Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has shed light on his spiritual preferences, explaining why he resonates more with traditional Orisa worship than with Christianity or Islam. In a candid conversation with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Soyinka spoke about the artistic and non-violent nature of Orisa worship, which he finds more appealing compared to the mainstream religions.
Soyinka, who was raised in both Christian and traditional African religious environments, shared that his grandfather was a follower of Orisa until his eventual conversion to Christianity. “I was fortunate to be born in two worlds – the Christian world and traditional Orisa worshippers,” Soyinka said. “My grandfather was an Orisa person and a chief, and his side of Orisa fascinated me a lot more.”
For Soyinka, the allure of Orisa lies in its creativity and mysticism, which he feels is lacking in Christianity and Islam. “It was more artistic, creative, and also more mysterious. I don’t find much of the mysterious in Christianity and even less in Islam,” he noted, adding that his lack of exposure to a Muslim environment influenced his views.
Soyinka also praised the openness and inclusivity of Orisa worship, suggesting that this openness allowed foreign religions to penetrate and sometimes distort its essence. “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, it is not violent. It is one of those African religions which eschew violence,” he explained.
Rejecting the mainstream concept of God as presented by Christianity and Islam, Soyinka declared, “I don’t believe in the Islamic or Christian God, and for adherents of these religions, if that makes me an atheist, so be it. I am an atheist.” However, he emphasized the spiritual dimension that he believes exists within all humans, describing himself as a “spirit-sensitive person.”
Soyinka also expressed discomfort with the idea of his life being turned into a film, describing the experience as unsettling. “Turning anything in my life into what other people can watch pains me. It makes me extremely uncomfortable,” he stated, maintaining a sense of detachment from such projects.
