A Comparative Analysis of Genesis Creation Story and Yorùbá Myth of Creation
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Olumide, Esther Bamitale
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Babalola, David O.
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Kwara State University (Nigeria)
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2019
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
227
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Ph.D.
Body granting the degree
Kwara State University (Nigeria)
Text preceding or following the note
2019
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Creation was made by God with His potent power in Genesis creation story and this idea was also inherent in African settings especially amidst the Yorùbá people. The divergent of this to the Yorùbá is belief that Olódùmarè used the divinities in the creation order, but these divinities are seen as means to an end and not the end, thereby they work in accordance to the directive of Olódùmarè, this means Olódùmarè created the universe according to the Yorùbá. Extant studies have focused on the Genesis creation story, the fall of man in comparism to Yorùbá creation myth. The purpose of this research is to indicate the relevance of Yoruba myth to Genesis creation story. This study therefore, juxtapose Genesis narrative as history, how to identifies their similarities and differences, how relevant is the Yorùbá creation myth to Genesis creation story and in what way(s) can we account for the similarities inspite of their geographical and cultural differences. Historical and comparative methods were deployed to elicit information from the selected Biblical text and other books. Constructive interviews were conducted on some part of Yorùbá lands Ilé-Ifẹ̀, Ilawe Ekiti, Osogbo, Oyo and Lokoja to the aged people with some level of educational qualification. 100 copies of questionnaire were distributed but 50 were administered on both creation narratives on the same axis. Qualitative data were subjected to explanations on library books while quantitative data were subjected to percentages from the questionnaire. The response was based on Agreed A, Strongly Agreed SA, Disagree D and SD Strongly Disagreed. With this, the result of the data analysis is as follows: the participant perception on Genesis creation story SD (19.5%), D (11.3%), A (30.4%), SA (38.9%), the Genesis creation story according to the data is historical. The participant's opinion on Yorùbá creation myth is SD (10.44%), D (10.44), A (50.20), and SA (28%) Yorùbá creation story is seen as mythical. While the participant view on the similarities and differences of Genesis creation story and Yorùbá myth is SD (16.08%), D (25.13%), A (38.19%), SA (20.60%), the people agreed that both creation narratives have similarities and differences based on the relevance of the second narrative to the first narrative. Therefore, the authenticity of Genesis narrative as history was verified, the similarities and differences identified and relevant of Yorùbá creation myth to Genesis creation story were ascertained. From the findings, the similarities in contents, motifs and theology suggest the possibility of contact between the Hebrews and Africans in ancient times. Another possibility could have arisen from the fact that the Sumerians of Mesopotamia had trade contacts with Africa as early as the third millennium BCE.