2007年VOA标准英语-Traditional Religion is Alive and Well Among Ni

By Sarah Simpson
Oshogbo, Nigeria
02 September 2007

The dominant¹ religions in Nigeria are Islam and Christianity, imported to West Africa generations ago. But traditional African religion has not been forgotten, especially among the Yoruba ethnic³ group. Many tens of thousands of Yoruba gathered in the southwestern city of Oshogbo for the annual Osun festival this week, to offer sacrifices and prayer for Osun, the river goddess. Sarah Simpson reports from Oshogbo on how traditional religion co-exists with Islam and Christianity in Nigeria.

Devotees give sacrifices of birds, food and money to Osun, the river god, in Nigeria, 31 Aug 2007

 Crowds start gathering⁴ shortly after dawn. Drumming and trumpeting⁵ accompany the worshipers through the streets of Oshogbo and into the cool shade of the Oshogbo Sacred Forest. There they head to the riverbank where sacrifices and prayers are made to Osun, the river goddess. Cow bells rattle⁶ up more prayers.

Some worshipers, like Omolola Adebisi, have traveled many miles to take part in the once a year festivities.

"This festival is very important to Yoruba, because of the Yoruba culture. From our forefathers⁷ it has been going, right from then up to today. So it is very important to all Yoruba land," said Adebisi.

The Yoruba believe that Osun, the river goddess, has the power to grant wishes.

Children join masquerade in Oshogbo, Nigeria, 31 Aug 2007

Devotees, many dressed head to toe in white, remove their shoes and brave the muddy riverbank to say prayers and throw sacrifices of white doves, food or even money into the water. Sacrifice is essential, says Louisa Onuoha who works at the National Museum.

"It is believed that in traditional Nigerian religion, when you want to worship all the gods and goddesses you do not do that empty handed," said Onuoha.

At the waters' edge, face dripping with river water, Sewa Akinsanya explains why the festival is particularly important for women.

"It is not as if I am barren. But I am disturbed a little bit. I have two kids already, but for a good nine years I just need a baby," said Akinsanya. "So I came here to seek the Osun festival to give me another one [baby]."

Akinsanya is a Christian², but sees no problem asking Osun for help to conceive. Also at the festival is Ibrahim Musa. He goes to mosque⁸ through the week, but calls on Osun for favors once each year.

"I am a Muslim so I go to Mosque and pray to God. But Osun is once in a year," said Akinsanya. "You ask and you shall be given!"

They, like Yekeens Araoye, see no difference between Yoruba traditional beliefs, Islam and Christianity - saying each is about worship of a supreme⁹ god.

"Oludumari, Allah or Jesus or the Lord in the Christian version - it is still the same supreme being that you are talking about," added  Araoye.

Drummers accompany worshipers through the Sacred Forest, Nigeria, 31 Aug 2007

Prayers and sacrifices made, devotees fill up huge plastic containers with river water to take home. They may use it to call on Osun for extra help through the year, explains Emmanuel Olookoba.

"This water, we believe that if we use it for any of our problems it will cure [them]. That is why many people are taking the water."

The music and dancing continues into the night as worship gives way to revelry. The Yoruba are one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, about one fifth of the country's 135 million people.

1 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

4 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

5 trumpeting   

大声说出或宣告（trumpet的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• She is always trumpeting her son. 她总是吹嘘她儿子。
• The wind is trumpeting, a bugle calling to charge! 风在掌号。冲锋号！ 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译

6 rattle   

v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓

参考例句：

• The baby only shook the rattle and laughed and crowed.孩子只是摇着拨浪鼓，笑着叫着。
• She could hear the rattle of the teacups.她听见茶具叮当响。

7 forefathers   

n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left. 它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All of us bristled at the lawyer's speech insulting our forefathers. 听到那个律师在讲演中污蔑我们的祖先，大家都气得怒发冲冠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

9 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。