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Geleneksel Yoruba Dininde Yaygın Orişalar: Tanrısal Varlıklar

Year 2019, , 93 - 121, 16.12.2019
https://doi.org/10.17120/omuifd.631893

Abstract

Makalenin konusu, geleneksel Yoruba dininde yaygın Orişalardır. Orişalar tanrısal varlıklardır. İnsanlar ile tanrısal alem ve Olodumare arasında aracı konumundadırlar. Eksik, sınırlı ve tabii olanlardır. İnsana benzer özellikler taşırlar. Yaygın Orişalar, mitolojide görevleri ve özellikleriyle önemli noktada duran ve gündelik yaşamda etkisini, gücünü ve güncelliğini koruyan Orişalardır. Bunlar Obatala, Eşu, Oşun, Şango, Orunmila, Oduduva ve Ogun’dur. Su Orişası Oşun bir doğa gücünün, Oduduva ise bir atasal ruhun dönüşümüdür. Şango hem tanrısallaşmış ata ruhu hem de doğal bir güçtür. Diğer dördü ise yaratılıştan beri var olan primordiyal Orişalara örnektir. Obatala insanı şekillendirerek yeryüzü hayatını başlatandır. Eşu, kahinlik ve insanlar ile Orişalar arasında elçilik yapar. Orunmila Tanrısal alemle kurulan ilişkide bilgeliğiyle insana yol gösterir. Ogun, savaş ve demir Orişasıdır, gücü ve enerjisiyle insana kendini koruma gücü verir. Oduduva Yorubaların en kutsal mekanı olan İle-İfe’de kurulan insan yaşamının ve krallığın devamını simgeler. Şango büyük savaşçı, bitki bilimci ve cesaret verendir. Oşun ise insanlığın koruyucusu, kurtarıcısı veya eğiticisidir.

