Why should you do an Afa (Ifa) Divination?

You should get a divination if you are facing career, health, behavioral, spiritual, financial, or relationship-related challenges and looking for a third-party assessment of why they are occurring and how to solve them using African methods. Afa reading tells us the root cause of the problem with practical, tailored solutions. Afa divination is also a practical tool that can show what path a person should take in order to be in alignment with their highest self, at any given moment. 

How does an Afa (Ifa) Divination work?

During divination, the Bokor manipulates the Fa divining chain (gumaga or kpele) or sacred palm nuts (huku) to obtain one of the pre-determined 256 sacred signs of Fa known as Odu/Kpoli. The 256 Odus are divided into 16 chapters, with each Odu consisting of four binary markings on both the left and right wings. Each Odu has associated stories as well as specific dietary, behavioral, social, and spiritual guidelines for an individual or community for any given problem. After interpreting the original sign, the diviner can also confirm additional details with the spirits through close-ended, Yes or No questions if the divining person wishes to do so.

When should you do an Afa (Ifa) Divination?

Afa can be consulted anytime an individual or a group (community/family) faces a problem, but also when a person or group wants to gather insights about their well-being (spiritual, familial, health, relationships, career, etc.) routinely before problems occur. It is useful to think of consulting an Afa diviner as similar to going to consult a doctor: you either go when you are sick (the problem has occurred) or for a routine health check-up (before the problem occurs).

What should you expect during an Afa (Ifa) Divination?

An Afa divination typically starts with the client speaking on a piece of money (either in-person or over the phone), stating their problems and why they are consulting Afa. This can be done in any language of the person’s choosing. After this, the diviner consults Afa to obtain an Odu, a sign of Afa, by manipulating Afa’s divining chain (gumaga or kpele). The diviner then goes on to decode and convey the message of Afa to the client and any follow-up rituals (vosa/ebo), actions, and behavioral/dietary amendments they need to make to overcome their problem(s). After interpreting the original sign, the diviner can also confirm additional details with the spirits through a Yes or No question if the divining person wishes to do so.

What should you expect after an Afa (Ifa) Divination?

After an Afa divination, the client typically has to perform follow-up rituals (known in Ewe as vosa - the equivalent of ebo in Isese/Lukumi) and follow dietary, behavioral, and health-related guidelines. Obtaining the intended result is dependent on following through with these guidelines, however, one should not be forced or pressured to follow through. After a divination with us, you will be sent written summaries with details of what Afa said and the follow-up guidelines.

Can you do the Afa (Ifa) Divination online?

Our team also conducts online Afa (Ifa) readings through video calls. For remote divinations, we do two calls. The first call is a brief one where you get to speak to Afa and tell it what you are trying to find out in any language you prefer. This call is typically 5 to 10 minutes. After this first call, our diviners will do the reading and will follow up with a second call where we share our findings with you for over 30 to 45 minutes. During the second call, you can ask the diviner or Afa follow-up questions. Between the first call and the second call, it usually takes 7 business days.