Click on the Vedio above to Watch and Download Video:- New Future – My Story
IFA DIVINATION TOOLS/IMPLEMENT AND THEIR USES BY BABALAWO OBANIFA-Obanifa extreme documentaries vol 2
OPON IFA
Many people have Opon Ifa and they don’t even known the use of it to the fullest, its spiritual
significance and how to harness it will
be the focus of Babalawo Obanifa this work.
What is Opon Ifa?
In Yoruba land, Opon is a word that is used to describe
any type of flat carve wooden work. When we are talking about Opon Ifa ,where
are talking about any flat carved wooden work that serve as an Ifa
paraphernalia, when I said wood work
here, I am not just talking of any wood work. The thought of our forefather is
that genuine Opon Ifa should be carved from Iroko tree. The believes is that
Opon Ifa carved from Iroko tree will aid quick acceptance of ebo because of the
spirit guide behind Iroko tree. This does not mean other trees could not be
used to carved Opon Ifa ,but we must state it clear here for practicing
Babalawo of this generation and future that Iroko tree is the tree to use to
make Opon Ifa . The popular term for Opon Ifa this day by Ifa devotes is to
refer to it as Ifa divination tray. Opon Ifa
is usually embellished with different artistic work such as Esu image,
Opele Image,Crocordile image and lizard Image
etc. The Esu image is very important on Opon Ifa , because it is only
Esu image that have significance on Opon Ifa , as other artistic image
embellished on it aparts from the Esu Image have no spiritual significance, it
is just for aesthetic value. The writers of Wikipedia are wrong when they
document on their website and says that ‘ the artistic and embellished nature of the tray as they are meant to
praise and acknowledge the noble work of the Babalawo’. With due respect they
are wrong. The most important artistic image needed on Opon Ifa is just the Esu
Image at the top central of the tray. All other artistic image can be dispense
with, as it is of no use than adding more aesthetic value to the Opon Ifa.
The Making of Opon Ifa
Opon Ifa is usually
carved out of any hard wood that have durability feature. The people before us
make it clear that Iroko tree is the spiritually recognize tree for carving
Opon Ifa. There other school of thoughts, that Igi Omon(Omon tree) and Iroko
can be used. Babalawo Obanifa choose to aligned his thought with the first
position as I usually make my Opon Ifa from Iroko tree, I can attest to the
efficacy of Opon Ifa of such nature. Anybody can make Opon Ifa so far you have
the knowledge of wood carving. But for sake of professionalism Opon Ifa is
usually make by people who we traditionally refer to as Agbegilere(wood
carver). Wood carvers are people who work with chisels and other carving
implements to make image out of wood. The Awo can order for Opon Ifa of any
size. I have read many works where I see authors and writers given description
of size, dimension, diameter, meter of what an Opon Ifa should look like. With
due respect to those people with such opinions ,they are all wrong. Nobody can
give precise general acceptable standard of what Opon Ifa should look like. In fact,
the size of Opon Ifa whether it is big or small is immaterial. The only
standard that our forefather do set for the Agbegilere(wood caver )in the day
of the old is that Opon Ifa must be able have space that can accommodate two
Odu Ifa at once, though we do have the Opon Ifa that can accommodate more than
two or three Odu Ifa at once. when the Odu is imprinted on it. Apart from this
criteria Opon Ifa can be of any size from mini ,small ,medium and big sizes.
The Size is immaterial as they all perform same function irrespective of the
size. The carver are very smart to put different artistic designs on the Opon
Ifa to increase the market value of it and make it attractive to the intending
Awo who want to buy. It is instructive to note that these artistic feature is
of no spiritual value except the head Of Esu I mage which is usually at the
front center of the Opon Ifa. The traditional Agbegilere(wood carver) learned
from the Babalawo the essential part of what will make Opon Ifa a valid Ifa
Spiritual paraphernalia. A good Ifa tray must have this features: Iwaju Opon
(the front of opon) thi s the center where the carver will carved the Esu
Image, Ese Opon( bottom base/feet of the opon) this the bottom that usually
have no design and if it have at it will not be Esu image if the carver is a
spiritually inclined carver, because Ese Opon must be made in such a way that
it will be easy for the user to distinguish between the head and bottom base of
the opon Ifa. Though many wood carvers out of excessive artistic embellishment
of the Opon do carve Esu Image at the top and bottom base of the Opon Ifa some
do even carve head of Esu Image at the four middle position of the Opon ifa.
This is wrong as this will make it difficult for Babalawo to identify which
position is the front of Opon Ifa on each usage during ebo. The third most
important feature that Opon Ifa must have is Oju Opon /Arin Opon. This is the
most important the face or hollow flat
top of the Opon Ifa. It is usually
plain; this is where Iyerosun Ifa divination powder is normally place during
Ifa consultation or Ebo and etutu.
