Ifá
Ifá is a system of divination and a major component of the Yoruba religious tradition in West Africa. It centers on Orunmila (also called Orunla), the deity of wisdom, who is believed to know the fate of all beings. Ifá provides guidance on decisions, relationships, health, and other life matters through oracular consultations that connect the human and spiritual worlds. The practice is carried out by trained priests known as babalawo (and by iyanifa, female diviners), who preserve the sacred verses and rituals for communities.
During a consultation, a divination tool such as the opele chain or palm nuts is used to
The Ifá corpus comprises a large collection of verses and a structured system of 256 Odú Ifá,
In practice, Ifá has influenced Yoruba religious life across the region and the African diaspora, notably in