Yoruba mythology

Encyclopedia : Y : YO : YOR : Yoruba mythology

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"Yoruba legends" redirects here. For the book, see Yoruba Legends.

Statue of the oriṣa Eṣu, Ọyọ, Nigeria, c 1920

The mythology of the Yoruba is the entire gamut of the world view and the religions of the Yoruba both in Africa (chiefly in Nigeria and Benin Republic), and in the New World, where it has influenced or given birth to several religions such as Santería in Cuba and Candomblé in Brazil in addition to the transplantation of the homeland religions.

Yoruba 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.

Contents

1 Deities

1.1 The Oriṣa
1.2 Other concepts

2 Yoruba mythology in the New World
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

Deities

Temple of Ọṣun in Oṣogbo, Nigeria.

Yòrùbá deities are called Oriṣas. Shango is perhaps the most important Oriṣa; god of thunder and an ancestor of the Yòrùbá. He was the fourth king of the Yòrùbá, and deified after his death.

Èshù is another very important Oriṣa. He is a trickster and very well-respected both by the Yòrùbá themselves and the other Oriṣas.

The Oriṣa

Other concepts

Yòrùbá mythology includes several other entities besides the Oriṣa, such as Egbére.

Ifá dafa as well as merindinlogun or (cowrie shell divination) are important element of Yòrùbá religious practices.

Eledua