A Semiotic Investigation of Ifa SYmbolism in Relations with Ibeji and Saints Cosmas and Damian of Catholic Faith

Abstract

Relationship in cultural pattern, including religion, accounts for the relationship among human societies generally. The understanding of cultural dynamics of a society is an important way of understanding the value system. Essentially, Ifa is believed to be the springboard of Yoruba culture because virtually every aspect of Yoruba religious and cultural life has one-link or another with Ifa. Previous studies on the cultural element of Ifa have neither related lbeji with Ifa nor Ifa with Saints Cosmas and Damian of Catholic faith. Therefore, this study attempts to fill the gap of Ifa symbolism- pre-Ifa divination sacrifice in relation with ibeji (twins) among the Yoruba people and Saints Cosmas and Damian of Catholicism. The study examines the pre-Ifa divination symbols realised as ebo (sacrifice). Ifd symbols are investigated to be related with human symbo lis m in both Ibeji among the Y oruba peop le and Saints Cosmas and Damian of Catholic faith. This work relies substantially on Yoruba oral literary texts, especially, !fa literary corpus. Semiotics, which is the science of signs, is adopted for the analysis of the data, because, symbolism underlies Ifa divination system. Bio or zoo semiotics, which studies symbolism in living organisms, including human beings, is explored. It is found out that, ebo is a universal religious implementation order. This universality in the order of religious sacrifice generally and Ifa in particular, is however unique with human symbolism in both lbeji in Yoruba belief and Saints Cosmas and Darnian of Catholic faith. The work concludes that, the presence of the divinities, and supernatural beings are symbolised in human. In other words, the relationship or connections of Ifa symbols are felt on Ibeji and Saints Cosmas and Damian of Catholicism.