International Journal of Arts and Humanities

The Epistemology of ‘gods’ and ‘goddesses’ in Yoruba Traditional Thought: Imperative in understanding their Contemporary thought patterns, Beliefs and Values

Abstract

The gods and goddesses are objects of worship and reverence among the Yoruba of South-West Nigeria. The aim of the essay is to analyse the roles of gods and goddesses in African (Yoruba) culture and their impacts on contemporary societal values. The purpose of this essay is to engage in a cursory analysis of Yoruba gods and goddesses and their significance in understanding the unique Yoruba culture. The justification for this study arises from the Yoruba people's strong attachment to their beliefs, despite the significant influence of modernity, technology, and world religions such as Christianity and Islam. Epistemological analysis is the methodology employed to dig out the knowledge embedded in Yoruba traditional thought on gods and goddesses as well as to conceptualise the idea of gods and goddesses in Yoruba society. Value theory serves as the theoretical framework for this research. An extensive discussion of the gods and goddesses in Yoruba thought reveals that they bring varieties of goodness to contemporary society. This subject is discussed in a section before the conclusion follows.

Keywords: Gods, goddess, Yoruba, Epistemology, Belief, Values,