by Baba Ifa Karade

The Handbook of Yoruba Religious Concepts describes the orisha, or angelic forces that reside in the natural world, and teachings of the 16 odu. It shows us how to work with divination, to use the chakras to internalize the teachings of the Yoruba, and describes how to create a sacred place of worship.

Publishers Weekly

Yoruba religion has a direct link to a substantial segment of American society for . . . ``the greatest percentage of Africans enslaved for the New World labor came from the Yoruba nation'' of Nigeria, West Africa. Author Karade traces the concepts of the Yoruba religion through its entrance into the Americas via Haiti, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Cuba. Variations such as Santeria and Voodun have accumulated some negative connotations, but Karade maintains persuasively that ``Yoruba religion is not a cult nor is it `occult,' but rather a divine journey to the inner self and to God-consciousness.'' Readers of this straightforward text will find familiar concepts such as angels and even an elevated stature comparable to that of the ``son of God'' in the person of Orunmila, the prophet of Yoruba religion. Further, the text compares Yoruban religious concepts to those of other religions in order to make understanding the tradition even easier. Prayers and rituals (e.g., herbal baths, etc.) complete this interesting handbook. Illustrated. (June)