Ifá Divination, Knowledge, Power, and Performance

Description

This landmark volume compiled by Jacob K. Olupona and Rowland O. Abiodun brings readers into the diverse world of Ifá—its discourse, ways of thinking, and artistic expression as manifested throughout the Afro-Atlantic. Firmly rooting Ifá within African religious traditions, the essays consider Ifá and Ifá divination from the perspectives of philosophy, performance studies, and cultural studies. They also examine the sacred context, verbal art, and the interpretation of Ifá texts and philosophy. With essays from the most respected scholars in the field, the book makes a substantial contribution toward understanding Ifá and its role in contemporary Yoruba and diaspora cultures.

Foreword / His Royal Highness Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse II
Preface / Jacob K. Olupona and Rowland O. Abiodun
Introduction / Jacob K. Olupona and Rowland O. Abiodun with Niyi Afolabi
Part I. Ifá Orature: Its Interpretation and Translation
1. Ayajo as Ifá in Mythical and Sacred Contexts / Ayo Opefeyitimi
2. Continuity and Change in the Verbal, Artistic, Ritualistic, and Performance Traditions of Ifá Divination / Wándé Abímblá
3. Recasting Ifá: Historicity and Recursive Recollection in Ifá Divination Texts / Andrew Apter
4. Ifá, Knowledge, Performance, the Sacred, and the Medium / Olasope O. Oyelaran
5. "Writing" and "Reference" in Ifá / AdeìleìkeÌ AdeìeÌòkoòì
Part II. Ifá as Knowledge: Theoretical Questions and Concerns
6. Ifá: Sixteen Odù, Sixteen Questions / Barry Hallen
7. Kín N'Ifá Wí?: Philosophical Issues in Ifá Divination / Olúfeìòmi Táíwò
8. Diviner as Explorer: The Afuwape Paradigm / Rowland O. Abiodun
9. "The Hunter Thinks the Monkey Is Not Wise. The Monkey Is Wise, But Has Its Own Logic": Multiple Divination Systems and Multiple Knowledge Systems in Yorùbá Religious Life / Mei-Mei Sanford
10. Dagbon, Oyo, Kongo: Critical and Comparative Reflections on Sacrifice / Wyatt MacGaffey
11. Ifá: The Quintessential Builder of Our Bank of Images / Akínwùmí Ìsola
12. Odù Imole: Islamic Tradition in Ifá and the Yorùbá Religious Imagination / Jacob K. Olupona
Part III. Ifá in the Afro-Atlantic
13. Ifá Divination as Sacred Compass for Reading Self and World / Velma Love
14. Ìtan Odù Òní: Tales of Strivers Today / John Mason
15. Orunmila's Faithful Dog: Transmitting Sacred Knowledge in a Lucumí Orisha Tradition / Joseph M. Murphy
16. Mofá and the Oba: Translation of Ifá Epistemology in the Afro-Cuban Dilogún / Ysamur M. Flores-Peña
17. The Pai-de-santo and the Babaláwo: Religious Interaction and Ritual Rearrangements within Orisha Religion / Stefania Capone
18. The Role of Women in the Ifá Priesthood: Inclusion versus Exclusion / M. Ajisebo McElwaine Abimbola
19. Transnational Ifá: The "Readings of the Year" and Contemporary Economies of Orisa Knowledge / Kamari Maxine Clarke
Part IV. Sacred Art in Ifá
20. The Creatures of Ifá / Philip M. Peek
21. Of Color, Character, Attributes, and Values of Orunmila / Bolaji Campbell
22. Signs, Doors, and Games: Divination's Dynamic Visual Canon / Laura S. Grillo
23. Ifá: Visual and Sensorial Aspects / Henry John Drewal
24. Art, Culture, and Creativity: The Representation of Ifá in Yorùbá Video Films / Akintunde Akinyemi
List of Contributors
Index

Sujets

• African Studies
• Tribal
• Ethnic
• Philosophie et théologie
• Ethnic religion
• Indigenous
• General officer
• Performing arts
• Religion
• General

Informations

• Publié par: Indiana University Press
• Date de parution: 29 février 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 4
• EAN13: 9780253018960
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

