Why I Don't Trust in the God of Islam or Christianity—Wole Soyinka

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has articulated his preference for traditional Orisa worship over Christianity and Islam. He expressed that the depth of faith found in Islam and Christianity does not resonate with him as profoundly as Orisa worship does, which he finds significantly more captivating. Soyinka noted that Orisa worship is among the African religions that promote non-violence and creativity. He shared his unique upbringing, stating, “I was fortunate to be born in two worlds – the Christian world and traditional Orisa worshippers. My grandfather, until he – poor man – also got converted – he was an Orisa person and a chief, and his (grandfather’s) side (of Orisa) fascinated me a lot more,” during an interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo. He further elaborated, “For me, it (Orisa worshipping) was more artistic, creative, and also more mysterious. I don’t find much of the mysterious in Christianity and even less in Islam, and that is for a simple reason that I didn’t grow up in a Muslim environment.” Soyinka described Orisa as open and ecumenical, which has allowed foreign religions to infiltrate and sometimes distort its essence. He emphasized that the spirit of Orisa is non-violent, stating, “It is one of those African religions which eschew violence.” He expressed his disbelief in the deities of Islam and Christianity, asserting, “If that makes me an atheist, so I say, I am an atheist. I insisted that all human beings have a certain spiritual core in their being; I believe myself to be a more spirit-sensitive person.” Additionally, the literary figure disclosed his discomfort with adaptations of his life or works. “Let me put it this way, turning anything in my life into what other people can watch pains me. It makes me extremely uncomfortable. It’s wrong to say it’s terrific; let me just say I’m detached from it. It takes me a while to bring myself to watch me.”