187 552 1 PB Libre

Alamu.F.O* et al.
/ (IJITR) INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH

Volume No. 1, Issue No. 6, October - November 2013, 524 - 528.
ISSN 2320 5547 @ 2013 http://www.ijitr.com All rights Reserved. Page | 524
ALAMU F.O.
Department of Computer Science and
Information Technology
Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State,
Nigeria
AWORINDE H.O.
Nigeria
ISHARUFE, W. I
Nigeria
Abstract: - The Ifa divination system is a set of divination acts done by a professional that has been granted
authority (a babalawo) to create and make use of set of rules to communicate with the gods so as to solve
peoples problems. It is mostly carried out in the Yoruba community.
Most people doubt the authenticity of this system and are not even aware of its similarities with Computer
Science. Further to this there are a few literature in this area of study. In this work effort was made to bring
out salient similarities between the field of computer science and the act of ifa divination. An extensive
explanation of the divination system was made, what it means and its origin and why people seek after it.
We have presented an extensive explanation of the Ifa divination system, proved its existence and
authenticity, given and explained its similarities with Computer Science and presented a reference data for
future work in this study.
Key words: Ifa, Babalawo, Computer Science, Divination
I. INTRODUCTION
Information is a vital part of life. It is needed for
survival. People and culture have evolved greatly.
Languages and communication skills have changed.
Divination is the act of seeking after knowledge of
future or hidden things by inadequate means which is
usually supplemented by some power which is
represented all through history as coming from gods. It
makes use of signs, omens and coincidences to tell
hidden things
Divination systems, some of which are almost as
reading signs and omens, take a more deliberate
approach [4]. They are invented to generate
coincidences that do not depend upon external events,
which can then be interpreted. Back in the ancient days,
people had their way and languages used to
communicate. Also, back then, people had ways of
doing simple calculations and storing information [5].
The abacus was a well-known tool for counting then.
II. THE ORIGINOF IFADIVINATION
The Yoruba gods of western Nigeria once existed as
humans and had their way of communicating. Prior to
their disappearance, they left with the people a means to
communicate with them in the outer realm (the ifa
divination). Over 12,000 years ago, Africans developed
Ifa Oracle divination based on the square of
16=16x16=26 = 2^8 corresponding to the vertices of an
8-dimensional hypercube and to the binary 2-choice
Clifford algebra C1(8) and so to related ones such as
C1(8)xC1(8) = C1(16) [7]. Since the number of sub-
hypercubes in an 8-dimensional hypercube is 6,561 =
81x81=3^8, the Ifa Oracle has N=8 ternary 3-structure
as well as binary 2-structure [2]
The processes used in ifa divination and the divination
system bear some similarities with Computer Science.
Also, Computer Science takes it origin from ifa
divination and so, this paper is meant to engage in
comparative study between Ifa Divination and
Computer Science.
Ifa is the deity of wisdom and intellectual development.
He is called upon to judge cases and provide answers to
problems. He is a link between the people and God
(Eledumare) [6].
Performing Ifa divination is called idafa (or didaowo
and ounte ale). Idafa is performed by a Babalawo or
Iyanifa (an initiated priest or priestess). Babalawo can
be translated as father of the secrets while Iyanifa
means mother that has ifa (i.e its blessing). So also
the Computer science is a filed reserved for a few
computer professional and maintain forms of secrecy
using some security algorithms
According to Prof Odeyemi in his lecture titled What
is Ifa, Ifa is the Divine Message of Olodumare to
mankind and for all those who seek to receive it. Ifa's
universal relevance lies in the fact that, when an
individual from any race, colour or creed approaches an
Ifa Priest for a personal message, Ifa may reveal a
message of national, continental or even global
importance. Which may be similar to artificial neural
Alamu.F.O* et al. / (IJITR) INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
networks. For instance, the message may be a warning
of an approaching war, famine, or pestilence, although
the message-seeker may be concerned only about
marriage. As a result of the spread of Ifa over the
millennia, it has assumed different names in different
countries and among different races [8]
Orunmila, in order to make access to the retrieval of the
Divine Message (Ifa) easy, devised the computer
compatible binary coding system, thousands of years
before the emergence of computer consciousness in so-
called modern man! So, Ifa is preserved in binary coded
format and is output Parable - Format.
Ifa is coded within 256 Odus or Corpus, each Odu
representing an esoteric pigeonhole, itself divisible into
256 sub-holes. Within each of the 256 Odus, there are
1,680 Sacred Verses all presented in Parable - Format.
Thus, the body of Ifa consists of 430,080 messages for
mankind [1]
Prof. Olu Longe in His December 22, 1983 Inaugural
lecture titled Ifa Divination And Computer Science
asserted that Orunmila is one of the deities of the
Yoruba while Ifa divination is a device for forecasting
the future. What has those two got to do with the high-
tech world of computer science?
