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Quizzes > Society & Culture

Orisha quiz: How well do you know the Yoruba gods?

Quick, free Orisha test to check your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Juliette DelmuroUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Papercut illustration featuring stylized Orisha deity faces and symbols on sky blue background for Yoruba gods quiz

This Orisha quiz helps you check your knowledge of Yoruba gods - their roles, stories, and symbols. Answer quick questions, see your score instantly, and pick up a few facts as you play. Want more myth challenges? Try the egyptian mythology quiz or the Greek gods quiz.

Who is recognized as the supreme creator in Yoruba mythology?
Obatala
Olodumare
Shango
Orunmila
Olodumare (also called Olorun) is acknowledged as the supreme, all-powerful creator deity in Yoruba belief. This god is seen as the source of all energy and life. Other Orishas, like Obatala and Orunmila, are regarded as powerful but serve under Olodumare.
Which Orisha is most commonly associated with thunder, lightning, and fire?
Ogun
Yemoja
Oshun
Shango
Shango is revered as the formidable Orisha of thunder, lightning, and fire. He was historically a powerful king who became deified and is one of the most popular Yoruba deities. His symbols include the double-headed axe and red, white, and black beads.
Who is the Orisha of fresh water and motherhood?
Olokun
Oshun
Oya
Yemoja
Yemoja (Yemaya) is honored as the nurturing mother of all, patroness of fresh waters such as rivers and streams. She embodies fertility, motherhood, and healing. Offerings to Yemoja often include palm fruit and water-related rituals.
Which Orisha is revered as the goddess of love, fertility, and sweet waters?
Oya
Obatala
Oshun
Yemoja
Oshun is the river goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and artistic expression. She rules over sweet waters like streams and is celebrated for her generosity and compassion. Her colors are yellow and gold, and she is often offered honey and cinnamon.
Which Orisha presides over iron, war, and craftsmanship?
Esu
Obatala
Shango
Ogun
Ogun is the fierce hunter and warrior deity of iron, metalwork, and technology. He is often invoked by blacksmiths and warriors for strength and protection. Sacrifices to Ogun include palm wine and animals associated with the wilderness.
Which Orisha is the deity of divination and wisdom at the heart of the Ifa oracle system?
Ogun
Esu
Orunmila
Oya
Orunmila is the Orisha of wisdom, knowledge, and divination, guiding devotees through the Ifa oracle. He interprets the Odu (verses) to offer solutions and advice. His worship is central to Ifa priesthood.
Which color is traditionally associated with Obatala in rituals and iconography?
Red
Green
White
Blue
Obatala, the Orisha of creation and purity, is symbolized by the color white. Worshippers wear white clothes and present white offerings to honor his qualities of peace and clarity. This uniform color scheme sets him apart from other Orishas.
Which drum is considered sacred to Shango and played during ceremonies in his honor?
Bata drum
Talking drum
Djembe
Conga
The bata drum, a set of three double-headed drums, is sacred to Shango and used to communicate with his spirit. Its distinctive rhythms invoke his presence and power during worship. This drum ensemble is integral to many Yoruba ceremonies.
Which Orisha governs the winds, storms, and the gates of the cemetery?
Oshun
Esu
Oya
Yemoja
Oya is the fierce Orisha of winds, storms, and change, also guarding the gates to the dead. She embodies transformation and is often linked to cemeteries. Her symbols include the lightning and the whirlwind.
Which Orisha serves as the divine messenger and trickster, opening paths between the spiritual and human worlds?
Obatala
Orunmila
Ogun
Esu
Esu (Eshu) is the cunning messenger Orisha who delivers sacrifices and prayers to other deities. He governs crossroads and communication, testing moral character. His unpredictable nature earns him the title of trickster.
What is the name of the spiritual realm where the Orishas reside according to Yoruba cosmology?
Orun
Ile
Emi
Aiye
Orun is the heavenly dimension in Yoruba belief where the Orishas and ancestors dwell. Aiye is the earthly plane, while Igun and Emi are lesser-known terms. Understanding these realms is key to Yoruba cosmology.
The Ifa divination system is based on how many principal Odu (literary chapters)?
64
16
256
128
Ifa divination uses 256 principal Odu, each containing verses that guide priests and devotees. The Odu are split into 16 major signs, each with 16 subsidiary chapters. This complex structure underpins the entire oracle.
In Cuban Santería, which Catholic saint is most often syncretized with Oshun?
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Charity
Saint Theresa
Saint Barbara
In Santería, Oshun is syncretized with Our Lady of Charity (La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre) due to shared associations with rivers, fertility, and compassion. This blending helped enslaved Yoruba people retain their beliefs under Catholic rule.
What is a customary offering presented to Ogun in traditional Yoruba rituals?
Cowrie shells and millet
Rice and kola nuts
Palm wine and roosters
Honey and yams
Ogun, the Orisha of iron and war, is frequently offered palm wine and roosters to honor his warrior spirit and connection to the forest. These offerings symbolize strength and vitality. Other items are used for different deities.
In Yoruba belief, what does the concept of 'Ase' represent?
The underworld realm of ancestors
The protective charm worn by priests
The ritual cleansing water used in ceremonies
The divine life force or power that makes things happen
Ase (also spelled Ashe) is the vital energy or divine authority that empowers Orishas, people, and objects to enact change. It is the creative force running through the universe. Understanding Ase is fundamental to Yoruba spirituality.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Major Orishas -

