BISHOP EZEKIEL SONIRAN ADEKUNLE LIJADU
This Ifa Divination iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad application is dedicated to Bishop Ezekiel Soniran Adekunle Lijadu. Bishop E. A. Lijadu is the grandson of Bishop Emmanuel Moses Lijadu, an important figure in the study of Nigerian religion at the turn of the 20th century. Bishop Emmanuel Moses Lijadu wrote two of the earliest texts on Ifa and Orunmila and kept a meticulous diary, in part while also serving as Bishop under the Anglican Church. In 1901, however, Bishop E.M. Lijadu rejected the notion of foreign dependence, and founded an independent African church he referred to as the Evangelist Band Mission (EBM). The EBM promoted an African self-help philosophy based on principles such as self-support, self-sacrifice, and love of African peoples and all human beings. Bishop E.M. Lijadu also integrated several aspects of African traditional healing and religious practices in his ministry.
Today, his 79 year-old grandson, Bishop Ezekiel A. Lijadu, carries forward the family tradition of pioneering leadership, self-sacrifice, independence and Ifa religious studies. Currently, Bishop E. A. Lijadu is a wise elder who is the head of the Evangelist Mission Band in Nigeria, the proprietor of an elementary school, and a profound teacher of religion in general and Ifa in particular. In an environment that is often discriminatory toward Yoruba-Ifa-Orisa religion and yields little economic support, Bishop E. A. Lijadu has collected thousands of Ifa verses, maintained meticulous records of Ifa ritual, and is a willing elder teacher of the Ifa tradition. Indeed, when we met him years ago, we chose him as our special teacher because of his wise humility and vast knowledge of Ifa. Truly, without his unwavering tutelage this iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad Ifa Divination App would not have come to its fruition.
ifadivination
alaafia i have the app, but im also in any printed material
im also intested in any printed info on ifa
Omilana, thank you for your kind question. Of course, we can never stop learning Ifa. Here are some of the classic texts most knowledgable readers of Yoruba-Ifa-Orisa religion will be familiar with. Please let me know if you have other questions as you read the material. Please also attend university conferences on the topic, seek out other knowledgeable people and read as much as you can on blogs, etc. It is important to arm yourself with information. May Ifa watch over you with the eyes of wisdom throughout your intellectual and spiritual journey.
Ifá divination poetry / translated, edited, and with an introd. by Wande Abimbola (All of Abimbola’s texts are important reading, especially for those seeking to understand the composition of the Ifa literary corpus. At Boston University, Baba Abimbola guided me toward a better understanding of Ifa)
Ifa will mend our broken world/ Wande Abimbola (Interviews with Ivor Miller) (This demonstrates the breadth and complexity of Yoruba-Ifa-Orisa religion in the African Diaspora. I would recommend this text for a beginning student of Ifa. The information is easy to digest because of the conversational tone and Ivor Miller asks Abimbola a range pertinent questions in the areas of religion, politics, and culture.
Ifá: an exposition of Ifá literary corpus / ‘Wande Abimbola (Abimbola offers his thesis of the eight part structure of Ifa verses)
Sixteen great poems of Ifá / by Wande Abimbola (Abimbola documents 16 Ifa verses that illuminate aspects of Yoruba worldview, concept of human person, history, etc.)
Yoruba oral tradition : selections from the papers presented at the Seminar on Yoruba Oral Tradition
Seminar on Yoruba Oral Tradition: Poetry in Music, Dance, and Drama (1974 : Institute of African Studies, University of Ife)
Òsun across the waters : a Yoruba goddess in Africa and the Americas / Joseph M. Murphy & Mei-Mei Sa (A great text with several essays on Osun)
Insight and artistry in African divination / edited by John Pemberton III.
God is not one : the eight rival religions that run the world–and why their differences matter / By Prothero, Stephen
(This is a comparative study of the eight world religions by a mentor and friend of mine at BU. Professor Prothero provides an excellent introduction to Yoruba-Ifa-Orisa religion in chapter 6. His knowledge of other religions really enriches his analysis of Ifa)
Flash of the Spirit: African & Afro-American Art and Philosophy/ Robert Farris Thompson (One of the great Art historians of Yoruba Culture and Religion)
Working the spirit: ceremonies of the African diaspora / Joseph M. Murphy (Murphy offers portraits of several related religions in the African Diaspora. You will get a good sense of the differences and similarities of the beliefs and rites of traditions such as Yoruba Ifa, Santeria, Candomble, Voodoo and African American Christianity)
Òrìsà devotion as world religion : the globalization of Yorùbá religious culture / edited by Jacob K. Olupona and Terry Rey.
