Understanding Yoruba Religion Beliefs
Before we can delve into Yoruba spirituality, I think it is crucial to comprehend the origins of the Yorubas. Many begin their journey without understanding the foundation, of their journey. The term Yoruba pertains to an organized group of folks that are connected by a typical language, history and culture.
"It is well known although hidden fact that the Yoruba of West Africa are with out a doubt the creators of one of the premier cultures of the planet earth.," announces historian Robert Farris Thompson in the book Flash of the Spirit. "At a time between the tenth and the 12th centuries, when nothing of akin quality was being produced in Europe, the master sculptures of Ile-Ife were shaping splendid art. Like those of ancient Greece, Yorubaland incorporated self-sufficient city states indicated by inventive and poetic richness," Thompson adds.
The sacred town of Ile Ife, Nigeria, is the orisun, or historic cradle of the Yorubas. Yoruba mythology also maintains that Ile Ife gave birth to humanity. It is claimed that this town "from where all knowledge emanates" spawned a civilization famous for inventive, poetic, intellectual and spiritual splendour.
The Yoruba inhabit an area bound by the Niger River. Yorubaland extends from Southwestern Nigeria into the Benin Republic and parts of Togo. Apart from sharing linguistic and cultural ties, the descendants of the Yoruba also share the lfa religion, which is among the fastest growing non secular practices in the world.
Round the 16th century, millions of Yorubas were held as slaves and transported to the Caribbean and the Americas. Overtime, the Yorubas started to blend convictions and practices that came from the lfa religion with elements of Roman Catholicism. The result of this clash of cultures was the syncretistic religions of Candomble, Palo Mayombe, Santeria and Vodun to talk about a few.
Each of these Yoruba-inspired offshoots are now blooming throughout Europe, the Caribbean, South America, North America, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Grenada, the Guyanas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, St. Vincent, Tobago, and Trinidad. I am only able to name a few, here in this article. If you were to do your research you would quickly discover that the Yoruba Religion continues to touch many around the world.
Ironically, while the normal religions of Africa have been declining over the last century, due to colonialism, Western acculturation and proselytizing by Christianity and Islam, Yoruba-inspired religious conventions are blossoming across the Americas.
Thanks to folks like James Weeks who've dedicated their lives to educating others on Yoruba Spiritual Beliefs, Ifa is gaining rather more ground. James Weeks is also called the creator of "Across The King's River," documentary film that is planned to be released some times in 2013. Critics that have had the benefit of seeing some of the pictures have asserted that "Across The King's River" will be a game changer.
According to James Weeks, "the film will change the way people think of African spirituality. But it will also change the way that they think about science and themselves - their own potential."
Practitioners of the Yoruba Religion believe that before we are born we stand before Olodumare (God) and select our own destiny. It is said that we make this decision before we arrive here on earth. Everybody decides what we are going to contribute to the world , where we're going to live, who we will love, and even the day we'll die.
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