The Origin of Ifá: Meaning, Myths, History, and the Oracle of Orunmilá

A Living Tradition

Some traditions are like ancestral seeds: they sprout in the invisible and bloom at the right time. Ifá is one of them. For those seeking answers, direction, or simply a deeper understanding of themselves, Ifá is much more than a spiritual practice — it is a system of wisdom, a philosophy of life, a living oracle, a profound tradition that weaves through myths and history.

But after all, where does Ifá come from? What does this millenary tradition truly mean, a tradition in which, according to all Yoruba myths, everything begins with a consultation to the oracle?

Let us walk together on this path between heaven and earth, where the sacred manifests in words, in sand, and in the silence of the cowries and ikin.

What Is Ifá? Origin, Meaning, and Consultation to the Oracle of Orunmilá

Ifá is the name of a millenary spiritual tradition born among the Yoruba people, in what is now southwestern Nigeria and surrounding regions. But Ifá is also the name of the sacred oracle used in the Ifá divination— a complex divinatory system based on signs called Odù — and, at the same time, it is one of the names used to refer to the deity Orunmilá, the Orisha of wisdom and divination.

Orunmilá, also called Ifá, is the central deity of this tradition who holds deep knowledge of human destiny. He witnessed the creation of the world alongside Olódùmarè, the Supreme God, and for that reason, he knows the secrets of time, destiny, and existence. He is also known as Elérìí Ipin (Witness of Divine Design), and his praise name is Akéréfinúsegbon — “the small one whose mind is full of wisdom.”

Through him, the Babaláwo — priests and interpreters of the oracle — reveal the possible paths to be followed. Nothing, absolutely nothing in the Ifá tradition happens without listening to the oracle. It is the bridge between the visible world (ayé) and the invisible world (òrun), between past and future, between desire and destiny.

The Mythological Origin of Ifá: When the Earth Was Water and the Oracle Was Orunmilá Himself

According to an adapted version of Yoruba myths, Olódùmarè sent 401 Ìrunmọlè — primordial divinities — from heaven (òrùn) to populate the Earth (ayé), each with a specific mission. Among these Ìrunmọlè were the Orishas: Ogún was responsible for war and iron, Obatalá for the creation of human beings, Eshu for communication and the ashé — the vital force of the universe. Orunmilá, for his wisdom, was entrusted with divination.

These divine beings descended into the sacred city of Ilé Ifé at a time when the Earth was only water. To make the world habitable, they brought a calabash of sand, a five-toed hen, and a chameleon. The hen scattered the sand, forming solid ground; the chameleon walked upon it to test its firmness. Satisfied, the Orishas descended and settled there, becoming the first inhabitants of the world.

Over time, a lineage of divine leaders emerged. Olódùmarè, with the help of Oxalá, also created human beings. Among the most prominent leaders was Odùduwà, considered the mythical ancestor of the Yoruba. His descendants became the most influential, founding dynasties that would rule powerful kingdoms such as the Oyo Empire.

Orunmilá, in turn, lived in Òkè Igèti, where he had eight sons and passed on to them the secrets of divination. Later, he moved to Adó, a place that is still known today as "the house of Ifá" — Adó nilé Ifá.

It is said that during a celebration, his sons came to greet him with the words àború, àboyè, àbọṣíṣe (may the sacrifices be accepted and bring blessings). All repeated the greeting except the youngest, Olówò, who refused because he considered himself a king just like his father. Offended, Orunmilá decided to return to òrun.

His departure plunged the Earth into chaos, according to the poem:

Aboyún ò bí mó Àgàn ò tọ́wọ́ àlà bosùn. Òkùnrin ò dìde. Akeremọdòó wẹ̀wù ìrawẹ́. Àtò gbẹ́ mọ́ ọmọkùnrin ní ìdí; Obìnrin ò rí àṣẹ́ rẹ mọ́. Ìṣú peyin ò ta; Àgbàdò tàpé ò gbọ́; Erèé yọjú òpọlọ́. Òjò páàpààpàá kán sílẹ̀, Adìẹ̀ ṣà á mí. A pọ́n ọ̀bẹ̀ sílẹ̀,Ewúré mú un jẹ.

Pregnant women could not give birth; The barren remained childless. Small rivers were covered with leaves. Men’s semen dried up. Women no longer menstruated. Yams sprouted weakly; Corn failed to develop. Rain fell in scattered drops that chickens tried to peck at. Sharp razors lay on the ground, and goats tried to eat them.

Life lost its cycle, and the Earth nearly collapsed. Regretful, Orunmilá’s sons went to òrun to beg for his return. They found him beneath a palm tree with sixteen hut-like heads — a symbolic image of the structure and wisdom of the oracle. But Orunmilá refused to return to Earth. Instead, he handed each of his children sixteen ikin — sacred palm nuts — and told them:

Bẹ́ ẹ bá délé, Bẹ́ ẹ bá fówóó ní, Èni tée mọọ bi nù un. Bẹ́ ẹ bá délé, Bẹ́ ẹ bá fáyaá ní, Èni tée mọọ bi nù un. Bẹ́ ẹ bá délé, Bẹ́ ẹ bá fómọ́ bí, Èni tée mọọ bi nù un. Ire gbogbo tée bá fẹ́ẹ́ ní láyé, Èni tée mọọ bi nù un.

