Baga 87or demands—that is, of what type of ritual (if any)
is necessary to open the path and ensure success.
The ritual often involves a sacrifice or offering of
some sort to Ifa or some other deity.
Needless to say, given the importance attached
to divination throughout Africa, Babalawos have
their equivalent in many other parts of Africa. In
Igboland, for example, it is theMboniwho fulfills
the same important function, whereas in Fonland,
it is the Bokonon. Furthermore, some scholars
have derived the wordifa fromneferand have
suggested that the origin of the worship of Ifa
must be properly located in Kemet. In the African
Diaspora, the termBabalawois loosely used and
refers to any priest of a Yoruba deity, not just Ifa.
Ama MazamaSee alsoDivination Systems; Fa; Ifa; Ikin; Initiation; Priests
Further Readings
Farris Thompson, R. (1984).Flash of the Spirits.New
York: Vintage Books.
Idowu, E. B. (1994).Olodumare:God in Yoruba Belief.
New York:A&BBooks.
Karenga, M. (1999).Odu Ifa:The Ethical Teachings.
Los Angeles: University of Sankore Press.
Lucas, O. (1948).The Religion of the Yorubas. Lagos,
Nigeria: C.M.S. Bookshop.BAGA
The Baga-speaking people live in Guinea. They
include the Baga, Landuma, and Nalu. As people
of the southern swampy lands of the low coast,
between the sea and Conakry, the Baga are anSanteria “babalawo” (high priest)Victor Omolofaoro Betancourt poses in front of his outdoor altar on January 19, 2002, at his
home in Havana, Cuba.
Source: Getty Images.