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Babalawo
Babaalawo or babaláwo in West Africa (babalao in Caribbean and South American Spanish and babalaô in Brazilian Portuguese), literally means "father of secrets" (or “father of mysteries”) in the Yoruba language. It is a spiritual title that denotes a high priest of the Ifá oracle. Ifá is a divination system that represents the teachings of the òrìṣà Ọrunmila, the òrìṣà of wisdom, who in turn serves as the oracular representative of Olodumare. The babalawo serves not only as a religious figure but also as a cultural bridge, helping to preserve language, proverbs, and ritual customs that are foundational to Yoruba identity. History of babalawo The term "babalawo" typically refers to a Yoruba religious figure, often considered a priest or diviner, within the Ifá system of the Yoruba people in West Africa. The Ifá system is a complex and ancient divination and religious practice that has its roots in Yoruba mythology and culture and is deeply rooted in Yo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Iyalawo
is a term in the Lucumi religion that literally means "mother of mysteries" or "mother of wisdom" (''iyá'': “mother”; ''awó'' “mysteries"). Some adherents use the term "mamalawo," which is a partially African diaspora version of the Lucumi term, iyaláwo and yeyelawo are two more versions of mother of mysteries. ìyánífá is a Yoruba word that can be translated as "mother (''ìyá'') has or of (''ní'') Ifá" or "mother in Ifá" and is the Yoruba title for mother of mysteries and the female equivalent of a babalawo. Differences between terms While iyaláwo and ìyánífá are often used interchangeably, the terms have different denotations and connotations. The term ìyánífá specifically relates to Ifá and could indicate that a female undertakes Ifá divination or is a custodian of Ifá in a personal or professional capacity; the term may also indicate that a woman has had Itefa or itelodu initiation. The term iyaláwo indicates a woman who has knowledge of sacred wi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Babalawo Opele Opon
Babaalawo or babaláwo in West Africa (babalao in Caribbean and South American Spanish and babalaô in Brazilian Portuguese), literally means "father of secrets" (or “father of mysteries”) in the Yoruba language. It is a spiritual title that denotes a high priest of the Ifá oracle. Ifá is a divination system that represents the teachings of the Orisha, òrìṣà Ọrunmila, the òrìṣà of wisdom, who in turn serves as the List of oral repositories, oracular representative of Olodumare. The babalawo serves not only as a religious figure but also as a cultural bridge, helping to preserve language, proverbs, and ritual customs that are foundational to Yoruba identity. History of babalawo The term "babalawo" typically refers to a Yoruba religious figure, often considered a priest or diviner, within the Ifá system of the Yoruba people in West Africa. The Ifá system is a complex and ancient divination and religious practice that has its roots in Yoruba mythology and cult ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Ifá
Ifá or Fá is a geomantic system originating from Yorubaland in West Africa. It originates within the Yoruba religion, traditional religion of the Yoruba people. It is also practiced by followers of West African Vodun and certain African diasporic religions such as Cuban Santería. According to Ifá teaching, the divinatory system is overseen by an ''orisha'' spirit, Orunmila, who is believed to have given it to humanity. Ifá is organised as an initiatory tradition, with an initiate called a ''Babalawo, babaláwo'' or ''bokɔnɔ''. Traditionally, these are all-male, although women have been initiated in Cuba and Mexico. Its oracular literary body is made up of 256 volumes (signs) that are divided into two categories, the first called Ojú Odù or main Odù that consists of 16 chapters. The second category is composed of 240 chapters called Amúlù Odù (omoluos), these are composed through the combination of the main Odù. They use either the divining chain known as ''Opele, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Ọrunmila
Ọrunmila (, also Ọrúnla or Orúla in Latin America) is the Orisha of Wisdom, knowledge, and Divination, is the creator of Ifá and Babalawo concept. He is a high priest of Ifá. Historical and literary sources Following the categories developed by the Nigerian scholar Peju Yemaje, Orunmila is recognized as a primordial Orisha, an ''ara orun'', one that existed before the creation of humanity and resides in Heaven, as opposed to ''irun-male'' or ''irunmole'', sacred beings living on Earth. Equivocally, he is praise named "''Igbákejì Olódùmarè''" (second in command to Olodumare). In truth, he is Ibikeji Olodumare and "''Ẹlẹ́rìí ìpín''" (witness of fate). Priests of Ifá are known as babalawos and Priestesses of Ifá are known as iyanifas. Orunmila is considered a sage, recognizing that Olodumare placed Ori (intuitive knowledge) in him as a prime Orisha. It is Ori who can intercede and affect the reality of a person much more than any other Orisha.William R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Yoruba People
The Yoruba people ( ; , , ) are a West African ethnic group who inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, which are collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute more than 50 million people in Africa, are over a million outside the continent, and bear further representation among the African diaspora. The vast majority of Yoruba are within Nigeria, where they make up 20.7% of the country's population according to Ethnologue estimations, making them one of the largest List of ethnic groups of Africa, ethnic groups in Africa. Most Yoruba people speak the Yoruba language, which is the Niger–Congo languages, Niger-Congo language with the largest number of native or L1 speakers. Geography In Africa, the Yoruba culture, Yoruba are contiguous with the Yoruboid languages, Yoruboid Itsekiri to the south-east in the northwest Niger Delta, Bariba people, Bariba to the northwest in Benin and Nigeria, the Nupe people, Nupe to the north, and the Ebira to the northeast in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Opon Ifá
