Opón Ifá (Primary Title)
Ifa Divination Tray (Translation)
Unknown (Artist)
A Yoruba priest uses a carved tray like this in the divination process. Prominent among the carvings is the face of the messenger god Èsù (top, center), who always appears on divination trays. Each of the other carved figures signifies an important element in the balance of the Yoruba cosmos. Some of the human figures carry symbols associated with various òrìsàs (deities). Other figures represent abstract ideas, such as leadership, authority, fertility, and protection. Still other elements refereither to spiritual principles or to mythic and historical events in the Yoruba tradition. All of the designs associated with Ifá ritual represent important forces that may influence the relationship between the diviner and the person seeking his guidance.
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Hammer
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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