Yoruba Mythology: The Orishas Of The Yoruba Religion.
We dive deep into the supreme being and the numerous special spirits that make up the Yoruba religion.
The Yoruba people are one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria. They are located in the southwestern part of Nigeria and smaller scattered groups in Benin, Ghana, Ivory coast, and northern Togo. They are one of the most prominent tribes in West Africa, with over 30 million people and many more in the diaspora.
Just as most cultures on earth, the Yoruba culture includes a world of myths, allegories, poetry, and the love and wisdom of the Ifa divination system. They help remind the Yoruba people of their past and customs that have survived through history by oral tradition and have helped shape their philosophy, literature, and religion as we see it today.
Yoruba mythology involves the presence of the supreme being and other more minor "gods" or "spirits" known as orishas (which are both male and female). The exact number of orishas is not known, but it is said to be about 400. Some sources claim they are 700, 1440, or even uncountable. Either way, the Orisha are spirits sent out by the supreme god to help humanity succeed on earth and teach them all they need to know spiritually.
