Just as there are men of learning who carry out Ifa works,there are also women of intergrity who do the same,they can not be called babalawo because they must never see ODU,hence the name iyalorisa.
Osun was the first to start women's spiritual work,odu ifa ose'tura explains that osun was the female orisa that descended to ile-ife from orun,osun being a woman was always secluded from the meetings and consultations of the orisa,she dealt only with the witches and reported the other orisas to Orunmila who did not take note,osun then decided to destroy all there plans and doings,so the orisas summoned orumila who then went to Olodumare to seek the solution to their problem and Olodumare asked them about Osun and why they secluded her,Olodumare then ordered them to include Osun in everything they do for them to be successful,thus Osun became the first IYALORISA and she started the ERINDINLOGUN(16 cowries) form of divination.
The role of women is not limited to making OSE(ifa week day) alone,there are some Akapo of ifa who are not allowed to study or practice ifa,some if them are Agbamate(those who recieve ikin ifa),there is also iyalase(those who take care of ifa through songs and dance of worship but do not have deep knowledge of ifa)
Nevertheless being iyalorisa requires years of tutelage under elderly iyalorisas and babalawos before being ordained after proper initiations and ceremonies.One canot become iyalorisa just because the person is initiated into the ruling orisa on her head.Aboru Aboye..
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