References

  • Abimbola, Kola. Yoruba Culture: A Philosophical Account. Birmingham: İroko Academic Publishers, 2006.
  • Abimbola, Wande. Ifá: An Exposition of Ifá Literary Corpus. İbadan, Nigeria: Oxford University Press, 1976.
  • Ajibade, George Olusola. Negotiating Performance: Osun in the Verbal and Visual Metaphors. Bayreuth: Bayreuth African Studies Working Papers, 2005.
  • Akinroa, Boluwatife M. - Fasan, Rotimi O. “Obatala’s Children: Marginal Figu-res in Third Generation Nigerian Fiction”. International Academic Journal of Humanities 3/11 (2016): 82-87.
  • Anda, Michael O. Yoruba. New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 1996.
  • Anderson/Sankofa, David A. “The Golden Chain”. Creation Stories from around the World Encapsulations of some traditional stories explaining the origin of the Earth, its life, and its peoples. Bruce Railsback. Word Edition. 23-24. University of Georgia, 2000. http://www.gly.uga.edu/railsback/CS/CSIndex.html.
  • Awolalu, J. Omosade. “Yoruba Sacrificial Practice”. Journal of Religion in Africa 5/2 (1973): 81-93. https://doi.org/10.2307/1594756.
  • Badejo, Diedre L. “Orunmila”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 507-508. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Balogun, Oladele Abiodun. “The Nature of Evil and Human Wickedness in Tra-ditional African Thought: Further Reflections on The Philosophical Prob-lem of Evil”. Lumina 20/2 (2009): 1-20.
  • Bibeli Bible of Yoruba People Children of The Good Morning. The University of African Art Press Electronic Book Media, 2007.
  • Brandon, George. “Shango”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 612-614. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Dasaolu, Babajide - Oyelakun, Demilade. “The Yoruba Concept of Evil in Yoruba and Igbo Thoughts: Some Comparisons”. Philosophia 10 (2015): 22-33.
  • Dopamu, Ade. “The Yoruba Religious System”. Africa Update 6/3 (1999): 2-17.
  • Euba, Femi. “Esu, Elegba”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 245-247. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • George, Tayo O. - Amusan, Tolulope A. “Religion and Acts of Worship Amongst The Nigerian People: Implications for Development and National Unity”. Peoples & Cultures of Nigeria. 309-325. Ibadan, Nigeria: University of Ibadan, 2012.
  • Guggenheim, Barbara. “A Yoruba Sango-Shrine Door”. African Arts 7/1 (1973): 47-49+88-89.
  • Hamilton, Virginia. In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around The World. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988.
  • Harvey, Marcus Louis. “Deity from a Python, Earth from a Hen, Humankind from Mystery: Narrative and Knowledge in Yorùbá Cosmology”. Estudos de Religião 29/2 (2015): 237-270.
  • Houessou-Adin, Thomas. “Oracles”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 496-498. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009. Idowu, E. Bolaji. Olodumare: God In Yoruba Belief. London: Longmans, 1962.
  • Jeffries, Bayyinah S. “Oshun”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 509-510. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Johnson, Samuel. The History of The Yorubas From the Earliest Times to the Begin-ning of the British Protectorate. London: Lowe And Brydone (Printers) Ltd., 1960.
  • Karenga, Maulana. “Oduduwa”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 474-475. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Kuyebi, Adewale Alani. Osun of Osogbo and Osun in The Nev World: The Mytho-logical Religious Study af a Yoruba Goddess. PhD thesis in Philosophy, De-partment of Religion, University of Manitoba, 2008.
  • Lindon, Thomas. “Oríkì Òrìṣà: The Yoruba Prayer of Praise”. Journal of Religion in Africa 20/2 (1990): 205-224. https://doi.org/10.2307/1581369.
  • Macaulay, Abiodun J. “Ritual as Theatre: An Analysis of Oduduwa Festival in Ikoro-Ekiti”. Language in India 15/8 (2015): 64-89.
  • Mazama, Ama. “Babalawo”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 86-87. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Mazama, Ama. “Ogun”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 481-483. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Murphy, Joseph M. - Sanford, Mei-Mei. “Introduction”. Osun across the Waters. Ed. Joseph M. Murphy - Mei-Mei Sanford. 1-9. Indiana: Indiana Univer-sity Press, 2001.
  • Neimark, Philip John. The Way of The Orisa: Empowering Your Life Through The Ancient African Religion of Ifa. San Francisco: Harper Collins Publishers, 1993.
  • Odekunle, Jeleel - Bilgin, Vejdi. “Gelenek, İslâm ve Modernlik Üçgeninde Yoruba Ailesinin Bugünü”. Uludağ Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi 18/1 (2009): 559-589.
  • Ogunyemi, Yemi D. Introduction to Yoruba Philosophy, Religion and Literature. New York: Athelia Henrietta Press, 1998.
  • Ojuade, J. ’Sina. “The Issue of ‘Oduduwa’ in Yoruba Genesis: the Myths and Rea-lities”. Transafrican Journal of History 21 (1992): 139-158.
  • Ologundudu, Chief Adedayo. Yoruba Religion. USA: Center for Spoken Words/Institute of Yorùbá Culture, 2014.
  • Olumide Lucas, Canon J. The religion of the Yorubas especially in relation to the religion of ancient Egypt: Being in account of the religious beliefs and practi-ces of Yoruba peoples of Southern Nigeria, especially in relation to the reli-gion of Ancient Egypt. Durham Masters thesis, Durham University, 1942.
  • Olupona, Jacob K. “Orisa Osun: Yoruba Sacred Kingship and Civil Religion in Osogba, Nigeria”. Osun across the Waters. Ed. Joseph M. Murphy - Mei-Mei Sanford. 46-67. Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2001.
  • Oluwadare, Jeremiah Babajide. Wíwá Ọgbọ́n ati Ìmọ̀’, Search for Wisdom and Knowledge in Yoruba Religio-Cultural Context: A Mother-Tongue Exegetical Study of Colossians 2: 1-7. Master of Theology, African Christianity, Akro-fi-Christaller Institute, 2016.
  • Onifade, Olasunkanmi Adeoye. “Perception of Health educator about the effects of food taboos and fallacies on the health of Nigerians”. Educational Rese-arch and Development 1/3 (2006): 44-50.
  • Oso, B. A. ““Mushrooms in Yoruba Mythology and Medicinal Practice”. Econo-mic Botany 31/3 (1977): 367-371.
  • Oyemomilara, Cornelius Olusegun. Towards Contextualization of Worship: A Chal-lenge to The Nigerian Baptist Convention. A Thesis Submitted for the deg-ree of Ph.D. in the Faculty of Humanities, University of Manchester, 2012.
  • Pemberton, J. “A Cluster of Sacred Symbols: Orisha Worship among The Igbomi-na Yoruba of Ila-Orangun”. History of Religion 17/1 (1997): 1-28.
  • Pollak-Eltz, Angelina. “The Shango Cult and Other African Rituals in Trinidad, Grenada, and Carriacou and their Possible Influence on the Spiritual Bap-tist Faith”. Caribbean Quarterly 39/3/4 (1993): 12-26.
  • Rogers, Ibram H. “Obatala”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 503-506. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Seyfeli, Canan - Kul, Elif. “Geleneksel Yoruba Dininde Yaratılış ve Ölüm Sonrası Hayat”. Sosyal Bilimler Araştırma Dergisi 16/32 (2018): 237-272.
  • Shumba, Muzi-Pasi E. Structures and Ideas in Soyınka’s Madmen and Specialists. A Thesis for the Degree of Master of Arts, Departman of Drama, University of Alberta, 1973.
  • Simpson, George Eaton. “The Shango Cult in Nigeria and in Trinidad”. Ameri-can Anthropologist 64/6 (1962): 1204-1219.
  • Tasie, George I. K. “The Heritage of The Mouth: Oral Sources and The Study of African Traditional Religion”. International Journal of Humanities and So-cial Science Invention 2/3 (2013): 26-34.
  • Trotman, David V. “Reflections on the Children of Shango: An Essay on a His-tory of Orisa Worship in Trinidad”. Slavery and Abolition 28/2 (2007): 211-234.
  • Ushe, Ushe Mike. “God, Divinities and Ancestors in African Traditional Religi-ous Thought”. Igwebuike: An African Journal of Arts and Humanities 3/4 (2017): 154-179.
  • Valley, Nile. “Creation Stories from Around the World Afro-Carribean Yoruba, unknown origins-1989 CE Mythology of the Yoruba Religion A recounting and explanation of Yoruba creation stories by Oba Ecun, the Yoruba name of Cuban-born Cecilio Perez, Yoruba practitioner and scholar. Text and notes taken from Ita: Mythology of the Yoruba Religion, by Oba Ecun, Obaecun Books, Miami 1989.” Dhwtys Learning Center, PDF Edition. 2018.
  • Willie, F. Page - Devis, R. Hunt, ed. “Ogun (Ogoun)”. Encyclopedia of African His-tory and Culture. 1 (Ancient Africa, Prehistory to 500 CE): 188. USA: Facts On File, Inc., 2005.

