Why I Prefer Traditional Worship To Christianity, Islam — Wole Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has shared his preference for traditional Orisa worship over Christianity and Islam, citing a deeper personal connection and the non-violent nature of African spirituality.

In a recent interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Soyinka expressed that his faith in Orisa worship resonates more profoundly with him compared to the faith practices found in Christianity and Islam.

Soyinka emphasized that Orisa worship, as one of the indigenous African religions, promotes creativity and peace, distinguishing it from other faiths he has encountered.

He remarked on the importance of cultural heritage and the rich traditions associated with Orisa worship, asserting that these practices encourage a harmonious existence devoid of violence.

Soyinka said, “I was fortunate to be born in two worlds – the Christian world and traditional Orisa worshippers. My grandfather, until he – poor man – also got converted – he was an Orisa person and a chief, and his (grandfather’s) side (of Orisa) fascinated me a lot more.

“For me, it (Orisa worshipping) was more artistic, creative, and also more mysterious. I don’t find much of the mysterious in Christianity and even less in Islam and that is for a simple reason that I didn’t grow up in a Muslim environment.

“Orisa is open, and very ecumenical and that is why these foreign religions were able to penetrate it and even distort the truth. Because of the generosity of this spirit (Orisa), it is not violent. It is one of those African religions which eschew violence.

“I don’t believe in the Islamic or Christian God and for the adherents of these religions if that makes me an atheist, so I say, I am an atheist. I insisted that all human beings have a certain spiritual core in their being, I believe myself to be a more spirit-sensitive person.”

The literary icon also revealed that he said he doesn’t like to watch anything adapted from his life or works.

He said, “Let me put it this way, turning anything in my life into what other people can watch pains me. It makes me extremely uncomfortable. It’s wrong to say it’s terrific, let me just say I’m detached from it.

“It takes me a while to bring myself to watch me.”