Ifa and Computer Science

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A Comparative Study of Ifa Divination and

Computer Science
Article · November 2013
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Femi O Alamu Halleluyah Aworinde

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Alamu.F.O* et al. / (IJITR) INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
Volume No. 1, Issue No. 6, October - November 2013, 524 - 528.
ALAMU F.O. AWORINDE H.O. ISHARUFE, W. I

Department of Computer Science and Department of Computer Science and Department of Computer Science and
Information Technology Information Technology Information Technology
Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State,
Nigeria Nigeria Nigeria
Abstract: - The Ifa divination system is a set of divination acts done by a professional that has been granted
authority (a babalawo) to create and make use of set of rules to communicate with the gods so as to solve
people’s problems. It is mostly carried out in the Yoruba community.
Most people doubt the authenticity of this system and are not even aware of its similarities with Computer
Science. Further to this there are a few literature in this area of study. In this work effort was made to bring
out salient similarities between the field of computer science and the act of ifa divination. An extensive
explanation of the divination system was made, what it means and its origin and why people seek after it.
We have presented an extensive explanation of the Ifa divination system, proved its existence and
authenticity, given and explained its similarities with Computer Science and presented a reference data for
future work in this study.
Key words: Ifa, Babalawo, Computer Science, Divination
C1(8)xC1(8) = C1(16) [7]. Since the number of sub-
I. INTRODUCTION
hypercubes in an 8-dimensional hypercube is 6,561 =
Information is a vital part of life. It is needed for 81x81=3^8, the Ifa Oracle has N=8 ternary 3-structure
survival. People and culture have evolved greatly. as well as binary 2-structure [2]
Languages and communication skills have changed.
The processes used in ifa divination and the divination
Divination is the act of seeking after knowledge of
system bear some similarities with Computer Science.
future or hidden things by inadequate means which is
Also, Computer Science takes it origin from ifa
usually supplemented by some power which is
divination and so, this paper is meant to engage in
represented all through history as coming from gods. It
comparative study between Ifa Divination and
makes use of signs, omens and coincidences to tell
Computer Science.
hidden things
Ifa is the deity of wisdom and intellectual development.
Divination systems, some of which are almost as
He is called upon to judge cases and provide answers to
reading signs and omens, take a more deliberate
problems. He is a link between the people and God
approach [4]. They are invented to generate
(Eledumare) [6].
coincidences that do not depend upon external events,
which can then be interpreted. Back in the ancient days, Performing Ifa divination is called ‘idafa’ (or didaowo
people had their way and languages used to and ounte ale). Idafa is performed by a Babalawo or
communicate. Also, back then, people had ways of Iyanifa (an initiated priest or priestess). Babalawo can
doing simple calculations and storing information [5]. be translated as “father of the secrets” while “Iyanifa”
The abacus was a well-known tool for counting then. means “mother that has ifa” (i.e its blessing). So also
the Computer science is a filed reserved for a few
II. THE ORIGIN OF IFA DIVINATION
computer professional and maintain forms of secrecy
The Yoruba gods of western Nigeria once existed as using some security algorithms
humans and had their way of communicating. Prior to
According to Prof Odeyemi in his lecture titled “What
their disappearance, they left with the people a means to
is Ifa”, Ifa is the Divine Message of Olodumare to
communicate with them in the outer realm (the ifa
mankind and for all those who seek to receive it. Ifa's
divination). Over 12,000 years ago, Africans developed
universal relevance lies in the fact that, when an
Ifa Oracle divination based on the square of
individual from any race, colour or creed approaches an
16=16x16=26 = 2^8 corresponding to the vertices of an
Ifa Priest for a personal message, Ifa may reveal a
8-dimensional hypercube and to the binary 2-choice
message of national, continental or even global
Clifford algebra C1(8) and so to related ones such as
importance. Which may be similar to artificial neural
ISSN 2320 –5547 @ 2013 http://www.ijitr.com All rights Reserved. Page | 524
networks. For instance, the message may be a warning Bade Ajayi emphasized in his paper that
of an approaching war, famine, or pestilence, although communication with the Odu is achieved by means of a
the message-seeker may be concerned only about calculated mathematical framework based on the