These three features must be present in Opon Ifa . others can be dispense with.
Reason for Having Head Of Esu Image on Top Of Ifa
Divination Tray
You may have be wondering
while emphasis is made on having Esu image on top center of Opon Ifa. Esu is
one of the Orisa/irunmole in African spirituality. Esu is deemed to be an
intermediary between Aye (earth) and Isalu Orun(heaven). It is a messenger that
carry messages and ebo(ritual and prayers) between Aye and Orun. The
representation of its head on Opon Ifa as explained to me 30 years back by late Baba Arifalo is
that Esu Image is on the Opon mainly to bear the supplications of the Awo and
the prospective client to Olodumare. In African Ifa cosmology Esu is the bearer
of Ebo.
What is Actual Shape of Opon Ifa?
As in the case of the
sizes of Opon Ifa explained earlier there is specific shape for Opon Ifa. Opon
Ifa can be of any shape. It can be in circular form, semi-circular form, square
form, rectangular, triangular form. Any shape so far it have head of Esu image
at the top center of it and have the three features I explained earlier.
Uses of Opon Ifa
Opon Ifa is used for two things .Firstly Opon Ifa is used during Ikin Ifa consultation . The awo will put
Iyerosun on the Opon Ifa and imprint the
symbol dictate by Ikin on the Iyeosun during Ifa consultation. Secondly is that
Opon Ifa is the Ifa paraphernalia to use during ebo.The Awo will imprint the
Odu Ifa Ose -otua on the right hand and
the Odu that come out for the prospective clients on the left hand on the opon
Ifa . while the ebo will be perform accordingly.
Consecration
and maintenance of Opon Ifa
The issue of consecrating
Opon Ifa before use is optional because Opon Ifa can be use without
consecration and same efficacy of usage still obtained. But I do consecrate
mine before usage ,and here is documentation If any practicing Awo want to
consecrate his/hers, it is the same consecration method for Ikin Ifa that you
will use to consecrate Opon Ifa paraphernalia. Get:
Ewe Odudun(leaves of
Kalachoe Creanata)
Ewe rinrin( leaves of
pepperomia pellucida)
Ewe tete( Leaves Of
Amaranthus Hybridus)
Ewe alukerese(Leaves Of
Ipomea Invulucrata)
Ewe Oora( leaves of
Rauvolfia Vomitoria)
Ewe tunpemu(no English
name avalible)
Ewe alugboran(leaves of
Triclisia Subcordata)
Ewe amuwagun(leaves of
Acalyphea Ornata).
This is not the
comprehensive list of all kooko ewe Ifa ( Ifa leaves).But at least If these
aforementioned can be get .it will deem that Opon Ifa can be consecrated with
it with high level of professional competence and accuracy.
All the leaves will be
put in a bowl. You will then pour a lot of schnapps or dry gin in it .water
will be added. You will count the sacred
palm nut (Ikin Ifa to be activated Inside It) 16 by 16 in their numbers depend
on the hands of Ifa you have. You will Pour Iyerosun(Ifa consultations
Powder on the Opon (Ifa divination
tray).You will imprint Odu Ifa Ejiogbe
symbol up to Ofun meji, you will be chanting the Ifa stanza from the odu
on the divination tray, after the recitations of the Odu you will put little
out of the divination powder that you chant to the Ifa stanza into the bowl
containing the leaves and Ikin (sacred palm nut) Though out the Imprinting of
Oju Odu Merindinlogun (The sixteen principal odu Ifa ).
You can chant along with Ifa songs. Space and time will not allow
explanation on that. But you can simply
chant the following Ifa Incantation thus:
Ora mo ra ki n ri se
Mo ra ki n lowo
Mo ra ki n koi le
Mo rayi lowo re na ora mo
ra ki n rise
Amuwagun ko mu iwa temi
gun
Tupemu ki o tun ipin mi
se
Ona gbonran niti
Alugboran
Mo tu Odundu
Mo tu rinrin
Ina ki jo nipa odo
Ki ile mi ko tutu
Te omo si obinrin ninu
Te ire mon mi lowo
Translation:
I have bought this
I should be prosperous
I should build a house
I have bought this from
you
I should have all the
blessing of life
Amuwagun help me strait
my life journey
I have fetch Odundun
I have fetch Rinrin
Tunpemu help refurbish my
destiny
Alugboran always enjoy a
straight path
Fire don’t burn the
stream flowing channel
Odundun leaves is always
fresh and cool
Rinrin leaves is always
fresh and cool
May my home and path be
cool and calm?
Tete should put children
inside my wife womb.
Tete should imprint fortune
into my hand.
