Opon Ifá
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An ọpọ́n Ifá is a
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, ...
tray used in traditional African and
Afro-American religions African diaspora religions, also described as Afro-American religions, are a number of related beliefs that developed in the Americas in various areas of the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Southern United States. They derive from traditional ...
, notably in the system known as
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 in Yoruba tradition more broadly. The etymology of ''opon'', literally meaning "to flatter", explains the artistic and embellished nature of the trays, as they are meant to praise and acknowledge the noble work of the
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 ...
(diviners). The etymology of the term ''Ifá,'' however'','' has been a subject of debate. Ifá may be considered an
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 ...
, or a Yoruba god — specifically, the god of divination Orula. Conversely, some scholars have referred to Ifá merely as the "great consulting oracle" as opposed to a god or a deity, without any divine connotations. Opon Ifá are typically made by wood carvers who specialize in the trays, and are made with designs per request of the patron babalawo or by the carver's own accord. The emphasis on the tray's design is not only due to their "flattering" nature, but also because of their functionality during consultation. Different carvers employ various aesthetic styles within West Africa and in the
African diaspora The African diaspora is the worldwide collection of communities descended from List of ethnic groups of Africa, people from Africa. The term most commonly refers to the descendants of the native West Africa, West and Central Africans who were ...
, but most carvers are able to trace their influence back to Oyo, in present-day
Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
. During divination consultations, the opon Ifá is used by a babalawo to communicate with Ifá, who is able to identify the causes and solutions to personal and collective problems, and to restore harmony with the spirits. An intermediary orisha, Esu, serves as the messenger between the babalawo and Ifá, as the two spirits are close companions to each other. In conjunction with other divine instruments such as an '' iroke Ifá'' (diviner's tapper), ''
ikin Ifá Ikin is a surname. People bearing the name include: * Ben Ikin (born 1977), Australian rugby player * David Ikin (born 1946), English football player * Humphrey Ikin (born 1957), New Zealander furniture designer * Jack Ikin (1918–1984), Englis ...
'' (sacred palm or kola nuts) or ''
opele Ifá An opele (spelled opuele or ocuele in Latin America) is a divination chain used in traditional African and Afro-American religions, notably in Ifá and Yoruba tradition. A babalawo (diviner) uses the opele in order to communicate with the deity ...
'' (divination chain), and '' iyerosun'' (divining powder), the opon Ifá is used to determine the '' odu'', or verses, associated with a patron's particular predicament. Once an odu is revealed by Ifá, the babalawo then elucidates a solution that is embedded in the archetypal story described in the specific odu.


Structure

Opon Ifá are wooden, generally between 15 and 46 centimeters (6 and 18 inches) in diameter, and are flat and usually circular; however, rectangular, semi-circular, and approximately square specimens have also been observed. The trays exhibit a raised outer perimeter – often embellished with carved figures, objects, and abstract geometric designs. The artistic intricacy of the peripheral carvings are a status marker among
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 suggest their importance to clients. The top of the tray is called the "head" or the ''oju opon,'' and the bottom is conversely called the "feet" or the ''ese opon.'' Typically, the head is adorned with a carved depiction of Esu, the messenger of Ifá. Certain trays may have additional representations of Esu, and trays with two, four, eight, and even sixteen faces have been studied. In such cases, the "head" of the tray may be designated by
cowrie Cowrie or cowry () is the common name for a group of small to large sea snails in the family Cypraeidae. Cowrie shells have held cultural, economic, and ornamental significance in various cultures. The cowrie was the shell most widely used wo ...
s. The cowries are also used to spread the sacred divining powder, ''iyerosun''. The peripheral markings of the opon Ifá are functional as well as ornamental. They serve to divide the perimeter into nine different sections that contribute symbolic significance during consultations. Each section is named after one of nine ancient and influential diviners. In a divination reading, the babalawo sits facing east with the opon Ifá in front of them, such that the "feet" of the tray is closest to them. In this orientation, the ''oju opon'' ("face of the tray"), ''ese opon'' ("feet of the tray"), ''ona kanran'' ("straight path"), and the ''ona murun'' ("direct path") are respectively situated on the east, west, south and north sides of the tray's perimeter. On the diagonals from these cardinal directions are four additional sections or diviners: ''alaselosi'' ("the one who implements with the left") to the northeast, ''alabolotun'' ("the one who proposes with the right") to the southeast, ''afurukeresayo'' ("the one who has a diviner's fly-whisk and is happy") to the northwest, and ''ajiletepowo'' ("an early riser who sits down and prospers") to the southwest. The final section is the space in the center of the tray, the ''erilade opon'' ("the meeting place that crowns all"), for a total of nine sections. These sections come into play during consultations when the babalawo individually evokes the presence of Ifá and the nine ancient diviners before beginning the reading of the tray. The circumference of opon Ifá may also be carved with animals that are significant in Yoruba mythology. Such markings are believed by practitioners to allow the babalawo to harness the powers of the depicted animal, enhancing the general efficacy of the tray, or heightening the effectiveness of certain odu. The abilities of the animals can sometimes be inferred by examining their roles in any of the 256 archetypal stories associated with the ''odu''. For instance, opon Ifá may display carvings of
bush rat The bush rat or Australian bush rat (''Rattus fuscipes'') (Zak) is a small Australian nocturnal animal. It is an omnivore and one of the most common indigenous species of rat on the continent, found in many heathland areas of Victoria and ...
s, or ''okete'', which in Yoruba mythology can take on human form to conduct nighttime mischief. Birds are also depicted, which symbolize
witchcraft Witchcraft is the use of Magic (supernatural), magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meanin ...
. Finally, according to diviners from
Oyo, Nigeria Oyo is a city in Oyo State, Nigeria. It was founded as the capital of the remnant of the historic Oyo empire in the 1830s, and is known to its people as 'New Oyo' (Ọ̀yọ́ Àtìbà) to distinguish it from the former capital to the north, 'Ol ...
, snakes may symbolize the efficacy of Ifá divination as a whole, as it is believed that snakes obtained their venomous capacity from Ifá – as outlined in the odu ''okaran asa''. Furthermore, snakes may symbolize Ifá himself, perhaps responsible for their prevalence in opon Ifá and in other
Yoruba art The Yoruba of West Africa (Benin, Nigeria and Togo) are responsible for a distinct artistic tradition in Africa, a tradition that remains vital and influential today. Much of the art of the Yoruba, including staffs, court dress, and beadwor ...
. When abstract or crisscross markings are incorporated with zoomorphic imagery, they may offer a kinetic and sentient quality to the depicted animals, further enhancing the tray's divine potency.


