YorubaGlauben

YorubaGlauben, also known as the Yoruba religion, is the traditional religious framework of the Yoruba people of West Africa, centered in regions of present-day Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, with a long-standing presence in the Yoruba diaspora. It is a complex system of beliefs, practices, and social norms rather than a single centralized doctrine.

Core beliefs include a supreme deity, Olodumare (also called Olorun), who is the source of all life and the ultimate authority. Beneath Olodumare are numerous Orisha, divine beings or personal manifestations through whom humans relate to the divine. Key Orisha vary by community but commonly include Shango (thunder and power), Ogun (iron and warfare), Oshun (love and rivers), Yemoja (the sea mother), and Obatala (wisdom and justice). Ifá, a divination system associated with the deity Orunmila, guides decisions and fate through a repertoire of sacred verses.

Ritual life centers on offerings, prayers, and ceremonies conducted at shrines and temples. Orisha are worshipped through music, dance, and organized rites led by trained priests, including Babalawo (diviners) and Iyanifa (priestesses). Festivals and masquerades, such as Egungun, honor ancestors and celebrate lineage. Moral and social order is reinforced through customs, ethical codes, and the concept of ashe, the life force or divine energy that enables action.

Belief about the afterlife includes reverence for ancestors and the ongoing influence of the spirit world on the living. The Yoruba worldview has significantly influenced Afro-Atlantic religions, spreading through the African diaspora to the Americas, where elements of Yoruba belief have blended with Catholicism and other traditions in systems such as Candomblé and Santería. The Yoruba religion remains diverse and decentralized, with practices that vary by community and lineage.