the yoruba exercises
  yoruba  world
myth pantheon culture
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A-exercises
1. Look at a map of the world. Where do the Yoruba come from? Where do they live? Make a little map of this area.
2.1 What was present in the beginning and what did the gods need to make the earth?
2.2 What gods were involved in the creation of the world and what role did each one of them play?
2.3 What problems did they have in creating the world and how did they solve these problems?
 
3.1 To what extent do the Yoruba gods resemble human beings?
3.2 Why is Obatala the protector of the handicapped?
3.3 What role did Olokun play during the creation of the earth and what consequences did this have?
3.4 Find Yoruba artistic expressions that relate to their creation myth.
3.5 What gods do you think are the most important? What are the least important ones?
 
4. What similarities do you see between the Yoruba creation myth and those of other cultures?
B-exercises
Look at a few websites that deal with this culture and choose one or two that have images, sounds or text that you think are useful for preparing your presentation. Before your presentation make a summary on a poster or a sketch of the Yoruba creation myth.

Choose one of the following exercises:

1. Find out what a "shrine" is, and how they tend to be used. Choose a Yoruba god and design a shrine with typical art forms to honor this god. Make it clear which god you have chosen and why you have chosen this god. During the presentation explain why your shrine looks the way it does and what role this god plays in the Yoruba creation myth.

or

2. The Yoruba traditionally had a number of religious traditions, such as: a) nightly gatherings that were essential to honor Ogun, the god of iron and war; b) the possibility to marry more than one person; and c) burying the dead in the house. Half of your group are British colonialists and the other half are traditional Yoruba. Invent a short play in which a confrontation takes place between the British and the Yoruba (The British prohibit these ancient traditions and the Yoruba attempt to defend them).

C-exercises
Choose the god that you like the most. Describe the relationship that this god has to the other gods.
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