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Paper short abstract:

Ifa based religion shows a re-emergence of commitment by Yoruba. More priests are being trained for liturgical functions during the weekly worship, and the government is considering celebrating indigenous feasts. This paper analyses the strategies used to recontest space in South West Nigeria.

Paper long abstract:

The religions of the Africans have emerged through the trajectory of rejection and degradation. The Yoruba were first thought to either have no religion or have an inferior religion compared to Christianity, despite the fact that the first Ifa Temple in Yoruba land was founded in 1848 in Oyo. However, contemporary realities show a re-emergence of commitment to indigenous religion among the Yoruba, Ifa based religion is recontesting space and relevance among the people. Many Yoruba are becoming actively involved in Ifa based religion; priests are being trained for liturgical functions, more temples are being built for weekly worship and the government is considering celebrating some indigenous feasts. This paper analyses the strategies adopted by Ifa based religion to recontest its space in everyday life and realities of the Yoruba in South West Nigeria. This will highlight current trends, challenges and project a picture for the future of Ifa based religion in South West Nigeria. Data will show growth in the number of registered temples, processes of approval to erect a temple, training of priests, planned role of members in the politics and the links with the diaspora. More Babalawo are giving special training to engage in specific religious activities and membership is spreading across formally and informally educated members, the future is evolving significantly. It can be hypothesized that the evolving contestation of space and relevance of Ifa religion among Yoruba will reverse colonial legacies and global inequalities in the study of religions in Africa.