Ifa
What is Ifa? Ifa is the indigenous spiritual tradition of the Yoruba People of Nigeria. It has three primary components: Ancestor veneration, Orisha Veneration, and Divination or readings. The basic purpose of this tradition is to help individuals stay connected to one’s higher self and the Orishas.
Ifa based based traditions are practiced extensively in Cuba, Latin America and the islands. Slave owners did not prohibit the slaves from practicing their indigenous faiths. This allowed the traditions to be passed down through the generations and Ifa is as accessible as the Catholic Church.
Ifa has become significant in the United States as many African Americans have sought a spiritual practice which presents spiritual truths from a culturally relevant perspective. It is estimated that over 85% of African Americans are descendants of Africans brought from Nigeria during the height of the American slave practice. Many African Americans are turning away from the European tenets of Judeao-Christianity and are looking for a spiritual practice more in harmony with the earth and with deities that, like the practitioners, are dark with kinky hair.
This is not to say that one needs to be black in order to study Ifa. There are many who are not of African descent. Ifa is the fastest growing “religion” around the world with practitioners from numerous cultures and races. We are saying that many African Americans are looking to re-establish definitions of religion in a racially and culturally appropriate context.
Ifa, as an earth based spiritual practice, has much in common with Native indigenous practices which is why we include it,here, on this site. This connection between Native Indigenous and Africans is sound from a historical perspective as scholars have long documented that Africans came to the Americas long before Columbus and in doing so brought and mingled their traditions with the local populations. It is because of this connection that Africans were able to run into the “bushes” of Florida and live with and marry among the Seminole and Cree People without harm.
There are many in our circle who are of African and Native descendant and many who desire to know about Native practices. It is for the benefit of our circle that we post this information, so that individuals can have access to information from cultures that assists them to build internal harmony and to freely communicate their ancestors. It is an answer to a question, “How do you choose which to follow….” Learn about all that you are! You have chosen that body for a reason; to have genetic memory of information that will assist you in this incarnation.
We will be posting information on the commonalities between these traditions. We hope it is of benefit to our readers. Please feel free to comment on our posts. We enjoy stimulating conversation. enjoy!
Spider Who Sings