IF DIVINATION, KNOWLEDGE, POWER, AND PERFORMANCE
AFRICAN EXPRESSIVE CULTURES
Patrick McNaughton, editor
Associate editors
Catherine M. Cole
Barbara G. Hoffman
Eileen Julien
Kassim Kon
D. A. Masolo
Elisha Renne
Z. S. Strother
IF DIVINATION, KNOWLEDGE, POWER, AND PERFORMANCE
Edited by Jacob K. Olupona and Rowland O. Abiodun
This book is a publication of
Indiana University Press Office of Scholarly Publishing Herman B Wells Library 350 1320 East 10th Street Bloomington, Indiana 47405 USA
iupress.indiana.edu
2016 by Indiana University Press
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The Association of American University Presses Resolution on Permissions constitutes the only exception to this prohibition.
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992.
Manufactured in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ifa divination, knowledge, power, and performance / edited by Jacob K. Olupona and Rowland O. Abiodun.
pages cm - (African expressive cultures)
Papers from a conference held March 13-16, 2008 at Harvard University.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-253-01882-3 (cloth : alk. paper) - ISBN 978-0-253-01890-8 (pbk. : alk. paper) - ISBN 978-0-253-01896-0 (ebook) 1. Ifa (Religion) 2. Yoruba (African people)-Religion. 3. Divination. 4. Orisha religion. 5. Afro-Caribbean cults. 6. Ifa (Religion)-Art. I. Olupona, Jacob K. (Jacob Kehinde), 1951- editor. II. Abiodun, Rowland, editor. III. Series: African expressive cultures.
BF1779.I4I347 2016
299.6 8333-dc23
2015033418
1 2 3 4 5 21 20 19 18 17 16
Dedicated to a distinguished scholar of If Studies, Professor W nd Ab mb l ,
and in memory of a pioneer of If Studies, Professor William R. Bascom (1912-1981)
If l l n
If l l la
If l l t nla p l
r nm l l n ij m r rin s d y .
If is the master of today
If is the master of tomorrow;
If is the master of the day after tomorrow.
To If belongs all the four days
Established by s on earth.
W nd Ab mb l , If : An Exposition of If Literary Corpus
Contents
Foreword / His Royal Highness Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse II
Preface / Jacob K. Olupona and Rowland O. Abiodun
Introduction / Jacob K. Olupona and Rowland O. Abiodun with Niyi Afolabi
PART I . If Orature: Its Interpretation and Translation
1 Ayajo as If in Mythical and Sacred Contexts / Ayo Opefeyitimi
2 Continuity and Change in the Verbal, Artistic, Ritualistic, and Performance Traditions of If Divination / W nd Ab mb l
3 Recasting If : Historicity and Recursive Recollection in If Divination Texts / Andrew Apter
4 If , Knowledge, Performance, the Sacred, and the Medium / Olasope O. Oyelaran
5 Writing and Reference in If / Ad l k Ad k
PART II . If as Knowledge: Theoretical Questions and Concerns
6 If : Sixteen Od , Sixteen Questions / Barry Hallen
7 K n N If W ? : Philosophical Issues in If Divination / Ol f mi T w
8 Diviner as Explorer: The Afuwape Paradigm / Rowland O. Abiodun
9 The Hunter Thinks the Monkey Is Not Wise. The Monkey Is Wise, But Has Its Own Logic : Multiple Divination Systems and Multiple Knowledge Systems in Yor b Religious Life / Mei-Mei Sanford
10 Dagbon, Oyo, Kongo: Critical and Comparative Reflections on Sacrifice / Wyatt MacGaffey
11 If : The Quintessential Builder of Our Bank of Images / Ak nw m la
12 Od Imole: Islamic Tradition in If and the Yor b Religious Imagination / Jacob K. Olupona
PART III . If in the Afro-Atlantic
13 If Divination as Sacred Compass for Reading Self and World / Velma Love
14 tan Od n : Tales of Strivers Today / John Mason
15 Orunmila s Faithful Dog: Transmitting Sacred Knowledge in a Lucum Orisha Tradition / Joseph M. Murphy
16 Mof and the Oba : Translation of If Epistemology in the Afro-Cuban Dilog n / Ysamur M. Flores-Pe a
17 The Pai-de-santo and the Babal wo: Religious Interaction and Ritual Rearrangements within Orisha Religion / Stefania Capone
18 The Role of Women in the If Priesthood: Inclusion versus Exclusion / M. Ajisebo McElwaine Abimbola
19 Transnational If : The Readings of the Year and Contemporary Economies of Orisa Knowledge / Kamari Maxine Clarke
PART IV . Sacred Art in If
20 The Creatures of If / Philip M. Peek
21 Of Color, Character, Attributes, and Values of Orunmila / Bolaji Campbell
22 Signs, Doors, and Games: Divination s Dynamic Visual Canon / Laura S. Grillo
23 If : Visual and Sensorial Aspects / Henry John Drewal
24 Art, Culture, and Creativity: The Representation of If in Yor b Video Films / Akintunde Akinyemi
List of Contributors
Index
Foreword
