Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has revealed his preference for traditional Orisa worship over Christianity and Islam, citing a deeper personal connection and the peaceful nature of African spirituality. In an interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Soyinka expressed that his belief in Orisa resonates more profoundly than other religions.
Soyinka emphasized that Orisa worship, one of the indigenous African spiritual practices, encourages creativity and peace, in contrast to the faith traditions found in Christianity and Islam. He highlighted the importance of cultural heritage, asserting that Orisa promotes a harmonious existence free from violence.
“I was fortunate to be born in two worlds—the Christian world and traditional Orisa worshippers. My grandfather, until he was converted, was an Orisa person and a chief, and his side fascinated me more,” Soyinka shared. He noted that the artistic and mysterious elements of Orisa drew him in, while he found less mystery in Christianity and even less in Islam due to his limited exposure to the latter.
Soyinka further described Orisa as open and inclusive, which allowed foreign religions to influence and distort its truths. Unlike Christianity and Islam, he believes Orisa is non-violent. He added, “I don’t believe in the Islamic or Christian God, and if that makes me an atheist to adherents of those religions, so be it.”
The literary icon also expressed discomfort with watching adaptations of his life or works, saying it makes him feel detached. “It’s wrong to say it’s terrific; let me just say I’m detached from it,” Soyinka remarked.
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