In Ulli Beier's recounting of the Orishanla story, emphasis is placed on the fragmentation and scattering of the

(also spelled Orisha, though Soyinka's usage is retained here; they are the demi-gods of the Yoruba pantheon). Soyinka, in

, fulfils the principle of his fifth precept and repeats Orunmila's originary task – collecting fragments of

into a personal, meaningful whole (

vii). This act does not deny that “hundreds of fragments are still scattered throughout the world” (Beier 7); rather, it insists on the individual's work within the religion:

The Yoruba people see the multiplicity of gods merely as aspects or facets of the same divine force. The orisha are not messengers of God, or his subordinate beings [. .

505 words

Citation: McLuckie, Craig. "The Seven Signposts of Existence: Knowledge, Honor, Justice and Other Virtues". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 16 October 2003 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=12860, accessed 25 November 2024.]