When you return home, if you want wealth, consult the one who knows. If you want wives, consult the one who knows. If you want children, consult the one who knows. All the good things you desire in life, consult the one who knows.

Since then, the ikin — sacred palm nuts — have become the central instruments of the consultation to Ifá. Orunmilá, though absent in body, remains present in spirit through the oracle. With each Odù revealed, his wisdom continues to guide humanity.

The Historical Origins of Ifá: Between Myth and Migration

Ancient accounts — such as those recorded in The History of the Yorubas and in the writings of Sultan Bello of Sokoto — point to a possible eastern origin of the Yorùbá people. Many believe they came from the region between Egypt and Arabia, driven out by religious persecution.

Tradition tells that Prince Odùduwà, son of King Lamurudu (possibly a version of Nimrod), was exiled for turning to spiritual practices that did not follow the dominant religion. With his followers and sacred icons, he traveled for ninety days until reaching Ilé Ifé, where he met Agbónnìrègún (also called Setilu) and founded the lineage of the Yorùbá kings. Some scholars see echoes of the Christian or Coptic Egyptian diaspora in this narrative.

Another complementary version also mentions Setilu as a blind sage from the Nupe people, whose mastery of the art of divination aroused the envy of local Muslims. Expelled, Setilu traveled to Ilé Ifé, where he was welcomed by Odùduwà and established the cult of Ifá, which was consolidated as a sacred system of destiny guidance.

Some scholars also point to possible influences from Arabic divinatory systems, such as khatt al-raml, a form of geomancy (or “sand cutting”) practiced among Muslim mystics. The similarities in methods suggest deep cultural exchanges that enriched the formation of the Ifá oracle.

The stone sculptures found in Ilé Ifé, with distinctly Egyptian or Phoenician features, reinforce the theory of an origin connected to the Nile Valley. Oral tradition, in turn, preserves names, symbols, and gestures that point to this ancestral bond with the East and the major migratory flows of African history.

The Oracle as the Center of Tradition: Everything Revolves Around the Divined Word

Whether in mythology, history, or daily life, nothing happens without the oracle. Ifá is the compass that guides kings and farmers, priests and families. Each consultation is a reunion with Orunmilá, a mirror of destiny, and an opportunity to realign with one's essence.

The Odù, the sacred signs of the oracle that emerge in the game with ikin — sacred palm kernels — or with the ọ̀pẹ̀lẹ̀ — a divination chain used for quicker readings — tell stories, offer advice, warn, and open up possibilities. They are paths of destiny told through sacred poetry, where each verse carries echoes of ancestral wisdom.

The Ifá Divination is a sacred and transformative moment that reveals the paths of the present and guides the future with ancestral wisdom. By interpreting the Odù, the oracle expresses the true meaning of Ifá: not merely to predict, but to guide decisions, clarify doubts, and strengthen choices. It is a way to navigate life’s crossroads with wisdom, ethics, and balance, honoring both destiny and the freedom of choice.

The Timelessness of a Myth: The Origin of Ifá as a Living Philosophy

Before we conclude, it is worth pausing to reflect on how the myth of Ifá still resonates today. More than an ancestral narrative, it unveils deep metaphors about the human condition.

In this context, Orunmilá represents awakened consciousness — the one who, by witnessing creation, became the guardian of wisdom and deep listening. His departure symbolizes humanity’s distancing from its own inner wisdom — and the chaos that ensues when we stop listening to our intuition and fall out of sync with the natural rhythm of life.

The ikin given to his children can be seen as archetypes of spiritual autonomy. He does not return, but leaves behind the tools to find the answers within ourselves. Ifá, in this way, becomes a philosophy of personal responsibility and conscious choice, where each consultation reveals not only guidance, but also a mirror.

The Ifá divination, then, is not about a fixed fate, but about the art of interpreting present signs — and shaping with them the possible paths of the future. It is an exercise in awareness, ethics, and presence. A reminder that wisdom, even ancient, remains alive when consciously applied to the present moment.

Conclusion: The Living Legacy of Ifá

Ifá is mythology, history, and practice. It is an ancestral worldview and a tool for personal transformation. It is also a constant invitation: listen, ask, transform.

At the heart of the Yoruba tradition, the oracle remains alive — not only as a spiritual tool, but as a cultural heritage and a guide for those who seek to live with greater awareness and purpose.

Orunmilá may have returned to òrun, but his sacred seeds still whisper answers to those who dare to ask.

Feel free to leave your thoughts or questions in the comments about the origin of Ifá and the wisdom of Orunmilá.

May Ifá inspire you, guide you, and connect you with the best of your possible paths.

Ashé!

Sources and References:

• Abimbola, Wande. Ifá Divination Poetry.

• De Mattos Frisvold, Nicholaj. Ifá: A Forest of Mystery.

• Johnson, Samuel. The History of the Yorubas: From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the British Protectorate

• Osamaro, Cromwell. A Obra Completa de Ọ̀rúnmìlà – A Sabedoria Divina.

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