Roles & Practice
noun1 min readAwo
/ah-WOH/
Definition
Secret, mystery, or the initiated keepers of esoteric knowledge; often used interchangeably with Babaláwo or dedicated practitioners.
The Mystery
Awo refers primarily to esoteric knowledge that is hidden from the profane or uninitiated eye. It encompasses the deep rituals, incantations, and mechanics of the spiritual world.
The Keepers
By extension, 'Awo' often refers to those who possess this knowledge—the initiated priests and priestesses who dedicate their lives to studying the mysteries of Ifá and the Òrìṣà.
Topics
Related Terms
Babaláwo
Roles & Practice
A priest of Ifá; literally 'father of secrets.' A Babaláwo is a trained diviner who has undergone years of initiation and study to master the 256 Odù and the art of Ifá divination.
→Ifá
Core Concepts
A divination system and literary corpus that forms the intellectual and spiritual backbone of Yorùbá civilization. Ifá encompasses a vast oral canon of sacred poetry, historical narratives, proverbs, and ethical teachings transmitted through trained diviners called Babaláwo.
→Yorùbá Version Available
Awo
Àṣírí ẹ̀mí, igbimọ; tàbí aṣípá oníyebíye agbéwọgbá fún gbogbo ìtan ijinlẹ̀ Ifá àti Òrìṣà.