An ọpọ́n Ifá is a divination tray used in Traditional African religion, traditional African and Afro-American religions, notably in the system known as Ifá and in Yoruba religion, Yoruba tradition more broadly. The etymology of ''opon'', literally meaning "to flatter", explains the artistic and embellished nature of the trays, as they are meant to praise and acknowledge the noble work of the babalawo (diviners). The etymology of the term ''Ifá,'' however'','' has been a subject of debate. Ifá may be considered an orisha, or a Yoruba god — specifically, the god of divination Ọrunmila, Orula. Conversely, some scholars have referred to Ifá merely as the "great consulting oracle" as opposed to a god or a deity, without any divine connotations. Opon Ifá are typically made by Wood carving, wood carvers who specialize in the trays, and are made with designs per request of the patron babalawo or by the carver's own accord. The emphasis on the tray's design is not only du ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Yoruba Culture
Distinctive cultural norms prevail in Yorubaland and among the Yoruba people.Kola Abimbola, Yoruba Culture: ''A Philosophical Account'', Iroko Academic Publishers, 2005. Religion (Ẹ̀sìn) The Yoruba people, Yoruba are said to be religious people, but they are also Pragmaticism, pragmatic and tolerant about their religious differences. Whilst many profess the Yoruba religion, Yoruba school of thought; many more profess other faiths e.g. Christianity (Ẹsìn Ìgbàgbọ́), Islam (Ẹsìn Ìmàle) etc. The Ifá divination system is a religious practice that originated from the Yoruba people of Nigeria and Benin.It is believed to be a divination Oracle made up of large sets of sacred verses and stories called Odus. Priests known as Babalawos interpret the messages using the sacred divination oracle that creates a specific pattern when thrown. Law Yoruba law is the legal system of Yorubaland. It is quite intricate, each group and subgroup having a system that varies, but in genera ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Orisha
Orishas (singular: orisha) are divine spirits that play a key role in the Yoruba religion of West Africa and several religions of the African diaspora that derive from it, such as Haitian Vaudou, Cuban Santería and Brazilian Candomblé. The preferred spelling varies depending on the language in question: òrìṣà is the spelling in the Yoruba language, orixá in Portuguese, and orisha, oricha, orichá or orixá in Spanish-speaking countries. In the Lucumí tradition, which evolved in Cuba, the orishas are synchronized with Catholic saints, forming a syncretic system of worship where African deities are hidden behind Christian iconography. This allowed enslaved Africans to preserve their traditions under colonial religious persecution. According to the teachings of these religions, the orishas are spirits sent by the supreme creator, Olodumare, to assist humanity and to teach them to be successful on ''Ayé'' (Earth). Rooted in the native religion of the Yoruba people, mos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
List Of Oral Repositories
Oral repositories are people who have been trusted with mentally recording information constituting oral tradition within a society. They serve an important role in oral cultures and illiterate societies as repositories of their culture's traditional knowledge, values, and morals. Roles People termed as "oral repositories" have been likened to "walking libraries", leading to the saying "whenever an old man dies, it is as though a library were burning down". Roles vary, and can be titular, formal or informal, some professional specialists such as the Caucasian '' ashik'', or more commonly amateurs and knowledgeable generalists such as the '' bulaam'' of the Kuba people. Types of information held by oral repositories includes lineages, oral law, mythology, oral literature and oral poetry (of which oral history is often entwined), folk songs and aural tradition, and traditional knowledge. In many indigenous societies, such as Native American and San, these roles are ful ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Opele
An opele (spelled opuele or ocuele in Latin America) is a divination chain used in traditional African and Afro-American religions, notably in Ifá and Yoruba tradition. A babalawo Babaalawo or babaláwo in West Africa (babalao in Caribbean and South American Spanish and babalaô in Brazilian Portuguese), literally means "father of secrets" (or “father of mysteries”) in the Yoruba language. It is a spiritual title tha ... (diviner) uses the opele in order to communicate with the deity of wisdom/knowledge in the Yoruba tradition ( Ọrunmila), who is able to identify the causes and solutions to personal and collective problems and restore harmony in the person's life through re-balancing of the person's destiny and/or ori (personal deity). The opele is the minor divination tool used by babalawos for Ifá divination; it is believed to be an "assistant" or "slave" of Ọrunmila, who communicates Ọrunmila's desires to the babalawo and from the babalawo back to Ọrunmila. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Oracle
An oracle is a person or thing considered to provide insight, wise counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. If done through occultic means, it is a form of divination. Description The word ''oracle'' comes from the Latin verb ''ōrāre'', "to speak" and properly refers to the priest or priestess uttering the prediction. In extended use, ''oracle'' may also refer to the ''site of the oracle'', and the oracular utterances themselves, are called ''khrēsmoí'' (χρησμοί) in Greek. Oracles were thought to be portals through which the gods spoke directly to people. In this sense, they were different from seers (''manteis'', μάντεις) who interpreted signs sent by the gods through bird signs, animal entrails, and other various methods.Flower, Michael Attyah. ''The Seer in Ancient Greece.'' Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008. The most important oracles of Greek antiquity were Pythia (priestes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
