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"People everywhere see the one sun, so they all have the one God."

The term Yoruba encompasses about twenty-five separate groups, each one culturally different from the next, loosely linked by geography, language, history, and religion. The Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria (see blue area of map) and neighboring Benin and Togo number over 15 million people. Most live within the borders of the tropical forest belt, but the remnants of the powerful Oyo kingdom include groups that live at the fringes of the northern savanna grasslands. Archaeological evidence suggests that the ancestors of the Yoruba may have lived in this same general area of Africa since prehistoric times.

Yoruba is the second largest language group in Africa, consisting of over 20 million people.  Islam, Christianity, and the "traditional" Yoruba pantheon, the orisa, are all embraced in Yorubaland. The bond shared by all Yoruba peoples is the centrality of ritual to special occasions, as well as to everyday life.

For the most part African spiritual traditions in the Americas derived from two or three major cultures in ancestral Africa, the Yoruba culture of Nigeria, Benin and neighboring areas being perhaps of greatest influence. The major faith found among the Yoruba people is called Ifa (it is also a name for God, known also as Olorun or Olodumare). Orishas constitute the pantheon of deities (emissaries of Olorun) in Ifa.  Yoruba theology teaches that there are 401 powers of the right ("angels") called Orisha whose role is to act as protectors and facilitators of humankind; there are also 201 powers of the left called Ajogun ("demons") whose role is to present humans with challenges and obstacles..The principal orishas include Eleggua, Oggun, Ochosi, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, Oya, Babalu Aiye, and Orula.  On the Internet, websites may speak of Yoruba faith, Orisha worship, Ifa religion. These are, essentially, synonyms for the same thing.

The Yoruba people live in Southwest Nigeria and Benin. They have developed a variety of different artistic forms including pottery, weaving, beadwork, metalwork, and mask making. Most artwork is made to honor the orishas and ancestors and since there are more then 401 known orishas to the Yoruba there is much sculpture and artwork made. Because of the vastness in the number of orishas, the Yoruba have been compared to the ancient Greeks in the amount of [lesser] gods and in the similarities between the structures of the orishas.

The Yoruba have started to become quite popular among Africans all over the world who claim the Yoruba as their family roots and follow the religion and culture of the Yoruba. Many claim that they are part of the Diaspora of the Yoruba as slaves.

Today the religion has undergone a phenomenal surge in popularity and interest. Santeria, the adaptation of Yoruba and Ifa with Catholicism, came to the states first with Puerto Ricans in the forties and fifties and then with the flood of Cuban refugees in the sixties. In all of these places mentioned above, the pantheon of major Yoruba deities has survived virtually intact, along with a complex of rites, beliefs, music, dances and myths of Yoruba origin.

"A Yoruba is anyone that subscribes to the Yoruba culture traditions and way of life or anybody that has hereditary links to that Old Yoruba kingdoms. One could live anywhere in the would or identify with any Nationality, but if you have a Yoruba name, practice Yoruba customs or even naturalize by adopting the Yoruba way of Life then you are Yoruba."

 

