Africans in centuries past used to be immune to basic infectious based diseases such as smallpox. The people of the Yoruba kingdom and that of the Kingdom of Dahomey invoked the healing and immunizing powers of the Sopona or Babalú Aye and Sakpata deities (god of smallpox) over these periods (Oripelaye et al, 2016). Many West and Central African…
Orunmila is an integral figure in Yoruba spirituality. He is the cornerstone of Ifa. Known as the deity of wisdom, knowledge, and divination, Orunmila acts as a bridge between the human world and the divine. But who is Orunmila, and why is his role so essential in Ifa? Here is his story, his teachings, and how his wisdom continues…
Let’s take a journey into the 256 Odu Ifá—one of the most intricate systems of knowledge ever created by humankind. Picture this: a sacred encyclopedia of wisdom divided into 256 unique patterns, each holding the keys to understanding life, spirituality, and the unseen forces that govern the universe. But what exactly are these Odu Ifá, and why are they…
Have you ever wondered how ancient systems of thought could connect with the technology-driven world we live in today? Let’s take the Odu Ifá—the 256 sacred patterns central to Ifá divination. At first glance, they might seem mystical, but delve deeper, and you’ll uncover something remarkable: they operate on a binary logic strikingly similar to the 1s and 0s…
The story of Ifa’s journey across the Atlantic is as much a tale of survival as it is a celebration of tenacity. Forced migration during the transatlantic slave trade tore millions of Africans from their homeland, scattering them across the Americas. Yet, amid the trauma, Yoruba spirituality—rooted in the Ifa system—persisted, evolving into forms that continue to thrive today….
Written by The Outpost on April 30, 2013 Watch an excerpt from Maya Deren’s insightful and ground breaking documentary on Haitian Vodou filmed in 1947, as well as read about this beautiful way of living, serving, and connecting with the universal and multi-faceted powers, for people from the West African diaspora and beyond. Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti explores the Vodou religion of Haiti, filmed…
Staffed, dressed in white, draped in intricate beads, cowries, a snail, seashell and traditional attire, the Obatala Image below embodies the ancient Yoruba Ifa spiritual tradition. Not only does this image represent a unique way of life, but it also symbolizes a culture that spans centuries. Rooted in wisdom and spirituality, this tradition bridges the physical and the spiritual….
What happens when you challenge the establishment?…
The Great Delusion invites you into a…
(A Lament in the Tongue of Empire)…
(A Poetic Declaration of the Institute of…
