Opon Ifá

alt=A roughly circular wooden tray with a raised border carved with human and animal figures.|thumb|296x296px| N'ihe dị ka narị afọ nke 20 ''n'elu Ifá'' sitere na nchịkọta ihe ngosi nke Brooklyn
**Ọpọ́n Ifá** bụ tray ịgba afa a na-eji n'okpukpe ọdịnala ndị Africa na ndị Afro-America, ọ kachasị n'usoro a maara dị ka Ifá na n'ọdịnala ndị Yoruba n'ụzọ sara mbara.  The etymology of *opon*, nke pụtara n'ụzọ nkịtị "ịtọ ụtọ", na-akọwa nkà na ihe ịchọ mma nke trays, dị ka ha pụtara iji too ma kweta ọrụ ọma nke Babalawo (ndị na-agba afa).  Okwu nke okwu *Ifá* *abụrụla* nke a na-arụrịta ụka. A pụrụ iwere Ifá dị ka *orisha ,* ma ọ bụ chi Yoruba &#x2014; kpọmkwem, chi nke ịgba afa *Orula* . N’aka nke ọzọ, ụfọdụ ndị ọkà mmụta na-akpọ Ifá nanị dị ka “oké ndụmọdụ ndụmọdụ” n’ụzọ megidere chi ma ọ bụ chi, n’enweghị ihe ọ bụla sitere n’aka Chineke. 

Opon Ifá na-abụkarị ndị na-akpụ osisi bụ ndị ọkachamara na trays, a na-eme ya site n'ichepụta dịka arịrịọ onye nna nna babalawo ma ọ bụ site n'aka onye na-ese ihe.  Ihe e mesiri ike na nhazi tray abụghị nanị n'ihi ọdịdị "na-atọ ụtọ" ha, kamakwa n'ihi ọrụ ha na-arụ n'oge nyocha.  Ndị na-ese ihe dị iche iche na-eji ụdị ịchọ mma dị iche iche n'ime West Africa na n'ebe ndị Africa nọ, mana ọtụtụ ndị na-ese ihe na-enwe ike ịchọta mmetụta ha na Oyo, na Nigeria ugbu a. 

Mgbe a na-agba ajụjụ ọnụ, opon Ifá na-eji babalawo kparịta ụka, onye na-enwe ike ịmata ihe na-akpata na ngwọta maka nsogbu onwe onye na nke mkpokọta, na iweghachi nkwekọrịta na mmụọ.   Orisha intermediary, Esu, na-eje ozi dika onye ozi n'etiti babalawo na Ifá, dika mmuo abuo bu ndi enyi ibe ha.  Na mgbakwunye na ihe ndị ọzọ dị nsọ dị ka *[[iroke Ifá]]* (diviner's tapper), *[[ikin Ifá]]* (sacred palm or kola nuts) or *[[opele Ifá]]* (ịgba afa), na *[[iyerosun]]* (ịgba afa), a na-eji opon Ifá chọpụta *[[Odù Ifá|odu]]* . ma ọ bụ amaokwu, jikọtara ya na nsogbu nke onye na-azụ ya. Ozugbo odu ekpughere Ifá, ndị babalawo na-akọwapụta ihe ngwọta nke dị n'ime akụkọ ihe mere eme nke akọwara n'ime odu ahụ kpọmkwem. 

## Nhazi
Opon Ifá bụ osisi, n'ozuzu n'etiti 15 na 46 centimeters (6 na 18 sentimita asatọ) na dayameta, ma dị larịị ma na-adịkarị okirikiri; Otú ọ dị, akụkụ anọ, ọkara okirikiri, na ihe dị ka akụkụ anọ ka ahụkwara.  Trays ndị ahụ na-egosipụta akụkụ mpụta ewelitere&nbsp;&#x2013; a na-ejikarị ihe osise, ihe na eserese geometric chọọ ya mma. Ihe mgbagwoju anya nka nke ihe osise dị n'akụkụ bụ akara ọkwa n'etiti babalowos, ma na-atụ aro mkpa ha dị na ndị ahịa.  A na-akpọ elu tray ahụ "isi" ma ọ bụ *oju opon,* nke ọzọ ka a na-akpọkwa ala "ụkwụ" ma ọ bụ *ese opon.*  Otua, a na-eji ihe a tụrụ atụ chọọ isi mma Esu, onye ozi Ifá.   Ụfọdụ trays nwere ike inwe ihe nnochite anya Esu ndị ọzọ, na trays nwere ihu abụọ, anọ, asatọ na ọbụna iri na isii ka a mụọla. N'ọnọdụ dị otú ahụ, "isi" nke tray nwere ike ịhọpụta site cowries . A na-ejikwa cowries gbasaa ntụ ntụ ntụ dị nsọ, *iyerosun* . 

