Yoruba Mythology

“My understanding of Yoruba has always been fragmented; a spectrum of information pulled in from a multitude of sources: Babalawos, the I Ching, online research, and my own intuition. This text affirms the validity of those experiences, and expands it greatly, forming a space that culls oral and written storytelling into a powerful anthology. I will be revisiting this work for years to come, and believe that it has an invaluable significance for all across the diaspora.”—Shaka King, writer and director of Judas and the Black Messiah

“A treasure trove of myths from Yorubaland and its diasporas collected by true African religionists. Preciously guarded and assiduously compiled by the Ogunnaike brothers, this valuable archive has been thoughtfully curated and historically contextualized by skilled researchers of Yoruba descent. A stunning set of illustrations, rooted in traditional styles of Nigerian wood carving, recalls the storied past with a dazzling twenty-first century flourish. This foundational volume ultimately offers an ancestral gift to all future generations.”—Kyrah Malika Daniels, Assistant Professor of African American Studies, Emory University

“This remarkable volume stands as one of the most important contemporary contributions to the preservation and transmission of Yorùbá sacred knowledge, mythology, and oral tradition. Yoruba Mythology: Stories of the Oriṣa from West Africa and the Diaspora succeeds not only as a collection of stories, but as a living bridge between ancestral memory, spiritual philosophy, history, and the evolving global consciousness of the Yoruba tradition.”—Baba Oloye Jean-Jérôme C. Baudry

"This book is what I, and so many others, have been waiting for. So many African descended persons, throughout the world, have been divorced from their homelands and history, often and tragically, by force. Unable to hear the tales of their peoples, or even understand their ancestral tongues. Unable to see themselves reflected in that which is divine. This extraordinary book attempts to make right that devastating wrong. It has been a companion, accompanying me back to a version of myself, stripped from me generations before my own birth. For me it is so holy it deserves an altar. Each page, a hallowed ground."—Kiel Adrian Scott, Award-winning director of David Makes Man and The Bobby Brown Story

“It is an honor to endorse this new work on Yoruba culture and religion: a valued book crafted with meticulous detail about the orisa. I particularly enjoyed and appreciated the author's attention to pronunciation in the book. It is the necessary type of work to disseminate the true culture of Yoruba people and their religion. I salute the authors of this book for their diligent efforts and dedication. The sky is the limit for its impact.”—Ifayemi Elebuibon High Priest Agba Oye Araba Olu-Iaese of Osogboland