In a recent interview with CNN, Nigerian Nobel laureate in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka, expressed his preference for the traditional Orisa religion over Christianity or Islam, describing it as “more artistic, creative, and mysterious.”
Orisa is an African religion indigenous to Soyinka’s Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria.
Soyinka, a renowned playwright and poet, credits his upbringing in Christian and Orisa-worshipping environments with shaping his spiritual perspective. His grandfather was a chief and Orisa devotee who later, however, converted to Christianity.
“Orisa worship is open, ecumenical, and eschews violence,” Soyinka told his host, Larry Madowo, distinguishing it from Nigeria’s two prevalent Abrahamic religions. This generosity of spirit, he noted, allowed foreign religions to penetrate and sometimes distort the truth about Orisa.
Orisa worship involves reverence for various deities, each embodying aspects of nature and human experience. This complex pantheon fosters a sense of spirituality and connection with the natural world. The religion, it is said, encourages individual exploration and creative expression.
Notable Orishas include Olodumare (the supreme god), Oya (goddess of storms), and Eshu (messenger deity).
The religion has spread globally, with significant followings in Brazil, Cuba, and the United States, especially among the African diaspora from the times of slavery.
Soyinka’s artistic endeavors may reflect this influence, as he blends traditional Yoruba mythology with modern themes in many of his writings.
“Orisa is open and very ecumenical, and that is why these foreign religions were able to penetrate it and even distort the truth. Because of the generosity of this spirit (Orisa), it is not violent. It is one of those African religions which eschew violence.
“I don’t believe in the Islamic or Christian God and, for the adherents of these religions, if that makes me an atheist, then I say, I am an atheist.
“I insisted that all human beings have a certain spiritual core in their being. I believe myself to be a more spirit-sensitive person,” Wole Soyinka claimed.
In 2020, Mr. Soyinka predicted that Hillary Clinton would win the United States presidential election and even pledged to renounce his U.S. citizenship if Donald Trump won.
Soyinka is still a dual U.S. and Nigerian citizen.
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