Ifá Paraphernalia: Divination Tray, Opele Tray, Mazo Ifá

Material Information

Title:
Ifá Paraphernalia: Divination Tray, Opele Tray, Mazo Ifá
Creator:
Adrian Castro ( Artist )
Chillag, George ( Photographer )
Publication Date:
Physical Description:
Slide
Physical Location:
Box No FB19; Folder No. 1; 2001

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Santería
Orishas in art
Afro-Cuban artists
Genre:
Color Photograph

Notes

Abstract:
Opon Ifa (divination tray), mazo for Orunmila and opele (divination chain), all made by Adrian Castro. Mazo: Long, multi-strand, beaded necklace. Beads are multi-colored, but each section of the necklace has its own color pattern. Each group has four strands; the groups are divided by ovaloid wood pieces with symbols burned into them. The necklace has a group of four beaded tassels at the end, green and yellow. This mazo, or iñafá was commissioned and purchased especially for Historical Museum of Southern Florida (HistoryMiami Museum) exhibit, "At the Crossroads: Afro-Cuban Orisha Arts in Miami," February 23- August 8, 2001. It was made by Adrian Castro, a babalawo, "father of secrets", a priest of the orisha deity Orunmila, the orisha of divination, knowledge, and wisdom. This mazo has bead patterns for 16 orishas, and includes wood pieces for the 16 major Odu Ifá, the corpus of verses of the Ifá oracle. This type of mazo is worn by a babalawo while performing ikin Ifá (palm nut divination), and during initiations of babalawos. The babalawo's specialization is the study of Odu Ifá, 256 verses, prescriptions and proscriptions of the Ifá oracle, believed to have been handed down by Olodumaré (the Supreme Being). Orunmila's ritual colors are green and yellow, as shown in the tassels on this mazo. ( en )
General Note:
From HistoryMiami's South Florida Folklife Collection. Afro-Cuban Orisha Arts in Miami, 1999-2001. Collection No. HMF9018.

Record Information

Source Institution:
HistoryMiami Museum
Holding Location:
HistoryMiami Museum
Rights Management:
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Resource Identifier:
2001-390-780B ( HistoryMiami Identifier )