584 Sacrifice
the body of the offerer to transfer the illness or
misfortune to the sheep. It is believed that the
destiny of the offerer is exchanged, hence the
name Ebo Irapada (Redemption or Exchange
Sacrifice). Among the Mendes, a fowl is some-
times offered as a substitute. The leg of the
chicken is broken, accompanied by words such
as “We have observed this man; we see a big
trouble coming on him, but now as we break the
leg of this chicken (he breaks one of its legs), may
it, now disabled, carry his trouble; and may the
trouble return and fall on anyone who was going
to cause it.”
Thanksgiving Sacrifice
Generally, Africans love to express gratitude.
The Yoruba articulate thanks to divinities and
espouse communion with fellow human beings by
engaging inebö öpü ati ìdàpò. This type of sacri-
fice is usually accompanied by feasting, in which
the worshippers and the divinities concerned share
a communal meal.
Votive Sacrifice
The votive sacrifice is also a thanksgiving sacri-
fice to express appreciation to a deity and also to
fulfill vows. It is a common practice among some
Africans, particularly the Yoruba, the Mendes, the
Akans, and the Anlo, for devotees of some divini-
ties to go before their divinities to pour out their
minds and to promise that if their needs are met,
they will give specified offerings in turn. This sac-
rifice is known asEbo Ejeamong the Yoruba; the
Akans call itaboadeε(Twi), and it is known as
dzadodoamong the Anlos.
Foundation Sacrifice
Foundation sacrifice is offered at the begin-
ning of projects such as the foundation of a
house, the starting of a business, or the site of a
new land for cultivation. In several societies in
Africa, before houses are built or villages are
founded, sacrifices are made to the gods. Among
the Akans, before a building is put up, a sacrifice
of appeasement is made to theAsase Yaa(Earth
goddess). This sacrifice is meant to prevent evil
spirits from entering the place.
Sacrificial Objects
In several African societies, sacrificial offerings
include a fowl, a four-legged animal, and other
things like kola nuts and palm oil. An offender in
Anlo land has to offer a sheep, whereas the Mendes
offer rice and palm oil and sometimes a fowl. An
offender in Akanland offers a sheep or sometimes a
fowl depending on the taste of the gods, but what
is commonly offered must be without blemish.
Some of the sacrificial objects used especially by the
Yoruba includeobi(kola nut),epo pupa(palm oil),
efun (native chalk), ataare (alligator pepper),
mariwo(palm fronds),eyin(eggs), and so on.Sacrificial Victims- Fowl: This domestic pet is commonly used
because it is easily available and certain parts of
a fowl have distinct meanings for the offerers. - Pigeon: Among the Yoruba,eyele, a bird that is
noted for its serenity in flight, its neatness of appear-
ance, and its smartness in movement, is offered to
invite prosperity, good luck, and longevity. - Sheep: This animal is noted for its meek nature;
thus, when a substitute sacrifice is prescribed by
the oracle, the usual victim is the sheep. Ogun,
unlike other gods, prefers a dog. - Cow: Among the Yoruba, it is regarded aseranla
(the highest domestic animal). When there is a
great national disaster or when a community is
badly oppressed, the usual victim is the cow. - Human Victim: In some societies in Africa, the
immolation of a human being (Oluwo, among
the Yoruba) was the highest and costliest victim
of sacrifice. The community resorted to human
sacrifice mostly in times of national disaster to
propitiate certain divinities and purify the com-
munity. Human beings were offered not out of
lack of respect for human life, but rather because
the African’s philosophy of life maintains that it
is better to sacrifice individual life for the good
of the community than for all to perish.
Deji AyegboyinSee alsoDivinities; RitualsFurther Readings
Awolalu, J. O. (1979).Yoruba Beliefs and Sacrificial
Rites. London: Longman.