Akara mpụta nke opon Ifá na-arụ ọrụ yana ịchọ mma.  Ha na-ekesa okirikiri ahụ n'ime ngalaba itoolu dị iche iche na-enye ihe atụ n'oge ntụle. Akpọrọ ngalaba nke ọ bụla aha otu n’ime ndị na-agba afa ochie na ndị a ma ama. N'ọgụgụ ịgba afa, ndị babalowo nọ ọdụ chere ihu ọwụwa anyanwụ na opon Ifá n'ihu ha, nke mere na "ụkwụ" nke tray kacha nso ha.   Na nghazi a, a na-adị n'otu n'otu n'otu n'otu n'otu n'otu n'otu n'otu *ihu opon* ("ihu tray"), *ese opon* ("ụkwụ nke tray"), *ona kanran* ("ụzọ kwụ ọtọ"), na *ụzọ murun.* n'akụkụ ọwụwa anyanwụ, ọdịda anyanwụ, ndịda na n'akụkụ ugwu nke tray ahụ. N'elu diagonals site na ntụziaka ndị a kadinal bụ akụkụ anọ ọzọ ma ọ bụ ndị na-agba afa: *alaselosi* ("onye na-eme ihe n'aka ekpe") n'ebe ugwu ọwụwa anyanwụ, *alabolotun* ("onye na-atụ aro na nri") n'ebe ndịda ọwụwa anyanwụ, *afurukeresayo* ("onye na-eme ihe n'aka ekpe"). onye nwere oji ijiji na-agba afa na ańụrị) n'ebe ugwu ọdịda anyanwụ, na *ajiletepowo* ("onye mbụ ebili nke na-anọdụ ala na-eme nke ọma") na ndịda ọdịda anyanwụ. Akụkụ ikpeazụ bụ oghere dị n'etiti tray ahụ, *erilade opon* ("ebe nzukọ nke na-ekpuchi ihe niile"), maka ngụkọta nke ngalaba itoolu.   Akụkụ ndị a na-abata n'oge ntụle mgbe ndị babalowo n'otu n'otu kpalitere ọnụnọ Ifá na ndị na-agba afa itoolu tupu ha amalite ịgụ tray ahụ. 

### Ndị na-ese akwụkwọ Yoruba
N'akụkọ ihe mere eme, ndị na-ese ihe ndị Yoruba rụrụ ọrụ dị mkpa n'obodo ha - ọtụtụ ndị bụ ndị ọkachamara, na-ekepụta ihe dị iche iche site na banal (dịka stool, osisi ije, wdg) ruo na Chineke (dịka ihe ọkpụkpụ ụlọ nsọ, akwa isi, wdg).  Most of the carvers specialized in opon Ifá traced their roots to Are Lagbayi, a master palace wood carver of old Oyo, in now-day Nigeria.  Ihe nketa ya na-aga n'ihu site n'aka ndị opon Ifá ndị na-ese ihe bụ ndị babalowo na-agakarị, na-emepụta trays nwere atụmatụ nke aka ha ma ọ bụ arịrịọ nke ndị na-azụ ha.   Ụfọdụ ihe na-akpali akpali bụ akụkọ ifo nke ndị na-agba afa, mmụọ na ahụmahụ ndị odu nke ụbọchị nile kọwara, na ngwa eji eme ihe n'oge ndụmọdụ Ifá - dị ka *iroke Ifá* . 

### Ọdịiche
alt=A tray with elaborately carved borders, placing a circle within a rectangle.|thumb|238x238px| A na narị afọ nke 17 Dahomeyan ''opon Ifá'' na ''erilade opon'' okirikiri gbara okirikiri n'ime akụkụ anọ.
Enwere ọdịiche dị na nhazi nke opon Ifá, karịsịa n'ihe gbasara ọnụọgụ na ọnọdụ nke ihu Esu na-egosi na ọdịdị geometric nke osisi ahụ.   Ọbụna n'ime obodo a ga-enwe ụdị traị dị iche iche. Dị ka ihe atụ, otu tray nwere ike na-egosi Esu ka agba ya na-abata n’etiti tray ahụ ( *erilade opon* ), ebe ọzọ na-egosi ihu Esu abụọ n’akụkụ nke ọzọ nke traị ahụ. Ọ bụ ezie na usoro ịgba afa sitere n’etiti ndị Yoruba malite, omume ya agbasawo n’etiti ndị mba Afrịka ma jiri aha dị iche iche mara ya, na-enwe mgbanwe dị nro na nke siri ike. 

## Nkwenkwe ndị Yoruba
Ihu Esu, intermediary orisha n'etiti Ifá na babalawo, ka a na-akpụpụtakarị n'ime opon Ifá's perimeter iji mara oke ọrụ ọ na-arụ n'oge ndụmọdụ Chineke na ikwe ka babalawo chere ya ihu ozugbo. Akọwapụtara mmekọrịta dị n'etiti chi abụọ a n'akwụkwọ ndị Yoruba&nbsp;&#x2013; kpọmkwem site n’etiti 256 *odu*, ma ọ bụ amaokwu, nke babalawo na-akọwa site na opon Ifá.&nbsp;&#x2013; ma nye akụkọ maka otu Esu siri were were ọrụ ya. Nke a bụ akụkọ ifo nke onye isi Ifá si Oyo, Nigeria dere: 

Esu wee rịọ ka Ifá lekọta enwe ya otu izu ka ọ na-eme njem. Ifá kwetara, ma buru ụzọ gwa Esu ka o kee enwe n’osisi dị n’ihu ụlọ ya. Mgbe Esu gachara njem ya, Ifá gakwuru ọnụ okwu ka ọ hụ ihe bụ́ nzube Ịsọ maka njem ya. Okwu-ọnu nēdebere Ifá àjà -ichu- àjà nke banana nke aghaghi ime miri n'oké ohia. Ifá manyere iwu ma chụọ aja ahụ, ọ bụ naanị enwe Esu na-efunarị ozugbo ọ laghachiri n’osisi dị n’ihu ụlọ ya. Esu, ema ekikeek ibe ke ema esasa isan̄a, ema esasa ebi Ifá, mè ebi bọn ebirieen̄ ebi Ijeren. Esu îriọọn̄ ibe ke îkwu. Ọ gwara Ifá na ọ bụrụ na ọ hụghị enwe n’ime ụbọchị asaa nke anya mmiri ya ga-ada n’ala, a ga-akọcha Ifá n’enweghị udo ruo oge ndụ ya niile. N'ịchọ ihe ngwọta, Ifá gakwuru onye amụma ọzọ, gwa ya ka ọ lọghachi n'ebe ahụ kpọmkwem n'ime ọhịa ebe a chụọrọ banana. N'ebe ahụ, ọ ga-ahụ enwe. Ifá nara ndu ọnu, huta enwe Esu n'oké ọhịa. Ọo ya bụ l'a-chịtakwaa enwe l'ẹsu l'ẹhu t'ọ bụru ẹnya-ngwẹja ono, Ifá mechachaa ule a, gbachie ọjịka ya na Esu. Iji gosi ekele ya, Esu ṅụrụ iyi na ya ga-abụ enyi na onye na-akwado Ifá n’ihe niile ọ na-eme. Ya mere, Esu na-arụ ọrụ dị ka ọnụ na-esi na Ifá na-enye ihe ọmụma clairvoyant ya. 