(This is an important work because it establishes Yoruba religion as a world religion. There are so many great contributors to this edited volume of essays. Olupona is currently teaching at Harvard where continues to elevate Yoruba religious scholarship. Read his articles on Yoruba Religious history a well. He documents Bishop E.M. Lijadu’s early writings)
Salami, Ayò. : Ifá : a complete divination / by Ayo Salami
(This is an important documentation of Ifa verses. Each of the 256 Odu are represented in Yoruba and English)
Ifa Divination; Communication Between Gods And Men In West Africa
Bascom, William Russell (Bascom’s text is a classic in the documentation and study of Ifa. The recent conference on Yoruba religion at Harvard was dedicated to Bascom and Abimbola)
Sixteen Cowries : Yoruba Divination From Africa To The New World
Bascom, William Russell
Yoruba Culture: A Philosophical Account/ Kola Abimbola
(A really clear exposition of Ifa ethics and philosophy).
Olodumare: God in Yoruba Belief – E. Bolaji Idowu
(This is also a classic text in the field. Idowu was part of the famous Ibadan University religious studies department. He was a pioneer in Yoruba religious studies, even though his interpretation of Olodumare has been criticized for expressing a Christian bias)
Ifism: The Complete Work of Orunmila – C. OsamaroIbie
Orin Orisa: Songs for Selected Heads – John Mason
Je K`A So Yoruba (Yale Language Series) – Antonia Yetunde Folarin Schleicher (This is a standard Yoruba language textbook. In my Yoruba language classes during my undergraduate years at Yale University, this was the text we relied upon. I have also seen it used at Obafemi Awolowo University during the Fulbright Hays Study Abroad Program. It is a good start if you are interested in learning Yoruba language).
This list is not exhaustive, but I think if you become familiar with these books you will have a good introductory grasp of the theory and practice of Yoruba-Ifa-Orisa religion. As you read if you would like to discuss your ideas with me feel free to send your thoughts, suggestions or questions.
i love the list you gave brother omilana. i have some objection to the book orin orisa by john mason, however, since most of the translations are not correct. and we are dealing with religious literature that is steeped in meaning once the language is understood or translated properly. some of the information in the book is good, at least when it clarifies what is of african origin and what is cuban. nonetheless, in general i find that book and a few others of his misleading.
My regard to you and your beloved wife for preserving our yoruba heritage. I was so impressed to see how people among new generation both in nigeria and dispora continue to embrased this ancient wisdom. As yoruba my self i will to like know what to do, because all time in me saying i have to follow my ancestor worship. Where and what can i do to started.
My Ifa continue to open way and progressed in your family.
Ola,
Thank you for your kind and earnest question. Ifa says that no divinity can bless a person unless his/her Ori (personal guardian spirit/destiny) accepts. I interpret this to mean that each person has an innate spiritual gift/purpose that is as powerful as any Orisa and deeply connected with all the Orisa, ancestors and Olodumare. My suggestion, therefore, to you, is that you do not need to look outside of yourself for your ancestors and your calling. You already have it. By searching deep within yourself and learning to trust your own center then maybe you will be able to dicern what kind of spiritual practice is best for you and who you want to associate with and to accompany you on your journey. Remember, not every Babalawo, priest, rabbi, etc. are good just because they are learned and accomplished in their religion/tradition. It is up to you to always check with your own Ori and respect the divine in you. You do not need to covet your neighbors path. Every one’s Ori is different and it is up to you to unravel the mystery that is you. But who am I to guide you? I cannot know if my advice your advice, my friend.
May your Ori be crowned with joy and long life!
aboru aboye ,my question is quiet diffrence have got the application to my itunes but it was not install in my iphone,the application require version 0s 5 while am having iphone 4.1 os 3Gs is not compatible with this appliaction and is painful to me,please kindly fix this to enable it work with any iphone either low version or high version,i need it badly is not work with android and blackberry phone please am in waiting to fix this problem for me
Please connect your phone to itunes on your computer and update your phone’s software. It is free. It should work fine once you update your phone. The app is compatible with all iphone/ipad/ipods.