The Divination of Ifa (a Fragment)

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80. The Divination of Ifa (A Fragment).

Author(s): J. WyndhamSource: Man, Vol. 19 (Oct., 1919), pp. 151-153Published by: Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and IrelandStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2839981 .

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October,1919.1 MA.N. lNgo.80.Yoruba: Folklore. Wyndham.

The Divination of Ifa (A Fragment). By J. Wyndham. 8 0Ifa was the Messenger of the Gods, and is consulted by the Yorubaon all subjects.His priests (called Babalawo) profit consider ably by divination, which theyperform with sand on a circullar board, or with a chiarm called Okpelle.Okpelle consists of eight pieces of bark on a string. These eight are arrangedin fours, thuis

Each of the pieces of bark may fall either with the outside or the insideshowing. Consequently each set of four may fall in sixteeln different ways, Lavingdifferent names atid meanings.

The sixteen lnames are1. - Ogbe-all face down-iinside showing.2. g Oyeku-all face up-outside showing.3. __- wr i.

4. __Ed'i.ai) Ob/ara.6. __ Ok(anran7. Roshun.8. Oworin.

9. Egutaii,10. Ossa.11. _@_ __ Erette.12. _Etu'rab.]3 OlogboD.14. ^ Ekka.15. Oshe.16. Offun or Orangun.

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No. 80.] MAN tOctober. 919.When Okpelle is thrown on the ground and the two fours are identical theresultant is called:-

Ogbe Meji (i.e., Two Ogbes) Egutan MejiOyekii Meji Ossa MejiIwori Meji Errette MejiEdi Meji Eturah MejiOb'ara Meji Ologbon MejiOkanran Meji Ekka MejiRoshun Meji Oshe Meji, orAworin Meji Offun Meji

These are called the Sixteen Messengers of Ifa.The chance, lowever, of the four on the Babalawo's left agreeing with that on

his right is onlv one in sixteen. The other fifteen combinations which may appearwith Ogbe on the right are called: Ogbe Yeku, Ogbe Wori, Ogbe Di, &.c.Similarly with the other Messengers of Ifa. These combinations are called thechildren of the Messenger who appears on the right. Thus, Ogbe Yeku is a childof Ogbe; Oyeku Logbe is a child of Oyeku.

From this it will be seen that Okpelle can shiow 256 combinations.Procedure.-A mian comes to a Babalawo to consult Ifa. He places a gift of

cowries (to which he has whispered his needs) before the Babalawo. The lattertakes Okpelle and places it on the cowries. I-fe then says, "You, Okpelle, know" what this man said to the cowries. Now' tell me." Then he lifts Okpelle andlays it out on the floor. From the messenger or child which appears the Babalawois supposed to deduce that his client wants a son, has stolen a goat, or has a tooth-ache, as the case may be. He then tells him what he must bring as a sacrifice toachlieve his en(ds. In all cases the sacrifice (or a large part of it) is offered toEshu (thie devil) for fear that he might unldo the good work. For instanice, theclient is poor and ineeds money: Edi Meji appears, and the Babalawo tells his clientto bring a dog, a fowl, and some cowries and palm-oil. The man splits the dogand the fowl; puts palm-oil and cowiies inside them, and takes them to Eshu.The Babalawo presunmablytakes the bulk of the cowries for himself.

The appearance of Ogbe Meji promises long life, but a goat must be brought.If a man has no clhildren and Oyeku Meji appears, he must bring a ram and agoat.

