- He noted that unlike other religions, Orisa worship abstains from violence
Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has explained why he favours traditional Orisa worship over Christianity and Islam, describing it as a non-violent and more creative form of spirituality.
In an interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Soyinka shared that Orisa worshipping fascinates him more due to its artistic and mysterious nature, which he finds lacking in other major religions. He recounted his exposure to both Christianity and traditional Orisa worship during childhood, as his grandfather was a chief and Orisa adherent before converting to Christianity.
“For me, Orisa worship was more artistic, creative, and also more mysterious. I don’t find much of the mysterious in Christianity and even less in Islam,” Soyinka said, adding that Orisa worship is “open and ecumenical,” which made it susceptible to influence and distortion by foreign religions.
He noted that unlike other religions, Orisa worship abstains from violence, saying, “It is one of those African religions which eschew violence.”
Soyinka also stated, “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 am an atheist. I consider myself a more spirit-sensitive person.”
The revered writer also expressed discomfort with adaptations of his life and works for public consumption, stating, “Turning anything in my life into what other people can watch pains me. It makes me extremely uncomfortable.”