AN OVERVIEW

The history of the Ifa religion dates back to the time of its prophet Orunmila. Orunmila, whose name is Agboniregun, was said to have lived in the Ife area of Nigeria approximately 2000 - 4000BCE. He was said to be born of humble African parents. His gifts and wisdom were seen at a young age.

He traveled the continent of Africa, sitting and learning from many elders. He codified his teachings into what is known as the Odu-Ifa, the sacred text of the Ifa religion. These teachings of Orunmila state that human beings have as a general purpose the development of iwa-pele or gentle and balanced character.

Orunmila taught his first students and since that time the Ifa religious tradition has been handed down from both father to son (in some cases father to daughter) and from master teacher to initiate. Orunmila settled in the Nigerian town of Ile-Ife and there he built his temple on the hill known as Oke-Itase. The temple exists to this day.

The Ifa religion brought wisdom and settled among the tribal nations of the Oyo Empire, commonly known as the Yoruba. Its expansion mirrored that of the Empire itself, from the Cameroon in the South to Ghana in the West. Some even say the Ivory Coast. Despite the eventual collapse of the Oyo, Ifa continued to survive even the horrors of enslavement. Wise elders hid the religion behind Catholic Saints giving birth to the various offshoots of Ifa known as Santeria, Lucumi, Candomble, Vodun and Roots.

The Ifa religion continues to survive and thrive today being practiced in the West from Canada to Peru and everyplace in between. The home of the religion remains Southwestern Nigeria in an area once known as Yorubaland. It serves as a vehicle to bring its adherents peace, knowledge, wisdom and saving grace.