Iroke Tapper Ifa for divination. Owo, Yoruba, Nigeria, XIX century.

Iroke Tapper Ifa for divination. Owo, Yoruba, Nigeria, XIX century.
Carved ivory.
Provenance: Baudoin de Grunne, Wezembeek-Oppem, Belgium.
Published in: Orisha Yoruba, Serge Schoffel, 2019, pp. 28-29.
Measurements: 17.8 cm length.

Divination sculpture carved in ivory, used by the priests of Ifa, in Nigeria, to invoke their spirit during the divination process. This type of cane-sculptures have as mission to capture the attention of the divinity by means of blows carried out on the tray "opon Ifa", as greeting and invocation to Orunmila. The priest of Ifa ("babalawo") performs the invocation by striking the edge of the divination tray with the "iroke Ifa". They are often female figures holding their breasts, symbol of fertility.

The Yoruba are one of the African ethnic groups whose cultural heritage and identity are most recognized. With respect to the Yoruba social structure, we must comment that it is a highly hierarchical society, in a clearly pyramidal form, where the greatest importance falls on the figure of the king and behind him a High Council that determines the social life of the rest of the components of the community. This structure is uncommon in African city-states and the most interesting thing is that the figure of the king himself has power over life and death. His own life is essential to the welfare of the people. If he is satisfied, so are his subjects. He is the life force of the state.