Globally, Nigeria holds not only a unique but central position in the practice of Orisa worship which is a key aspect of the Yoruba traditional religion. This ancient religious practice which originated from Nigeria has now spread across the world, particularly to the Americas and the Caribbean through the transatlantic slave trade and as the birthplace of Orisa spirituality, Nigeria has continued to serve as its historical, cultural, and spiritual hub.
The Yoruba belief system is based on a supreme deity, Olodumare, and numerous deities (Orisas) that serve as intermediaries between humans and the divine. Each Orisa governs different aspects of life, nature, and human endeavors.
Nigeria’s position as the global custodian of Orisa tradition cannot be overemphasized as it is evidenced in the fact that despite efforts made by the slave masters to suppress African spiritual traditions, the enslaved Yoruba people especially in Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and other parts of the world, insisted on maintaining and preserving Orisa worship as their spirituality and religious practice.
Today, Nigeria remains the spiritual home and ancestral source of Orisa worship, with practitioners from around the world making pilgrimages to Nigerian shrines and temples to connect with their spiritual root.
Nigerian Babalawos (Ifá priests) and traditional custodians continue to be highly respected as authentic sources of knowledge, rituals, and initiation rites for Orisa adherents worldwide.
The influence of Orisa worship has grown tremendously, with millions of adherents practicing its rituals, divination systems (Ifá), and ceremonies with their origins traced back to Nigeria, making the country the recognized spiritual headquarters of Orisa worship worldwide.
