By: Yelena, Niki,

Neha, Natalie, and Natasha

By: Yelena, Niki,

Neha, Natalie, and Natasha

Yoruba ReligionYoruba Religion Is a major African religion, based in

NigeriaOver 25 million Yoruba peopleOne overall godOther gods are the Irunmole and the

OrishaRespect ancestorsSprit lives after death and

reincarnates in blood relativesMoments in life can be predicted

Is a major African religion, based in Nigeria

Over 25 million Yoruba peopleOne overall godOther gods are the Irunmole and the

OrishaRespect ancestorsSprit lives after death and

reincarnates in blood relativesMoments in life can be predicted

African Gods: IntroductionAfrican Gods: Introduction

Many different gods each have different roles. African gods are

similar to Greek gods. They have emotions and act human-

like.

With that said: Lets meet the top 11 gods of African Mythology!

Many different gods each have different roles. African gods are

similar to Greek gods. They have emotions and act human-

like.

With that said: Lets meet the top 11 gods of African Mythology!

OlorunOlorun

Top GodGod of the sky,

peace and justice

Creator of the Earth and humans

Father of two: Odudua and Obatala

Favorite Color: White

Top GodGod of the sky,

peace and justice

Creator of the Earth and humans

Father of two: Odudua and Obatala

Favorite Color: White

OlokunOlokun

Olorun’s brother

God of the SeaPossibly a sea

goddessMarried to

Olorun

Olorun’s brother

God of the SeaPossibly a sea

goddessMarried to

Olorun

Bumba ObtalaBumba Obtala God of vomit and

creator Had a stomach

ache for centuries Threw up the

world and creatures on it

God of vomit and creator

Had a stomach ache for centuries

Threw up the world and creatures on it Creator god of

humans Loved wine Made humans

when under the influence of alcohol

Creator god of humans

Loved wine Made humans

when under the influence of alcohol

Shango Eshu

Shango Eshu God of thunder

Fourth king of Yoruba

Colors: Red and White

Likes to party and feast

God of thunder

Fourth king of Yoruba

Colors: Red and White

Likes to party and feast

Trickster god of decisions and choices

Offers advice to those in need

Owns the roads of life

Has a sense of humor

Trickster god of decisions and choices

Offers advice to those in need

Owns the roads of life

Has a sense of humor

Orishas Yemaya

Orishas Yemaya

Guardian spirits under control of Olorun

Guardian spirits under control of Olorun

One of the Orishas Mother of water and

childbirth

One of the Orishas Mother of water and

childbirth

Anansi EleguaAnansi Elegua

Spider god Creator god: created

sun and moon Sneaky, Trickster,

Sly

Spider god Creator god: created

sun and moon Sneaky, Trickster,

Sly Provides more opportunity + second chances

Trickster: can make some choices seem difficult

Provides more opportunity + second chances

Trickster: can make some choices seem difficult

Orunmilla Orunmilla

One of the Orishas Spirit of Wisdom:

Divine Makes Prophecies Has his own priests Equipped with

“divination chains”

One of the Orishas Spirit of Wisdom:

Divine Makes Prophecies Has his own priests Equipped with

“divination chains”

African Gods’ Family TreeAfrican Gods’ Family TreeOLORUNOLOKUN

ODUDA

OBATALAAGANJU

OBATALAORUNMILA

YEMAJA

ORUNGAN

ORUNMILA SHANGO

OSHUNOYAOBA

OKUN SHAKPANA

KEYBLUE= male

PINK= femaleD

Important CitiesImportant CitiesIfe-

“First city” in the world.The spot of land Obtala (aka Odudawa) landed on Prosperous and religious centerImportant center of art and culture

Oyo-Shango ruled hereProsperous and powerful empire (partly because of appearance of horse)

Benin-Brass casting techniques from Ife

Creation of the UniverseCreation of the Universe Most important things, like religion, are

at center of their life The most important god, Oluddumare,

created a force for each gender. Oloddumare said that Olorun was

female Nana gave birth to two eggs named

Mawa and Lissa. They created Oshumare the rainbow

serpent. Irunmole then created the universe and

the gods The Orishas created spiritual leaders

Most important things, like religion, are at center of their life

The most important god, Oluddumare, created a force for each gender.

