I welcome you to the world of knowledge and Ifaology, the system of Yoruba divination. To every nation God gave a prophet to teach his word, knowledge, and worship. Africans worship God through their divinities known as Orisa. They are the emissaries of God and are all appointees of Olodumare. Orunmila is the God of wisdom. Sango controls the lightening and is the perfect judge. Elegbara is the renown law enforcement agent. Ogun is in charge of warfare, iron, and steel technology. Obatala molds all the organs of the human body before Olodumare puts the finishing touch to the clay.
Ifa is a system of divination based on sixteen basic and 240 derivative figures of Odu. These are obtained either by the manipulation of sixteen palmnut ikin or by the tossing of a chain (opele) made up of eight half seed shells.
Ifa is the word of Olodumare, Almighty God. The prophet Orunmila brought his message to mankind. This started in the city of Ile-Ife, then spread to all over the world.
The legend retells the life and work of Orunmila who was a human being. He lived in Ile Ife and preached Olodumare's message throughout Yorubaland and beyond.
It is wrong to use the word asa (asha) to describe Orisa. In the authoratative Ifa scripture, Orisa in Yoruba language suggests those whose heads were created supreme and separatively from others. "Eniyan ti ori sa da." Elebuibon: 1999 pp 58-59 explained Yoruba Etymological root word ri to see and sa (sha) to choose. The Odu Ifa, Owonrinwese explains that it was human being that became Orisa through their great knowledge and luminous powers.
Orunmila said, human being became Orisa
I said, human being became Orisa
Orunmila said, don't you see Ogun
He was human being
But when he became wise and powerful
He became Orisa
Orunmila said, human being became Orisa
I said, human being became Orisa
Orunmila said, don't you see Obatala
He was a human being
But when he became wise and powerful
He became Orisa
It is wise that became Orisa
Eni to gbon
Nni won nbo
Eeyan ni ndorisa
They only worship those who are wise
It is human being that became Orisa.
Orunmila said, heaven knows those who shall be safe.
It is true and agreed that Orunmila had many disciples, and his work had spread all over Yorubaland and to the world beyond. Ifa did not originate from Nupe as some authors would like us to believe. Also, he was not the one called Setilu. Setilu appears to be one of Orunmila.s pupils.
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