Woman Leadership In Yoruba Culture

Women of Yoruba

Woman Leadership In Yoruba Culture

The Yoruba people are an ethnic group that date back to 11th century Nigeria. Today, they are around 44 million people in total, with the majority of this population still residing in Southwestern Nigeria, where the Yoruba make up 21% of the country’s entire population.

The Yoruba are not only limited to Africa. The Atlantic Slave Trade between the 16th and 19th centuries constituted for the Yoruba diaspora that created Yoruba communities in countries such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Jamaica, Brazil and others. The preservation of the Yoruba culture in the face of adversity is example of the resilience of their people and their generosity through sharing their traditions and religion. The Yoruba have maintained these customs and beliefs through oral tradition, as there was no official written language until around the 1850s.

The traditions of the Yoruba are strongly based on folktales and proverbs, which are used in the Yoruba culture to help its people navigate through life wisely. One such proverb is “Iy’o wu mi e wue, oun e, ni mu omo iya meji jeun ototo,” which translates to English as “Differences in likes and dislikes make two brothers eat separately.” What this proverb means is that the Yoruba people recognise and value the fact that each human being has special characteristics that make him unique.

One such example is the value and appreciation of women in the Yoruba culture. Though the Yoruba people have a largely patriarchal society with men maintaining leadership positions, there is also an understanding that women have powers and abilities that man can not achieve, and these gifts are highly cherished in the Yoruba society. Namely, the position of motherhood is considered to be very important in Yoruba culture. The creation and preservation of life depends on the role of mothers in the society of the Yoruba people and is considered sacred.

The Yoruba religion also encompasses the sacred act of bringing life. In traditional religion, there is one Supreme being, Olodumare, as well as hundreds of deities called orisha. The orisha embody and reflect the various qualities of Olodumare. Among the orisha, one of the most cherished and powerful is Oshun, a female goddess who represents love, feminity, prosperity, fertility and sexuality. Oshun is especially important to women in the Yoruba culture. Women who may suffer from infertility may look to Oshun for assistance and guidance. For this reason, she represents the important role of power in the Yoruba culture, aiding those in the motherhood that allows the continuity of life on Earth and is even one of the most respected leaderships of Osun State as an advisor.

Oshun is said to reside in the sanctuary of the Osun Sacred Grove by the Osun River in Nigeria. Not only is the grove considered to be a holy place, it is also a natural herbal resource, containing over 400 species of plants, where over half of those species are known for their medicinal properties. Upon entering the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, the uniqueness that the Yoruba people treasure in its people is also the main word that encompasses the space. It is unlike any place on earth and is special because no matter what one believes, the ancient architecture of the grove hypnotises body and soul. The landscape of the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove is adorned with shrines, sculptures and art works in honour of Osun. This location is important to the Yoruba people for two reasons. It is a symbol of identity for all Yoruba people, but due to urbanisation, it is also among the last sacred grove in the Yoruba culture. As recently as 2005, The Osun-Osogbo Grove was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site to preserve it as an important monument of the Yoruba culture.

In addition to its natural beauty, daily worship takes place in the grove, and every August, the goddess Oshun is honoured for two weeks at the Osun-Osogbo Festival each year. Starting over 700 years ago, the festival has deep roots in Yoruba culture. It is an annual procession that functions to re-establish the mystical bonds between the goddess Oshun and the Yoruba people who look to her for leadership and guidance. The celebration is highlighted by drumming, music, dancing, elaborate costumes and poetry of praise in the Yoruba language. Through the rhythm of the drum beats and the jingle of the bead necklaces, the Yoruba dances are a spectacle that captivate the five senses and exemplify the living culture of the Yoruba people.

Oshun represents the important role of power in the Yoruba culture, aiding those in the motherhood that allows the continuity of life on Earth.