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Yoruba mythology is rich with ancient tales, wisdom, and traditions that have influenced not only African cultures but also the global diaspora. For those interested in diving into this world, numerous books explore Yoruba mythology, spirituality, cosmology, and folklore.
Below are nine insightful books that highlight Yoruba mythology and indigenous knowledge, perfect for scholars and enthusiasts alike.
1. Forest of A Thousand Daemons: A Hunter’s Saga
This is the first novel written in Yoruba, penned by D.O. Fagunwa and translated into English by Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. The novel revolves around Akara-ogun, the son of a brave warrior and a witch, who embarks on a mythical journey through a magical forest.
Blending folklore and mythology, this adventure offers an incredible glimpse into Yoruba cosmology, where humans and supernatural beings coexist seamlessly. It’s a classic in Yoruba literature and an essential read for understanding Yoruba mythic storytelling.
2. What the Forest Told Me: Yoruba Hunter, Culture and Narrative Performance
This book, written by Ayo Adeduntan, takes a different angle by focusing on the storytelling culture within Yoruba hunter traditions. It provides valuable insights into the intersection of indigenous knowledge, oral performance, and culture.
Yoruba hunters’ stories reveal a rich connection between the natural and supernatural worlds, shedding light on an often overlooked aspect of Yoruba culture. These narratives allow readers to explore a side of Yoruba life rarely discussed in mainstream conversations.
3. Osun Across the Waters: A Yoruba Goddess in Africa and the Americas
Edited by Joseph M. Murphy and Mei-Mei Sanford, this scholarly work traces the influence of Osun, one of the most revered Yoruba goddesses. Osun is a deity of love, fertility, and rivers, and her worship has transcended Africa to reach the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade.
This book includes essays from 17 contributors and explores the goddess’s worship in various global contexts, showcasing how Yoruba spiritual practices have evolved in new environments while maintaining their core essence.
4. Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens: The Divine Feminine in the African Religious Traditions
Written by Lilith Dorsey, this book highlights the role of female deities and spirits in African and African diaspora religions, with a particular focus on Yoruba orishas like Oshun, Yemoja, and Oya.
Dorsey delves into how the divine feminine shapes the religious and cultural lives of Yoruba adherents, providing a modern interpretation of ancient traditions.
5. Encyclopedia of the Yoruba
This is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in Yoruba culture, mythology, and history. The book contains 285 entries on various aspects of Yoruba life, from biographies of influential figures to explanations of political institutions, traditional beliefs, and religious practices.
It is a comprehensive guide for both beginners and advanced readers looking to understand the breadth and depth of Yoruba knowledge systems.
6. The Palm-Wine Drinkard
Written by Amos Tutuola, this novel is a surreal, allegorical tale that weaves in Yoruba folklore and mythology. It follows the journey of a man who ventures into the land of the dead to retrieve his deceased palm wine tapster. Along the way, he encounters strange, otherworldly creatures and spirits, all reflecting the rich tapestry of Yoruba cosmology.
This novel, with its blend of humour and horror, is a must-read for those looking for a modern, fictional take on traditional Yoruba stories.
7. Children of Blood and Bone
Tomi Adeyemi’s fantasy novel brings Yoruba mythology into the realm of young adult fiction. The story follows Zélie Adebola as she attempts to bring magic back to the land of Orïsha, where magic-wielding maji were wiped out by a brutal king.
Although a work of fantasy, the novel draws heavily from Yoruba cosmology and themes. This makes it a popular modern retelling of traditional Yoruba beliefs.
8. Yoruba Theology and Tradition: The Worship
This work, written by Ayo Salami, offers a detailed examination of the worship of the orishas. This is the pantheon of Yoruba deities. The book presents a nuanced perspective on Yoruba spirituality. It also shows the role that orishas play in the everyday lives of Yoruba people. It’s an excellent resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the spiritual aspects of Yoruba mythology.
9. Osun Seegesi: The Elegant Deity of Wealth, Power, and Femininity
This book, authored by Diedre L. Badejo, focuses exclusively on Osun, one of the most prominent Yoruba deities. Known for her association with rivers, fertility, and beauty, Osun is celebrated for her duality as a nurturer and powerful force.
The book blends scholarship and storytelling. Also, it provides an in-depth exploration of Osun’s role in Yoruba mythology and her significance in the broader context of African and diasporic cultures.
Conclusion
Yoruba mythology and indigenous knowledge are vast fields rich in spirituality, oral history, and cultural practices. These nine books offer various lenses through which readers can explore Yoruba cosmology. They range from the tales of mythic hunters to the global journey of the goddess Osun.
Whether you’re a scholar, a casual reader, or someone new to Yoruba mythology, these books serve as invaluable guides into one of Africa’s most influential cultures.
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Renowned Nigerian theatre personality Bolanle Austen-Peters will introduce the inaugural Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF) in November 2024. This groundbreaking event, a joint initiative between Austen-Peters and Lagos State, aims to create a thriving hub for theatrical artists worldwide.