The Common Orishas in the Traditional Yoruba Religion: The Divine Beings

Year 2019, , 93 - 121, 16.12.2019
https://doi.org/10.17120/omuifd.631893

Abstract

The subject of the article is the common Orishas in the traditional Yoruba religion. Orishas are divine beings. They are mediators between humans and the divine realm and especially the Supreme God Olodumare. They are deficient, limited and connected. They have human-like characteristics. The common Orishas are at an important point with their duties and features in mythology. They are also the Orishas who maintain their influence, power and timeliness in the daily life of the Yorubas. These are Obatala, Eshu, Oshun, Shango, Orunmila, Oduduwa and Ogun. While river water Orisha Oshun is the force of nature, Oduduva is the ancestral spirit and Shango is both a divine ancestral spirit and a natural force. The other four are examples of primordial Orishas that have existed since the creation. Obatala is the initiator of earth life by shaping human beings. Eshu is a seer and a messenger between the people and the Orishas. Orunmila guides man through his wisdom in the relationship with the divine realm. Ogun, in relation to war and the iron tools of war, raises the power of man to protect himself. Oduduwa symbolizes the continuity of the kingdom and human life established in Ile-Ife that is the holiest city of Yorubas. Shango is the great warrior, herbalist, and courageous. Oshun is the protector, savior or educator of humanity.

