire) View.
Yoruba religion shares similarities with Vodun practiced by the neighboring Fon and Ewe peoples to its west and the religion of the Edo people to its east. The Yoruba belief system has also given rise to several religions in the New World, including Santería, Umbanda, Trinidad Orisha, and Candomblé. Yoruba beliefs form a part of Itàn, encompassing the songs, histories, stories, and other cultural elements of the Yoruba society.
Terminology
The term Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is the Yoruba name for the indigenous religion, which also encompasses the traditions and rituals of Yoruba culture. It originates from the words Ìṣẹ̀ (Ishɛ), meaning “source” or “origin,” and ìṣe (Ishe), meaning “practice” or “tradition,” implying “The original tradition” or “The tradition of antiquity.” Many of these practices and beliefs trace back to the worship of Olodumare and the veneration of Orisa.
Beliefs
The Yoruba people have developed a comprehensive cosmology. Nigerian scholar Jacob K. Olupona explains that the core of Yoruba belief, known as “Ase,” represents “the empowered word that must come to pass,” the “life force” governing movement and activity in the universe. Ase is central to all beings, whether in Aiyé (the physical realm) or Orun (the spiritual world where gods, spirits, and ancestors exist).
The Yoruba religion is characterized as a complex form of polytheism, with Olodumare as the Supreme but distant creator force. The anthropologist Robert Voeks described it as being animistic, emphasizing its connection to particular places.
Individuals strive to achieve perfection and fulfill their destiny in Orun-Rere (the realm of those who do good). The growth of one’s ori-inu (spiritual consciousness) facilitates union with one’s “Iponri” (spiritual self). Sincere veneration and meditative recitation (Iwapẹlẹ) are often sufficient to strengthen this connection.
In the Yoruba belief system, Olodumare holds ase over all existence, thus considered supreme.
Scripture
The Odu Ifá constitutes the sacred texts of the Yoruba religion. It is a collection of oracular verses transmitted orally among babalawos (priests). The Odu Ifá comprises 256 sections, or Odu, each containing verses with proverbs, stories, and teachings on all aspects of life. Ifá also refers to Orunmila, the deity associated with wisdom and divination. In 2005, UNESCO recognized the Odu Ifá as part of the world’s Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Cosmology
Olodumare
Olodumare is the supreme existence, the source of life and creation. Olodumare gave “èmí” (the breath of life) to humanity, establishing supremacy over all. Central to Yoruba teachings is the cultivation of Ìwà (character and behavior), which is deemed essential for both individual and collective righteousness.
Creation Narrative
In the Yoruba creation story, Olodumare is the principal force of creation. At one point, the deity Truth was sent to assess the habitability of newly formed planets. Earth was initially deemed too wet for habitation. Later, Obatala, an arch-divinity, took soil and other materials to earth, forming a large mound that eventually dried into land. Olodumare then breathed life into the figures molded by Obatala, bringing the first people of Ife into being. Thus, Ife is known as “Ife Oodaye” – “cradle of existence.”
Orisha and Ajogun Pantheon
The Orisha (Yoruba: Òrìṣà) are deities that reflect the manifestations of Olodumare. They are often described as intermediaries between humanity and the supernatural and are associated with specific natural elements. Orisha are venerated across Yorubaland, even influencing neighboring cultural groups. In total, there are said to be 400 plus 1 Orisha.
The Ajogun represent destructive or malevolent forces, counterbalancing the Orisha. They act as “warriors” against humanity, embodying the Yoruba duality of existence: Ire (Goodness) and Ibi (Evil). The term Ajogun is derived from the phrase “A + Jẹ + Ogun,” meaning “That which feeds on trouble.”