Yoruba carvers

Historically, Yoruba carvers played an important role in their communities – many were specialists, creating an array of objects from the banal (e.g. stools, walking sticks, etc.) to the divine (e.g. shrine sculptures, headdresses, etc.). Most of the carvers specialized in opon Ifá traced their roots to Are Lagbayi, a master palace wood carver of old Oyo, in present-day Nigeria. His legacy is continued by the opon Ifá carvers who are frequented by babalawo, and create trays with designs of their own discretion or by request of their patron diviners. Some sources of aesthetic inspiration are the fables of storied diviners, the spirits and archetypal everyday experiences described by the odu, and instruments used during Ifá consultations – such as the ''iroke Ifá''.


Variations

There are variations in the structure of opon Ifá, particularly in regard to the number and location of depicted Esu faces and the geometric shape of the board. Even within a town there will be different forms of the tray. For example, one tray may depict Esu with his chin protruding into the center of the tray (the ''erilade opon''), while another depicts two Esu faces on opposite sides of the tray. Although the Ifá system of divination finds its roots among the Yoruba, its practise has spread amongst the African diaspora and is known by different names, with subtle to profound alterations. Beyond the foundational features of the opon Ifá outlined above, the functional nature of the structural enhancements cannot be generalized and are typically left to the artist's discretion. A particularly notable specimen is one from the 17th century Kingdom of
Dahomey The Kingdom of Dahomey () was a West African List of kingdoms in Africa throughout history, kingdom located within present-day Benin that existed from approximately 1600 until 1904. It developed on the Abomey Plateau amongst the Fon people in ...
, in present-day
Benin Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It was formerly known as Dahomey. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east. The majority of its po ...
, which was used for ''Fá'' divination. This board displays a standard circular opon Ifá in the center of the tray, but is encompassed by a larger, rectangular tray. In
Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
n
Santería Santería (), also known as Regla de Ocha, Regla Lucumí, or Lucumí, is an African diaspora religions, Afro-Caribbean religion that developed in Cuba during the late 19th century. It arose amid a process of syncretism between the traditional ...
, heavily influenced by Ifá, opon Ifá may also be employed; this will often display a broad color gamut, and may lack a depiction of Esu.


