Welcome to the 256 Odu Ifa Divination Cards Website.

Oduduwa is a prominent figure in Yoruba mythology, regarded as the progenitor of the Yoruba people and the first Ooni (king) of Ife, a city in present-day Nigeria. According to legend, Oduduwa descended from the heavens on a chain and became the ruler of Ife. He is considered the father of many deities and a central figure in Yoruba cosmology.

The 256 Odu Ifa are the verses of the Ifa divination corpus, which is central to the Yoruba spiritual and cultural system. Ifa divination is a complex system of divination used by Yoruba priests (known as babalawos) to communicate with the Orisas (deities) and seek guidance on various aspects of life. Each of the 256 Odu Ifa represents a combination of binary patterns, resulting in a total of 256 possible combinations. Each Odu is associated with a specific set of verses, proverbs, stories, and rituals, providing insights into different situations, challenges, and solutions. The Odu Ifa serve as a repository of Yoruba wisdom, ethics, and spiritual teachings, offering guidance on matters such as health, relationships, prosperity, and spiritual growth.

This book provides a basic overview of the essence and motivation behind each of the 256 Odus.

The 256 Odu Ifa Divination Cards Companion Book & Deck of Cards is a collaborative work by Akanbi Omo Amoke, who authored the manuscripts, and Afolabi Lipede, who designed the book and cards. Together, they have crafted a well-organized and comprehensive guide to the 256 Odu Ifa verses. We hope this companion book and deck will serve as an accessible introduction to the core concepts of Odu Ifa for those interested in Yoruba spiritual teachings.

Traditionally, Odu Ifa divination is performed with the Opele, and each Odu is transmitted through oral tradition, which often makes it difficult for newcomers to engage with. These cards, clearly designed and labeled with the names of each Odu, offer a more accessible way to learn. The book and cards are indexed and presented in a user-friendly format, making the wisdom of the Odu Ifa easier to navigate and understand.

PS: Thank you for your patience. The deck of 256 Odu Ifa Divination Cards will soon be available in packs. They are currently in production, and we are committed to ensuring they are durable and of the highest quality.