Sanctuary of the Spirits: Okwu-muo, Ori Oke and ‘Mammy Water’ in the Veneration of Sacred Natural Sites in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

The worship and veneration of sacred trees, groves, mountains and surface waters is very common in Yoruba traditional religion and culture, to the extent that almost all communities have designated sacred natural sites. Information for this study was gathered from the author’s visits to different sacred sites, from folklore, and through open-ended interviews with elderly people in South-western Nigeria between September 2012 and April 2013. Additional information was also acquired through the study of relevant published papers in 2014. Findings include a list of existing sacred trees, groves, mountains and surface waters in South-west Nigeria and beyond that are still venerated and worshipped. The importance of these sacred natural sites to environmental sustainability, and the threats they face, are discussed. Three-pronged recommendations on the effective conservation of these sacred sites are also put forward.