What religion is a babalawo?
A priest of the highest order belonging to the Santería religion, similar to vodoun, with magic powers, including the ability to heal the sick, divine the future and punish wrongdoers.
What is a babalawo Ifa?
Through Ifa, the role of the diviner (known as a babalawo) is to help an individual or community to see what is in store for them in their day-to-day lives.
Who is orunmila Ifa?
Orunmila is primarily known as the master caretaker of Ifa divination and its corpus of knowledge. In this role, he is often referred to as Ifa. Because he is witness to creation, he knows its secrets (awo); hence, he epitomizes wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of all destinies great and small.
What does orunmila mean?
the spirit of wisdom
In Yoruba mythology, Orunmila is the spirit of wisdom among the Irunmole and the divinity of destiny and prophecy. He is “Igbakeji Olodumare” (second in command to Olodumare; often also playfully translated as “second calabash to God”, since “igba” means “calabash”) and “eleri ipin” (witness of fate).
What is a female Babalawo called?
An Apetibi is considered a wife of Orunmila or a Babalawo. An apetibi is not initiated into the mysteries of Ifa and has not received Itefa or itelodu levels of initiation. Iyanifa have titles and ranks in Ile Ife, Nigeria.
What is Babalawo called in English?
Babaaláwo or Babalawo in West Africa (Babalao in Caribbean and South American Spanish and Babalaô in Brazilian Portuguese) literally means ‘father of the mysteries’ in the Yoruba language. It is a spiritual title that denotes a high priest of the Ifá oracle.
What is a female babalawo called?
How many orisha are there?
Yoruba tradition often says that there are 400 + 1 orishas, which is associated with a sacred number. Other sources suggest that the number is “as many as you can think of, plus one more – an innumerable number”. Different oral traditions refer to 400, 700, or 1,440 orishas.
Who is Jesus in Yoruba?
Yoruba deity, Oluorogbo, is like Jesus Christ – Ooni of Ife.
Is Ifa a god?
The Yoruba have a strong faith in Oduduwa and believe that the Yoruba originate from Ile‐Ife. In the Yoruba religion, the place of Ifa, the deity of wisdom, is very important. Ifa is often consulted on important occasions; including business activities such as before a new venture is launched.