Natural and Supernatural Human Beings in African Philosophy: A Semiotic Investigation of Links between Ifa and Ibeji among the Yorùbá

Abstract

Ifa is believed to be the foundation of Yorùba culture. Therefore, every aspect of Yorùba life, including religion and philosophy has one link or another with Ifa. Previous studies have not related the philosophy around Odù (a code of Ifa communication) in Ifa to Odù in Ibeji. This study is set to fill this gap. The current study relies substantially on Yorùba texts, Ifa corpus, panegyrics and incantations. Semiotics, which is the science of signs, is adopted as, symbolism underlies Ifa divination system. The findings have revealed that Odù and hermeneutics codes of Ifa and Ibeji are related. It is also revealed that, there is synergy between the philosophy in Odù-Ifa and Odù in Ibeji. Consequently, the philosophy behind the birth of Odù is related to the Yorùba philosophy on the birth of Ibeji. The study concludes that, the Yorùba philosophy behind Ibeji is derived from Ifa. The study suggests one of the possibilities of the Yorùbá producing the highest twinning rate around the globe.