INTRODUCTION TO THE 256 Odù Ifá

This E-book offers an introduction to the 256 Odu Ifa. It is written to offer the most basic
knowledge on Odu Ifa. It is never the intention of this book or its writer to offer any deep
knowledge on Ifa religion and divination. The intention of this E-book is to offer a cursory insight
into the world of Odu Ifa. It will serve as a very small window into the world of Odu Ifa.
This E-book has no commercial intention whatsoever. It is freely distributed to those who may
find it useful as they begin the study of Ifa religion. It may also serve as reference for ardent of
Ifa religion. But the E-book is mainly written as one of the educative tools for the members of
“Isedale Yoruba”. Isedale Yoruba is a group which can be found on whatsapp and Facebook.
Isedale Yoruba is a group of ardent elites who strive continually to teach and promote Yoruba
Tradition (Isese). The group is led by a passionate, brave, intelligent, humble, and compassionate
young man called King. We extend our hands of fellowship to both ardent in Yoruba Tradition
and genuine seeker after the truth in the ways of the ancestral forefathers of the Yoruba people.

Olalekan Lanre Adebayo

There are 256 known Odu Ifa1 out of which the first 16 are known as the primordial Odu (Oju
odu2). The remaining 240 Odus are the results of various combination of the first 16 Odu3.

The Odu Ifa is similar to the computer binary coding system of 0 and 1. Ifa is coded within the
256 Odu(s) or corpus. Each of the 256 Odu ifa has many verses which are presented in the form
of parables 4. An Ifa ardent is expected to know minimum of four verses from each of the 256
odus.

1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If%C3%A1
2
https://oyekuofun.org/odu-ifa/
3
http://www.reunionblackfamily.com/apps/blog/show/7134366-ifa-the-true-religion-of-yorubas-sixteen-is-the-
number-of-cosmos-
4

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259962837_A_Comparative_Study_of_Ifa_Divination_and_Computer_
Science
5
http://ancientblackhistory.blogspot.de/2016/06/ifa-divination-computer-science-256-odus.html
The Odùs of Ifá are patterns of binary code with closed and opened nodules representing all of
the energies contained in the Calabash of Existence (Igba Iwa)6. This Igba iwa is also known as the
cosmos or the Universe.

All the possible circumstances and situations of humans on planet earth are represented by the
energies within the Calabash of Existence (Igba Iwa). Human situations come in two main forms:
misfortune and blessing. These situations can be found in various formats within the “Igba Iwa”.
The Odùs are the oracles of the Yorùbá divination systems of Ifá, Obi, and Merindinlogun7.

The work of a Babalawo or Iyanifa is to employ the knowledge of the energies within the “Igba
Iwa” to proffer solution(s) to an individual’s problem. The energies in the Calabash of Existence
reveal the destiny of human being and how they can improve their lives experience through
tweaking or fine-tuning of their Ori(s) (destiny).

The 256 Odus are the blueprints of all the probable human circumstances in the universe. Each
of the 256 Odus as a chapter has minimum of 800 esoteric verses8 with accompanied
ebos(rituals), oguns (medicine), and sacrifices.

The 256 Odus are herein presented in the subsequent pages of this E-book (Introduction to the
256 Odu Ifa).

6
http://www.reunionblackfamily.com/apps/blog/show/7134366-ifa-the-true-religion-of-yorubas-sixteen-is-the-
number-of-cosmos-
7
https://oyekuofun.org/odu-ifa/
8
https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/ifa-divination-system-00146
 II II II II II II

II II II II II II

II II II II II II

II II II II II II

1 Ogbe Meji 2 Oyeku Meji 3 Iwori Meji 4 Odi Meji

Ejiogbe Ejioyeku Ejiiwori Ejiodi

II II II II II II

II II II II II II II

II II II II II II II

II II II II II II

5 Irosun 6 Owonrin Meji 7 Obara Meji 8 Okanran

Meji Ejiowonrin Ejiobara Meji
Ejiirosun Ejiokanran

II II II II II II II

II II II II II

II II II II II

II II II II II II II

9 Ogunda 10 Osa Meji Ejiosa 11 Ika Meji 12 Oturupon

Meji Ejiika Meji
Ejiogunda Ejiologbon
 II II II II II

II II II II II II

II II II II II II

II II II II II

13 Otura 14 Irete Meji Ejiirete 15 Ose Meji 16 Ofun Meji

Meji Ejiose Ejiorangun
Ejiotura
(Eepa!)

