Yoruba peoples — Oyo, Egba, Ijebu, Ile-Ife, Ekiti, Ijesa, Igbomina — southwestern Nigeria and Benin Republic. Diaspora: Cuba (Lucumí/Santería), Brazil (Candomblé), Trinidad, Haiti (Vodou roots), United States. · Southwestern Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo — and globally through the African diaspora
Ese Ifá — the narrative verses within each of the 256 Odu, chanted by the Babalawo during divination. Each Odu contains hundreds of stories. Oriki — praise poetry sung by specialist singers at ceremonies and greetings. Ijala — hunters' poetry.…
Three realms — Orun (spirit world/heaven above), Aiye (earth/living world), and the realm of the Egungun ancestors. 401+ Orisha govern every aspect of existence. Each person carries Ori — their personal divine essence/chosen destiny. The universe is organized by Ashe…
Olodumare — distant, unknowable, too vast for direct approach. All Orisha are expressions of Olodumare's aspects.
Opele (divining chain), ikin (sacred palm nuts) — Ifá divination instruments. Ogun's iron implements. Sango's double-headed axe (oshe). Oshun's brass and honey. Yemoja's cowrie shells. Eshu's crossroads staff.
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