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Just to inform you that Yoruba Traditional Religion is now recognised in Germany as one of the official religions. The recognition came about through the efforts of Friends of Yoruba Culture e.V. Germany, Ibile Faith Society in Nigeria and Germany and the Iyadudu-Centre for Yoruba Art and Culture in Ostbevern, Germany. |
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The battle started about six years ago when we asked government registry office to enter Yoruba Traditional Religion into the birth certificates of our children who were born by Yoruba traditional religion parents. The registry office declined and said that they could not do it because YTR was not recognized as one of the official religions in Germany then. |
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This made Friends of Yoruba Culture e.V. , Ibile Faith Society and IYA DuDu Centre for Yoruba Art & Culture to take the issue up as a challenge and battle to be won. We liased with relevant government institutions to seek for the recognition of YTR. All efforts proved abortive then because the government officials did not know too much about YTR. This did not stop us from fighting on for the sake of our children, new future YTR members in Europe and for the sake of the YTR members world-wide. |
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We got breakthrough when the mayor of our area gave us attention and she went through our complaints and she ordered relevant government department in her government to take the issue up with us for the eventual recognition of the YTR in Germany. The government department took the case up with a high court judge who did thorough investigation on whether YTR can be classified as religion or cult and to also investigate whether it fits the criteria of religion according to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany.
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Though it was also not easy for those members who worked hard for the recognition of YTR in Germany. It was a painful journey but we had the last laugh. Official recognition of Yoruba Traditional Religion got to us early this month, January 2002. |
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Though YTR has been recognized before in Germany because we were allowed under the law to practice our religion and to observe our yearly festival that involve dancing yearly around the town but only the official side was not recognized. Today both officially and unofficially YTR has joined other recognized religions in Germany. |
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We know that we were able to achieve this feat and reach this height only by the grace of Olodumare, Irúnmolè and our Ancestors. We dedicated this honour to the practitioners of YTR world-wide.
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© Ibile Faith Online Congregation, Saturday, February 23, 2002
contact: info@yorubareligion.org
