Yoruba Ifa Divination System

Author: William Bascom
Year: Foundational ethnographic work on Ifa
Source type: Ethnographic scholarship

Core Argument

Ifa divination encodes 256 paths (odu) representing patterns of probability, remedy, and consequence. The system functions as mnemonic knowledge base: diviner must memorize all 256 paths + associated verses, stories, and remedies. Knowledge is indexed by numerical/symbolic patterns.

Relationship to Kelly's Work

Ifa is African exemplar of knowledge as spatial/numerical indexing system. Like method of loci (location as memory anchor), Ifa uses 256-path system as knowledge scaffold. Convergent evolution: same principle (indexed memory architecture) appearing independently.

Key Features

• 256 odu (paths) = comprehensive taxonomy of human experience
• Each path has associated verses, stories, remedies
• Diviner memorizes entire system through apprenticeship
• Pattern-based knowledge storage (not geographic, but numerical-symbolic)