History 101

The Yoruba (native name Yorùbá) are the largest single ethnic group in Nigeria. The Yoruba constitute approximately 21% percent of Nigeria's total population, and number upwards of 30 million individuals throughout the region of West Africa. They share borders with the Nupe and Borgu peoples in the northwest, the Esan and Edo to the southeast, the Igala and other related groups to the northeast, and the Egun, Fon, and other Gbe-speaking peoples in the southwest. While the majority of the Yoruba live in the south-west of Nigeria, there are also substantial Yoruba communities in Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Cuba and Brazil.
more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba

Yoruba mythology
Yoruba mythology is sometimes claimed to be one of the world's oldest widely practised religions. It is a major religion in Africa, chiefly in Nigeria, and it has given origin to several New World religions such as Santería in Cuba and Candomblé in Brazil.

Itan is the term for the sum total of all Yoruba myths, songs, histories, and other cultural components.
Many ethnic Yoruba were enslaved and taken to Cuba, Brazil, Trinidad and the rest of the New World (chiefly in the 19th century, after the Oyo empire collapsed and the region plunged into civil war), and carried their religious beliefs with them. These concepts were combined with preexisting African-based religions, Christianity, Native American mythology, and Kardecist Spiritism into various New World lineages:

Santería (Cuba)
Oyotunji (USA)
Idigene (Nigeria)
Anago (Nigeria)
Candomblé (Brazil)
Umbanda (Brazil)
Batuque (Brazil)

The popularly known Vodun religion of Haiti combines the religious beliefs of the many different African ethnic nationalities taken to the island with the structure and liturgy from the Fon-Ewe of present-day Benin and the Congo-Angolan culture area, but Yoruba-derived relgious ideology and deities also play an important role.

Yoruba deities include "Oya" (wind goddess), "Ifa" (divination or fate), "Eleda" (destiny), "Ibeji" (twins), "Osanyin" (medicines and healing) and "Osun" (goddess of fertility, protector of children and mothers), Sango (God of thunder)
more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If%C3%A1

While the precise date of initial human settlement in Yoruba country remains unknown, many historians find in these traditions important aspects of early Yoruba history. First, Yoruba tradition can be forgiven for having seen the beginning of Yoruba culture as the creation of the world, for Yoruba culture is indeed old. The language of the Yoruba separated from that of some of their nearest neighbors at least 5000 years ago; from their linguistically most closely-related neighbors, the Igala, they separated 2000 years ago. (The relatively close linguistic relationship between Yoruba and Igala has led some scholars to suggest that Yoruba country may have been settled by migrants who came from the region where the Igala now live, near the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers.)

Yoruba traditions remind us that farmland was not merely discovered, but was created by agriculturists, and that iron-working must have played a crucial role in its creation. Surely the great achievement of early Yoruba-speaking communities was carving open spaces for farming out of the forests which dominate most of Yoruba country. Probably as long as 2000 years ago, Yoruba agriculturists were already using iron tools. Early farmers would have relied upon the varieties of yams and cocoyams indigenous to West Africa. By about 2000 years ago, farmers would have begun to adopt plantains (bananas) which, having been brought to East Africa from Malaysia, were spreading across the continent.

Just as the evidence available to historians allows them to say relatively little about when and how farming peoples occupied the forests of southwestern Nigeria, so too they are not certain about their early political development. Some historians have suggested that the oldest political communities were villages, and that villages consolidated together to form states. Yoruba traditions, however, speak about the diffusion of kingship from Ife not only throughout Yoruba country, but also to neighboring regions, including Benin. They say that it was the sons of Oduduwa, the leader of the group sent by the Creator to establish land, who dispersed and created kingdoms.
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Yet, only in recent decades has archaeological research established the antiquity of Ife beyond doubt. Artifacts from Ife have shown that it has been occupied at least since the 6th century, and that from the 9th to 12th centuries it was "a settlement of substantial size," with houses featuring potsherd pavement. From this period date some of the terracotta sculptures and bronze castings which among students of African art are synonymous with Ife. The most famous Ife terracottas, which are believed to date from the 12th to the 14th centuries, along with the great bronze castings of the 14th and 15th centuries, mark the culmination of an artistic tradition at Ife which was several centuries old.
more: http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/history/giblinstate.html#yoruba

@goodguy if you need more information about the history of the Yorubas or any other ethnic group in Nigeria, give me a shout, i'll be glad to provide you with the information  .

