Founded in Ilé-Ifẹ̀, an ancient Yoruba city in southwest Nigeria, Ifá is a religion and a system of divination practiced in West Africa, the Americas, and the Canary Islands.
Ifá is said to have originated with Orunmila, the Orisha of wisdom, knowledge, and divination, believed to have had a hand in the creation of the Universe. It was Orunmila who carried Ifá to Earth.
Orunmila is second in the trinity of God, which includes Olodumare, Orunmila, and Èṣù. The Supreme God has three manifestations: Oludumare, the creator; Olorun, the ruler of the heavens; and Olofi, the conduit between heaven (Orún) and earth (Ayé).
Another tradition suggests that Ifá was brought to Ilé-Ifẹ̀ by Setiu, who came to there from the neighboring Yoruba, an ethnic group in northern and central Nigeria.
However, according to Nigerian historians, Samuel, and Obadiah Johnson, Ifá was introduced to the Oyo Empire, in western and north-central Nigeria, by Arugba, the mother of Onibogi, the 8th Alaafin of Oyo, in the late 15th century. According to their history, Arugba initiated the Alado of Ato, conferring the rites of initiating others. The Alado initiated the priests of Oyo, who then brought the religion to Ilé-Ifẹ̀.
Whatever its origins, it included an oral tradition that held that the Universe was a vacuum several million years ago. Olodumare begged to Sea to show itself on the planet. The Sea was by itself for another several million years. Recognizing that the Sea was lonely, Oludumare decided to devote more of his time to the planet. He sent Orunmila with soil from the heavens, and a five-toed rooster to help spread the soil on the top of the Sea. From that beginning, the Earth continued to spread. The Yoruba people believed that the place where this first began was in Ilé-Ifẹ̀.
While Ifá holds that there is only one God, they believe that the divine essence is manifested in more than one person or elements. There are other energies in which the divine is manifested. These include the Seas, Oceans, Mountains, Rivers, Wind, Sky, Thunder, Lightning, Volcanoes, and so on.
Slaves who were shipped from Yoruba to the Caribbean and the Americas brought their religion with them.
Within the cultural region of Yoruba people of West Africa, which includes Nigeria, Togo, and Benin, divination gives priests access to the teachings of Orunmila.
In southeastern Nigeria, the homeland of the Igbo people, Ifá is known as Afá, and its clergy are known as Dibia, and are considered to be the equivalent of doctors, as they are trained in the use of healing herbs and other skills.
The Ewe people of southern Togo and southeastern Ghana also know the religion as Afá, and it is through Afá that the Vodun spirits come through and communicate. Thus, Afá is closely related to Vodun within the practice of the Ewe people.
There are sixteen books in Odù Ifá, which forms the spiritual canon of Ifá. These include references to all of the situations, circumstances, actions, and consequences that people may have to face in life and form the basis of the Ifá religion. In addition to the Odù Ifá, there are several proverbs, stories, and poetry that are passed down orally from one Babalawo to another, but are not written down.
From the Yoruba language, Babalawo is a spiritual title that refers to a priest of the Ifá oracle. The female counterpart is known as an Iyanifa, as women are permitted to practice Ifá divination and to be a custodian of the religion.
Both the religion and its primary figures are known by several names, depending on where it is practiced. The focus of this category is on the Ifá religion or on Ifá divination, by whatever name it might be known.
Recommended Resources
Awo Ifasola, a Cuban-American who grew up in South Florida, was initiated into the priesthood of Ifa as a Babalawo, and is an initiate of Sango. Offering respect for all branches of African spirituality, he practices Ifa/Orisa worship. His services and teachings are outlined, along with an Ifa calendar, client testimonials, a photo gallery, and a description of the origins and practices of Ifa, a blog, and contacts.
https://www.divinationwithifa.com/
Ifa Divination: Communication between Gods and Men in West Africa
Written by William Bascam, and published by Indiana University Press in 1991, the book is a study of the Ifa religion, also known as the religion of the Yoruba people. A print copy of the book may be purchased online, or the entire text of the book may be downloaded from Project Muse, in several downloads that include its chapters, cover, title page, table of contents, preface, and images.
https://muse.jhu.edu/book/3976
Founded by Olowa Philip and Iyanifa Vassa, the Ifa Foundation supports Ifa in North America and the Latin America community, including scholarship and grant programs, long-distance divination, and non-blood ceremonies, a well as publishing books on the Ifa faith. An overview of the foundation is posted, with information about its ceremonies and initiations, client reviews, a blog, and a library of downloadable resources.
http://www.ifafoundation.org/
Ilé Dafa is an Ifa Divination House for independent practitioners of Ifa. Featured is an introduction to the House, including its rules, membership policies and inquiries, and several articles on various topics of Ifa origins, beliefs, and practices. Synopses of several books published by the House are put forward, and the books are made available for purchase online, or downloadable through the site. Additional content is available to members.
http://www.iledafa.com/
Created for the purpose of reaching those who are interested in the teachings of Ifa and Orisa, the site features a history of the house of Ategbe, a tracing of its lineage, and an introduction to Oba Ategbe, the custodian, and renowned practitioner and scholar of traditional Yoruba medicine and religion. Includes is information and schedules of classes and workshops, a prayer calendar, the text of several prayers, and an online store.
http://www.ileategbe.org/
Founded by Kablessi Oba Orisa Ifagbemi Orisaeye, also known as Baba Oba Ifagbemi, who also founded the Faseye Institute for the Study of Orisa, the site offers biographical data of the founder, his divination interpretation, rituals for transformation, and speaking and teaching services. The reasons why someone might consult with Baba Oba Ifagbemi are given, including contacts, a blog, and other resources.
http://oracleifa.com/
The spiritual community of priests, initiates, and devotees is under the direction of Baba Faseye Sangobukunmi, and focused on the study and advancement of the ancient African spiritual path of Ifa, which is the name of the spiritual healing tradition and the deity. Its founder is introduced, his services are detailed, and several online workshops are highlighted, and made available to readers, along with films, informational articles, and a blog.
https://www.orilagba.org/
Also known as the Ifa religion, the Yoruba religion is the tradition and practices of the Yoruba people, who are concentrated in southwestern Nigeria and Benin, sometimes known as Yorubaland. Chief Awodele Ifayemi was initiated into Ifa in 1982. Biographical information is presented here, including his appointment calendar, and an overview of his services, which include ceremonies, divination, life path reading, and personal training.
https://www.ileifa.org/