II I II I II II

II I II II I II

II I II II I II I

II I II I II II I

17 Ogbe 18 Ogbe Iwori 19 Ogbe Odi 20 Ogbe

Oyeku Ogbewori Ogbedi Irosun
Ogbeyeku Ogberosun

II I II II I II

II I II I II I II

II II I II I II

II II I II II I

21 Ogbe 22 Ogbe Obara 23 Ogbe 24 Ogbe

Owonrin Ogbebara Okanran Ogunda
Ogbewonrin Ogbekanran Ogbegunda
 II I II I II I II

II II II I II I

II II I II II

II II I II I II

25 Ogbesa 26 Ogbe Ika Ogbeka 27 Ogbe 28 Ogbe

Ogbe Osa Oturupon Otura
Ogbeturupo Ogbetura Og
n bejegbe

II II II I

II II I II

II I II II I

II II I II

29 Ogbe 30 Ogbe Ose 31 Ogbe

Irete Ogbe Ogbese Ofun
Ate Ogbefun

I II II II I II I II

I II I II II II I II

I II I II II II II II

I II II II I II II II

32 Oyeku 33 Oyeku Iwori 34 Oyeku 35 Oyeku

Ogbe Oyekuwori Odi Irosun
Oyekulogbe Oyekuodi Oyekurosun
 II II I II II II I II

II II II II II II I II

I II II II II II I II

I II II II I II II II

36 Oyeku 37 Oyeku Obara 38 Oyeku 39 Oyeku

Owonrin Oyekupalaba Okanran Ogunda
Oyekuwonri Oyekufabagoke Oyekukanra Oyekugunda
n n

