Contested accounts

⑂ How Ifá Divination Came to Yorubaland

Who introduced the Ifá oracle into the Yoruba country?

Johnson records two traditions for the introduction of Ifá, the great consulting oracle: one credits King Onigbogi — said to have been dethroned for it — and another credits Setilu, a blind-born diviner from the Nupe country.

The accounts

Alternative Oral tradition

Introduced by King Onigbogi

Ifá was introduced at a late period by King Onigbogi, who was said to have been dethroned for having done so.

“9. Ifá.—This is the great consulting oracle in the Yoruba country and was introduced at a late period by King ONIGBOGI, who was said to have been dethroned for having done so.”
Read in context — Part I, Ch. 3 ¶45 →

Source: Johnson 1921, Part I Ch. III (Religion) · Part I, Ch. 3 ¶45

Why ranked alternative: Johnson presents both traditions side by side without adjudicating.

Alternative Oral tradition

Introduced by Setilu of the Nupe country

Another tradition says Ifá was brought into the Yoruba country by one Setilu, a native of the Nupe country who was born blind.

“Another tradition says it was introduced into the Yoruba country by one Setilu, native of the Nupe country, who was born blind.”
Read in context — Part I, Ch. 3 ¶46 →

Source: Johnson 1921, Part I Ch. III (Religion) · Part I, Ch. 3 ¶46

Why ranked alternative: Johnson presents both traditions side by side without adjudicating.

Anchored in the text

Part I, Ch. 3 ¶45 · Part I, Ch. 3 ¶46

Settled facts are stated plainly; every disputed claim is attributed to its tradition or scholar and ordered by the weight of evidence behind it. Accounts now thought mistaken are kept too, with the reason why — seeing how the history has been understood over time is part of the story.