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West Africa

Ifá

Also known as: Fá

Yoruba, Fon — Nigeria

Supreme Creator

Olódùmarè

Also: Olorun

Core Beliefs
  • • Orishas as intermediaries between creator and humanity
  • • Destiny (Ayanmo/Ipin) chosen before birth
  • • Divination system of 256 Odù signs
  • • Ashe — spiritual life force animating all things
  • • Ancestor veneration (Egúngún)
Key Figures

Orunmila — Deity of wisdom, knowledge, and divination

Eshu — Messenger deity, trickster, guardian of crossroads

Divination System

Odù Ifá (256 signs via Ọ̀pẹ̀lẹ̀ chain or Ikin palm nuts)

Priesthood

Babaláwo (male) / Iyanifá (female)

Sacred Texts & Traditions
  • • Odù Ifá (256 oral verses)
  • • Ese Ifá (poetic narratives)

Diaspora Connections

Santería/Lucumí (Cuba)Candomblé (Brazil)United States

Related Traditions

Santería / LucumíCandombléTrinidad OrishaVodun
Scholarly References
UNESCO — Ifá Divination System ↗Smithsonian — Yoruba Religion ↗