Nigerian singer Brymo has disagreed with Professor Wole Soyinka’s interpretation of Yoruba theology, particularly the argument that Èṣù should not be equated with Satan. Speaking during a philosophical and religious discussion on Yanga 89.9 FM, the singer maintained that both figures represent the same concept in different religious traditions.
According to Brymo, Èṣù is essentially the devil, though he argued that the common perception of the devil as a liar is inaccurate. He stated that deception is a human trait rather than a characteristic of spiritual beings. “Èṣù is the devil. And let me tell you the truth, the devil does not lie. Human beings lie. Human beings are deceptive,” he said.
To support his position, Brymo referenced interpretations from Abrahamic religious texts, particularly the Old Testament. He argued that Satan’s role in those scriptures was not primarily to deceive but to serve as a messenger tasked with testing human conduct and character.
“If you go read the Old Testament, Satan was a messenger,” he said, adding that the figure was sent to assess the quality of human behavior. He suggested that this function mirrors the role attributed to similar entities in other religious traditions.
Brymo also extended the comparison to Islamic and Yoruba belief systems, insisting that the descriptions of these figures reveal a shared underlying role. “Allah created Satan from fire… Yoruba people say Èṣù is a messenger… it’s the same story,” he stated, arguing that cultural differences have not altered the core concept.
He concluded by shifting responsibility for wrongdoing away from spiritual entities and placing it squarely on human beings. According to him, people are quick to accept praise for good deeds but often blame Èṣù or the devil when things go wrong. “When people do good things for you, they want you to say thank you. But when they offend you, they blame Èṣù or the devil,” Brymo said.
Elijah Adeyemi
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