Ajogun

Traditional Ifá teachings identify eight primary Ajogun: Ikú (Death), Àrùn (Disease), Òfò (Loss), Ègbà (Paralysis), Òràn (Trouble), Èpè (Curse), Èwọn (Imprisonment), and Èṣe (Affliction). These forces are understood as autonomous spiritual entities rather than abstract concepts, each possessing its own character and methods of assault upon human welfare. They are sometimes called 'warriors of the left' in contrast to the benevolent Òrìṣà.

The Ajogun serve an essential function within Yorùbá metaphysics, representing the necessary opposition that gives meaning to blessings and motivates human striving. Ifá divination frequently addresses the presence or threat of specific Ajogun, prescribing ẹbọ (sacrifice) and spiritual remedies to appease or deflect their influence. The Òrìṣà, particularly Ọ̀rúnmìlà through Ifá wisdom, provide humanity with the knowledge to negotiate, evade, or overcome these adversarial forces.

In Ifá philosophy, the Ajogun are understood to attack each person according to vulnerabilities inherent in their orí (inner head) and àyànmọ́ (destiny). Before birth, the soul must pass through the realm of these forces, and the choices made during that passage influence one's susceptibility to their attacks throughout life. This theological framework emphasizes that misfortune is neither random nor purely punitive but exists within a comprehensible spiritual ecology.