Music, Spirituality, and Healing Among the Yoruba: A Comparative Analysis of Orisa and Christian Musical Practices in Osun and Oyo States

This research undertakes a comparative ethnomusicological analysis of the musical practices associated with Yoruba Orisa worship and Yoruba-inflected Christian healing rituals in Osun and Oyo States, South West Nigeria, examining how musical elements function within divergent but historically connected spiritual healing frameworks. Yoruba religious culture is characterised by extraordinary continuity and adaptation, with traditional Orisa musical practices continuing alongside and influencing the musical dimensions of Pentecostal, Aladura, and Catholic healing ceremonies. This study investigates the sonic, structural, and functional dimensions of music in both Orisa and Christian healing rituals, comparing instrumental configurations, rhythmic approaches, vocal techniques, spiritual invocation procedures, and healer-patient musical interactions. Extended ethnographic fieldwork is conducted across six communities in Osun and Oyo States over 18 months, involving participant observation, audio-visual documentation, and in-depth interviews with Orisa priests, Aladura church musicians, Pentecostal worship leaders, and healing ritual participants. Comparative analysis employs ethnomusicological thick description and cross-tradition thematic analysis. The study draws on Yoruba religious studies, ritual music theory, medical anthropology, and African spirituality scholarship. Findings will produce a richly comparative portrait of music's role in Yoruba spiritual healing across religious traditions. Keywords: Yoruba music, Orisa worship, Christian healing, ritual music, comparative ethnomusicology.