After all this prayer has
been said, you can start to kill snail etc. on it and start to use the leaves
to wash the Ikin and remove the Ikin from the water into the plate Or Ajere
Ifa. This is just a synopsis of how washing of Ikin Ifa can be carry out. This
can also be used to wash or consecrate new Opon Ifa that have never been used
before.
The blood of the goat
used during ebo can also be taking to clean Opon ifa.
AJERE IFA
Ajere Ifa is one of the most Important Ifa paraphernalia
that an Ifa practitioners or Babalawo must have and maintain. What is Ajere Ifa? Any
container either wooden, Iron, brass, gold etc. That is carved or mold for the
purpose of carrying, safekeeping and storing of Ikin Ifa (sacred palm nuts) for the purpose of Ifa consultation is known as Ajere Ifa. The Ajere Ifa is referring to any container that contain Ikin
Ifa for purpose of Ifa divination of Ifa
veneration. Ajere Ifa have ritual and aesthetic functions. It perform
ritual function in the sense that Ajere is the container that usually contain
the Ikin merindinlogun (the sixteen cowries ) that are choosing from Opon Ifa(Ifa bowl) and used for Ifa divination
during Ifa consultation. At this stage ,
I must explicate that there are difference between Ajere Ifa and Opon Ifa. Because I have seen that many
practicing Babalawo even here at home in Yoruba land cannot distinguish between
the function of Ajere Ifa and Opon
Ifa. As some usually depict
Ajere Ifa as Opon Ifa. But there is
difference in the two. Opon Ifa is any wooden bowl that that is carved in such a
manner to have like five or more inner segments and compartments. The middles
or center compartment is usually large and big in comparisons to other
compartments. Traditionally in olden days. This center compartments is normally
used to house or store the Ikin of the father or the elder of the family .while
the surrounding little compartments is use to store the Ikin of the children.
This Opon Ifa (Ifa bowl) just describe is different from flat Opon Ifa (Ifa
divination tray) that Iyerosun is normally pour upon during Ifa consultation.
The two are called Opon Ifa but with different function and description. For
example one is bowl and one is tray. So in short in defining or explaining
Ajere Ifa ,It is wrong to attribute the function of Opon Ifa (Ifa bowl) to Ajere
Ifa. In manner which previous writers and even Wikipedia have wrongly given
misleading description of function of Ajere Ifa. In my research in the field I
discover that even some practicing Babalawo as well cannot distinguish between
the two. Talking from my experience in research field. So in short Ajere Ifa
function is mainly to house or store the Ikin merindinlogun(sixteen Ifa sacred palm nuts) that is meant to be use for Ifa
consultation or Ifa divination.
When the Ikin is selected
from Opon Ifa (Ifa divination bowl) it
will be select and put inside Ajere Ifa . It is inside Ajere Ifa that Ibo (consecrated cowries shell for
narrowing Ifa message to yes or no) or consultation fees of the client will be
use to touch the Ikin for making the enquires.
Another function is the beautification and aesthetic value. Ajere Ifa is
usually carved with wood, or even bronze
to have an hollow to plate to house the choosing Ikin for the purpose of Ifa
consultation and human figure or animal
figure. But it is usually human figure ,mostly feminine figure in most cases in
kneeling position using her hand to hold the hollow plates to house the Ikin
for divination.
It must be noted
henceforth that Ajere Ifa is different from Opon Ifa(Ifa bowl). The reader or
student must also have it in mind that when we talk of Opon Ifa In Yoruba Ifa
spirituality. Opon Ifa is in two formats; one is bowl and one is tray. The bowl
is use to house Ikin Ifa in plenty numbers, while the tray is use to imprint
Odu Ifa during Ifa consultation or ebo. But the nomenclature for the two is
known as Opon Ifa.
CONSECRATION OF AJERE IFA
The same process uses in
consecration and annul reactivation of Ikin Ifa is the same process for the
activation of Ajere Ifa. It is the same omi ero that will be use to wash and
consecrate Ajere Ifa. You can read my work title ‘consecration of Ikin Ifa by Babalawo
Obanifa’ to have the knowledge of this.
MAINTENANCE OF AJERE IFA
Maintenance include
physical cleaning of it from dirt and residue of sacrificial items.
Each time an hen or goat
is kill during prayers and ebo . The blood can be used to clean the whole body
of the Ajere. You will put it in the sun to dry and bring it back inside to your
Ile idafa or temple. It will always shine and
glitters.
To be continue, this piece was culled from
Babalawo Obanifa unpublished work, “African Ifa Theology”
Copyright :Babalawo Pele Obasa Obanifa, phone and whatsapp contact
:+2348166343145, location Ile Ife osun state Nigeria.
IMPORTANT NOTICE : As regards the article above, all rights
reserved, no part of this article may be reproduced or duplicated in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying and recording
or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written
permission from the copyright holder and the author Babalawo Obanifa, doing so
is considered unlawful and will attract legal consequence
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.