GOD OLODUMARE IN THE YORUBA BELIEF

Among the Yoruba peoples, the existence of the Supreme Being is taken as a matter of course. It is impossible for us to meet with a Yorùbá who doubts the existence of a Supreme Being or claiming to be an atheist. A little more, if you find one it has been exposed to a non-African cultural influence.

Yoruba people don't have statues who represent the God Olodumare.

We consider the Supreme Being Olodumare Primordial, author of the destinies of every living thing, father of Orissa and life.

We must be careful when we talk about symbols and emblems that describe our concepts of the Supreme Being Olodumare. What is a symbol? Or how we can define a symbol as a sign is visible or audible or emblem of some thought, an emotion or experience pair used to interpret some things that only the mind can comprehend. But even as humans, and our minds are human, we can not interpret or comprehend or understand an experience, emotion or idea of another human. I say this just because everyone is different as well as the thoughts, emotions, experiences and ideas of each individual human.

Anything that enters the field of observation and can be interpreted differently by each individual. Every Humanl being has its own concept of the good, the bad, right and wrong. So my definition or concept of Olodumare, can be very different from yours. The way I experience the presence of Olodumare is very different from the way or the way of your experience of Olodumare. This is why? The Yoruba have no statues or emblems to represent Olodumare.

We believe that the Supreme Being is pure . Thus a worshiper wants to give honors to Olodumare and can draw a circle, or ashe or Efun (white chalk) and within the circle can be a symbol of eternity, or can spread water as libation and place a walnut , kola or cotton . Each has its own name by which they can call the Supreme Being. Here are some of those used to describe the Supreme Being in the culture.
Names of the Supreme Being

Olodumare: The origin of the word Olodumare can not be determined easily. Try it in the past by breaking the word into syllables for easy analysis, was not entirely satisfactory, however, as well as tradition kept by the elders among the people confirm that the name connotes having complete or superlative grace, The eternal majesty what you can depend on men.

Olorun: The name is self-explanatory. This means the owner of the sky or heaven. O Lord whose home is above the heavens. The Yorùbá used Olodumare / Olorun together. In the sense that both names can be called together. This dual expression means the Supreme Being whose residence this about heaven and that is omnipotent and trustworthy. The two words can be used interchangeably.

Eleda: This word means the Creator, the name suggests that the Supreme Being is responsible for all creation. The very existence and the source of all things.

Alààyè: Alààyè means vital power. The supreme being always alive as conceived by the Yoruba is always alive and everlasting. Never died. Therefore the people say: "Iku Ki Igbo." (Never heard of the death of Olodumare).

Ëlémìí: Ëlémìí means the master of life. The name applied to the Supreme Being suggests that all living things owe their breath in life to him. In other words, without the Supreme Being no creature can live. When making breathing Ëlémìí a burning feeling, this feeling dies. Hence, considering the future approach supplementing provisions Yoruba. "Bi Ëlémìí ko ba. GBA, emi Yoo Eyi èyìinì Tabi." (If the winner does not take my life, I can do this or that).

Ölójõ Oni: Oni Ölójõ means the winner or driver of the day.