    Learn the key roles, symbols, and elemental associations of Nigeria's principal Orishas to build a solid foundation for the Yoruba gods quiz.

  2. Identify Deities by Domain -

    Recognize Yoruba deities and their specific domains - such as thunder, fertility, and wisdom - to answer Orisha trivia accurately.

  3. Analyze Mythology Narratives -

    Examine brief mythological stories and legends of African deities to deepen your grasp of Yoruba mythology and its cultural context.

  4. Apply Religion Facts -

    Use key Yoruba religion facts - origins, practices, and rituals - to tackle quiz questions with confidence and precision.

  5. Compare Orishas and African Deities -

    Contrast Yoruba gods with other African deities in terms of influence, worship practices, and historical evolution.

  6. Evaluate Quiz Performance -

    Assess your scores to identify knowledge gaps and revisit specific Orishas or mythology topics for further learning.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Creation and Divine Energy -

    In Yoruba religion facts, Olodumare is the supreme creator whose energy, called Àṣẹ (a-seh), flows through every Orisha and mortal. A handy mnemonic is "ASE = ACE" to recall its life-giving power whenever it crops up on a Yoruba gods quiz. Understanding Àṣẹ underpins many creation myths in a Yoruba mythology quiz.

  2. Ifá Divination and Odu System -

    The Ifá oracle uses 256 Odu (verses), each formed by doubling one of the 16 principal Odu, to guide adherents in spiritual and practical matters. Remember "16×2=32, 32×8=256" as a quick formula to recall the number of verses on an Orisha trivia question. Mastering this helps you ace questions on Yoruba religion facts and divination methods.

  3. The Big Three Orishas (SOS) -

    Three major deities - Shango (thunder and justice), Ogun (iron and warfare), and Oshun (love and rivers) - dominate many Yoruba mythology quizzes. Use the SOS mnemonic (Shango-Ogun-Oshun) to lock in their domains at a glance. This simple trick makes scoring on Orisha trivia a breeze.

  4. Esu Elegba: Trickster and Messenger -

    Esu Elegba acts as the divine messenger and trickster who controls crossroads and communication between gods and humans. He's a frequent subject in an African deities quiz, especially in scenario-based questions about moral choices. Remember that Esu's unpredictability underscores his pivotal role in Yoruba religion facts.

  5. Diaspora and Syncretism -

    Yoruba beliefs traveled across the Atlantic to shape Candomblé in Brazil and Santería in Cuba, blending with Catholic saints in unique syncretic forms. Recognizing these adaptations in an African deities quiz highlights the Orishas' resilience and global reach. This context boosts your cultural insight and quiz performance.

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