YORUBA MYTHOLOGY

According to Yoruba mythology, it was Obatala who created humanity. By some account he is the offspring from a union between Olorun and Olokun



The beliefs of Yoruba people in simple terms holds that all human beings possess what is known as "Ayanmo(destiny, fate) and are expected to eventually become one in spirit with Olodumare (Olorun, the divine creator and source of all energy). Furthermore, the thoughts and actions of each person in Ayé (the physical realm) interact with all other living things, including the Earth itself

The things we know about Yoruba gods(Orishas) were passed down through stories, folklore, cultural songs and the high esteem to which certain shrines are held

Orunmila-

god of wisdom, knowledge and divination. It is said that he visited earth and gifted Yorubas with Ifa( wisdom of the gods). He is the prime god, it is him more than any other god who can affect a person's reality. Orunmila was said to have lived in the spiritual realm for over 400years without food and water before descending to earth to help mankind. He set foot first on Oke-Igbeti. When Orunmila was at Oke Igbeti, he would call on strangers walking passed him, he would endeavour to tell them about what danger lies ahead and how to avert it. From Oke- Igbeti he traveled across all lands helping people along the way

Eshu-

Eshu is one of the most respected deities in Yoruba tradition. He is the god of chance, accident and unpredictability. Some refer to him as the protector of travelers and god of crossroads. Every ceremony or ritual begins with an offering to Eshu as he is responsible for carrying messages and sacrifices from humans to the other Orishas. Known to be a trickster god, he lurks at gateways, highways, crossroads and doesn't miss an opportunity to introduce humans to chance and accident. He does this to teach valuable lessons to those he encounters

Here's an example of how he taught a certain community a valuable lesson

Eshu was walking down the road one day, wearing a hat that was red on one side and blue on the other. Sometime after he departed, the villagers who had seen him began arguing about whether the stranger's hat was blue or red. The villagers on one side of the road had only been capable of seeing the blue side, and the villagers on the other side had only been capable of seeing the red half. They nearly fought over the argument, until Eshu came back and cleared the mystery, teaching the villagers about how one's perspective can alter one's perception of reality, and can be easily fooled

Ogun - is the god of iron, war, and patron of hunters and blacksmiths

He is believed to be the first god to establish a kingdom on earth and thus the first king of Ife
He killed himself with his own sword after wiping out his subjects who stood up against him but according to some accounts he reappeared in Ire and was made king there
His favourite animal was the dog as hunting was another passion he had besides war

Yemoja- is goddess of fertility and love

She resides in rivers, stream and wells, sometimes she is depicted as a mermaid

Oshun- The goddess of beauty, sensuality and love was said to be the favourite Orisha of Oludumare because of her beauty

If a goddess ever was a diva, it was Oshun. There are accounts of how she manipulated other gods with her beauty but it was Shango who eventually broke her heart, by marrying her sister 'Oya

Shango- The god thunder has so many names, some of which are Oba Koso( the king does not hang), & Jakuta( stone thrower) Revered as the most feared and powerful amongst the Orishas

Shango is quick to anger and he burns anyone who dares him. Oshun, Oba, and Oya are his wives, their jealousy was nothing he concerned himself about

Oya-

The goddess of the wind, lightning, storms and death was the third wife of Shango. The unbeatable warrior is said to have drowned herself inside the river niger

OTHER GODS AND GODDESSES OF YORUBA LAND INCLUDES

Olokun- goddess of the sea

Olorun- ruler of the heavens

Aja- goddess of forest and protector of animals

Aganju- god of volcanoes

Aje- goddess of wealth

Ayao- goddess of air

Babalu Aye- god of the earth

Erinie- god of medicine

Egungun Oya- goddess of divination

Ibeji- god of vitality and youth

Kokou- god of violence

Obatala- creator of humans

Oko- god of agriculture

Osanyin- god of the forest

Oba- Shango's first wife and goddess of domesticity

Osoosi- god of hunters