The LITF will show a diverse array of creative talents, fostering excellence and sustainability in the Nigerian theatre industry. Austen-Peters, a distinguished director, producer, and award-winning filmmaker, is leading the charge, garnering support from corporate partners including First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Dorman Long Engineering, Amstel Malta, and the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts.
In a statement announcing the festival’s launch, Austen-Peters expressed her enthusiasm for this ambitious project. She emphasized the LITF’s potential to elevate the Nigerian theatre scene and provide a platform for international collaboration. She said,
In Nigeria, there’s a special kind of magic that you can’t just see. It’s a feeling. I want to share this Nigerian magic with you through this article. In this article, we’ll talk about crazy Nigerian myths.
These stories are very popular in Nigeria especially while growing up. If you’re from Nigeria, you probably know them well. If you’re not, stay tuned and gird yourself.
Nigerian myths instilled fear in us as children, keeping us grounded at home after dark.
These myths could breed all shades of fear and instil restriction in us as kids. Would you want to know them? Stay with me as we read on.
1. The Tattoo Candy
People say that once, a little boy had 20 naira and wanted to buy candy. He went to the school store and chose a candy with temporary tattoos. When he got home, he opened the candy and licked it. He was going to put the tattoo on his hand, but his mom stopped him and told him not to put any tattoos on his body.
The boy didn’t understand why his mom was against it, so that night, he ignored her and put the tattoo on his arm. He was happy with how it looked and played with it, then went to bed.
In his sleep, he dreamed of a green snake wrapping around him and trying to kill him. He woke up scared, only to find a real, scary snake on his arm. The snake was wrapping around him, trying to squeeze him.
The boy screamed, and his mom came into the room. She saw the snake and grabbed a broom to hit it, but the snake didn’t die. The mom didn’t know what to do, so she used the special oil she had in her room. She sprinkled some on the broom, prayed over it, and hit the snake again. This time, the snake slowly died, and the tattoo disappeared.
Since then, the boy never bought candy with tattoos and warned his friends not to either.
2. Rebecca/Oroma, The Headless Girl Who Braids Her Own Hair
In Nigeria, there was once a girl named Oroma. She was the most beautiful girl in the kingdom and always had the best hairstyles. Everyone loved her, but no one knew how she did her hair.
One night, two curious girls followed Oroma home to find out. When they looked into her house, they saw something shocking. Oroma was sitting on the floor without a head, and a hundred strange hands were fixing her hair.
The girls ran away and told everyone what they saw. The people got angry and tried to find Oroma, but she was gone. She disappeared. To this day, no one knows where Oroma went.
So it is believed that if you see a girl with amazingly beautiful hair, she might be Oroma.
3. Bush Babies
You lie in bed, struggling to fall asleep in the darkness of night. Suddenly, a baby’s cry pierces the silence, startling you awake. Concern floods your mind as you throw off the covers and swing your feet to the cold floor.
Following the haunting wails, you run out of your room and down the hallway. The cries grow louder as you approach the front door. Hesitantly, you turn the knob and step outside into the chilly night air.
The baby’s cries lead you away from your home and into unfamiliar territory. Tall grass brushes against your legs as you push deeper into a dense thicket. Branches snag your clothes, but an inexplicable compulsion drives you forward.
After what feels like hours of trudging through the wilderness, you stumble into a small clearing. There, in the centre, lies a baby face-down on the ground, its cries muffled by the earth.
Relief washes over you as you approach the infant. You reach out, ready to scoop up the distressed child and bring it to safety. Just as your fingers brush its soft skin, the baby abruptly stops crying.
In one fluid motion, the infant’s head swivels 180 degrees to face you. Your blood runs cold as you stare into glowing red eyes set in a repulsively ugly and deformed face. A mouth filled with needle-sharp teeth gapes open, and before you can react, the creature lunges at you with inhuman speed.
The forest falls silent once more. No trace of you is ever found, leaving behind only whispered stories of the thing that lures its prey with a baby’s cry.
The above narration is exactly how we were told. This is one of the Nigerian myths that kept us in fear even when there was a genuine cry of a baby.
4. Mami Wata
Contrary to the sweet, innocent mermaids portrayed in tales like “The Little Mermaid” or “Aquamarine,” Nigerian stories paint a very different picture of these water-dwelling beings. Known as mami watas, they are not benevolent creatures but rather vicious spirits with a penchant for deception and harm.
These spirits are renowned for their extraordinary beauty, a trait they use to ensnare unsuspecting victims. Often appearing in human form with legs, mami watas can walk among men. They are said to lure men to the river or sea, seduce them, and then claim them as their own, never allowing them to return to land.
While some mami watas target men on land, others prefer to prey on sailors. These seafaring spirits use their seductive charms to lure men aboard their ships, only to reveal their true nature and claim them as their victims.
Therefore, if a stranger, particularly a woman, invites you to the beach or river on a first date, it’s wise to exercise caution. Nigerian legends warn that such an invitation could be a ploy by a mami wata, a dangerous spirit with malicious intent.