Hold your head up high and be proud of our rich culture

I never knew there are people who still understand IFA as it really is. People like good guy are still out there suffering from Ignorance...what a shame.

GOODGUY Hey! stop the argument! no one is stopping you from being a xtian, but u have to erase your mind of that devlish status you have for IFA.

I am a student of philosophy and my ex-HOD was Prof Sophie Oluwole. Everyone knows her and they call her Iya Aje (witch), cos she champions African Philosophy as encapsulated in the IFA corpus. I am extremely interested in IFA and I go to a diviner anytime I have problems. The philosophies outlined by Ijebuman in the first post was great. I learnt something new there about the balance of all your state of mind (existence).

If you need a copy of my Uncle's Book titles, IFA, a complete divination for 3,000 send an email to naijaguru@yahoo.com The book is a complese documentation of all the 250 odus with 2 verses each.

We are both developing a site for IFA lovers and practitioners in Nigeria where we can exchange talks.

NaijaGuru don talk.

Now this topic is right on! I love it!

Ijebuman, post a little about the history of IFA. How far back does it go? What are the origens of the Oracle. Are you aware of any similarities betwwen IFA and the asian I Ching (Book of Changes). The I Ching for instance is composed of 8 trigrams that combine to form 64 hexagrams which describe all events on earth and in heavan. But if IFA has 250 odus, then man thats what I need to work wit!

I checked out the Wiki and would like to know if anyone here can point me to scholarly works about the structure of Yoruba Society and Organization before european contact, written by actual Yorubas. I will look into Prof Oluwole's work also. I had a chance to read one of her speeches and she is very, very SHARP.

Also, Naijaguru, i see you have translated 'Iya Aje' as witch. Does that mean a woman that is at one with the natural world and possesses great spiritual insight or do the people mean it in a derogative manner when they call her that? In the documentry Music is the Weapon, I heard Fela Anikulapo describe his Queens as Iya Aje, but in a very positive and benefitual manner.

I can't wait for that site to pop up, Naijaguru. Alot of young folks over here have no idea that we have African systems of Divination. I myself only recently found out about IFA after studying the I ching for close to six years. Anyway, can't wait for the site.

Again, wonderful topic. You guys keep up the good work in promoting one of the True Powers of Africa.

Peace

naijaguru:

I never knew there are people who still understand IFA as it really is. People like good guy are still out there suffering from Ignorance...what a shame.

GOODGUY Hey! stop the argument! no one is stopping you from being a xtian, but u have to erase your mind of that devlish status you have for IFA.

If you must know, my surname starts with IFA.

goodguy:

If you must know, my surname starts with IFA.

your surname starts with ifa doesnt mean that u know ifa. the araba agbaye the ifa head worldwide his name is adisa mokanranwale from oketase in ile-ife. most of the people from oketase in ife their last names dont start with ifa and the same applies to other ifa followers. ifa only starts with their middle and first name. if you see anyone with their last name starts with ifa, it is either their greatgrand father or grand father changed his first or middle name to his last name. like my family, my grand father last name is erumba from labata in ife his own name is falonipe and that is what my last name is now. ifa is a religion and they worship the supreme being through orunmila just like christian through jesus. below is the picture of head of ifa worldwide. araba adisa mokanranwale of oketase in ife with opon ifa

seeni4ever:

your surname starts with ifa doesnt mean that u know ifa.

Mr. man, I haven't claimed to know Ifa and I haven't shown any interest in knowing 'it' either. I'm just letting the dude know that I'm not condeming Ifa in anyway, afterall, it's the prefix of my surname.

@@anton

The History of the Yorubas by Samuel Johnson (don't be fooled by his name, He's yoruba  )
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/978295182X/qid=1136245702/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-5387830-0257408?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

This book provides a comprehensive account of the Yoruba people in the pre-colonial days.

books on ifa
The Sacred IFA Oracle by Afolabi A. Epega
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/189015718X/qid=1136246203/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/103-5387830-0257408?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

The Handbook of Yoruba Religious Concepts (Paperback) by Baba Ifa Karade
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0877287899/ref=pd_sim_b_1/103-5387830-0257408?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155

@ijebuman

See? Dat's wut i be talkin bout! Thanks, Black Man. I am about to see if i can get them on the interlibrary loan right now!

