Cowrie-shell divination
Encyclopedia
Cowrie shell divination refers to several distinct form of divination
using cowrie shells that are part of the ritual
s and religious beliefs
of several religions. Though most well-documented in West Africa as well as in West African derived Afro-American religions, such as Candomblé
and Umbanda
, forms of cowrie-shell divination have been documented in other regions, including East Africa and India .
s, and poses questions to them. It is believed that the Orishas answer the questions by influencing the way the shells fall on the table.
Forms of West African cowrie-shell divination are found in Brazil, Cuba, and Puerto Rico where they play an important role in religions like Candomblé and Santeria. Most of these are closely related to Ifá
and employ 16 cowries.
In Brazil, it is called jogo de búzios (Portuguese
for "cowrie game") or merindinlogun
(Yoruba
for "sixteen") by its practitioners, although the two names may designate somewhat different systems.
In Cuba, it is often called Diloggun, after the Yoruba merindinlogun.
Though they share a common root, Cuban and Brazilian cowrie-shell divination have subsequently developed in partial independence from West African practice and each other. For example, among Cuban diviners, the shells are more often thrown twice to derive a composite odu in closer approximation to the practices of Ifá.
divination practiced by Yoruba
priests in Africa
. However, Ifá uses palm seeds instead of shells, and different ways to "throw" and count them. Also, cowrie-shell divination is widely practiced in the Americas by women, whereas Ifá divination in Africa is traditionally reserved to men.
The practice of Ifá divination was brought to the Americas with the slave trade, mainly between the 17th and 19th centuries. The use of cowrie shells however is claimed to have come from the Middle East
, and to have entered Africa some centuries earlier. Cowrie shells, which were used as currency
in Africa by the time of the slave trade, are frequently used in ornaments and dresses associated with the Afro-American cults.
The cowrie shell, as collected from a beach, has a flattened side with a longitudinal slit, and a smooth rounded side. Like a coin
, the shell has only two stable positions on a flat surface, with the slit side facing either up or down. A few cowrie-shell diviners use the shells in this natural state; then the outcome of the throw, for each piece, is either "open" (slit up) or "closed" (slit down).
Most priests, however, use modified shells whose rounded part has been ground away, creating a second, artificial opening. The two stable positions of the shell are still called "open" or "closed" for divination purposes. In most candomblé houses (temples), "open" still means that the natural opening is facing up; but some traditions (mainly in the Candomblé Ketu
sect) use the opposite convention.
The number of "open" shells is used to select an item (odú, which are the same as the principal list of Ifá
divination) which direct the diviner to a fixed list of oracular verses (ẹsẹ).
Divination
Divination is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic standardized process or ritual...
using cowrie shells that are part of the ritual
Ritual
A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers....
s and religious beliefs
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
of several religions. Though most well-documented in West Africa as well as in West African derived Afro-American religions, such as Candomblé
Candomblé
Candomblé is an African-originated or Afro-Brazilian religion, practised chiefly in Brazil by the "povo de santo" . It originated in the cities of Salvador, the capital of Bahia and Cachoeira, at the time one of the main commercial crossroads for the distribution of products and slave trade to...
and Umbanda
Umbanda
Umbanda is an Afro-Brazilian religion that blends African religions with Catholicism, Spiritism and Kardecism, and considerable indigenous lore....
, forms of cowrie-shell divination have been documented in other regions, including East Africa and India .
In West Africa
Several forms of cowrie-shell divination are distributed broadly throughout West Africa.Forms using sixteen cowries
While there are many variants using from 8 to 21 cowrie shells, West African derived forms most commonly use 16 cowrie shells on a prepared table or on the ground, interpreting the patterns that result. Before each throw, the practitioner invokes and salutes the OrishaOrisha
An Orisha is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare in the Yoruba spiritual or religious system....
s, and poses questions to them. It is believed that the Orishas answer the questions by influencing the way the shells fall on the table.
Forms of West African cowrie-shell divination are found in Brazil, Cuba, and Puerto Rico where they play an important role in religions like Candomblé and Santeria. Most of these are closely related to Ifá
Ifá
Ifá refers to the system of divination and the verses of the literary corpus known as the Odú Ifá. Yoruba religion identifies Orunmila as the Grand Priest; as that which revealed Oracle divinity to the world...
and employ 16 cowries.
In Brazil, it is called jogo de búzios (Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
for "cowrie game") or merindinlogun
Merindinlogun
Merindinlogun is a cowrie-shell divination method practiced in the Yoruba religion, and of several Afro-American religions derived from it, that uses sixteen cowrie shells....
(Yoruba
Yoruba language
Yorùbá is a Niger–Congo language spoken in West Africa by approximately 20 million speakers. The native tongue of the Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas...
for "sixteen") by its practitioners, although the two names may designate somewhat different systems.
In Cuba, it is often called Diloggun, after the Yoruba merindinlogun.
Though they share a common root, Cuban and Brazilian cowrie-shell divination have subsequently developed in partial independence from West African practice and each other. For example, among Cuban diviners, the shells are more often thrown twice to derive a composite odu in closer approximation to the practices of Ifá.
Relationship to Ifá
Cowrie-shell divination is derived from the IfáIfá
Ifá refers to the system of divination and the verses of the literary corpus known as the Odú Ifá. Yoruba religion identifies Orunmila as the Grand Priest; as that which revealed Oracle divinity to the world...
divination practiced by Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
priests in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. However, Ifá uses palm seeds instead of shells, and different ways to "throw" and count them. Also, cowrie-shell divination is widely practiced in the Americas by women, whereas Ifá divination in Africa is traditionally reserved to men.
The practice of Ifá divination was brought to the Americas with the slave trade, mainly between the 17th and 19th centuries. The use of cowrie shells however is claimed to have come from the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, and to have entered Africa some centuries earlier. Cowrie shells, which were used as currency
Currency
In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
in Africa by the time of the slave trade, are frequently used in ornaments and dresses associated with the Afro-American cults.
Divination ritual in Afro-Brazilian religions
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
, the shell has only two stable positions on a flat surface, with the slit side facing either up or down. A few cowrie-shell diviners use the shells in this natural state; then the outcome of the throw, for each piece, is either "open" (slit up) or "closed" (slit down).
Most priests, however, use modified shells whose rounded part has been ground away, creating a second, artificial opening. The two stable positions of the shell are still called "open" or "closed" for divination purposes. In most candomblé houses (temples), "open" still means that the natural opening is facing up; but some traditions (mainly in the Candomblé Ketu
Candomblé Ketu
Candomblé Ketu is the largest and most influential nation of Candomblé, a religion widely practiced in Brazil...
sect) use the opposite convention.
The number of "open" shells is used to select an item (odú, which are the same as the principal list of Ifá
Ifá
Ifá refers to the system of divination and the verses of the literary corpus known as the Odú Ifá. Yoruba religion identifies Orunmila as the Grand Priest; as that which revealed Oracle divinity to the world...
divination) which direct the diviner to a fixed list of oracular verses (ẹsẹ).