ORISA: Yoruba Gods and Spiritual Identity in Africa and the Diaspora

This volume rests on the crucial recognition that Yorba culture has extended far beyond the boundaries of Nigeria. For members of Yoruba diaspora, temporal and geographic distance has not fully erased their memory or cultural activism. Orisa worship remains one of the most prominent and recognizable evidence of this connection. With millions of Orisa practitioners in the world, Yoruba gods are very much alive and form part of the Nigerian and Yoruba diasporan religious experience. This Volume seeks to introduce new ideas, perspectives, and methodologies on Orisa worship. The chapters reflect a multi-disciplinary approach to orsia study, covering a wide range of topics such a divination, the practice of Santeria, festivals and songs, the creation of the orisa-based communities within the United States, and globalization of cults. Most importantly, the volume documents the survival of religious practices, and its important role of reinforcing cultural values within a community as well as empowering its members to progress in the modern world.