Yoruba Beliefs and Sacrificial Rites by J. Omosade Awolalu Surveys previous works on Yoruba religion and outlines a typology of beliefs, as well as offers an interpretation of religious rites as elements of sacrificial system. This serious study gives valuable material for other approaches to religion-comparative, scientific and theological in addition to...	The Handbook of Yoruba Religious Concepts by Baba Ifa Karade From Publishers Weekly Yoruba religion has a direct link to a substantial segment of American society for . . . ``the greatest percentage of Africans enslaved for the New World labor came from the Yoruba nation'' of Nigeria, West Africa. Author Karade traces the concepts of the Yoruba religion through its entrance into	Yoruba-English/English-Yoruba Modern Practical Dictionary by Kayode J. Fakinlede Beginner's Yoruba Author: Kayode J. Fakinlede;   Accents of Yoruba language made easy Author: E. A Akintan;
Women's Rites Versus Women's Rights Author: Emmanuel Babatunde; A Study of Circumcision Among the Ketu Yoruba of South Western Nigeria	Inner Peace by Awo Falokun Fatunmbi	1000+(African) Òrìsà Yorùbá Names by Fama Never before has a book of this magnitude been written by a native Yoruba author in such a clear, concise and easy-to-read language. The book is well researched and documented. Chief FAMA succinctly describes both the history and cultural aspects of naming a baby with particular emphasis on Orisa...
The Invention of Women Author: Oyeronke Oyewumi;	Introduction to Yoruba Philosophy Religion and Literat... Author: Yemi D. Ogunyemi;	Osun Across the Waters Author: Joseph M. Murphy;
Call Me by My Rightful Name Author: Isidore Okpewho;	The Religion of the Yorubas by J. Olumide Lucas Book Description A comprehensive study of Yoruba, including a survey of the major Orishas, the deified spirits of ancestors and other spirits, the minor Orishas, details of priesthood and worship, the Yoruba conception of human beings, magic in Yorubaland, and the survival of hieroglyphics, emblems and other...	Flash of the Spirit by Robert Farris Thompson Review "Robert Farris Thompson is the art historian of Africa who has turned his talents to Afro-America and sketched the course that creative new work is likely to follow." -- Eugene Genovese This landmark book shows how five African civilizations -- Yoruba, Kongo, Ejagham, Mande and Cross River...
Finding Soul on the Path of Orisa Author: Tobe Melora Correal;	The Osha Author: Julio Garcia Cortez;	The Handbook of Yoruba Religious Concepts Author: Baba Ifa Karade;
Yoruba Trickster Tales Author: Oyekan Owomoyela;	Women in the Yoruba Religious Sphere Author: Oyeronke Olajubu;	Tradition and Transformation Author: Koleoso Karade;
Ojise Author: Baba Ifa Karade;	Yoruba Without Tears Author: Olatunde Soroye;	The Covenant of the Earth Yoruba Religious & Philosoph... Author: Yemi D. Ogunyemi;
Ife, cradle of the Yoruba; Author: J. A Ademakinwa;  A handbook on the history of the Yoruba	The African state Author: Oserjeman Adefunmi; An outline of the philosophy and organization of the ancient Yoruba kingdom of West Africa, pre-European period	Path to Priesthood Author: Akinkugbe Karade;

The Yoruba/Dahomean Collection Various Artists	Ito Iban Echu	Yoruba Drums From Benin Various Artists
	Presents Yoruba Osunlade	Talk Now! Learn Yoruba - Beginning Level

Adire Cloth, Art Poster by Yoruba People Poster Size: 22.5 X 28.5 inches

Adire Cloth, Framed Art Print by Yoruba People

Art Poster Print - Bracelet	Art Poster Print - Beaded Crown - Artist Yoruba People
Art Poster Print - Eshu Figure	Art Poster Print - Ceremonial Sword

Batik wall hanging, 'Yoruba Talking Drummer'	Batik wall hanging, 'Yoruba Bride'
Cotton batik wall hanging, 'Yoruba Queen' Dimensions: 0.00 inches x 27.00 inches x 42.00 inches	Davide Salvadore Yoruba, from the Africa Series Sculpt... Vessel

What the Yoruba Believe

There is One Supreme God

There is no Devil

Except for the day you were born and the day you are supposed to die there is not a single event in ones life that cannot be forecast and if necessary, changed.

    Your spirit lives on after death and can reincarnate through blood relatives    

You are born with a specific path. Divination serves as a road map to your path.

   Our ancestors exist and must be honored, respected and consulted.  

      The Orisa (forces of nature) live within us and deal with the affairs of men.     

You must never initiate harm to another human being or to the universe, which you are apart of.

Spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional realms of our existence must all work together and be balanced.

     Sacrifice guarantees success. 

What the Yoruba Reject

We are born in sin

The European civilized the African

Jesus Christ is the only way to God

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