References

  • Abimbola, Kola. Yoruba Culture: A Philosophical Account. Birmingham: İroko Academic Publishers, 2006.
  • Abimbola, Wande. Ifá: An Exposition of Ifá Literary Corpus. İbadan, Nigeria: Oxford University Press, 1976.
  • Ajibade, George Olusola. Negotiating Performance: Osun in the Verbal and Visual Metaphors. Bayreuth: Bayreuth African Studies Working Papers, 2005.
  • Akinroa, Boluwatife M. - Fasan, Rotimi O. “Obatala’s Children: Marginal Figu-res in Third Generation Nigerian Fiction”. International Academic Journal of Humanities 3/11 (2016): 82-87.
  • Anda, Michael O. Yoruba. New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 1996.
  • Anderson/Sankofa, David A. “The Golden Chain”. Creation Stories from around the World Encapsulations of some traditional stories explaining the origin of the Earth, its life, and its peoples. Bruce Railsback. Word Edition. 23-24. University of Georgia, 2000. http://www.gly.uga.edu/railsback/CS/CSIndex.html.
  • Awolalu, J. Omosade. “Yoruba Sacrificial Practice”. Journal of Religion in Africa 5/2 (1973): 81-93. https://doi.org/10.2307/1594756.
  • Badejo, Diedre L. “Orunmila”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 507-508. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Balogun, Oladele Abiodun. “The Nature of Evil and Human Wickedness in Tra-ditional African Thought: Further Reflections on The Philosophical Prob-lem of Evil”. Lumina 20/2 (2009): 1-20.
  • Bibeli Bible of Yoruba People Children of The Good Morning. The University of African Art Press Electronic Book Media, 2007.
  • Brandon, George. “Shango”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 612-614. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Dasaolu, Babajide - Oyelakun, Demilade. “The Yoruba Concept of Evil in Yoruba and Igbo Thoughts: Some Comparisons”. Philosophia 10 (2015): 22-33.
  • Dopamu, Ade. “The Yoruba Religious System”. Africa Update 6/3 (1999): 2-17.
  • Euba, Femi. “Esu, Elegba”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 245-247. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • George, Tayo O. - Amusan, Tolulope A. “Religion and Acts of Worship Amongst The Nigerian People: Implications for Development and National Unity”. Peoples & Cultures of Nigeria. 309-325. Ibadan, Nigeria: University of Ibadan, 2012.
  • Guggenheim, Barbara. “A Yoruba Sango-Shrine Door”. African Arts 7/1 (1973): 47-49+88-89.
  • Hamilton, Virginia. In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around The World. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988.
  • Harvey, Marcus Louis. “Deity from a Python, Earth from a Hen, Humankind from Mystery: Narrative and Knowledge in Yorùbá Cosmology”. Estudos de Religião 29/2 (2015): 237-270.
  • Houessou-Adin, Thomas. “Oracles”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 496-498. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009. Idowu, E. Bolaji. Olodumare: God In Yoruba Belief. London: Longmans, 1962.
  • Jeffries, Bayyinah S. “Oshun”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 509-510. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Johnson, Samuel. The History of The Yorubas From the Earliest Times to the Begin-ning of the British Protectorate. London: Lowe And Brydone (Printers) Ltd., 1960.
  • Karenga, Maulana. “Oduduwa”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 474-475. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Kuyebi, Adewale Alani. Osun of Osogbo and Osun in The Nev World: The Mytho-logical Religious Study af a Yoruba Goddess. PhD thesis in Philosophy, De-partment of Religion, University of Manitoba, 2008.
  • Lindon, Thomas. “Oríkì Òrìṣà: The Yoruba Prayer of Praise”. Journal of Religion in Africa 20/2 (1990): 205-224. https://doi.org/10.2307/1581369.
  • Macaulay, Abiodun J. “Ritual as Theatre: An Analysis of Oduduwa Festival in Ikoro-Ekiti”. Language in India 15/8 (2015): 64-89.
  • Mazama, Ama. “Babalawo”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 86-87. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Mazama, Ama. “Ogun”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 481-483. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Murphy, Joseph M. - Sanford, Mei-Mei. “Introduction”. Osun across the Waters. Ed. Joseph M. Murphy - Mei-Mei Sanford. 1-9. Indiana: Indiana Univer-sity Press, 2001.
  • Neimark, Philip John. The Way of The Orisa: Empowering Your Life Through The Ancient African Religion of Ifa. San Francisco: Harper Collins Publishers, 1993.
