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Mythos Atlas · Printable worksheet

Yoruba Tradition

Yoruba (southwestern Nigeria, Benin, and Togo) and the Orisha religions of the diaspora

Name Date

1. Who's who

Write the letter of each figure's role next to their name.

  1. 1.Olodumare
  2. 2.Eshu
  3. 3.Obatala
  4. 4.Oduduwa
  5. 5.Ori
  6. 6.Ogun
  7. 7.Olokun
  8. 8.Orunmila
  • A.crossroads, communication, trickster
  • B.sea, ocean depths, wealth
  • C.creation, earth, kingship
  • D.wisdom, divination, destiny
  • E.creation, purity, wisdom
  • F.destiny, consciousness, personal god
  • G.iron, war, labor
  • H.creation, supreme power, cosmic order

2. Family and relationships

Fill in each blank with a name from the word bank.

Word bank: Olodumare · Shango · Yemoja

  1. 1. is a parent of Oshun.
  2. 2. is the spouse of Oshun.
  3. 3. is the spouse of Oya.
  4. 4. is a parent of Ibeji.
  5. 5. is a parent of Oduduwa.
  6. 6. is a sibling of Olokun.

3. Short answers

  1. 1. What was Olodumare associated with, and which symbols help you recognise Olodumare?

  2. 2. What was Eshu associated with, and which symbols help you recognise Eshu?

  3. 3. Retell “The Creation of Ile-Ife” in two or three sentences. Who is involved, and what changes by the end?

  4. 4. Retell “How Shango Became an Orisha” in two or three sentences. Who is involved, and what changes by the end?

Answer key: Yoruba Tradition

1. Who's who

  1. 1. Olodumare: H
  2. 2. Eshu: A
  3. 3. Obatala: E
  4. 4. Oduduwa: C
  5. 5. Ori: F
  6. 6. Ogun: G
  7. 7. Olokun: B
  8. 8. Orunmila: D

2. Family and relationships

  1. 1. Yemoja
  2. 2. Shango
  3. 3. Shango
  4. 4. Shango
  5. 5. Olodumare
  6. 6. Yemoja

3. Short answers (guidance)

  1. 1. creation, supreme power, cosmic order. Symbols: sun, white light, heavens. (mythosatlas.com/deities/olodumare)
  2. 2. crossroads, communication, trickster. Symbols: crossroads, cowrie shells, red and black colors. (mythosatlas.com/deities/eshu)
  3. 3. How Obatala descended from heaven with a snail shell of sand and a white hen to create land from the primordial waters, founding the sacred city of Ile-Ife. (mythosatlas.com/stories/yoruba-creation)
  4. 4. The story of the fourth king of Oyo, who mastered thunder and lightning but faced tragedy, only to be elevated to divine status after his death. (mythosatlas.com/stories/shango-becomes-orisha)

Generated from the Mythos Atlas catalog. Traditions vary between sources; accept well-supported alternatives.