Clearing Misconceptions About Ifá: Verses, History, and Worship

I address the idea that there are exactly 256 odù with 800 verses each. Some verses recount 19th-century or even 1950s events, suggesting the corpus is far larger than fixed numbers. The true total of verses remains unknown, and historically, only initiated olówó who add teachings are recognized as genuine custodians. I explain that Ifá is first a spiritual language and only secondarily a store of information. Its primary purpose is communication with the divine essence rather than just archiving stories. I challenge the belief that Yoruba spirituality in the Americas began with enslaved people. Free West Africans maintained their traditions, formed communities, and sometimes operated slave ships. Lastly, I emphasize that our orí—our higher self—is the true focus of worship through Ifá.

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