Why I prefer Orisa worship to Christianity, Islam — Wole Soyinka

Wole Soyinka favours Orisa worship over Christianity and Islam, praising its creativity, mystery, and rejection of violence in African spirituality.

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ole Soyinka explains why he prefers traditional Orisa worship over Christianity and Islam, citing its creative and non-violent nature.

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has revealed why he prefers traditional Orisa worship over Christianity and Islam.

Also read: Wole Soyinka criticizes president Tinubu’s response to hunger protests

In an interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Soyinka expressed that Orisa worship is more profound and creative for him compared to other religions.

He shared that his upbringing in both the Christian and Orisa traditions influenced his beliefs, with the latter captivating him more due to its artistic and mysterious qualities.

Soyinka also highlighted that Orisa worship, a traditional African religion, promotes peace and rejects violence, unlike some interpretations of Islam and Christianity.

According to him, Orisa’s openness made it vulnerable to the influence of foreign religions, leading to distortions of its true essence.

Declaring himself an atheist in the context of Christian and Islamic belief systems, Soyinka emphasised that he still considers himself spiritually sensitive, valuing the deep spiritual core within all humans.

He also mentioned his discomfort with seeing his life or works adapted for the screen, preferring to remain detached from such portrayals.

Quadri Olaitan