Thanks again and let's keep this thread alive. Do the Yorubas in Nigeria deal with the Yorubas in the surrounding areas econimically or politically?

Has Nigeria benefitted in any way from the history and power of IFA?

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dakmanzero:



As a Yoruba I'm really interested. Never was convinced that all my ancestors went to hell just because some white folks hadnt yet shown up to 'save' them.

nobody knows who is going to hell, oduduwa, obatala are in the same category with abraham, moses and so on. they are all man of god on their own

oduduwa, obatala are in the same category with abraham, moses and so on. they are all man of god on their own

No they are not. Oduduwa, obatala and the rest were men of a lesser god and not GOD.

prettyH:

oduduwa, obatala are in the same category with abraham, moses and so on. they are all man of god on their own

No they are not. Oduduwa, obatala and the rest where men of a lesser god and not GOD.

thats interesting, care to enlighten us a bit more on this issue of 'lesser gods' or is this going to be another one of those 'my religion is better than yours' discussions

dakmanzero:

U guys keep it up! I'd like to see more white-man-religion supporters here than just goodguy, sha.

Christianity is NOT a whiteman's religion!

goodguy:

The white men brought Christianity here because Jesus commanded that the gospel should be preached worldwide

goodguy:

Christianity is NOT a whiteman's religion!

They brought it here doesn't mean it's for them. Christianity is a religion for all.

goodguy:

They brought is here doesn't mean it's for them. Christianity is a religion for all.

It originated from Europe so its the 'whiteman's religion' just like ifa is a Yoruba religion (since it originated from Yorubaland).

ijebuman:

It originated from Europe so its the 'whiteman's religion' just like ifa is a Yoruba religion (since it originated from Yorubaland).

Actually, it originated in the Middle East and was prevalent in most of Northern Africa before the spread of Islam, but Christianity in it's current form is most definitely a 'whiteman's religion'

Ijebuman if u like call it whatever.Good for u if u subscribe to the so called yoruba religion. As for me, though black, i support the whitemans religion well.

prettyH:

Ijebuman if u like call it whatever.Good for u if u subscribe to the so called yoruba religion. As for me, though black, i support the whitemans religion well.

well no one's preaching to you sister

nferyn:

Actually, it originated in the Middle East and was prevalent in most of Northern Africa before the spread of Islam, but Christianity in it's current form is most definitely a 'whiteman's religion'

thanks for the clarification, you'll expect the christains to at least know the history of their religion 

ijebuman:

well no one's preaching to you sister

Never said u were

some of you should try to visit the following sites:
http://www.efbrown.com/osebiile/basics.htm
http://www.
http://www./ori.htm
http://www.ifainc.org/main/navigation.html

joftech:

some of you should try to visit the following sites:
http://www.efbrown.com/osebiile/basics.htm
http://www.
http://www./ori.htm
http://www.ifainc.org/main/navigation.html

thanks for the links will definitely check them out

oduduwa, obatala are in the same category with abraham, moses and so on. they are all man of god on their own

No they are not. Oduduwa, obatala and the rest were men of  lesser god

to pretty h. you are wrong with that statement that oduduwa and obatala are men of lesser god. during their time they worship god directly, they were sent by god, they were servant of god which is the supreme being the almighty. they kill lambs and goats to worship god like abraham used to do. ifa people worship god through obatala like xtians and muslims through jesus and mohamed. try and ask ur dad to tell u the story of yoruba to find who these people are.

I ain't wrong bout anything. The deities u make reference to are gods in their own right. At least i know obatala is regarded as the god(orisa) of humankind. So why would people pray through them to another god? I may not be deeply grounded in the African trad religion, but i know for sure it's nothing in comparison with Christianity.

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if u are not deeply grounded in trad religion, you DONT know for sure its nothing compared to xtianity. You merely BELIEVE so. which is just fine, really! because religion is all about belief, not knowledge.[/i]

I know for sure its nothing compared to Christianity. As per me not been deeply ground in ATR doesn't mean i know nothing bout it. I am not totally oblivious of certain facts . Our beliefs for one differ in more ways than one. They do not believe in Jesus but in their deities so whats the comparison?


