Oracle bowl "agere ifa" ·  Nigéria, Yoruba · ID: 3033187

Description

wood, dark brown patina, remains of kaolin, a round base, carved with a bird, min. dam., cracks, traces of abrasion;
the divination bowls serve for keeping the 16 holy palm nuts (“ikin”), which are used for the questioning of the oracle. During the prophecy, the “babalawo” (priest) spreads the “opon ifa” with flour, throws the palm nuts on the board and generates the oracle from the lines drawn on the plate. The “ifa” oracle is used in whole Yoruba country and similar soothsaying systems are known all over West Africa.