## N'ịgba afa
alt=|thumb|349x349px| A babalowo script ''odu'' in ''iyerosun'' . ''Otu opele'' na ''iroke Ifá'' nọ n'aka nri ya.
N'oge a na-agba afa, babalawo buru ụzọ were "ụkwụ" opon Ifá chere ya ihu n'ihu tray ahụ nke ọma. Ọ na-anọdụ ala chere ihu n’ebe ọwụwa anyanwụ, ebe a na-eche na Ifá si n’ụgbọ elu ime mmụọ bịa, na-enye ohere ka ìhè nwunye traị ahụ, na-akpachapụ anya ka onyinyo ghara ịdakwasị n’osisi ahụ.   Mgbe e doziri nke ọma, iroke Ifá, ma ọ bụ onye na-agba afa, ka ndị babalawo na-eji kpalite ọnụnọ Ifá site n’ịkpọ ụbọ akwara n’elu opon Ifá.  A na-akpọkwa ndị na-agba afa itoolu ndị e sere n'ụzọ ihe atụ n'okirikiri tray ahụ.  Mgbe ahụ, a na-atụba nkwụ iri na isii ma ọ bụ kola nuts, ikin Ifá *,* n'elu osisi Ifá, na babalowo na-esi akọwa nke n'ime 256 ekwe omume nke odu (amaokwu) ga-egosipụta site na mkpụrụ.  Otu odu bụ okwu ma ọ bụ akara nke akara asatọ a na-ese na ntụ iyerosun gbasasịrị n'elu tray. Nke ọ bụla n'ime akara ngosi nwere amaokwu kwekọrọ ekwekọ nke a ga-abụ abụ wee họrọ dịka ọnọdụ onye ahịa siri dị.  

A na-arụ nke ọ bụla n'ime odu ahụ site n'otu n'otu na-ekpebi "akwụkwọ ozi" ọ bụla nke odu n'ụzọ amamihe dị na ya, malite na nkewa ala-nri nke oke, wee na ala-aka ekpe. Na-arụ ọrụ site na ala ruo n'elu, a na-emeghachi usoro a ugboro isii ọzọ ruo mgbe arụchara odu zuru oke ma dee ya na bọọdụ.  Ọ bụrụ na ejiri nkwụ dị nsọ, a na-eji babalawo jide iri na isii n'otu aka. N'aka nke ọzọ, ọ na-apụnara ọtụtụ ndị o nwere ike n'ọbụ aka ya. Ọ bụrụ na ọ dị otu nke fọdụrụ, ọ na-adọta ahịrị abụọ kwụ ọtọ n'ime uzuzu iyerosun na osisi. Ọ bụrụ na mkpụrụ abụọ fọdụrụ, ọ na-ese naanị otu ahịrị. Usoro a na-aga n'ihu ruo mgbe e guzobere ọnụọgụ abụọ nke akụkụ anọ nke ọ bụla. 

Ụzọ ọzọ e si eji opon Ifá na-agụnye ụdọ ịgba afa a na-akpọ opele Ifá, na-edobe nkwụ ma ọ bụ mkpụrụ kola maka ajụjụ ndị ka njọ.  Opele ahụ nwere agbụ nke mkpụrụ nke ọkara kola asatọ gbakọtara ọnụ, nke ọ bụla jikọtara ya na otu mkpụrụedemede asatọ nke odu na saịtị dị n'akụkụ oke tray ahụ. O mechaa kpalie mmuo jiri iroke Ifá, babalawo tufuo opele; nke ọ bụla n'ime ọkara-akpụrụ asatọ ga-ada concave elu ma ọ bụ concave ala, isi ma ọ bụ ọdụ. Otu ahịrị na-anọchi anya "isi" ebe ahịrị abụọ kwụ ọtọ na-anọchi anya "ọdụ"&nbsp;- A na-edekọ usoro a na ntụ ntụ iyerosun, dịka a na-eme ya na nkwụ.  Ya mere, usoro ọnụọgụ abụọ nke otu na abụọ kwụ ọtọ na-enye 256 dị iche iche odu, nke ọ bụla jikọtara ya na mmụọ na ụfọdụ ọnọdụ archetypal. Ụfọdụ odu na-akwado, ma ndị ọzọ adịghị mma. Ọzọkwa, ndị odu na-ekpebi ihe onyinye ndị babalowo na-enye onye ahịa ka ha wee nweta ihe ha chọrọ. 

## Edensibia

Òtù:Pages with unreviewed translations