What is the Odu Ifa?

Answer

Ifa is a Yoruba religion. Yoruba religions are a group of systematized beliefs and practices that originated in West Africa and were brought to the New World by enslaved people who further developed and adapted them to their situation, incorporating some influences from Christianity. (Other well-known Yoruba religions include Haitian Vodou and Santeria.) Yoruba religions are primarily found today in Nigeria, Togo, and Benin in West Africa, as well as in Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Guyanas, Jamaica, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts, and St. Vincent in the New World. There are also practitioners in the United States.

“The word Ifa refers to the mystical figure Ifa or Orunmila, revered by the Yoruba as the deity of wisdom and intellectual development” (https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/ifa-divination-system-00146, accessed 12/19/20). Odu Ifa is the sacred text of this religion. “Ifa is a philosophical body of knowledge related to the myths of origin, ethical concepts, and cosmological beliefs. Consisting of 256 odus, Ifa can provide guidance on the moral choices individuals make in their daily lives” (“Alafin of Oyo” by Molefi Kete Asante in Sage Encyclopedia of African Religion, Vol. 2, Sage Publications, Inc., 2008, p. 35). The texts of Odu Ifa are utilized in divination practices. These teachings were transmitted orally for generations before being recorded in writing in the twentieth century.

During a divination session, the individual (or community) seeking assistance or direction will visit the diviner, a priest, and contemplate the question silently. The priest will invoke Ifa for guidance and then will “cast” (drop) the divination chain. This chain consists of eight sacred palm nuts, each capable of landing face up or face down, resulting in 256 possible arrangements (signatures) of the chain. By interpreting the pattern in which the chain falls, the priest can determine which of the 256 odus should be selected.

Consulted. Each odu has 800 or more ese (verses), and more are being added all the time. The priest will begin to recite/chant from memory the ese in the designated odu until the questioner finds something that he or she thinks will apply to the issue at hand and finds help or comfort in it. Thus, the final message and application of the divination is really up to the questioner.

Unfortunately, many people use the Bible in much the same way. People will often take a verse out of context and apply it to their situation and assume that the Lord is speaking to them directly. Some will ignore the plain teaching of a Bible verse and instead rely on “what it means to me.” Others will even open the Bible and put their finger on a verse at random, thinking that God will communicate to them in this way. These methods of “Bible study” fail to heed the command to handle the word of truth “rightly” «Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. », (2 Timothy 2:15, ESV).

The Christian’s wisdom comes from God «If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. », (James 1:5), not from pagan religions and superstitions such as Odu Ifa. The Bible warns against divination in any form. We should avoid any practice related to divination, whether it’s by palm nuts, palm readings, tarot cards, or tea leaves. The spirit world is real, and there are many spirits who seek to lead people astray.