Ọrunmila (, also Ọrúnla or Orúla in

Latin America Latin America is the cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages are predominantly spoken, primarily Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese. Latin America is defined according to cultural identity, not geogr ...

) is the

Orisha Orishas (singular: orisha) are divine spirits that play a key role in the Yoruba religion of West Africa and several religions of the African diaspora that derive from it, such as Haitian Vaudou, Cuban Santería and Brazilian Candomblé. The p ...

Wisdom Wisdom, also known as sapience, is the ability to apply knowledge, experience, and good judgment to navigate life’s complexities. It is often associated with insight, discernment, and ethics in decision-making. Throughout history, wisdom ha ...

knowledge Knowledge is an Declarative knowledge, awareness of facts, a Knowledge by acquaintance, familiarity with individuals and situations, or a Procedural knowledge, practical skill. Knowledge of facts, also called propositional knowledge, is oft ...

, and

Divination Divination () is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic ritual or practice. Using various methods throughout history, diviners ascertain their interpretations of how a should proceed by reading signs, ...

, is the creator of

Ifá Ifá or Fá is a geomantic system originating from Yorubaland in West Africa. It originates within the Yoruba religion, traditional religion of the Yoruba people. It is also practiced by followers of West African Vodun and certain African diaspo ...

and

Babalawo Babaalawo or babaláwo in West Africa (babalao in Caribbean and South American Spanish and babalaô in Brazilian Portuguese), literally means "father of secrets" (or “father of mysteries”) in the Yoruba language. It is a spiritual title tha ...

concept. He is a

high priest The term "high priest" usually refers either to an individual who holds the office of ruler-priest, or to one who is the head of a religious organisation. Ancient Egypt In ancient Egypt, a high priest was the chief priest of any of the many god ...

of Ifá.

Historical and literary sources

Following the categories developed by the Nigerian scholar Peju Yemaje, Orunmila is recognized as a primordial Orisha, an ''ara orun'', one that existed before the creation of humanity and resides in Heaven, as opposed to ''irun-male'' or ''irunmole'', sacred beings living on Earth. Equivocally, he is praise named "''Igbákejì Olódùmarè''" (second in command to Olodumare). In truth, he is Ibikeji Olodumare and "''Ẹlẹ́rìí ìpín''" (witness of fate). Priests of Ifá are known as

babalawo Babaalawo or babaláwo in West Africa (babalao in Caribbean and South American Spanish and babalaô in Brazilian Portuguese), literally means "father of secrets" (or “father of mysteries”) in the Yoruba language. It is a spiritual title tha ...

s and Priestesses of Ifá are known as

iyanifa is a term in the Lucumi religion that literally means "mother of mysteries" or "mother of wisdom" (''iyá'': “mother”; ''awó'' “mysteries"). Some adherents use the term "mamalawo," which is a partially African diaspora version of the Lucumi ...

s. Orunmila is considered a sage, recognizing that Olodumare placed Ori (intuitive knowledge) in him as a

prime A prime number (or a prime) is a natural number greater than 1 that is not a product of two smaller natural numbers. A natural number greater than 1 that is not prime is called a composite number. For example, 5 is prime because the only ways ...

. It is Ori who can intercede and affect the reality of a person much more than any other Orisha.William R. Bascom: Ifa Divination: Communication Between Gods and Men in West Africa

Priesthood and initiation

Awo in every tradition study the 256 Odu; each Odu is traditionally considered to include stories and prayers that have been passed down from the time that Orunmila walked the Earth as a

prophet In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divinity, divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings ...

. Some initiatory lineages have only male priests of Orunmila, while other lineages include female priestesses. The term "''Awo''", meaning "secret" is a gender-neutral title for an initiated priest of Orunmila. The debate surrounding gender is a result of diversity in the history of Ifá in various locations. In

and some areas of

West Africa West Africa, also known as Western Africa, is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations geoscheme for Africa#Western Africa, United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Gha ...

, only men may become full priests of Orunmila, while in other regions of West Africa the priesthood is open to women. Ifá practitioners believe in duality in life: males exist because of the female essence and females exist because of the male essence, so every major rite or ceremony includes both genders. Every Ifá stanza has one portion dedicated to the issue of teaching the Iwa that Ifá supports. This Iwa, which Ifá teaches transcends religious doctrine, is central to every human being, and imparts communal, social and civic responsibility that Olodumare supports. Of great importance to this is the theme of

righteousness Righteousness is the quality or state of "being morally right or justifiable" rooted in religious or divine law with a broader spectrum of moral correctness, justice, and virtuous living as dictated by a higher authority or set of spiritual beli ...

and practicing good moral behavior.Ifaloju
Iwòrì Méjì: Ifá speaks on Righteousness
(an extract from S.S. Popoola, Ifa Dida, Library, INC) 2011

References

Resources

* Chief S. Solagbade Popoola & Fakunle Oyesanya, Ikunle Abiyamo: The ASE of Motherhood 2007. * Chief S. Solagbade Popoola Library, INC Ifa Dida Volume One (EjiOgbe - Orangun Meji) * Chief S. Solagbade Popoola Library, INC Ifa Dida Volume Two (OgbeYeku - OgbeFun) * Chief S. Solagbade Popoola Library, INC Ifa Dida Volume Three (OyekuOgbe - OyekuFun) * James J. Kulevich, "The Odu of Lucumi: Information on all 256 Odu Ifa" *Ayele Fa'seguntunde' Kumari, Iyanifa:Women of Wisdom Yoruba gods Traditional African religions Afro-American religion Yoruba deities Wisdom gods Oracular gods {{DEFAULTSORT:Ọrunmila