marriage. As a result of the spread of Ifa over the prescribed course of conduct required from each Odu
millennia, it has assumed different names in different [1]
countries and among different races [8]
In fact, digital computer uses the binary system. Like
Orunmila, in order to make access to the retrieval of the the computer, Yoruba anthmomancy is based on binary
Divine Message (Ifa) easy, devised the computer system and it is therefore a computer oriented science
compatible binary coding system, thousands of years which can be used in mathematical education.
before the emergence of computer consciousness in so-
At a divination session, several Ibo (instruments for
called modern man! So, Ifa is preserved in binary coded
casting lot), may be used to find detail information
format and is output Parable - Format.
about a client's problem. The commonest and simplest
Ifa is coded within 256 Odus or Corpus, each Odu form of Ibo of Cowry Shells tied together representing
representing an esoteric pigeonhole, itself divisible into types (1) and piece of animal bone representing“Iho”
256 sub-holes. Within each of the 256 Odus, there are (10)
1,680 Sacred Verses all presented in Parable - Format.
This relates to computer language today, we need
Thus, the body of Ifa consists of 430,080 messages for
prediction (which is scientific and reliable) more than
mankind [1]
divination (which is religious and uncertain).
Prof. Olu Longe in His December 22, 1983 Inaugural Considering the locio in the arms of the opele, the pairs
lecture titled Ifa Divination And Computer Science should be punched (d) and there ‘bi’ spairs not punched
asserted that Orunmila is one of the deities of the (0) using this code paper model of Ifa -6-A-Bits
Yoruba while Ifa divination is a device for forecasting computer model N has been developed. Here is the
the future. What has those two got to do with the high- model worked out by Opele
tech world of computer science?
Punches Odu Name
Ifa is actually an ancient binary computer system 000000 Ogbe (1)
which, in some inexplicable way, has successfully 000001 Osa (10)
linked the probability of numbers with the complexities 000010 Otua (13)
of the human condition and the ever complex flux of 000100 Irete (14)
events. Ifa, Longe said, is based on the 8-bit pattern 001000 Ogunda (9)
with its eight–piece divination chain, 16 major odu 000011 Irosun (5)
(chapters) and 256 odu in all. 000101 Ose (15)
001001 Iwori (3)
Bade Ajayi in his paper titled A New Model of Ifa
000110 Odi (4)
Binary System stated that Orunmila, the Yoruba God of
001010 Ofun (16)
Wisdom and divination uses a geomantic system of
001100 Owonrin (6)
divination to arrive at appropriate signs and employs Ifa
000111 Obara (7)
verses to interpret the signs [1]
001011 Ika (11)
Ifa literary corpus consists of 256 possibilities called 001110 Oturupon (12)
Odu and each Odu also contains superfluous stories 001110 Okanran (8)
called ese. Sixteen of the Odu are the principal ones 001111 Oyeku (2)
while the remaining 240 are the mixed or minor Odu.
This model based on binary system does not take into
As the name implies, each mixed Odu is formed by the
consideration the traditional system on which the Ifa
combination of two principal Odu. Each of the Odu
corpus rests. In actual fact, the importance of hierarchy
(both principal and minor) is represented by a specific
of the 256 Odu for the interpretation of Ifa message
sign which is binary in nature [13]. Every Odu sign has
cannot be over emphasized.
two arms illustrated by the first two principal Odu..,
Eji-Ogbe and Oyeku Meji below: III. PROCESS OF IFA DIVINATION
Table 1: Two Arms of Odu Sign Items used are group of sixteen nuts ( ikin), opele
(sacred chain),dust from irosun tree (iyerosun),
Eji-Ogbe Oyeku Meji
divination tray (opon ifa) , ajere ifa ( seed vessel)
1 1 11 11 2 2
1 1 11 11 Or 2 2 The basic steps are:
1 1 11 11 2 2  Ifa Dida
1 1 11 11 2 2  Odu Revelation
 Prescription Of Advice
Odu Ifa is an ifa literary corpus
It consists of 256 parts, a collection of sixteen, each has
sixteen alternatives and subdivided into verses called
ese.
Each one of the 256 odu has its specific divination
signature.
Computer Science is the systematic study of the
feasibility, structure, expression and mechanization of
the methodical processes (or algorithms). It underlies
the acquisition, representation, processing, storage, Figure 2: A Use Case Diagram showing the basic
communication of and access to information, whether steps taken by the babalawo in ifa divination
such information is encoded in bits and bytes in a
computer memory or transcribed in genes and protein
structures in a human cell. Bits are used to represent,
encode and store information [2].
IV. FLOW CHART
The flowchart below shows the activities during Ifa
divination. It displays the basic steps during the
divination from the point of listening to client problems
and then to the prescription of ogun.
Figure 3: A Use case Diagram showing the basic steps

