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Awo Yoruba A B
Awo Yoruba A B
THE LANGUAGE OF IF
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
USED IN IF DIVINATION
Introduction
In order to understand the oral tradition of Ifa it is necessary to
have some grasp of the language of Ifa.
resonance used to access the power of Spirit. Physics teaches the idea
that all power in the universe is part of a sign wave which is the full
spectrum of light.
color and pitch.
liturgical Yoruba is that the words used for invocation also carry
meaning that reveals the inner essense of the Spiritual Force itself.
For example, the word Obatala is used to describe the Force in
Nature science calls white light.
universe has some form of consciousness (ori). Saying the word Obatala
places human consciousness in alighnment with the consciousness of
white light. It does while telling us something about the quality of white
light. The word Obatala is an eliysian of the phrase; O (Spirit) ba (power
of expansion or male energy ie; Baba) ota (stone) ala (light). The word
Obatala in the context of Odu Ifa (Yoruba Scripture) means; the Spirit of
the expansive quality of light that comes from the eternal stone of
Creation (center point of the universe).
Olatunde Sproye in his book Yoruba without Tears states there are
one hundred and twenty-six combinations of vowels and consonants
used as the basis for the Yoruba Language.
ba be be bi bo bo bu da de de di do do du fa fe fe fi fo
fo fu ga ge ge gi go go gu gba gbe gbe gbi gbo gbo gbu
ha he he hi ho ho hu ja je je ji jo jo ju ka ke ke ki ko ko
ku la le le li lo lo lu ma me me mi mo mo mo mu na ne
ne ni no no nu pa pe pe pi po po pu ra re re ri ro ro ru
sa se se si so so su ta te te ti to to tu wa we we wi wo
wo wu ya ye ye yi yo yo yu
hundred and fifty six fundamental principles. The first four principles
represent the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. These four principles
support the rest of Creation.
through the manifestation of two hundred and fifty two Forces in Nature.
This suggests to me the foundation of Yoruba language has been linked
to Odu Ifa from its inception.
The first Yoruba English dictionaries were prepared by Christian
missionaries who had no understanding or desire to learn the spiritual
mysteries preserved in the Yoruba language. When Ifa and Orisa spread
through the Diaspora it was influenced by non African religions
concepts. I believe the best way to uncover the fundamental principles of
Ifa as it was originally invisioned is through a study of the liturgical
language.
When I wrote the book Iwa-pele I looked up the word Ifayabale in
the Yoruba English dictionary in an effort to better understand a
metaphysical concept.
Ase o
Awo Falokun Fatunmbi
A
a Him, her, we and it, depending on context.
a Used as a prefix to a verb in the formation of nouns.
b Half.
fin Palace, home of a king (Oba).
j Whirlwind, the Spirit of the Whirlwind, depending on context.
j Care, treatment.
k Ax.
l Boundary, border.
r Illness, fatigue.
rn Middle, center.
as Female Spirit, female Force in Nature.
s Door carved from the Iroko tree.
yn - awo - in - igb Praise name for the Spirit of Destiny
(rnml), meaning: "Ayan Tree is the Mystery of the Inner Sanctum of
the Sacred Grove."
y Life.
ab A portion, a piece of something larger, farm hut depending on
context.
ab Mat. The mat is used to create sacred space in If and rs ritual
and divination.
ba Ladder. The ladder is sacred to the Spirit of the Divine Messenger
(s)
b Or.
abigba Four chains with nuts attached, used in some regions of Nigeria
to perform divination. Each chain has four nuts representing one leg of
the marks used to represent the verses (Od) of If scripture. When the
abigba is thrown two complete verses (Od) of If scripture are marked.
Abkehin The youngest child in a family.
bku A child who dies at a young age and reincarnates through the
same mother. The word refers to the spiritual cause behind a sequence
of deaths among children in the same family. When this occurs, If can
perform rituals that will induce the spirit of the child to remain on Earth
to become an adult.
abilko Wife or widow.
abo Female.
abo Arrival, return.
bo Expression used to greet someone who has returned to the place of
their departure.
Abgn Those who worship the ant hill, the ant hill represents the
Spirit of hard work and cooperation.
Abgn Those who worship the Spirit of Iron (gn).
abkul One who works with the spirit of ancestors (Egn) to invoke
transformation.
Abomal Those who worship the ancestors and the deified ancestors
(Egngn).
