The Yoruba have traditionally been among the most skilled and productive craftsmen of Africa. They worked at such trades as blacksmithing, weaving, leatherworking, glassmaking, and ivory and wood carving.
What are some traditions or values of the Yoruba tribe?
Culture and traditions In Yorubaland, one of the most important traditions observed is ‘orúko àmútọ̀runwá’ – thenaming of a newly born child. Names are given to children by their parents, grandparents (paternal and maternal) and some other close relatives. A typical Yoruba child can bear as many as 16 different names.
Do Yoruba people believe in reincarnation?
The Yoruba believe in Atunwa, reincarnation within the family. The names Babatunde (father returns), Yetunde (Mother returns), Babatunji (Father wakes once again) and Sotunde (The wise man returns) all offer vivid evidence of the Ifa concept of familial or lineal rebirth.
What did the Yoruba people believe about the nature of the universe and how everything started?
The Yoruba believe in the Creator who rules over the entire universe along with many other gods that serve underneath him. The Creator of the universe is called Olorun. Olorun lives in the sky and is considered to be the father of all the other gods. Olorun is the only god that never lived on earth.
What are some of the cultural practices that are unique to Yoruba?
- They have more twins than any people in the world.
- Their homeland is pretty big.
- Many still practice traditional religions.
- Marriages are often arranged.
- Traditional dress isn’t worn very often.
- Their culture is highly based around folktales and philosophy.
What are Yoruba rituals?
Yoruba peoples of southwestern Nigeria conceive of rituals as journeys—sometimes actual, sometimes virtual. Performed as a parade or a procession, a pilgrimage, a masking display, or possession trance, the journey evokes the reflexive, progressive, transformative experience of ritual participation.
Who are the real Yorubas?
The Yoruba are among the most storied groups in Africa. Their ancestral homeland cuts across present-day southwest Nigeria, Benin Republic and Togo in West Africa. They number between 35 and 40 million. Their dynamic culture, philosophy, arts, language, sociology and history have attracted numerous studies.
What race are Yorubas?
The Yoruba people (Yoruba: Ìran Yorùbá, Ọmọ Odùduwà, Ọmọ Káàárọ̀-oòjíire) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabits parts of Nigeria, Benin and Togo.
What are the taboos in Yorubaland?
- Adultery.
- A king and his royal crown.
- A strapped baby must never fall from its mother’s back.
- Suicide.
- Unclean food.
- Same sex relations.
- Whistling.
Does Ifa believe in god?
Ifa has many gods called Orishas. Scott has two gods that he prays to: Oshun and Eleggua. In the religion, your god chooses you. “When you first become Ifa, you have to do a reading, and that’s when your god chooses you based on your mindset,” Scott said.
What is the goal of Yoruba religion?
Much like the Catholic saints, the Yoruba orishas work as the intermediaries between man and the supreme creator, and the rest of the divine world. Yoruba religious celebrations have a social purpose; they promote cultural values and help to preserve the rich heritage of the people who follow them.
How old is Yoruba religion?
Yoruba culture and religion date back 5,000 years to West Nigeria. With the resurgence of West African culture in the United States, the ancient religion and language of the Yoruba have enjoyed a comeback in this country, Canada and the Caribbean. Yoruban religion is centuries older than Christianity.
Who created the world in Yoruba?
Olodumare sent Oduduwa the legendary progenitor of the Yoruba to create the earth alongside his elder brother Obatala. They were given a chain, a handful of mud, a five toed fowl and a guidance note.
Who created the world according to Yoruba?
One day, Olodumare decided to create Earth, and sent an emissary, the orisha Obatalá, to perform this task. Olodumare gave Obatalá the materials he needed to create the world: a small bag of loose earth, a gold chain, and a five-toed hen.” “Obatalá was instructed to use the chain to descend from heaven.
Who created the Yorubas?
The Yorubas are said to have sprung from Lamurudu one of the kings of Mecca whose offspring were:—Oduduwa, the ancestor of the Yorubas, the Kings of Gogobiri and of the Kukawa, two tribes in the Hausa country.
What is unique about Yoruba people?
The Yoruba are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. 5. The Yoruba are a very sociable and expressive people who commemorate major events with colorful festivals and celebrations. Weddings, naming ceremonies, funerals and even housewarming parties are celebrated in a lavish and ceremonial nature.
Which child is called Ige in Yoruba?
Ige is a child born with the legs coming out first instead of the head; and Ojo (male) or Aina (female) is the one born with the umbilical cord around his or her neck. When a child is conceived with no prior menstruation, he or she is named Ilori.
What is the Yoruba religion called?
In Yoruba religion, the divinities are called Orisa (Orisha- Santería; orixa- Candomblé). It is generally believed that the divinities have the attributes or qualities or characteristics of the Supreme Being, and they are in consequence, offsprings of God.
Where are Yoruba originally from?
The Yoruba people and descendant are black people who occupies the south-western area of Nigeria in Africa. The origin and existence of the Yoruba race can be traced to their ancient father ODUDUWA who migrated from the ancient city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Is Yoruba the same as Santeria?
Santeria (Way of the Saints) is an Afro-Caribbean religion based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements added. The religion is also known as La Regla Lucumi and the Rule of Osha. Santeria is a syncretic religion that grew out of the slave trade in Cuba.
Who is the father of Yoruba?
His name, phonetically written by Yoruba language-speakers as Odùduwà and sometimes contracted as Ooduwa, Odudua or Oòdua is today venerated as “the hero, the warrior, the leader and father of the Yoruba race”.
Are Yoruba people Egyptian?
Since the Nubians descended from the Egyptians, the Ijebu, and by extension, all Yoruba customs, derived from the Egyptian as well. Many traditional Yorubas have always claimed Egypt as their place of original abode, and that their monarchical tradition derives from the Egyptians.
Is Edo a Yoruba?
Benin Kingdom in Edo is Yoruba territory — Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi. The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Tuesday said Benin Kingdom in Edo State remained part of the expansive Yoruba race, a pronouncement that may spark fresh rivalry and altercation between people of the two ancient kingdoms.
Did Benin originate from Yoruba?
The two entities have no historical connection whatsoever. The Yoruba kingdoms of Benin and Ife sprang up between the 11th and 12th centuries. The present-day Benin monarch declared his ancestry from Oranmiyan through Ekaladerhan and direct to the Ogiso dynasty.
Who named Yoruba?
although the language was considered similar enough to have one newspaper for all of them. It was Samuel Ajayi Crowther who in the nineteenth century actively worked to encourage the amalgam of related linguistic groups in western Nigeria to adopt the name “Yoruba” as their endonym.