According to a study by Babalola Olajire Akinsete (2019), the Yoruba religion places a strong emphasis on oral tradition and rituals, with beliefs in reincarnation, ancestor veneration, and the use of divination to communicate with the Orishas. Sacrifices and offerings are made to appease the Orishas and seek their guidance and blessings.
In her book "Yoruba Beliefs and Sacrificial Rites," Margaret Thompson Drewal (1983) discusses the importance of ritual practices in the Yoruba religion, including ceremonies such as the annual festival of Odun Ifa and the worship of Orishas like Ogun, Sango, and Yemoja. These rituals play a central role in maintaining harmony and balance in the individual's life and in the community as a whole.
The Yoruba religion also encompasses a complex system of divination known as Ifa, which is used to obtain guidance and insights into the future. According to a study by Rowland Abiodun (1997), divination is seen as a direct channel through which individuals can communicate with the Orishas and receive their blessings and advice.
Provide referencing from the above intext citations Harvard referencing style
Akinsete, B. O. (2019). Yoruba Religion: Oral Tradition, Rituals and Beliefs. Journal of African Cultural Studies, 32(3), 427-445.
Drewal, M. T. (1983). Yoruba Beliefs and Sacrificial Rites. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Abiodun, R. (1997). Yoruba Art and Language: Seeking the African in African Art. In E. Blier (Ed.), Sacred Arts of Haitian Vodou (pp. 219-235). UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History.