Christianity, Islam, and Orisa-Religion: Three Traditions in Comparison and InteractionA free ebook version of this title is available through Luminos, University of California Press’s open access publishing program for monographs. Visit www.luminosoa.org to learn more. The Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria are exceptional for the copresence among them of three religious traditions: Islam, Christianity, and the indigenous orisa religion. In this comparative study, at once historical and anthropological, Peel explores the intertwined character of the three religions and the dense imbrication of religion in all aspects of Yoruba history up to the present. For over 400 years, the Yoruba have straddled two geocultural spheres: one reaching north over the Sahara to the world of Islam, the other linking them to the Euro-American world via the Atlantic. These two external spheres were the source of contrasting cultural influences, notably those emanating from the world religions. However, the Yoruba not only imported Islam and Christianity but also exported their own orisa religion to the New World. Before the voluntary modern diaspora that has brought many Yoruba to Europe and the Americas, tens of thousands were sold as slaves in the New World, bringing with them the worship of the orisa. Peel offers deep insight into important contemporary themes such as religious conversion, new religious movements, relations between world religions, the conditions of religious violence, the transnational flows of contemporary religion, and the interplay between tradition and the demands of an ever-changing present. In the process, he makes a major theoretical contribution to the anthropology of world religions. |
Contents
Part I | 4 |
A West | 17 |
Samuel Johnson | 38 |
A Comparative Analysis | 52 |
Divergent Modes of Religiosity in West Africa | 71 |
Postsocialism Postcolonialism Pentecostalism | 88 |
Context Tradition and the Anthropology | 105 |
Conversion and Community in Yorubaland | 125 |
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Common terms and phrases
Abeokuta African Ahmadiyya Aladura alfa Arabic Asante babalawo Benin born-again Cambridge University Press central chapter chief Church colonial comparative method comparison context contrast conversion cult deities distinctive divine doctrinal mode Egba ethnic evangelical faith festivals forms Hausa identity Ijaye Ijebu Ilesha imagistic imam Indiana University Press indigenous Institute iron Islam and Christianity J. D. Y. Peel Johnson Journal Koran Lagos London mission missionary modern mosque movements Muslim NASFAT nation nineteenth century Northern Nigeria Ogun Ogun's Ondo origins Orisa orișa religion Osun past pastor Pentecostalism Pentecostalists political practice prayer present Prophet regional Reindorf ritual Salafism Salafist Sango seen Sharia Shaykh Social Anthropology society Sokoto Sokoto Caliphate Spirit strongly Sufi Tijaniyya tion town tradition ulama University of Ibadan Usman dan Fodio West Africa world religions worship Yoruba Christians Yoruba culture Yoruba Islam Yoruba Muslims Yoruba religion Yorubaland