Ọrunmila

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Ọrunmila

Wisdom, Knowledge, Ifa Divination, Fate, Destiny, Prophecy

Member of Orisha

Other Orunmila or Orunmilá; Orúnla or Orúla or Agbonniregun

names

Venerated Yoruba religion

in

Symbol Ifa divination

Region Nigeria, Benin, Latin America

Ethnic Yoruba

group

Parents Alayeru and Oroko

Ọrunmila (Yoruba Ọ̀rúnmìlà, also Ọrúnla[1] or Orúla in Nigeria and Latin America) is an Orisha. He
is the Orisha of wisdom, knowledge, and divination. This source of knowledge is believed to have a
keen understanding of the human form and of purity, and is therefore praised as often being more
effective than other remedies. [2][3][4]

Contents

 1Historical and literary sources

 2Priesthood and initiation
 3See also
 4References
 5Resources
 Historical and literary sources[edit]
Orunmila is recognized as a primordial Irunmole (an Orisha that has a hand in the creation of the
Universe) that was present both at the beginning of Creation and then again amongst humanity as a
priest that taught an advanced form of spiritual knowledge and ethics during visits to earth in
physical form or through his disciples. Orunmila is the spirit of wisdom among the Irunmole and the
divinity of destiny and prophecy. He is praise named "Igbakeji Olodumare" (second in command
to Olodumare) and "eleri ipin" (witness of fate). It was also Orunmila who carried Ifá (the wisdom of
Olodumare) to Earth.[3] Priests of Ifá are known as babalawos and Priestesses of Ifá are known
as iyanifas.[4]
Orunmila is considered a sage, recognizing that Olodumare placed Ori (intuitive knowledge) in him
as a prime Orisha. It is Ori who can intercede and affect the reality of a person much more than any
other Orisha.[2][3][4]

Priesthood and initiation[edit]

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.[2][5][6]
Some initiatory lineages have only male priests of Orunmila, while other lineages include female
priestesses. The term "Awo" 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 Latin
America and some areas of West Africa, 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.[7]
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 Olodumaresupports. Of great importance to this is the
theme of righteousness and practicing good moral behavior.[8]

See also[edit]
 Ifá

 Traditional African religion portal

References[edit]
1. ^ Bascom, William (1991). Ifa Divination: Communication Between Gods and Men in West Africa.
Indiana University Press. p. ix. ISBN 9780253206381. Retrieved 1 April 2019. Qrunmila is another
name for Ifa, the deity
2. ^ Jump up to:a b c William R. Bascom: Ifa Divination: Communication Between Gods and Men in West
Africa ISBN 0-253-20638-3
3. ^ Jump up to:a b c Chief FAMA Fundamentals of the Yoruba Religion (Orisa Worship) ISBN 0-9714949-
0-8
4. ^ Jump up to:a b c Chief FAMA Practitioners' Handbook for the Ifa Professional ISBN 0-9714949-3-2
5. ^ Adeoye, C. L. (1989). Ìgbàgbọ́ àti ẹ̀sìn Yorùba (in Yoruba). Ibadan: Evans Bros. Nigeria Publishers.
pp. 285–302. ISBN 9781675098
6. ^ Bàbálàwó Ifatunwase Tratados Enciclopédicos de Ifá (Colección Alafundé), ISBN 978-0-9810387-
04
 7. ^ Abimbola, Kola (2005). Yoruba Culture: A Philosophical Account (Paperback ed.). Iroko Academics
Publishers. ISBN 1-905388-00-4.
8. ^ Ifaloju , Iwòrì Méjì: Ifá speaks on Righteousness, (an extract from S.S. Popoola, Ifa Dida, Library,
INC) 2011

Resources[edit]
 Chief S. Solagbade Popoola & Fakunle Oyesanya, Ikunle Abiyamo: The ASE of Motherhood
2007. ISBN 978-0-9810013-0-2
 Chief S. Solagbade Popoola Library, INC Ifa Dida Volume One (EjiOgbe - Orangun
Meji) ISBN 978-0-9810013-1-9
 Chief S. Solagbade Popoola Library, INC Ifa Dida Volume Two (OgbeYeku -
OgbeFun) ISBN 978-1-926538-12-9
 Chief S. Solagbade Popoola Library, INC Ifa Dida Volume Three (OyekuOgbe -
OyekuFun) ISBN 978-1-926538-24-2
 James J. Kulevich, "The Odu of Lucumi: Information on all 256 Odu Ifa"
 Ayele Fa'seguntunde' Kumari, Iyanifa:Women of Wisdom ISBN 978-1500492892