The socio-political thoughts of Orunmila in the Ifa Indigenous Knowledge System home and in diaspora

Abstract

Abstract

This project engages in a relational study of the Ifa Indigenous knowledge system as practised amongst the Yoruba-African people home and diaspora in Nigeria, Benin and Brazil; targeting thoughts about the state, governance system, constitution, justice, equality, equity, citizenship, nationalism, environment, gender, sexuality, global justice and other central socio-political discourses that derive therefrom. This is considered a potential foundation for new theoretical and methodological heritages that are based on African epistemological and metaphysical axioms which, in practical terms, can augment efforts towards addressing the ever-complex socio-political challenges across the globe. Ifa is the intellectual heritage of Orunmila that is organised into 256 oral-symbolic signatures (odu). Odu rendition is usually poetic with accompanying stories, songs, proverbs and liturgies; each representing a basket of knowledge derived from lived experiences Modefi and Ama 2009. Babalawo and iyanifa are the schooled Ifa cognoscenti cum intelligentsia. Their training and experience can enable them identify and analyse the 256 odu into interpretative (not intuitive) divination. This aspect is based on faith and spirituality, and can also – as has been – projected as religion. The socio-political thoughts that derive from the 256 odu Ifa are the focus of this project. As the intellectual heritage of Orunmila, Ifa has endured as part of state cum community executive, legislative and judicial institutions right from the outset of Yoruba civilization. The Oluwo (head of Ifa literati) is involved in all state and community political processes including king-making, wars, epidemics, pandemics, conflicts, diplomacy and constitution. Oluwo relies solely on Orunmila’s thoughts and theories in the 256 odu to analyse issues and guide decision making during all of the processes. As evident in its spread around the world, Ifa is learnt without any special gift and, or intuitive power. It is open to male and female, young and old irrespective of tribes, races and tongues.