Iw6ri Meji demanlds eggs, a pigeon, and cowries from a sick man.Edi Meji.-As above.Obara Meji.-A sacrifice of 2 cocks, 2 lhens, and 250 cowries is needed to

purify after menstruation.Okanran Meji.-A goat and 500 cowries bring on menstruation.Ro'shun Meji.-A she-goat and 2 hens to cure a headache.Aworin Meji.-4 cocks and 800 cowries to bring about the death of one's

enemy.Egutan Meji.-A ram (large) and 1,200 cowries to cure a bad bellyache.Ossa Meji.-Butcher's meat alnd 4 pigeons to drive away witchcraft.Erette Meji.-2 pigeons, 2 cocks, and 600 cowries to get children.Etuirah Meji.-One large gown, a sheep, and 300 cowries to cuire eye disease.Ologbon Meji.-Sacrifice 4 snails an(d 4 pigeons if one suspects someone %%ishesto poison one.Ekka Meji.--4 hens, oil, and 700 cowries for ear-ache.Offun Meji.-If children keep on dying, sacrifice 16 snails, 16 rats, 16 fishes,anid 1,600 cowries, and the following children will live.[ 152 1



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O tober,- 919.1 MAiV. [Nos. 80-81.Osse Meji.-8 snails, 8 pigeons, and 800 cowries for children.Ogbe Yeku.--(a) If a man has no money, he must bring 4 pigeons, 2 shillings,and soap. The Babalawo mixes leaves (ewe-ire) with the soap as a charm, and

the man must use it for a bath.(b) If a man is very ill, he must offer 3 hle-goats and 5s. 6d. He will then

be better.Ogbe Wori.-(a) If a man is sick, he must oFFer8s. and a sheep. Otherwise,ne will die.(b) lf a man needs money, he must bring thread and 6 pigeons and buy soap.

The Babalawo gets ewe aji and puts them on the soap with the pigeon's blood.The thread is put inside the soap. The man then washes.

(cS If a marl has committed a crime, he must brilng 7 cocks and 35s. TheBabalawo kills the cocks, and takes the 35s. for himself. He takes the sand ofOgbe Wori from the Ifa board and puts some on each cock's breast, with 260cowries. Five of the cocks are then given to Eshu and the other 2 are taken to aplace where three roads meet. Then either a necessary witness will not appear incourt or the accused will be found not guilty.

(d) If two men want the same woman, and Ogbe Wori appears (when one ofthem consults Ifa), the Babalawo asks for 4 hens and a he-goat. The woman thenbecomes the client's wife. Eshu gets the hens and the goat's blood; the Babalawo,the goat. J. WYNDHAM.

REVIEWS.Anthropology.American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Vol. II, No. 1. Washington Q

March, 1919. UIThis journal continues its course of useful information. In the present numberthe editor, Dr. A. Hrdlicka, has a valuable paper on Anthropometry, indis-pensable for reference, describing the preliminary efforts from 1859 onwards toinitiate anid to systematize the methods used, and giving, a carefully annotated andillustrated translation of the Report of the Special Commission at the MonacoCongress* in April, 1906, with the whole of the nmany points in skull measurementfully definied.

No British representative was available for that Commission, but at thefollowing Congress, held at Geneva, September 9-14, 1912, the AnthropometricCommissioln had four British among the twenty-four representatives of eightcountries, and Dr. W. L. H. Duckworth was one of the three recorders. Thetranslation of the report of this second commission is here -given, and consists of anIntroduction, the general principles and detailed definitions of the bodily measure-ments approved by the Commission and the Congress, with some fuither resolutions.Dr. Hrdlicka adds: " The task undertaken is not yet finished; but what has been"1 done furnishes a sound nucleus for further development." When an internationalassociation of anthropologists is formed (as outlined at the Conference held inLondon,t June 4, 1912, after the 18th International Congress of Americanists), itis to be hoped that a permanent Anthropometric Board may be instituted to dealwith all questions respecting methods and instrumeints.

LDr.G. G. MacCurdy follows with further remarks on the Conference at theRoyal Anthropological Institute, and a translation of the circular letter sent out toanthropologists some months ago by members of the Ecole d'Anthropologie ofParis, in which they suggested the founding of a permanent International Institute

* Thirteenth Congress of Prehistoric Anthropology and Archwology.t Called by the Royal Anthropoligical Institute.[ 153 ]


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The Divination of Ifa (a Fragment)