Ifa is actually an ancient binary computer system
which, in some inexplicable way, has successfully
linked the probability of numbers with the complexities
of the human condition and the ever complex flux of
events. Ifa, Longe said, is based on the 8-bit pattern
with its eightpiece divination chain, 16 major odu
(chapters) and 256 odu in all.
Bade Ajayi in his paper titled A New Model of Ifa
Binary System stated that Orunmila, the Yoruba God of
Wisdom and divination uses a geomantic system of
divination to arrive at appropriate signs and employs Ifa
verses to interpret the signs [1]
Ifa literary corpus consists of 256 possibilities called
Odu and each Odu also contains superfluous stories
called ese. Sixteen of the Odu are the principal ones
while the remaining 240 are the mixed or minor Odu.
As the name implies, each mixed Odu is formed by the
combination of two principal Odu. Each of the Odu
(both principal and minor) is represented by a specific
sign which is binary in nature [13]. Every Odu sign has
two arms illustrated by the first two principal Odu..,
Eji-Ogbe and Oyeku Meji below:
Table 1: Two Arms of Odu Sign
Eji-Ogbe Oyeku Meji
1 1 11 11 2 2
1 1 11 11 Or 2 2
1 1 11 11 2 2
1 1 11 11 2 2
Bade Ajayi emphasized in his paper that
communication with the Odu is achieved by means of a
calculated mathematical framework based on the
prescribed course of conduct required from each Odu
[1]
In fact, digital computer uses the binary system. Like
the computer, Yoruba anthmomancy is based on binary
system and it is therefore a computer oriented science
which can be used in mathematical education.
At a divination session, several Ibo (instruments for
casting lot), may be used to find detail information
about a client's problem. The commonest and simplest
form of Ibo of Cowry Shells tied together representing
types (1) and piece of animal bone representingIho
(10)
This relates to computer language today, we need
prediction (which is scientific and reliable) more than
divination (which is religious and uncertain).
Considering the locio in the arms of the opele, the pairs
should be punched (d) and there bi spairs not punched
(0) using this code paper model of Ifa -6-A-Bits
computer model N has been developed. Here is the
model worked out by Opele
Punches Odu Name
000000 Ogbe (1)
000001 Osa (10)
000010 Otua (13)
000100 Irete (14)
001000 Ogunda (9)
000011 Irosun (5)
000101 Ose (15)
001001 Iwori (3)
000110 Odi (4)
001010 Ofun (16)
001100 Owonrin (6)
000111 Obara (7)
001011 Ika (11)
001110 Oturupon (12)
001110 Okanran (8)
001111 Oyeku (2)
This model based on binary system does not take into
consideration the traditional system on which the Ifa
corpus rests. In actual fact, the importance of hierarchy
of the 256 Odu for the interpretation of Ifa message
cannot be over emphasized.
III. PROCESS OF IFADIVINATION
Items used are group of sixteen nuts ( ikin), opele
(sacred chain),dust from irosun tree (iyerosun),
divination tray (opon ifa) , ajere ifa ( seed vessel)
The basic steps are:
Ifa Dida
Odu Revelation
Prescription Of Advice
Odu Ifa is an ifa literary corpus
It consists of 256 parts, a collection of sixteen, each has
sixteen alternatives and subdivided into verses called
ese.
Each one of the 256 odu has its specific divination
signature.
Computer Science is the systematic study of the
feasibility, structure, expression and mechanization of
the methodical processes (or algorithms). It underlies
the acquisition, representation, processing, storage,
communication of and access to information, whether
such information is encoded in bits and bytes in a
computer memory or transcribed in genes and protein
structures in a human cell. Bits are used to represent,
encode and store information [2].
IV. FLOWCHART
The flowchart below shows the activities during Ifa
divination. It displays the basic steps during the
divination from the point of listening to client problems
and then to the prescription of ogun.
Figure 1: A flow chart showing the basic steps in Ifa
Divination
V. USE CASE DIAGRAM
Used Case diagram shows the steps actions taken by
both the Babalawo and the client during ifa divination
Figure 2: A Use Case Diagram showing the basic
steps taken by the babalawo in ifa divination
Figure 3: A Use case Diagram showing the basic steps
taken by a client in Ifa divination.
VI. THE OPELE ANDDIGITAL SYSTEMS
The opele is a divining chain consisting of two arms
made of 8 beads on both the left side and the right side.
The right side is called the male, and the left is called
the female [11]
In Computer Science, a byte consists of eight bits and a
nibble represents four bits. Thus the four beads on one
side of an opele can be likened to a nibble and all eight
nuts, is a byte in Computer Science.
Now, just like bits are arranged in different patterns of
zeros and ones to form a particular binary number or
digit. The binary number formed from the arrangement
or combination of zeros and ones in Computer Science
can be likened to an odu ifa in ifa divination.