Yoruba beliefs

The face of Esu, the intermediary orisha between Ifá and the babalawo, is generally carved into the opon Ifá's perimeter to acknowledge his critical role during divine consultations and to allow the babalawo to directly confront him. The relationship between the two
deities A deity or god is a supernatural being considered to be sacred and worthy of worship due to having authority over some aspect of the universe and/or life. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines ''deity'' as a God (male deity), god or god ...
is outlined in the Yoruba canon – specifically from among the 256 ''odu'', or verses, that the babalawo interprets from the opon Ifá – and provides an account for how Esu came to occupy his role. The following is an account of the myth by an Ifá chief from Oyo, Nigeria: Ifá and Esu are two of the four-hundred orisha sent to Earth by Olodumare, the supreme being in
Yoruba religion The Yorùbá religion (Yoruba language, Yoruba: Ìṣẹ̀ṣe), West African Orisa (Òrìṣà), or Isese (Ìṣẹ̀ṣe), comprises the traditional religious and spiritual concepts and practice of the Yoruba people. Its homeland is in pres ...
. Each of the four-hundred divinities has unique supernatural abilities; Ifá knows the predestined
fate Destiny, sometimes also called fate (), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predeterminism, predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. Fate Although often used interchangeably, the words wiktionary ...
of all human beings, and Esu is the keeper of the ''
ase ASE may refer to: Organisations * Academia de Studii Economice (the Economic Sciences Academy), in Bucharest, Romania * Admiralty Signal Establishment, a former defense research organization in the UK * ASE Group (Advanced Semiconductor Engineeri ...
'' (divine power or authority). Esu, confident in his status as the wisest among all of Olodumare's spirits, administered a test to 398 of the other deities, all of whom failed. Only then did Esu test Ifá. Esu requested that Ifá supervise his monkey for one week while he undertook a journey. Ifá agreed, but first he asked Esu to tie the monkey to the tree in front of his house. After Esu had embarked on his journey, Ifá consulted an oracle to see what Esu's intentions were for his journey. The oracle prescribed to Ifá a
sacrificial Sacrifice is an act or offering made to a deity. A sacrifice can serve as propitiation, or a sacrifice can be an Offering (Christianity), offering of praise and thanksgiving. Evidence of ritual animal sacrifice has been seen at least since an ...
offering of bananas that must be performed deep in a thick forest. Ifá obliged and performed the sacrifice, only to find Esu's monkey missing once he returned to the tree in front of his home. Esu, having suddenly decided to not pursue his trip, returned to Ifá's home to see that Ifá had broken his commitment. Grief-stricken, Esu began to weep. He informed Ifá that if he did not find the monkey within the seven days that it takes for his tears to fall to the ground, Ifá would be cursed without peace for the rest of his life. Seeking a solution, Ifá once again consulted the oracle, who told him to return to the exact spot in the forest where the sacrifice of bananas had been performed. There, he would find the monkey. Ifá accepted the oracle's guidance and found Esu's monkey in the forest. Having returned the monkey to Esu before his tears hit the earth, Ifá completed the test and sealed his partnership with Esu. To express his gratitude, Esu swore to be a companion and accomplice to Ifá in all his endeavors. Thus, Esu acts as the mouthpiece through which Ifá imparts his clairvoyant knowledge.


In divination consultations

During a divination session, the babalawo first properly orients the tray with the "feet" of the opon Ifá facing towards him. He sits facing east, the direction from which Ifá is thought to have come from the spiritual plane, and allows light to illuminate the tray, being careful to prevent shadows from landing on the wood. Once properly oriented, an iroke Ifá, or a diviner's tapper, is used by the babalawo to evoke the presence of Ifá via the rhythmic drumming of the tapper on the surface of the opon Ifá. The nine diviners symbolically depicted in the tray's perimeter are also summoned. Then, sixteen palm or
kola nut The kola nut ( Yoruba: ''obi'', Dagbani: ''guli'', Hausa: goro, Igbo: ''ọjị'', Sängö: ''gôro,'' Swahili: ''mukezu'') is the seed of certain species of plant of the genus ''Cola'', placed formerly in the cocoa family Sterculiaceae and ...
s, the ikin Ifá'','' are thrown onto the opon Ifá's wooden surface and the babalawo proceeds to interpret which of the 256 possible sets of odu (verses) are displayed by the nuts. An odu is essentially a word or sign of eight marks that is drawn in the iyerosun powder scattered over the tray. Each of the signs have corresponding verses which must be chanted and chosen according to the client's particular situation. Each of the odu is constructed by individually determining each "letter" of the odu in a step-wise manner, starting from the bottom-right division of the border, then the bottom-left. Working up from bottom to top, this process is repeated six more times until the complete odu is constructed and written on the board. If sacred palm nuts are used, sixteen nuts are held in one hand by the babalawo. With the other hand, he snatches as many as he can out of his palm. If there is one remaining, he draws two vertical lines into the iyerosun powder on the board. If there are two nuts remaining, he draws only one line. The process continues until two figures of four segments each are formed. Another way to use the opon Ifá incorporates a divination chain known as
opele An opele (spelled opuele or ocuele in Latin America) is a divination chain used in traditional African and Afro-American religions, notably in Ifá and Yoruba tradition. A babalawo Babaalawo or babaláwo in West Africa (babalao in Caribbea ...
Ifá, reserving the palm or kola nuts for more serious questions. The opele consists of a chain of eight half-kola nuts strung together, each associated with one of the eight letters of an odu and a site along the tray's border. After evoking the spirits with the iroke Ifá, the babalawo then throws the opele; each of the eight half-nuts will land concave up or concave down, heads or tails. A single line represents "heads" while two vertical lines symbolize "tails" – this process is recorded in the iyerosun powder, as it is done with the palm nuts. Thus, this binary system of one and two vertical lines gives rise to 256 different odu, each associated with a spirit and certain archetypal situation. Some odu are affirmative, and others are negative. Furthermore, the odu determines what offerings the babalawo prescribes to the client in order for them to achieve their desired ends.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Opon Ifa Religious objects Yoruba culture Yoruba words and phrases Traditional African religions Afro-American religion Objects used for divination Yoruba art