Oloddumare said that Olorun was female

Nana gave birth to two eggs named Mawa and Lissa.

They created Oshumare the rainbow serpent.

Irunmole then created the universe and the gods

The Orishas created spiritual leaders

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Creation of Life and Land Creation of Life and Land

Life or no life? Land or no Life or no life? Land or no land?land?

The choice was Obtala’s!The choice was Obtala’s!

How Obtala Created Land and Animals on Earth

Irunmola and Oloddumare debate on expanding the universeOloddumare agreed, adding there must be something to hold the entire universe togetherOshumare (Rainbow Serpent) was created to hold the universe together However, when Oshumare gets hungry and starts eating his own tail, the world will become uncreated, falling apart

PB wikiPB wikiIn order to collaborate and improve our rate of success we used a website called PB wiki to share the information we found.

http://hydeafricamythology.pbwiki.com/

CreditsUnknown. “African.” www.purgingtalon.com/nlm/worldmyth/african.

htm (7 February 2006)

“African Myths.” African Myths. Microsoft. Unknown. 2 February 2006.

<www.kent.k12.wa.us/staff/KimMcKeever/Student_Projects/Webpages/myths.html>.

Unknown. “African Mythology.” www.pantheon.org. /areas/muthology /africa/african/Articles.html (5 February 2006).

DeFusco, Mathew. “The Yoruba.” www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/landow/post/nigeria/

Yorubamf.html (26 Feb. 2006).

Elaine, Judith. “African Gods and Goddesses.” www.africanenza.com/africangod.html(12

Feb. 2006).

Horton, Hal. “Yoruban Religion and Myth.” www.thecore.nus.edy.sg/post/nigeria/Yorubarel.html (16 Feb. 2006).

“The Gods of Africa.” African Mythology. Godchecker Inc. 04 November 2005. 5 February 2006. <www.godchecker.

com/pantheon/africa_muthology.php.>

“West African Mythology.” Windows to the Universe. Window Team. 28 March 1997. 5 February 2006.

<www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link =/mythology/African_culture.html>.

“Yoruba Mythology.” Yoruba Mythology. Wikipedia. 24 March 2006. 16 February 2006.

<en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_mythology>.

Unknown. “Yoruban Religion: It’s cosmology and mythology. www.mythome.org/yorubareligion.html (16 Feb. 2006).

“Ifa Religion.” IFA Religion, Yoruba Religion, Babalawo. New Orleans Mystic. 11 March 2006.

<http://www.neworleansmistic.com/services /santeria/ifa.htm>.

Also thanks to . . .Mrs. Miller!

CreditsUnknown. “African.” www.purgingtalon.com/nlm/worldmyth/african.

htm (7 February 2006)

“African Myths.” African Myths. Microsoft. Unknown. 2 February 2006.

<www.kent.k12.wa.us/staff/KimMcKeever/Student_Projects/Webpages/myths.html>.

Unknown. “African Mythology.” www.pantheon.org. /areas/muthology /africa/african/Articles.html (5 February 2006).

DeFusco, Mathew. “The Yoruba.” www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/landow/post/nigeria/

Yorubamf.html (26 Feb. 2006).

Elaine, Judith. “African Gods and Goddesses.” www.africanenza.com/africangod.html(12

Feb. 2006).

Horton, Hal. “Yoruban Religion and Myth.” www.thecore.nus.edy.sg/post/nigeria/Yorubarel.html (16 Feb. 2006).

“The Gods of Africa.” African Mythology. Godchecker Inc. 04 November 2005. 5 February 2006. <www.godchecker.

com/pantheon/africa_muthology.php.>

“West African Mythology.” Windows to the Universe. Window Team. 28 March 1997. 5 February 2006.

<www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link =/mythology/African_culture.html>.

“Yoruba Mythology.” Yoruba Mythology. Wikipedia. 24 March 2006. 16 February 2006.

<en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_mythology>.

Unknown. “Yoruban Religion: It’s cosmology and mythology. www.mythome.org/yorubareligion.html (16 Feb. 2006).

“Ifa Religion.” IFA Religion, Yoruba Religion, Babalawo. New Orleans Mystic. 11 March 2006.

<http://www.neworleansmistic.com/services /santeria/ifa.htm>.

Also thanks to . . .Mrs. Miller!