taken by a client in Ifa divination.
VI. THE OPELE AND DIGITAL SYSTEMS
The opele is a divining chain consisting of two arms
made of 8 beads on both the left side and the right side.
The right side is called the male, and the left is called
the female [11]
In Computer Science, a byte consists of eight bits and a
nibble represents four bits. Thus the four beads on one
side of an opele can be likened to a nibble and all eight
nuts, is a byte in Computer Science.
Now, just like bits are arranged in different patterns of
zeros and ones to form a particular binary number or
digit. The binary number formed from the arrangement
or combination of zeros and ones in Computer Science
can be likened to an odu ifa in ifa divination.
Figure 1: A flow chart showing the basic steps in Ifa
Divination The diagram below shows the opele nut combination.
The concave or smooth side of a nut is represented as b
V. USE CASE DIAGRAM and the convex side is represented as f. The concave
Used Case diagram shows the steps actions taken by side is two strokes, 1 in binary and the convex side is a
both the Babalawo and the client during ifa divination stroke, 0 in binary [3]
Table 2: Opele Nuts Combinations The Odu ifa represents the inference engine while the
eses (poems) represent the knowledge base.
Combination Representation Name
Ffff 0000 Ejiogbe IX. IFA DIVINATION AND THE USE OF
Bbbb 1111 Oyeku PATTERN RECOGNITION
Bffb 1001 Iwori Each of the two hundred and fifty six odu has its own
Fbbf 0110 Odi specific divination signature or pattern. Both the sacred
Bbbf 1110 Okanran palm-nuts and the divining chain are used alternatively
Bfbb 1011 Ika by ifa priests to arrive at the signature of each odu.
Bbbf 1101 Oturuupon
Bbfb 1100 Owonrin The pattern formed from the combination of the
outcomes of the throwing of the opele is combined to
form a particular odu that has a particular meaning.
VII. IFA DIVINATION AS BASIC I-P-O (INPUT- Each odu is unique
PROCESS-OUTPUT) OPERATION IN
COMPUTER SCIENCE X. CONCLUSION
The pattern of outcomes derived from the opele is In this paper, a relationship between Computer Science
analysed against all 256 odus and ese (poem) to derive and Ifa divination has been further established showing
a solution to the clients problem (Processing). Then the their similarities. Despite the fact that Ifa divination has
ifa priest prescribes an oogun (medicine) for the client been treated as an obsolete practice, its relevance to
(Output). The ikin (sacred kolanuts), the opele and technological advancement is indeed immense.
other instruments are like the interfaces used to send Computer Science being an important factor for
inputs for processing. The odus and ese are like the development is expected to expand as new areas and
other basic or regular information the cpu uses to aspects are being discovered.
process inputs in a computer. REFERENCES
[1] Bade Ajayi A New Model of Ifa Binary System
(http://unilorin.edu.ng/publications/yajayi/NEW
%20MODEL.doc) Accessed 19 September, 2013
[2] Frank Dodd (Tony) Smith, Jr. (2009) From
Ancient Africa (vixra.org/pdf/0907.0040v3.pdf)
Accessed 20 September, 2013
[3] Ifa Quest Matrices (2007) Ifa Hermeneutics and
the interpretation of landscape in the artistic
work of Susan Wenger and Katherine Maltwood
(www.ifaquestmatrices.blogspot.com) Accessed
19 September,2013
[4] Jakob Vob (2013) Describing Data Patterns: A
General Construction of Metadata Standards (d-
nb.info/1041284497/34) Accessed 19
September, 2013
[5] James Weeks (2013) Driven by Numbers,
Figure 4: Processes in Ifa divination system and their Patterns and The Divine
representation in Computer Science
(www.acrossthekingsriver.com/tag/malidoma-
VIII. IFA DIVINATION SYSTEM AS AN some/) Accessed 19 September, 2013
EXPERT SYSTEM
[6] James Weeks (2013) Ifa Sees The Big Picture
In Ifa divination, the entire Ifa divination system is like (www.acrossthekingsriver.com/tag/ifa-
an expert system used to solve client complex divination-readings/) Accessed 19 September,
problems. Just like a computer or a computer program 2013
needs an operator to function, the ifa divination system
also needs an operator (the ifa priest). The ifa priest in [7] Nelson Fashina, PhD (2009) Re(-)Placing
this case helps guide a client in using the ifa divination Theory in Africa Studies: Ifa Literary Corpus,
system to solve his/her problems. Origins, Universality and the integration of
Epistemology
(www.uni-
leipzig.de/~ecas2009/index.php?option=com)
[8] Prof. Odeyemi (2013) What is Ifa (www.uni-
leipzig.de/~ecas2009/index.php?option=com)
[9] Research into Classical African Knowledge
Systems
(www.africanhermeneuticsystems.blogspot.com)
[10] Theophilus Otselu Ogbhemhe & Theophilus
Imafidon Obaseki (2004) Ifa Divination and
Computer Science: A Case study of African
Tradition (http://soraker.com/IA-
CAP/programs/ecap04.pdf) Accessed 20
September, 2013
[11] Toyin Adepoju (2009) Ifa Divination and van
Gogh
(http://reconfigurations.blogspot.com/2009/11/to
yin-adepoju-ifa-divination-van-gogh.html)
[12] Traditional African Religion From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_African
_religion) Accessed 18 September, 2013
[13] Yemi Ogunsola (2012) Simplifying Yoruba
Number System
(http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/art/arts/7945
6-simplifying-yoruba-number-system) Accessed
19 September, 2013
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A Comparative Study of Ifa Divination and

Article · November 2013

Femi O Alamu Halleluyah Aworinde

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ALAMU F.O. AWORINDE H.O. ISHARUFE, W. I

Figure 3: A Use case Diagram showing the basic steps

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