Understanding Ifá: inserting knowledge of an African cosmology in leisure studies and nature-based research

ABSTRACT

Originating among the Yorùbá of West Africa, Ifá is an ancient spiritual system that spread throughout the globe due to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. But over the past 50 years because of a desire among various racial and ethnic groups, Ifá has grown and is seen as a ‘world religion’. Within Ifá resides the Orisha, representational forces serving the greater force of the Universe. Urban and rural natural environments are sacred spaces for practitioners as tourists to interact and communicate with these forces to intercede in their daily lives. This article will present the underlying environmental ethics of the system of Ifá and how it informs nature-based tourism and interactions with nature for both leisure and spiritual development. What is presented is a continued broadening of our understanding of differing cultural views, norms and behaviours with nature that has been initiated by Native-American–based scholarship.

KEYWORDS:

• Ifá
• Orisha
• Yorùbá
• Nigeria
• Santería
• Slave Trade
• Caribbean
• African Cosmology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rasul A. Mowatt

Rasul A. Mowatt is an Associate Professor in both the Departments of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies and American Studies at Indiana University. He also serves as the Department Head of the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies.