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The problem of linguistic interpretation continues to militate against intercultural philosophical discourse, with tendencies to create translatory confusions that take only critical analysis to detect. One of such confusions is the translation of Èṣù in Yoruba theology as Satan/Devil in the Abrahamic monotheistic religions such as Christianity and Islam. Using the critical method of philosophy, this paper argues that the two entities are not the same, because rather than being antagonistic to Olodumare, the Supreme Being in Yoruba religious belief, as Satan is to God in Christianity and Islam, Èṣù is one of the well-respected deities that run errands for Olodumare.. The study maintains that the ontologically dual nature of Èṣù in Yoruba ontology does not in any way bear semblance with the attributes of Satan/Devil in Judeo-Christian and Islamic theologies where Satan/Devil is conceived as a monolithic being.
DOI 10.33234/SSR.17.9