Abpa Member of a society that gives reverence to the memory of the
ancestors through the use of mediums.
Abrs Those who worship Forces in Nature (rs).
aboyn Woman who is pregnant.
abor The elevation of consciousness through the use of invocation and
spiritual cleansing. It is the process of placing the physical self and the
higher self in perfect alignment.
afri Barber, the person who shaves the head of an initiate during
religious rites of passage. The word is also used to refer to the person
who has had their head shaved.
afr Thing that disappears, a Spirit that vanishes.
Afefe A messenger of the Spirit of the Wind (Oya), the gale wind.
Afefe - jeje The whirlwind, the sacred power of the Spirit of the Wind
(Oya) in its most intense manifestation.
afe - imojo The tail of a large rat that is used by Yorb Kings as a
symbol of their power of the word.
afmju The early morning, one of the times considered sacred for
picking herbs.
Aferef e Praise name for the Spirit of the Wind (Oya), the gentle aspect
of the wind, the breeze, meaning: "The Good Wind."
Afrif lglg Praise name for the Spirit of the Wind (Oya) , meaning:
"Mysterious Wind."
fsn Engaged to be married, committed to a relationship.
afi Unless.
afi - bi Unless.
fn Albino, protected by the Spirit of the King of White Cloth
(Obtl).
fojb Personal experience, personal truth.
afj Blind person, protected by the Spirit of the King of White Cloth
(Obtl).
fom Infectious disease, that which is brought by the Spirit of
Infectious Disease (Babaluaiy).
Afon Breadfruit (Treculia africana ), sacred to If.
fonfoj Valley.
aforj Forgiveness, also refers to a type of prayer used in If for asking
Spirit to forgive the need to make a blood offering.
Agbami The mist that arises from the ocean, an aspect of the Spirit of
the Ocean (Olkun).
agbra Force, power, strength depending on context.
agbas Sacred stone, the Spirit of a sacred stone.
Agbra Elder, person in authority, the word is also used to express
power, spiritual
strength and authority, used in reference to someone who speaks with
authority, depending on context.
gbgb Surrounding district, outer portion of a village.
agbgb Hen.
agbledi One of the wrestling moves used in the marital art that is
sacred to the Spirit of Iron (gn).
gbere Intercourse, sexual interaction.
agbr Charm used by those who practice the martial art of the Spirit of
Iron (gn), used to insure that the person remains standing during a
martial arts contest.
gb Short sword sacred to the Spirit of Iron (gn), farmer depending
on context.
agbje Pumpkin, sacred to the Spirit of the River (Osun).
agbe Woodcock, cockatoo.
agbgilre Woodcarver, a profession that is generally sacred to the
Spirit of Lightning (Sng).
gbgb Elemental spirit of the Forest that is know for causing trouble.
agbo Medicine, poultice.
gb Ram, sacred to the Spirit of Lightning (Sng).
agbo A circle of dancers at a religious ceremony.
agb at Long life, a common greeting among If initiates.
agogo - eiye The beak of a bird, sacred to the Spirit of the Mothers
(ymi).
Agongo ogo Praise name for the Divine Messenger (s), meaning: "He
Who Carries a Club."
guala The planet Venus, sacred to the Spirit of the River (Osun). It is
also known as the companion of the Moon or the dog of the Moon. The
Spirit of Venus.
Agunmola The planet Venus, sacred to the Spirit of the River (Osun). It
is also known as the companion of the Moon or the dog of the Moon. The
Spirit of Venus.
Agnmu Medicine that is prepared by pounding it into a powder with a
mortar and
pestle.
gtn Sheep.
ahere Farm hut.
ahun Miser.
aibi One who has no children, a form of bad fortune in If divination.
aifoya Being without fear, courage.
aigbo - iy Tranquility, being at peace in the world, the sign of one
who has developed inner certainty.
ike Ax, the double headed ax is sacred to the the Spirit of Lightning
(Sng).
aik Immortality, one who has become a deified ancestor, meaning:
"never die."
ilbku Spotless, being without blame, a reference to the good
character of the Spirit of the King of White Cloth (Obtl).
iliy Coward.
ilso Barren, without children, one of the forms of bad fortune in If
divination.
aile Evening.
jnde The Spirit of a deceased ancestor (Egn) who speaks at their own
funeral through a medium (Egngn).
js Charms used for protection.
jo Meeting, gathering of a group of people.
j Journey, used in reference to the spiritual journey of self discovery
that occurs throughout life.
ajobi Ancestors of a woman, matralineal ancestors (Aylal Egn).