I AM DELIGHTED TO know that this book-the result of a fascinating three-day conference on If tradition at Harvard University in 2008-will now be available for all to read and enjoy. As the Ooni of Ife, it was indeed an honor for me and my fellow Oba-including the Owa Obokun of Ijesa Land, Oba Agunlejika, and the governor of Osun State, Prince Oyinlola-to be active participants in the deliberations over many important aspects of If by a worldwide gathering of distinguished scholars, practitioners, and devotees of If . There was not a dull moment throughout the conference; we all left with the feeling of giving credence to the beloved If lyrics, If will not perish from the face of the Earth.
Traditional rulers and priests of If in Yor b land have long recognized If s multicomplexities-its religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions-and have, within their power and resources, supported efforts to enlighten the world about If and its relevance to all facets of life, irrespective of race, color or people s religious persuasion. Perhaps the most alluring and delightful aspect of Yor b religious tradition and culture bequeathed to us is the comprehensive oral narrative comprising the 256 od Corpus of Poetry-an encyclopedia of knowledge. Equally impressive is the artistic legacy associated with If divination practice. Artifacts used in If divination can now be found in major museums in the West and many parts of the world. For example, in the Ulmer Museum in Ulm, Germany, there is a most beautiful If divination tray that was collected as early as the eighteenth century.
The patron divinity of the If divination system is Orunmila (with aliases that include Agboniregun, Okunrin-kukuru Oke-Geti, Agiri-ile-ilogbon), who made Ile-Ife his home, and he is celebrated to this day at Oke-Tase with elaborate annual festivals that attract If priests from all over the world. Orunmila was the only witness at creation, which means that his own creation must have preceded those of other orishas. More importantly, he has the unique advantage of knowing the destinies of everyone and is equipped with the language to express them. Orunmila is a polyglot, which has earned him the praise name, Afedefeyo ( one who speaks and understands all tongues ). He is also capable of resolving conflicts and bringing peace and order into the universe, for which reason he is called and known as Agbayegun. Despite their sometimes nominal conversion to Islam and Christianity, the Yor b continue to cherish If traditions, which play pivotal roles in daily life and govern the social and economic fabric of traditional and modern Yor b society.
The chapters in this volume touch on various themes and topics providing deep-seated knowledge of If traditions. Together they point to the rich depth of scholarship of the presenters. From discussion of myths and rituals to the intersections of If and Islamic traditions; from historical accounts to artistic performances of If in the Caribbean and throughout the Americas-If has endured. All these legacies point to the global reach and significance of If tradition, confirming what scholars of Yor b cultures have been saying all along-that their own tradition is a world culture deserving to be placed alongside other world cultures in the global cultural hall of fame. Of course, UNESCO s recognition of Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove as a World Global Heritage Site testifies to the richness of Yor b culture and traditions. I wholeheartedly recommend this volume to readers and scholars everywhere. It provides numerous platforms from which young scholars can now launch their future research projects on If .
I am most pleased that the Harvard conference provided an opportunity for the world community of scholars to honor two most influential scholars of If tradition: Professor W nd Ab mb l , whose If chieftaincy title, Awise Awo Agbaye, attests to his exalted position among members of the king s inner circle of palace senior diviners (Awo-Ooni), and the late William Bascom, anthropologist at the University of California, Berkeley, whose pioneering research opened up Yor b studies for others to follow. Professor Ab mb l remains the most knowledgeable scholar-practitioner of If in his generation. This is a most valuable and illuminating work on an African divinatory tradition and practice.
His Royal Highness Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse II
Ooni of Ile-Ife, Enu Owa Palace
Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
Preface
Jacob K. Olupona and Rowland O. Abiodun
T HIS BOOK EMANATES from Harvard University s interdisciplinary conf