Hierophant and Hierophany in Yoruba Spirituality: Ori-Oke Ajaforunti, Egbe, Nigeria as a Case Study
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Date
2018
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Bamenda: Langaa Research & Publishing CIG
Abstract
The nomadic nature of African religion, sometimes deprives it of some concepts that are attributed to the two major world religions – Christianity and Islam. The concept of Ori-Oke (hierophany), for instance is usually interpreted as a Christian ideology. Experience has shown that this may not be true. This chapter attempts to demonstrate that Ori-Oke phenomenon is a common concept in Yoruba religious beliefs and that personification of natural objects as spiritual entities (hierophants) is a direct consequence of the possession of such domains by spiritual beings, as in the case of Ori-Oke Ajaforunti in Egbe, North Central Nigeria. This reality of indigenous perspective presents to us that natural phenomena become sacred as a result of the resident spirituality which attracts adherents to them for worship. The methodology employed in this exercise include; historical, theological, sociological and interpretative. We also deployed oral interview and participant observation, as tools to get into the minds of the worshippers of Ori-Oke Ajaforunti and also experienced first-hand practices and rituals involved in their ceremonies. We discovered that despite the incursions of the Christian Community to take custody of Ori-Oke Ajaforunti as Christians Prayer Mountain, it has not been possible and also the unflinching faith of the Egbe traditionalists in the Ori-Oke continued to wax stronger.
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Hierophant, Hierophany, Yoruba Spirituality, Ori-Oke, Egbe, Nigeria, Ajaforunti