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Agere Ifá (Divination vessel)

Maker Yoruba

Datelate 19th-early 20th century

GeographyNigeria, Africa

MediumWood

Dimensionsoverall: 11 in. x 15 1/2 in. x 6 1/4 in. (27.9 cm x 39.4 cm x 15.9 cm)

Credit LineGift of Susanne Klejman Bennet (Class of 1959)

Object number1996.60a-b

Status

On view

RightsCopyright is retained in accordance with U.S. Copyright laws

Photo creditDavis Museum at Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA

More Information

Object Label

This vessel would have held ikin, sacred palm or kola nuts used in divination. The nuts embodied the presence of Orunmila, the primordial deity of wisdom who created the divination system of Ifá, thus making this agere ifá a kind of temple to the omniscient god. In its avian shape, the container evoked chickens and other birds offered as sacrifices to Orunmila. Ifá divination seeks to learn from Orunmila’s clairvoyant abilities to see how the present relates to the past and future.