babalawo

Babalawo is a title used by male priests and diviners in the Ifá tradition of the Yoruba people. The term is commonly understood as “father of secrets” or “father of mysteries,” reflecting the priest’s role as keeper of Ifá wisdom and mediator between humans and Orunmila, the Orisha of wisdom and divination.

Practitioners perform divination using the Ifá system, typically with palm nuts (ikin) or the Opele chain to generate a pattern tied to one of the 256 odú Ifá. A Babalawo interprets these verses and signs to offer guidance on life decisions, health, relationships, wealth, and ritual obligations. The practice combines scripture, philosophy, and ritual, with the interpretation rooted in a vast corpus of Ifá verses and moral codes.

Becoming a Babalawo requires extensive training and initiation. A candidate learns the Ifá corpus under an experienced Babalawo, memorizes the odú and their meanings, and studies the required sacrifices, rites, and etiquette. The initiation process often culminates in the installation of the candidate as a Babalawo, along with the proper divination tools and a commitment to secrecy and ethical conduct.

In practice, Babalawos serve individuals, families, and communities within Yoruba and Afro-diasporic traditions. They perform divination, conduct rituals, arrange offerings to Orunmila and other Orisha, and provide spiritual counsel. Their role persists in Nigeria and across the African diaspora, where Ifá practices interact with local religious traditions. The female analogue is usually referred to as Iyanifa in many communities.