Yoruba Mythology (West Africa) Yoruba mythology, originating in present-day Nigeria and Benin, centers on Olodumare (supreme creator) and a dynamic pantheon of Orishas—intermediary deities embodying natural and social forces. Key Orishas include Ogun (iron/war), Yemoja (ocean/motherhood), Shango (thunder/justice), and Oshun (love/rivers). Myths explain creation: Oduduwa descended from heaven to form Ile-Ife, the ancestral home. Humans possess ori (inner head/spiritual destiny), guiding moral choices. Divination (Ifa), led by babalawos, interprets fate through sacred palm nuts. Rituals involve drumming, dance, and offerings to align with Orisha energy. Oral storytelling, proverbs, and festivals (e.g., Osun-Osogbo) transmit values. Despite slavery, Yoruba beliefs spread globally via Santeria (Cuba), Candomble (Brazil), and Vodun (Haiti). UNESCO recognizes Ifa as intangible heritage. Yoruba mythology emphasizes balance between individual will and cosmic order, community responsibility, and the sacredness of nature. Its resilience shows how myth can sustain identity across continents—turning diaspora into spiritual continuity.
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