The diagram below shows the opele nut combination.
The concave or smooth side of a nut is represented as b
and the convex side is represented as f. The concave
side is two strokes, 1 in binary and the convex side is a
stroke, 0 in binary [3]
Table 2: Opele Nuts Combinations
Combination Representation Name
Ffff 0000 Ejiogbe
Bbbb 1111 Oyeku
Bffb 1001 Iwori
Fbbf 0110 Odi
Bbbf 1110 Okanran
Bfbb 1011 Ika
Bbbf 1101 Oturuupon
Bbfb 1100 Owonrin
VII. IFADIVINATIONAS BASICI-P-O(INPUT-
PROCESS-OUTPUT) OPERATIONIN
COMPUTERSCIENCE
The pattern of outcomes derived from the opele is
analysed against all 256 odus and ese (poem) to derive
a solution to the clients problem (Processing). Then the
ifa priest prescribes an oogun (medicine) for the client
(Output). The ikin (sacred kolanuts), the opele and
other instruments are like the interfaces used to send
inputs for processing. The odus and ese are like the
other basic or regular information the cpu uses to
process inputs in a computer.
Figure 4: Processes in Ifa divination system and their
representation in Computer Science
VIII. IFADIVINATIONSYSTEMAS AN
EXPERT SYSTEM
In Ifa divination, the entire Ifa divination system is like
an expert system used to solve client complex
problems. Just like a computer or a computer program
needs an operator to function, the ifa divination system
also needs an operator (the ifa priest). The ifa priest in
this case helps guide a client in using the ifa divination
system to solve his/her problems.
The Odu ifa represents the inference engine while the
eses (poems) represent the knowledge base.
IX. IFADIVINATIONANDTHEUSE OF
PATTERNRECOGNITION
Each of the two hundred and fifty six odu has its own
specific divination signature or pattern. Both the sacred
palm-nuts and the divining chain are used alternatively
by ifa priests to arrive at the signature of each odu.
The pattern formed from the combination of the
outcomes of the throwing of the opele is combined to
form a particular odu that has a particular meaning.
Each odu is unique
X. CONCLUSION
In this paper, a relationship between Computer Science
and Ifa divination has been further established showing
their similarities. Despite the fact that Ifa divination has
been treated as an obsolete practice, its relevance to
technological advancement is indeed immense.
Computer Science being an important factor for
development is expected to expand as new areas and
aspects are being discovered.
REFERENCES
[1] Bade Ajayi A New Model of Ifa Binary System
(http://unilorin.edu.ng/publications/yajayi/NEW
%20MODEL.doc ) Accessed 19 September, 2013
[2] Frank Dodd (Tony) Smith, Jr. (2009) From
Ancient Africa (vixra.org/pdf/0907.0040v3.pdf)
Accessed 20 September, 2013
[3] Ifa Quest Matrices (2007) Ifa Hermeneutics and
the interpretation of landscape in the artistic
work of Susan Wenger and Katherine Maltwood
(www.ifaquestmatrices.blogspot.com) Accessed
19 September,2013
[4] Jakob Vob (2013) Describing Data Patterns: A
General Construction of Metadata Standards (d-
nb.info/1041284497/34) Accessed 19
September, 2013
[5] James Weeks (2013) Driven by Numbers,
Patterns and The Divine
(www.acrossthekingsriver.com/tag/malidoma-
some/) Accessed 19 September, 2013
[6] James Weeks (2013) Ifa Sees The Big Picture
(www.acrossthekingsriver.com/tag/ifa-
divination-readings/) Accessed 19 September,
2013
[7] Nelson Fashina, PhD (2009) Re(-)Placing
Theory in Africa Studies: Ifa Literary Corpus,
Origins, Universality and the integration of
Epistemology
(www.uni-
leipzig.de/~ecas2009/index.php?option=com)
[8] Prof. Odeyemi (2013) What is Ifa (www.uni-
leipzig.de/~ecas2009/index.php?option=com)
[9] Research into Classical African Knowledge
Systems
(www.africanhermeneuticsystems.blogspot.com)
[10] Theophilus Otselu Ogbhemhe & Theophilus
Imafidon Obaseki (2004) Ifa Divination and
Computer Science: A Case study of African
Tradition (http://soraker.com/IA-
CAP/programs/ecap04.pdf) Accessed 20
September, 2013
[11] Toyin Adepoju (2009) Ifa Divination and van
Gogh
(http://reconfigurations.blogspot.com/2009/11/to
yin-adepoju-ifa-divination-van-gogh.html)
[12] Traditional African Religion From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_African
_religion) Accessed 18 September, 2013
[13] Yemi Ogunsola (2012) Simplifying Yoruba
Number System
(http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/art/arts/7945
6-simplifying-yoruba-number-system) Accessed
19 September, 2013

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