Cowrie Shell Divination: Origins, Myths, History, and its Connection to Afro-Brazilian Traditions

Voices Echoing Through Shells

Some see shells and think of the sea. We, who walk the paths of ancestry, see portals. Small, shiny, silent on the outside, but filled with voices within. Cowrie shell divination, or the Jogo de Búzios, is a sacred channel between worlds: more than an oracle, it is a tool that connects lives and mysteries, past and present, the material and the spiritual.

Born from the heart of Yoruba culture under the name Ẹẹ́rìndínlógún — meaning "four short of twenty" — and nurtured with faith in Brazil as Mèrìndílógún, the Jogo de Búzios flourished as a guide within Afro-Brazilian religions. Whether in a terreiros reading or through an online cowrie shell consultation, this oracle continues to whisper ancestral truths to those open to listening.

Mythological Origins of the Cowrie Shell Oracle

According to tradition, the cowrie shell oracle was born from a dispute between male and female forces in Òrún, the spiritual world. The male Orishas sought to contain the power of the Yabás, the female Orishas. In response, the Yabás asserted their influence over the cosmic balance.

From this tension came sacred agreements: Nanã began to share dominion over the ancestors with Obatalá; Yemanjá received from Obatalá the power over the Ori — human destinies; and Ossaim distributed his sacred leaves to all the Orishas.

Among them, it was Oshun, goddess of love and fertility, who dared to go further. Multiple myths — or Itan — explain how she came to master the cowrie shell oracle.

In one version, Oshun asks Orunmila to teach her the secrets of divination. Enchanted by her beauty and generosity, he agrees — on the condition that she become his wife. Their pact sealed, Orunmila creates the oracle of sixteen cowries for her. Eshu, however, demands a system of his own — thus the four-shell oracle is born. From this symbolic alliance, the oracle we know today emerges.

Another Itan portrays Oshun using wit and magic to learn from Eshu. She blinds him temporarily with a magical powder and, pretending to help him, recites the names of the Odùs as she hands him the shells — memorizing each one until she masters the entire system. Impressed, Ifá recognizes her wisdom and grants her the power of divination. In some versions, Oshun serves Eshu for seven years, deepening their spiritual bond.

There is also a tale in which Yemanjá, seeking balance, gifts Omolu with cowrie shells. With few possessions of his own, Omolu transforms the shells into a sacred instrument of power, using them in rituals and divination.

From then on, Oshun became the lady of the Mèrìndílógún, Exu the messenger between worlds, Orunmila the source of wisdom, and Omolu — who received the shells from Yemanjá — also became a voice within the oracle.

Historical Roots and the Diaspora

The Jogo de Búzios originated in ancient Yoruba divination practices, traditionally known as èrìndìnlógún. While in Nigeria it holds a secondary role compared to the Ifá Oracle, in the Americas — especially in Brazil and Cuba — it became central.

During the forced diaspora between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Yoruba people brought not only pain but also their gods, songs, sacred leaves, and oracles. On Brazilian soil, the Jogo de Búzios took root as the primary system of divination in Candomblé, guiding decisions, rituals, and religious life.

Several traditional houses, like Axé Opô Afonjá, helped systematize the practice. Figures such as Bamboxê Obitikô and Ìyá Nassó left their mark on the methods still passed down in terreiros today.

More than a tool, the Jogo de Búzios is a symbol of resistance and adaptation. It survived religious persecution, disguised itself through Catholic saints, and endures as a living expression of African ancestry reimagined in Brazil.

Cowrie Shell Divination and the Ifá Path

The Jogo de Búzios and the Ifá Oracle share spiritual roots but follow distinct paths. Both operate through the Odùs, yet with notable differences: Ifá is structured around 256 Odùs, offering extensive and profound insight into one’s destiny, while the Jogo de Búzios uses 16 principal Odùs, delivering more direct and present-oriented answers.

In Ifá, messages are interpreted through complex symbolic narratives guided by Orunmila. The Orishas speak indirectly, through signs and stories revealed in the consultation. In contrast, in the Jogo de Búzios, the Orishas speak immediately and clearly, revealing themselves through the fall of the shells.

It’s important to note that the names and interpretations of the Odùs vary between systems. A configuration known as Èjìla Sebora in the cowrie shell oracle might be called Ìwòrì Méjì in Ifá — a sign that, though connected, each system reflects a distinct spiritual worldview.

While Ifá is ideal for deep dives into one’s destiny and life’s greater questions, the Jogo de Búzios shines when addressing urgent and concrete matters. Both oracles can be used for short- and long-term concerns, but each excels in its own realm: Ifá provides broad, structural insight, whereas the cowrie shells highlight the tensions and choices of the present moment. Together, they form complementary ways of listening to the sacred.

A Living Oracle in Brazil

In Candomblé, the Jogo de Búzios is so essential that it is said: “nothing is done without consulting the shells.”Before an initiation, a sacrifice, a ritual obligation, or a celebration, the shells are cast. They determine the person’s guiding Orisha, the taboos to observe, and the offerings to be made.

In Umbanda, while the Jogo de Búzios is not present in all temples, many have adopted it as a tool for spiritual guidance. Through it, practitioners and spiritual guides offer direction on health, relationships, work, and personal development. Though not originally part of Umbanda, the oracle has earned its place and respect across diverse expressions of the tradition.

Today, with the rise of digital technologies, it is also possible to receive an online cowrie shell consultation, with the same seriousness, foundation, and reverence that this sacred practice demands. The internet, when used mindfully, can be a bridge.

Conclusion: When Time Speaks

The Jogo de Búzios is a mirror of the soul, an ancestral compass. It doesn’t dictate the future but reveals the crossroads ahead. It does not judge but advises. It does not impose but guides. When casting the shells, we hear ancient stories told through their voices — stories that resonate with our present dilemmas.

May we continue listening to these voices with care, respect, and an open heart. Because, in the end, the cowrie shells do not speak only of religion — they speak of life.

If this text resonated with your path, share your thoughts in the comments. Which myth touched you most? What would you ask in a cowrie shell consultation?

May the shells always bring you wisdom and clarity.

Ashe!

References

• Bascom, William: Sixteen Cowries: Yoruba Divination from Africa to the New World.

• Braga, Júlio: O Jogo de Búzios.

• Fatunmbi, Awo Fálòkun: Mérìndínlógún: Òrìsà Divination Using 16 Cowries: Revised and Extended Edition.

• Plöger, Tilo; De Jagum, Marcos: Os Oráculos de Ifá: A comunicação com os deuses nas tradições do Ifismo Yorubá, Candomblé e Santeria. Kindle Edition.