Wole Soyinka: Why I Choose Orisa Worship Over Christianity and Islam
Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has expressed his preference for traditional Orisa worship over Christianity and Islam, citing a deeper fascination with the former. In an interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Soyinka explained that he finds the level of faith in Orisa worship to be more compelling than that in the other two religions.
Soyinka described Orisa worship as non-violent and more creative. “I was fortunate to experience both the Christian faith and traditional Orisa practices,” he noted. “My grandfather was a chief and an Orisa practitioner before converting, and his beliefs intrigued me deeply.”
He further elaborated, “For me, Orisa worship is artistic, creative, and carries a sense of mystery that I don’t find in Christianity or, to an even lesser extent, in Islam, as I didn’t grow up in a Muslim environment.”
According to Soyinka, Orisa worship is inclusive and ecumenical, allowing foreign religions to influence it, sometimes distorting its original essence. He appreciates that this spiritual path is non-violent, emphasizing, “It’s one of those African religions that rejects violence.”
Soyinka candidly stated, “I do not subscribe to the gods of Islam or Christianity, and if that makes me an atheist, then I embrace that label.” He believes all humans possess an inherent spiritual essence and identifies as someone highly attuned to this sensitivity.
