Ifa Has Gone Digital

Ifa is taken to the next level. In his narration, the teacher declines Ifa as the deity of wisdom and what again should we expect from the deity of wisdom more than abundant knowledge?

Ifa has at least three connotations and its advancement is a function of which of the connotations we may choose for it.

One, Ifa as a tool to knowledge, this is where the teacher is coming from. As a tool of knowledge, we expect the symbol of wisdom to meet the taste of time if it would indeed provide solution to today's problems.

Two, Isa as a deity: the teacher also calls Ifa a deity of wisdom. This is in line with the belief of some Yoruba. Genuinely, Ifa was never a god or a deity, however, due to the Yoruba doctrine of " Osi/re-re" Ifa becomes a deity. The really Osi himself was Orunmila, Ifa was only his tool of divination, one among his many tools. However, the Yoruba will say " igbá ilé awo, awo ní. Ifa thus became a deity courtesy of its owner, Orunmila. How far will this be globally acceptable depends on how effective and efficient the deity is.

Three, Ifa as a religion. Where there is a deity is where there is a religion, little wonder then we have Ifa worshippers. The question to ask here however is: are the lfa worshippers worshipping Ifa or Orunmila? If it will not profane Christianity and with due respect to every Christian on the platform, one can liken this to worshipping Christ or God in Christiandom. Islam is however abundantly clear here, Prophet Mohammed (peace and honour be unto him) is not more than a servant of Allah.

In all these, the beauty of it is that the Yoruba are not religious fanatics were this to be happening in Islam probably some Jihadists may raise eyebrows.

Today some Pastors are reading their Bible from their tablets, there are even some that are not directly reading but will only instruct "Alexey", a computerized robot to read out the Bible on their behalf.

It is therefore a welcome idea that the custodians of the Yoruba culture and belief too are moving with time, it is a forward gear and a welcome idea.

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