Seven(7) major parts you need to know in every Ifa Verse (Odu Ifa)

Ifa we all know is a very complex practice that requires a well-trained and endowed practitioner PKA Babalawo to understand and translate just for the main purpose of revealing and proffering solutions to mankind's problems.

It is not new to most of all Ifa devotees that Ifá did not spare revealing the existence of the inmate and the latter including the existence of the world itself through the 256 Ifa corpus (odu) sent from the Supreme Being via our darling messenger, Orunmila. 

In each odu exists hundreds of verses expected to be known by the Babalawos (a Babalawo is expected to know at least three verses in each odu).

Unlike any other poem (Ijala, Ewi, Rara ), Ifa has some distinct and unique pattern in terms of arrangement. 

All Ifa stanzas can be sub-divided into seven parts which are the main purpose of this write-up.

1). Name of Babalawo

2). Whom divination is cast for

3). Purpose of consulting the oracle

4). Advice /recommendations of the Babalawo

5). Whether or not the advice/recommendation is heeded

6). The outcome of either refusing to heed the advice of the Babalawo

7). Final note: this may be in terms of final advice, warning or song.

1). Name of Babalawo:  

The name of the Babalawo appears mostly at the beginning of every Ifa verse. 

In most cases, we find one Babalawo consulting Ifa for one client as in many odus. Sometimes, we find a Babalawo consulting for more than one person. 

This can happen if the person concerned go to the Babalawo in a group to consult Ifa on a joint venture or so. It can also happen when different people consult the same Babalawo at different periods and when Ifa is cast, the same odu is revealed for them. For example, in one Eji~ogbe verse, it starts with, "Olumini Jinmini". 

This happens to be the name of the Babalawo in that Ifa verse that consulted Ifa for the client in the verse. 

2). Whom divination is cast for: 

As earlier explained, one Babalawo may cast Ifa for one client. Several Babalawos may cast ifa for a client, several Babalawos may also cast Ifa for several clients and one may do so for several clients. 

On some occasions, one Babalawo may cast Ifa for another Babalawo who in turn is about to perform some services for some other clients but wishes to know what to do before or after casting the Ifa. An instance can be found In a particular Ifa stanza when  Orunmila consulted the oracle to know the outcome of the assistance he was about to render to Ogun — knowing that he is a quick-tempered deity. 

However, the outcome was pleasant, for Orunmila complied with the instructions and advice of the Babalawo.

On some other occasions, however, one or more Babalawo may cast the oracle for a group of clients and thereafter one of them may still consult another Babalawo on the same purpose and will perform the rituals prescribed for the group as well as the rituals the other Babalawo prescribed for him.

 The outcome for this individual is that he will achieve more success than any other person in the group.

(See Orunmila Magazine issue No 3 or contact fayemioyesanya@gmail.com for full version)

3). Purpose of consulting Ifa: 

 The purpose of which the client made the consultation is next.

This is where you come across something like: "Adifafun Orunmila igba tin sunkun pe ohun o laje" (cast ifa for Orunmila, when he was sobering because he lacks wealth). 

The main purpose of which Orunmila is making the consultation is because he wants to be wealthy. 

However, all reasons must be well articulated and deliberated upon before they put to Ifa. Ifa says that foolish questions will be given foolish answers.

4). Advice /recommendations of the Babalawo:

The advice usually given by Babalawo is performance of ebo and rituals(etutu). 

This is the very part in a particular odu where you come across, "Ebo lawo ni ko Se" which literally means "Ebo is what the Babalawo advised him to do". 

It is therefore advisable to heed to the advice as those who do so are assured the backing of Esu. The latter may be in form of patience, perseverance, abstinence, change of attitude, change of environs to mention a few.

5). Whether or not the advice/recommendation is heeded:

The next you bump into is this. Whether or not the advice was put into action by the client. 

 It deals with the reaction of the client either he accepts or not. 

Here, is when you hear something like "O si gbé ebo nbe orubo" (he put the ebo into action) or "o fi eti otun gbé ebo, ofi tosi danu " (the word entered through his right ear and went out via his left ear) which means he did not comply to the Awo's advice.

6). The outcome of either refusing to heed the advice of the Babalawo

Everything we do definitely have a result whether positive or negative. Ifa case is no exception. 

If an ebo is made, definitely you see the result and if it is not despite advice, it will also prevail. 

This part is when you are drawn to "ebo re fin, ebo re da" (His ebo was given attention and accepted) or if not done (ebo) you hear "A yin eyin nin yin Awo" (he was praising the Babalawo in his absence after the warning of ifa came to past regretting not offering ebo).

7). Final note: this may be in terms of final advice, warning or song.

In Ifa, after the outcome of any problem or issue had been stated, a final note will follow. 

This may be a sort of encouragement for others to emulate the deeds of the client and advice others to make sure ebo is offered if prescribed or some ifa songs are. If a client is advised to offer ebo and he compiled, the final note may end like this:

Ero Ipo
Ero Ofa
E wa ba ni larusegun
Arusegun laa ba ni lese ope.

Meaning
All and sundry come and join us in longevity which is guaranteed of appropriate ebo is offered.

Do share if you find it useful 

Source: Orunmila Magazine issue No 3