CAPS AND YORUBA MYTHOLOGY: UNPACKING ANCESTRAL HERITAGE AND SPIRITUAL CONNECTION

Abstract

This study examines the Yoruba fìlà (cap) as a multidimensional cultural artefact that transcends its utilitarian function to embody complex systems of identity, spirituality and cosmological meaning. Situated within the broader framework of Yoruba material culture, the fìlà is analysed as a symbolic extension of the self, functioning as both a marker of social identity and a conduit of metaphysical engagement. Drawing on interdisciplinary sources, including art history, anthropology and digital ethnography, the paper interrogates how the cap operates within Yoruba epistemology as a medium through which ancestral heritage is preserved and expressed. Furthermore, the study explores the intersection of mythology, ritual practice and semiotics in shaping the meanings associated with the fìlà. Particular attention is given to the concept of Orí (the spiritual head), the role of oral tradition (Oríkì), and the evolving significance of the cap in contemporary global contexts. By integrating indigenous knowledge systems with modern theoretical frameworks, the paper argues that the Yoruba cap remains a resilient and dynamic symbol, mediating the relationship between the physical world (Ayé) and the spiritual realm (Òrun).