  • Odekunle, Jeleel - Bilgin, Vejdi. “Gelenek, İslâm ve Modernlik Üçgeninde Yoruba Ailesinin Bugünü”. Uludağ Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi 18/1 (2009): 559-589.
  • Ogunyemi, Yemi D. Introduction to Yoruba Philosophy, Religion and Literature. New York: Athelia Henrietta Press, 1998.
  • Ojuade, J. ’Sina. “The Issue of ‘Oduduwa’ in Yoruba Genesis: the Myths and Rea-lities”. Transafrican Journal of History 21 (1992): 139-158.
  • Ologundudu, Chief Adedayo. Yoruba Religion. USA: Center for Spoken Words/Institute of Yorùbá Culture, 2014.
  • Olumide Lucas, Canon J. The religion of the Yorubas especially in relation to the religion of ancient Egypt: Being in account of the religious beliefs and practi-ces of Yoruba peoples of Southern Nigeria, especially in relation to the reli-gion of Ancient Egypt. Durham Masters thesis, Durham University, 1942.
  • Olupona, Jacob K. “Orisa Osun: Yoruba Sacred Kingship and Civil Religion in Osogba, Nigeria”. Osun across the Waters. Ed. Joseph M. Murphy - Mei-Mei Sanford. 46-67. Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2001.
  • Oluwadare, Jeremiah Babajide. Wíwá Ọgbọ́n ati Ìmọ̀’, Search for Wisdom and Knowledge in Yoruba Religio-Cultural Context: A Mother-Tongue Exegetical Study of Colossians 2: 1-7. Master of Theology, African Christianity, Akro-fi-Christaller Institute, 2016.
  • Onifade, Olasunkanmi Adeoye. “Perception of Health educator about the effects of food taboos and fallacies on the health of Nigerians”. Educational Rese-arch and Development 1/3 (2006): 44-50.
  • Oso, B. A. ““Mushrooms in Yoruba Mythology and Medicinal Practice”. Econo-mic Botany 31/3 (1977): 367-371.
  • Oyemomilara, Cornelius Olusegun. Towards Contextualization of Worship: A Chal-lenge to The Nigerian Baptist Convention. A Thesis Submitted for the deg-ree of Ph.D. in the Faculty of Humanities, University of Manchester, 2012.
  • Pemberton, J. “A Cluster of Sacred Symbols: Orisha Worship among The Igbomi-na Yoruba of Ila-Orangun”. History of Religion 17/1 (1997): 1-28.
  • Pollak-Eltz, Angelina. “The Shango Cult and Other African Rituals in Trinidad, Grenada, and Carriacou and their Possible Influence on the Spiritual Bap-tist Faith”. Caribbean Quarterly 39/3/4 (1993): 12-26.
  • Rogers, Ibram H. “Obatala”. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Ed. Molefe Kete Asente - Ama Mazama. 503-506. California: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2009.
  • Seyfeli, Canan - Kul, Elif. “Geleneksel Yoruba Dininde Yaratılış ve Ölüm Sonrası Hayat”. Sosyal Bilimler Araştırma Dergisi 16/32 (2018): 237-272.
  • Shumba, Muzi-Pasi E. Structures and Ideas in Soyınka’s Madmen and Specialists. A Thesis for the Degree of Master of Arts, Departman of Drama, University of Alberta, 1973.
  • Simpson, George Eaton. “The Shango Cult in Nigeria and in Trinidad”. Ameri-can Anthropologist 64/6 (1962): 1204-1219.
  • Tasie, George I. K. “The Heritage of The Mouth: Oral Sources and The Study of African Traditional Religion”. International Journal of Humanities and So-cial Science Invention 2/3 (2013): 26-34.
  • Trotman, David V. “Reflections on the Children of Shango: An Essay on a His-tory of Orisa Worship in Trinidad”. Slavery and Abolition 28/2 (2007): 211-234.
  • Ushe, Ushe Mike. “God, Divinities and Ancestors in African Traditional Religi-ous Thought”. Igwebuike: An African Journal of Arts and Humanities 3/4 (2017): 154-179.
  • Valley, Nile. “Creation Stories from Around the World Afro-Carribean Yoruba, unknown origins-1989 CE Mythology of the Yoruba Religion A recounting and explanation of Yoruba creation stories by Oba Ecun, the Yoruba name of Cuban-born Cecilio Perez, Yoruba practitioner and scholar. Text and notes taken from Ita: Mythology of the Yoruba Religion, by Oba Ecun, Obaecun Books, Miami 1989.” Dhwtys Learning Center, PDF Edition. 2018.
  • Willie, F. Page - Devis, R. Hunt, ed. “Ogun (Ogoun)”. Encyclopedia of African His-tory and Culture. 1 (Ancient Africa, Prehistory to 500 CE): 188. USA: Facts On File, Inc., 2005.
There are 50 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Canan Seyfeli 0000-0002-3379-2812

Elif Kul 0000-0002-6808-8542

Publication Date December 16, 2019
Submission Date October 10, 2019
Published in Issue Year 2019

Cite

ISNAD Seyfeli, Canan - Kul, Elif. “Geleneksel Yoruba Dininde Yaygın Orişalar: Tanrısal Varlıklar”. Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi 47 (December 2019), 93-121. https://doi.org/10.17120/omuifd.631893.