Yorùbá mythology
The
mythology of the Yorùbá is of one of the world's oldest religions that are still widely practised. It is a major religion in
Africa, chiefly in
Nigeria, and it has given origin to several
New World religions such as
Santería in
Cuba and
Candomblé in
Brazil.
Yorùbá mythology is only one part of
itan — the complex of myths, songs, histories and other cultural concepts which make up the Yorùbá religion and society.
Deities
\nYorùbá deities are called Orishas. The primordial, first-existing, Orishas are called Obatala and Odùduwà, brother and sister respectively, and their father Olorun. Obatala created humanity and Olorun gave life to the hollow shells Obatala had made. Obatala and Odùduwà later had a son, Aganyu, and a daughter, Yemaja, who was a mother goddess. Her son, Ogun, raped her twice; the second time, her body exploded and fifteen Orishas came out. They included Oshun, Olukun, Shakpana, Shango.
Shango is perhaps the most important Orisha; god of thunder and an ancestor of the Yorùbá. He was the fourth king of the Yorùbá, and deified after his death.
Eshu is another very important Orisha. He is a trickster and very well-respected both by the Yorùbá themselves and the other Orishas.
The Orisha
Other concepts
\nYorùbá mythology includes several other entities besides the Orisha, such as Egbere.
Ifá (cowrie shell divination) is an important element of Yorùbá religious practices.
Yorùbá mythology in the New World
Many ethnic Yorùbá were taken as slaves to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Brazil and the rest of the New World (chiefly in the 19th century, after the Oyo empire collapsed and the region plunged into civil war), and carried their religious beliefs with them. These concepts were combined with preexisting African-based cults, Christianity, Native American mythology, and Kardecist Spiritism into various New World religions:
External link
\n* MythHome: Yoruban Religion: Its cosmology and mythology
Category:Yorùbá mythology