5. Night Whistling
Nigerian folklore warns against whistling at night, claiming it summons spirits to your doorstep. Various tales recount the fates of those who dared to whistle after dark…
One chilling story, passed down through generations, tells the story of a young girl named Adaku:
On a moonless night, Adaku’s cruel stepmother orders her to fetch water from the distant stream. Trembling with fear but unable to refuse, Adaku clutches her empty water jug and steps out into the oppressive darkness.
As she trudges along the dirt path leading deeper into the village, Adaku’s fear gives way to an eerie calm. Without thinking, she begins to whistle a quiet tune to keep herself company. The melody drifts through the still air, echoing off the silent huts.
Suddenly, rustling sounds originate from the thick bushes flanking the path. Adaku halts, and the noises cease. Curiosity overrides her caution, and she resumes her whistling. The strange sounds in the undergrowth grow louder, keeping time with her tune.
Heart racing, Adaku quickens her pace, her whistling becoming more anxious. In an instant, the bushes erupt with movement. Slithering snakes, ugly demons, and misty ghosts materialize around her. Decomposing corpses rise from the earth, their bony fingers reaching for the terrified girl.
The air fills with an otherworldly chorus as the nightmarish beings whistle and hiss in unison, surrounding Adaku in a dizzying whirlwind of sound and motion. She screams, but her cries are lost in the cacophony.
Adaku never reaches the stream. She never returns home. Villagers whisper that deep in the bush, where the shadows are darkest, Adaku still whistles with her demonic captors. They say her song lures unsuspecting travellers who whistle in the night, forever expanding the ghostly choir that waits in the darkness.
6. Madam Koi Koi
As this story goes:
Once upon a time, there lived a beloved secondary school teacher known not for her beauty but for her distinctive footwear. She was always seen in high-heeled shoes, the rhythmic “koi koi koi” sound of which earned her the nickname “Madam Koi Koi.” She was adored by students and staff alike.
Tragedy struck when Lady Koi Koi was involved in a car accident. However, rumours circulated that this was no ordinary accident but a deliberate act of malice. It was alleged that jealous staff and students at the boarding school had framed and killed her.
Following her untimely demise, Madam Koi Koi was said to have turned vengeful. She was believed to haunt boarding schools, seeking retribution for her murder. Her presence was allegedly signalled by the unmistakable “koi koi koi” sound of her heels. Students were warned to stay indoors and close to their friends and loved ones whenever they heard this strange noise.
According to belief, Madam Koi Koi’s spirit continues to roam, haunting boarding schools across the land. The question remains: where will she strike next?
7. The Evil Passenger
Another story that tells us about Nigerian myths is the tale of a traveller who encountered a sinister hitchhiker. One afternoon, while driving down a highway, the traveller noticed a nun standing at the side of the road, signalling for help. Moved by compassion, he stopped and offered the woman a ride.
As they journeyed together, the traveller became curious about the nun’s identity and purpose. He asked her questions about her life, but she remained silent. Despite his repeated inquiries, the nun refused to speak.
Growing increasingly uneasy, the traveller pressed the nun for answers. Finally, she responded, revealing that she was a nun who had been murdered by her own townspeople.
Fear and shock gripped the traveller. He urged the woman to leave his vehicle, but she refused. According to the story, the traveller perished that day, and the vengeful nun continues to roam the streets, highways, and bushes, seeking her next victim.
This haunting story is not isolated. There are variations of the legend involving prostitutes, school girls, and other individuals, earning it the title “The Evil Passenger” rather than “The Evil Nun.”
Other Nigerian Myths with No Associated Stories
There are other Nigerian myths that do not have stories associated with them. These Nigerian myths just came to us on their own through beliefs, customs and traditions.
In certain regions of Nigeria, like Ota, Ogun State, and Okrika, Rivers State, there are tales of trees that bleed real blood. These mythical trees are believed to possess supernatural properties.
In some villages, snakes, particularly those known as “Eke Njaba,” are considered the owners of the land. If a snake enters your home, it is forbidden to kill it. Instead, you must offer it food and treat it as a guest. Once it has finished, gently remove it using a stick.
In certain areas, sweeping and packing dirt at night is considered taboo.
After 6 PM and before 5 AM, it’s advised to avoid going to certain streams. If you must, upon reaching the stream, clap your hands to alert any water spirits that may be present, giving them time to disappear.
In some parts of Igbo land, sleeping with your legs facing the door is said to be a practice reserved for spirits. It is forbidden for humans to do so.
If you accidentally injure someone with a knife, it’s customary to stab the knife into the ground immediately. Additionally, the same applies to brooms too: if you mistakenly brush someone with a broom, it is customary to brush it into the ground as well.
Further, according to local beliefs, lifting babies high in the air at night or early evening can be perilous. It is said that spirits are more active during these times, and raising babies could expose them to danger.
In certain Yoruba regions, pregnant women are not allowed to go near corpses.
What’s more, it is advised against picking wild cherries early in the evening. It is believed that spirits gather under cherry trees at this time, and disturbing them may pose a risk.
Finally, in certain parts of Nigeria, entering a room where someone has died requires a specific ritual: walking backwards. Those who violate this custom may face supernatural consequences, such as being slapped by angry spirits.
If you enjoyed this article on Nigerian myths, tune in for more here.
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