[i][b]They are regarded as gods nowadays in the manner that the catholics have their saints.

Saints are not gods as u know.


the diference is that xtianity doesnt require that you worship through the saints, and doesnt deify them. (except catholicsm maube?)

True christianity doesn't neither does catholicism.


[/b][b]The only prophet/saint that is deified is Jesus, because he's supposedly a part of the holy trinity.

personally i like reading up about various religions.[/b]


Since u seem to enjoy reading up on religions, i'm surprised u don't know Christians do not deify Jesus. Why don't people understand Jesus isn't a deity neither is he a saint or prophet.. He is not supposedly part of the trinity but is the trinity.


Islam by contrast does not deify anybody, not even muhammad. in fact, associating muhammad with God is a major sin in Islam, called shirk, and is punishable by instant Hell if you die commiting it. Ooooer!!!!

Obviously you're a moslem.


*sorry ijebuman i ain't messing up your thread* Nice write up by the way

joftech:

some of you should try to visit the following sites:
http://www.efbrown.com/osebiile/basics.htm
http://www.
http://www./ori.htm
http://www.ifainc.org/main/navigation.html

Thanks for the links, Joftech!

Does anybody here listen to the Yoruba Drumming Station on Live365. That music is so freakin kewl...

Can you really compare moses and noah to Shango and Obatala? No one calls on moses and noah, where as millions of people actively call on Shango and Obatala, daily. Lord, (no pun intended ) just about everybody in Central and South America calls on the Orishas. Yeah, they go to mass and do that singing moaning stuff, but when they have a problem they know to get away from there and call on the African Gods. In *every* major grocery store here in the south east (Food Lion, Harris Teeter, etc), *every* mexican/latin section of the store *will* have the candles they use to worship the Orishas wit the pictures of the "saints" on them... funny how African Religion and Spirituality has legitimized and balanced Catholicism in Central and South American and the Caribbian.

That is so Dread.

anton:
See? Dat's wut i be talkin bout! Thanks, Black Man. I am about to see if i can get them on the interlibrary loan right now!

Thanks again and let's keep this thread alive. Do the Yorubas in Nigeria deal with the Yorubas in the surrounding areas econimically or politically?

Has Nigeria benefitted in any way from the history and power of IFA?

Sorry for missing the questions in your earlier post.

The Yorubas deal with the other yorubas in the surrounding areas. The language still provides a common link which the 'artificial' border can not break.
Here's an interesting article on the yorubas in the republic of benin
http://www.beninensis.net/benin_anango.htm


Nigeria as a whole has not benefitted from Ifa or any other traditional practices for that matter. Its unlikely to happen, the other major ethnic groups in Nigeria were kingdoms in their own right with a rich cultural history just like the Yorubas. Its like asking the French to adopt English traditions in the EU.

anton:


Does anybody here listen to the Yoruba Drumming Station on Live365. That music is so freakin kewl...

That is so Dread.

what's the name of the station ? there're actually a few on there
http://www.live365.com/cgi-bin/directory.cgi?searchdesc=yoruba

If you have the opportunity, go see some of the major 'traditional' cuban performers like Omar Sosa http://www.afrocubaweb.com/omarsosa.htm
Its amazing hearing the Yoruba language spoken in Cuba. I was lucky enough to see Omar Sosa and his group perform in the UK and we had tears in our eyes when they performed some yoruba songs and dances. It was a bit hard to understand because they've lost the tonation but you can still recognise the language even with the elements of spanish thrown in.

http://www.afrocubaweb.com/omiodara.htm
http://www.batadrums.com/dance/dance.htm

This is the station i usually listen to when i am not listening to LIB or Inner Light or GAP or Deep Roots.

http://www.live365.com/stations/radio_abeokuta_5

But i did get an email a while back about the start of this station: http://www.live365.com/stations/abeokuta_webpages and i plan to check it out today.

Thanks for those links, I want to start on the Benin Yorubas article later this evening.

If there is an almighty God and Its name isn't IFA, that's perfectly okay.
But what would every tribe and their own deities begin to do, in the Nigerian case for example, so that everyone can become the best possible divine beings that we were created to be. How much use is a deity if the worshippers cannot become godlike in themselves and in their relationshps with life.
If God is love, can you help me understand how IFA has made the Yoruba the most loving people.

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