The Western Africa is the source of
an ancient religious traditions such as Ifa and Vodun. Many
anthropologists consider that the approximate age of these religions is
10 ‘ 000 years. They also agree that they have common practices in
basis. For thousand years cosmology, complicated ceremonies and
initiations have been developed to the very high level and even now
there is no need to append or to make any improvements in it. There are
two major religions in western Africa – Ifa and Vodun. These religions
have the same basic principles in practices and ceremonies.
Nowadays there are hundred temples all
across Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, devoted to Ifa and Orisha. There,
the followers perform the ancient rituals with drumbeats, chanting,
dances, sacrifices and communicating with the Spirit through possession,
as it was thousands years ago At present times, Ifa is well known all
over the world. Many people find in it the source of strength,
confidence in a coming day,
they began to understand themselves and reveal secrets of the Universe.
Many people became interested in this powerful religion not only because
of its efficiency, but also because all religious-mystical components
have been developed in details.One of the highest and most respected
titles in hierarchy of Ifa religion is Babalawo what means – «Father of
Mystery», the similar title in Vodun is known as Bokono.
Ancient religion Ifa is a coded message
of Olodumare (Creator), revealed to people by a prophet Orunmila (Ela).
Witness of Destiny or Orunmila is the father of wisdom, knowledge’s and
understanding. He brought the Law of Olodumare into this world. Ifa is a
science where a follower performing certain actions, reaches specific
results. These knowledge’s will also help to maintain harmony and
balance with Olodumare. Ifa preserves and keeps balance in various
societies what makes a basis of spiritual tradition
of Yoruba.Doctrine of Ifa, contains knowledge that the World is a system
which is perfectly balanced and it functions according to internal
rules. It supports development and balance of all living. The religion
of Yoruba people – Ifa had been arisen in a cradle of a civilization in a
sacred city Ile Ife. It became a source and a basis of all
Afro-Caribbean traditions, which appeared during slavery in Western
countries, such as: .Candomble (Ketu), Santeria Lukumi etc. Verbal
stories of Yoruba people informs us, that Ile Ife (city in the Western
Africa) is a place where the Highest God created people of all races:
black, yellow and white. After that, they dispersed across the Earth.
All Yoruba tribes as well as inhabitants of Benin and Dahomey trace
their origin from Ile Ife (1).
The central creative force in Yoruba
religion (Ifa) is Olodumare. His force is in all things and displays.
Olodumare is a creator of all Irunmole(2) (Orisha) – spiritual forces.
Irunmole maintain secrets of evolution of the Universe. According to
Yoruba theology, Irunmole (spiritual forces which are messengers of
Olodumare) rule over all existing phenomena in Ikole Orun (Kingdom of
Spirit) as well as in Ikole Aye (Kingdom of Earth). The whole world had
been created by Irunmole and all living things in it and human being by
itself.
The ancient Yoruba Ifa doctrine
considers the Universe as a perfect creation of Olodumare. Thousands
years ago, on the basis of the accumulated knowledge’s and experience,
ancient Yoruba identified primary forces of the Universe, learned how to
interact with them and named them all. They understood, that the
existing Universe consists from 801 Irunmole, 400 of them constantly
stay in Orun (the World of Spirit). The rest part of Irunmole (401),
from which 200 are positive forces and 200 negative ones, they
are also known as Ajoogun (these forces bring death, wars and diseases).
These forces constantly move from Orun (Kingdom of Spirit) to Aye
(Kingdom of Earth) and back. Irunmole know all secrets of this world and
are messenger of the Creator, therefore they control all existing
phenomena, both in Ikole Orun and in Ikole Aye. All Irunmole – have
their personality, their own individuality and consciousness. Their
force influence natural world and everyday life of every person.
Irunmole affect various aspects of life, they express complexity and
many-sided nature of Olodumare. People have an opportunity for
interaction with self-realizing emanations (Irunmole) of Olodumare. In
interaction with them the person can achieve amazing results in private
life. Ifa gave us knowledges that Olodumare did not create people for
sufferings on Earth and, possessing secret knowledge which Ifa gives us,
we have possibility to live the way every human being should – in
happiness and creation.
Understanding of secrets of invisible
spiritual forces is possible, only through direct interaction with them.
That is why in religious-magic Yoruba tradition, one of the major roles
has a discipline named Ifaiyа – that is intended to establish
connection with the spiritual forces that have their own
self-consciousnesses.Discipline Ifaiyа contains ogbon inu – the
aggravated intuition, мsotele – forseeing of the future, alala –
communication with Orisha through dreams, egungun – obsession by the
Spirit of Ancestors and Orisa’gun – obsession by Orisha (Irunmole).
Yoruba names obsession by the word “ini”, what means “I”. That refers
that it is a unification with the transcendental spiritual forces which
are outside of human consciousness.
The Yoruba religion (Ifa), learns the
followers first of all they should pay attention to igoke or to
spiritual growth and if the follower will succeed in it, money, health,
success will come as necessary component for a proper life. For Ifa
followers it is important to be able to make the decision according to “
eri-okan “ (clear understanding, the ability to distinguish a correct
act from wrong. The literal translation of a word «eri-okan» is feeling
of your heart).
For the better understanding of the
River of Life and of the will of spiritual forces Irunmole, followers of
Yoruba religion – Ifa and Orisha, use a tremendous range of different
systems of prediction such as: Obi Abata (cola nuts), Opele (chain of
Ifa), Ikin (sacred nuts of a palm tree) and Merindinlogun (sixteen
cowrie shells). Studying the prediction systems is a key part of
knowledges of all African traditions. The whole religious-magic
practices are very efficient because Yoruba oracles are based on
instructions sent
from the Spiritual world. The highest oracle of predictive system of Ifa
is based on 256 Odu (3). 16 of them are superior ones. These 16 Odu
create 240 Omo Odu (Children of Odu). Total numder is 256 Odu Ifa. Ifa
is a very powerful force, capable to cope with any problem: to reflect
ibi (misfortunes), arun (illnesses), ofo (losses) and even iku (death),
ejo (judicial precedent), also it is capable to draw into a humans life
ire aje (riches), ire alaafia (success), ogbo, ato (physical health and a
long life), and also igoke – spiritual growth.
Notes.
1-by Afolabi Epega “Ancient Wisdom of Ifa”
2-Irunmole (yor.) – Pure, primary spirit/energy.
3- A highly respected Baba Osundia explained quite eloquent what is Odu:
“Odu are sacred symbols that contain ase (life force) of all living.
Odu – schemes of dynamic movement of energies which identify the basic
Forces of the natural world. Odu are unusual mandalas representing
active and passive energies of a present situation with tremendous
exactness. Various displays of Heavens and the Earth are born in the Odu
and through the same sacred tracks they will return to primary
emptiness. Odu operate cycles of the Nature and sands of time. Odu is a
space energy of creation, a fabric of a life. The symbols representing
the Odu, symbolize keys of the Primary Universe, the Uterus in which all
Life was born. Through this gate prays enter into heart of the
Universe, and through them we receive the answer from Orisha. Odu
operates a birth of a baby and death of the Teacher. These are the
streams rushing into a bed of a dried river, the easy rain bringing
freshness, the hurricane brining destruction, a flame which grants light
and burns, – all this within the limits of abilities the Odu. The face
of Odu carries a smile of pleasure and expresses shout of a torture «.
