I’m not going to lie, “Yoruba Mythology: Stories of the Orisa from West Africa and the Diaspora” by Ayodeji Ogunnaike is A LOT. Ayodeji Ogunnaike, with Oludamini Ogunnaike, set out to create the most complete book to date telling the stories of the Yoruba (a large ethnic group found in West Africa, Cuba, and Brazil). At over 600 pages, it contains over 300 myths from this primarily oral storytelling tradition.
In an attempt to organize such a huge catalog of information, “Yoruba Mythology” is essentially broken down to three main parts: “The World of the Orisa” which tells origin stories of creation and the cosmos, “Tales Yoruba People Tell” is general folktales, and “Tales of the Tortoise” which contains the tales of the trickster tortoise Ijapa who is an entire subgenre of Yoruba storytelling.
Ogunnaike didn’t just compile a bunch of stories; with the author’s guidance you see how this teaches Yoruba history and culture. Factor in the wonderful illustrations by Data Oruwari throughout the book and “Yoruba Mythology” can become quite the immersive experience.
At over 600 pages, I still haven’t finished reading “Yoruba Mythology”. However, I have read enough to know that this is an important work for those looking to learn about the Yoruba. Not a light introduction to the subject matter, but I would dare to say this would be the only book you need on the topic.
You can learn more here.
Get your own copy here. (This is an affiliate link to my Bookshop, which supports independent bookstores throughout the United States. If you use this link to purchase the book, I will make a small commission at no additional cost to you.)
Do you enjoy The Magical Buffet? Considering supporting The Magical Buffet on Patreon! For only $5 a month you’ll receive monthly tarot/oracle forecasts, classes, and behind the scenes updates! https://www.patreon.com/magicalbuffet
Wow–that’s some book!