Ajogn Destructive Spirits that bring death, disease and poverty.
These Spirits are
generally associated with the Spirit of the Divine Messenger (s) and
are considered an aspect of the balancing dynamic that occurs in Nature.
ajoj Dancing for the Spirits (Ors).
j l'ay Journey through the world, the entire spectrum of a person's
personal experience.
ajomisanra The eternal dew, a symbolic reference to the fountain of life
or the spiritual source of physical rejuvenation.
Aj ori The Spirit of the daughter of the Spirit of Lightning (Sng),
meaning: "Bird of the Inner Spirit."
jo sep Cooperation.
ajoyin - ibon The firing of muskets, traditionally muskets are fired
while making offerings to the Spirit of Iron (gn).
ajugu dunirn A pile of iron in or near a shrine used as an altar for the
Spirit of Iron (gn).
akb Ladder. The ladder is sacred to the Spirit of the Divine
Messenger (s).
kala Vulture, sacred to the Spirit of the River (Osun).
kar Bread cakes cooked in palm oil, sacred to the Spirit of the
Ancestors (Egn).
ktnp Hunter's tool, sacred to the Spirit of Iron (gn).
k Ax, sacred to the Spirit of the Farm (Ors Oko), the double headed
ax is sacred to the Spirit of Lightning (Sng).8888
kbj Over indulgent behavior, one of the sources of bad fortune in If
divination.
A - k - b - l Praise name for the Spirit of the King of White Cloth
(Obtl), meaning, "Radiant White."
akere Frog.
akese Cotton. Cotton is sacred to the Spirit of the King of White Cloth
(Obtl).
aki Bravery, also the word for refering to the martial art practiced by
the devotees of the Spirit of Iron (gn).
akika Pangolin plant (Uromanis Longicanda
Briss
).
Akiko Cock, male chicken. Male chickens are sacred to the Spirit of
most Warriors (Ibora).
akin Hero, heroic person and heroic action.
ako Sheath of a knife. The sheath of a knife is used as an offering to the
Spirit of Destiny (rnml). The word also means male.
kb First born.
Akd One of the Prophet rnml's first two students, term also
used to identify a senior priest in a society of diviners.
akja Fulfillment, the purpose of following one's destiny.
kk Season of the year.
kk - rn Dry season.
kk - ojo Rainy season.
kk - ott Cold season.
kk - oy Windy season.
akokoro Toothache.
apeja Fisherman.
apiwo Cure for negative medicine, or for the removal of a hex.
p Bag often refers to bag used to carry medicine and tools associated
with ritual work, also refers to charms carried by worshippers of the
Spirit of Iron (gn).
ap Quiver, sacred to the Spirit of the Tracker (ss).
po'gn Medicine pouch.
po onsgn Medicine pouch.
pt Box.
ara Body, self, people, depending on context.
ara - ile Friends and relatives, members of the extended family.
ar Thunder, sacred to the Spirit of Lightning (Sng) and the Spirit of
the Wind (Oya).
rb A senior If priest who is initiated into Mysteries that are
associated with protection from the Spirit of Infectious Disease
(Babaluaiy).
arbnrin Sister.
araiye People of the Earth.
arknrin Brother.
rn If drum.
rwa North, also refers to the Spirits of the North.
ariye The people of the world.
ar Play, the performance of a scared story.
arewa Beauty.
arigogo Hook.
wny rs Praise name for the Spirit of Iron (gn), meaning: "The
enraged Spirit."
wj Top of the head, refers to the power center at the crown of the
skull.
awuje Butter beans (Phaseolus lunatus )
wjo Meeting, gathering.
awun Miser.
awure Unassuming.
aya Wife.
Ayaba The wife of the queen.
yn Tree sacred to the Spirit of Lightning (Sng).
ayani explanation.
ynm Destiny, the If belief that each person comes to the world
having an agreement
with Creation regarding the fate that is to be experienced during a given
life time.
ynm - pn Destiny, the If belief that each person comes to the
World having an agreement with Creation regarding the fate which is to
be experienced during a given life time.
Aynrbt - awo - l - oj Praise name for the Divine Messenger (s),
aye Room.
ay World.
Aylal The collective Spirit of Ancestral Mothers.
ayebo Hen.
ayo Joy.