Ọrunmila
{{Short description|Deity in the Yoruba religion}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Yoruba
| other_names = Orunmila or Orunmilá; Orúnla or Orúla or Agbonniregun
| member_of = Orisha
| image =
| caption =
| deity_of = Wisdom, Knowledge, Ifa Divination, Philosophy, Fate, Destiny, Prophecy, Civilization, Enlightenment, First Babalawo
| venerated_in = Yoruba religion, Umbanda, Candomble, Santeria, Haitian Vodou, Folk Catholicism
| color = White, Yellow, Green
| cult_center = {{Bulleted|Awon Alawo|Oni Ifa}}
| world = Yorubaland
| weapon = Opele
| adherents = {{Bulleted|Babalawo|Iyalawo}}
| gender = Male
| artifacts = * Opon Ifá
| siblings = Ọsanyìn
| region = Nigeria, Benin, Latin America
| ethnic_group = Yoruba
| symbol = {{Unbulleted|Cowries|Seeds|Kolanut|Odu Ifa Symbol}}
| parents = Alayeru and Oroko
}}
{{Yoruba people}}
Ọrunmila ({{Langx|yo|Ọ̀rúnmìlà}}, also Ọrúnla{{cite book |last1=Bascom |first1=William |title=Ifa Divination: Communication Between Gods and Men in West Africa |date=1991 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=9780253206381 |page=ix |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CS0h4Ye9puUC&q=Qrunmila |access-date=1 April 2019 |language=en |quote=Qrunmila is another name for Ifa, the deity}} or Orúla in Latin America) is the Orisha of Wisdom, knowledge, and Divination, is the creator of Ifá and Babalawo concept. He is a high priest of Ifá.
Historical and literary sources
Following the categories developed by the Nigerian scholar Peju Yemaje, Orunmila is recognized as a primordial Orisha, an ara orun, one that existed before the creation of humanity and resides in Heaven, as opposed to irun-male or irunmole, sacred beings living on Earth.{{cite book |last1=Asante |first1=Molefi Kete |last2=Mazama |first2=Ama |editor1-link=Molefi Kete Asante |title=Encyclopedia of African Religion |date=26 November 2008 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-1-5063-1786-1 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uMv0CAAAQBAJ&dq=Orunmila++primordial+Irunmole&pg=PT707 |access-date=11 June 2022 |language=en |chapter=Entry on Orisha}}
Equivocally, he is praise named "Igbákejì Olódùmarè" (second in command to Olodumare). In truth, he is Ibikeji Olodumare and "Ẹlẹ́rìí ìpín" (witness of fate). Priests of Ifá are known as babalawos and Priestesses of Ifá are known as iyanifas.Chief FAMA Practitioners' Handbook for the Ifa Professional {{ISBN|0-9714949-3-2}}
Orunmila is considered a sage, recognizing that Olodumare placed Ori (intuitive knowledge) in him as a prime Orisha. It is Ori who can intercede and affect the reality of a person much more than any other Orisha.William R. Bascom: Ifa Divination: Communication Between Gods and Men in West Africa {{ISBN|0-253-20638-3}}
Priesthood and initiation
Awo in every tradition study the 256 Odu; each Odu is traditionally considered to include stories and prayers that have been passed down from the time that Orunmila walked the Earth as a prophet.Adeoye, C. L. (1989). Ìgbàgbọ́ àti ẹ̀sìn Yorùba (in Yoruba). Ibadan: Evans Bros. Nigeria Publishers. pp. 285–302. {{ISBN|9781675098}}Bàbálàwó Ifatunwase Tratados Enciclopédicos de Ifá (Colección Alafundé), {{ISBN|978-0-9810387-04}}
Some initiatory lineages have only male priests of Orunmila, while other lineages include female priestesses. The term "Awo", meaning "secret" is a gender-neutral title for an initiated priest of Orunmila. The debate surrounding gender is a result of diversity in the history of Ifá in various locations. In Latin America and some areas of West Africa, only men may become full priests of Orunmila, while in other regions of West Africa the priesthood is open to women. Ifá practitioners believe in duality in life: males exist because of the female essence and females exist because of the male essence, so every major rite or ceremony includes both genders.{{cite book|title= Yoruba Culture: A Philosophical Account |first=Kola|last=Abimbola|edition=Paperback|publisher= Iroko Academics Publishers|year= 2005|isbn=1-905388-00-4}}
Every Ifá stanza has one portion dedicated to the issue of teaching the Iwa that Ifá supports. This Iwa, which Ifá teaches transcends religious doctrine, is central to every human being, and imparts communal, social and civic responsibility that Olodumare supports. Of great importance to this is the theme of righteousness and practicing good moral behavior.Ifaloju , [http://ifaspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/02/odu-ifa-iwori-meji-ifa-speaks-on.html Iwòrì Méjì: Ifá speaks on Righteousness], (an extract from S.S. Popoola, Ifa Dida, Library, INC) 2011
References
{{Reflist}}
Resources
{{portal|Traditional African religion}}
{{Wiktionary}}
- Chief S. Solagbade Popoola & Fakunle Oyesanya, Ikunle Abiyamo: The ASE of Motherhood 2007. {{ISBN|978-0-9810013-0-2}}
- Chief S. Solagbade Popoola Library, INC Ifa Dida Volume One (EjiOgbe - Orangun Meji) {{ISBN|978-0-9810013-1-9}}
- Chief S. Solagbade Popoola Library, INC Ifa Dida Volume Two (OgbeYeku - OgbeFun) {{ISBN|978-1-926538-12-9}}
- Chief S. Solagbade Popoola Library, INC Ifa Dida Volume Three (OyekuOgbe - OyekuFun) {{ISBN|978-1-926538-24-2}}
- James J. Kulevich, "The Odu of Lucumi: Information on all 256 Odu Ifa"
- Ayele Fa'seguntunde' Kumari, Iyanifa:Women of Wisdom {{ISBN|978-1500492892}}
{{Orisa-Ifá}}
Category:Traditional African religions
Category:Afro-American religion
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ọrunmila}}