II II II II II II I II

I II I II II II II II

I II II II I II I II

I II II II II II I II

40 Oyeku 41 Oyeku Ika 42 Oyeku 43 Oyeku

Osa Oyekuka Oturupon Otura
Oyekusa Oyekuturup Oyekutura
on

I II I II II II

I II II II I II

II II I II II II

I II II II I II

44 Oyeku 45 Oyeku Ose Oyekuse 46 Oyeku Ofun

Irete Yafokuu
Oyekurete
 I II II II I II I II

II II I II I II

II II I II I II I

I II II II I II II II

47 Iwori 48 Iwori Oyeku 49 Iwori Odi 50 Iwori

Ogbe Iworioyeku Iworiodi Irosun
Iworiogbe Iworirosun

II II I II II II I II

II I II I II I II

II II I II I II

I II II II I II II II

51 Iwori 52 Iwori Obara 53 Iwori 54 Iwori

Owonrin Iworiobara Okanran Ogunda
Iworiwonrin Iworiokanra Iworiogunda
n

II II II II II II I II

II II II I II I

II II I II II

I II II II II II I II

55 Iwori 56 Iwori Ika Iworika 57 Iwori 58 Iwori

Osa Oturupon Otura
Iworiosa Iworioturupon Iworiotura
 I II I II II II

II II I II

II I II II I

I II II II I II

59 Iwori 60 Iwori Ose 61 Iwori

Irete Iworiose Ofun
Iworirete Iworiwofun

II II I II I II

I II II II I II I II

I II II II I II II II

II II I II I II I

62 Odi Ogbe 63 Odi Oyeku 64 Odi Iwori 65 Odi Irosun

Idingbere Odioyeku Odiwori Idinosun

II I II II I II

II II II II II II I II

I II II II II II I II

II II I II II I

66 Odi 67 Odi Obara 68 Odi 69 Odi

Owonrin Odibara Okanran Ogunda
Odiwonrin Odikanran Odigunda
 II I II I II I II

I II I II II II II II

I II II II I II I II

II II I II I II

70 Odi Osa 71 Odi Ika Odiika 72 Odi 73 Odi Otura

Odisa Oturupon Idinatago
Oditurupon

II II II I

I II II II I II

II II I II II II

II II I II

74 Odi Irete 75 Odi Ose Odiose 76 Odi Ofun

Idinileke Odiofun

II II I II I II

II II I II II I

I II II II I II II II

I II II II II II I II

77 Irosun 78 Irosun Oyeku 79 Irosun 80 Irosun Odi

Ogbe * Irosunoyeku Iwori Irosunodi
Irosunawoye
 II I II II I II

II I II I II I II

I II II II II II I II

I II II II I II II II

81 Irosun 82 Irosun 83 Irosun 84 Irosun Ogunda

Owonrin Obara Okanran Irosunogunda
Irosunow Irosunob Irosunoke
onrin ara re

II I II I II I II

II II II I II I

I II II II I II I II

I II II II II II I II

85 Irosun 86 Irosun 87 Irosun 88 Irosun Otura Irosunfakolade

Osa Ika Oturupon
Irosunosa Irosunka Irosunturu
pon

II II II I * Irosunogbe/Irosunoniwata/
Irosunokanjuwa
II II I II

II II I II II II

I II II II I II

89 Irosun 90 Irosun Ose 91 Irosun

Irete Irosunoso Ofun
Irosunopem Irosunofun
i
 I II II II II II I II

I II II II I II II II

II II I II II I

II II I II I II

92 Owonrin 93 Owonrin Oyeku 94 Owonrin 95 Owonrin

Ogbe Owonrinoyeku Iwori Odi
Owonrinsog Owonriniwori Owonrinodi
be

I II I II II II I II

I II II II II II I II

II I II I II I II

II I II I II II I

96 Owonrin 97 Owonrin Obara 98 Owonrin 99 Owonrin

Irosun Owonrinobara Okanran Ogunda
OwonrinIrosun Owonrinokanr Owonrinetun
an

II II II II II II I II

I II I II II II II II

II II I II II

II II I II I II

100 Owonrin 101 Owonrin Ika 102 Owonrin 103 Owonrin

Osa Owonrinika Oturupon Otura
Owonrinosa Owonrinojoose Owonrinoturu Owonrinotura
Owonrinaseyin pon
 I II I II II II

I II II II I II

II I II II I

II II I II

104 105 Owonrin Ose 106 Owonrin

Owonrin Owonrinose Ofun
Irete Owonrinofu
Owonrinirete n

II II I II I II

I II II II I II II II

I II II II I II II II

I II II II II II II

107 Obara 108 Obara Oyeku 109 Obara 110 Obara

Ogbe Obaraoyeku Iwori Odi Obaraodi
Obaraogbe Obaraikosi

II II I II I II

I II II II II II I II

II II I II II II I II

II II I II I II II II

111 Obara 112ObaraOwonrin 113ObaraOk 114

Irosun Obaraowonrin anran ObaraOgunda
Obarairosun Obaraokanran Obaraeguntan
 II I II I II I II

I II I II II II II II

I II II II I II I II

I II II II II II I II

115 Obara 116 Obara Ika 117Obara 118 Obara

Osa Obaraika Oturupon Otura
Obaraosa Obaraoturup Obaraotura
on

II II II I

I II II II I II

II II I II II II

I II II II I II

119 Obara 120 Obara Ose 121 Obara

Irete Obaraose Ofun
Obarairete Obaraofun

I II II II II II I II

I II II II I II II II

I II II II I II II II

II II I II I II

122 123Okanran Oyeku 124 Okanran 125 Okanran

Okanran Okanranoyeku Iwori Odi
Ogbe Okanraniwori Okanranodi
Okanranogbe
 I II II II I II I II

I II II II II II I II

II II I II II II I II

II I II II I II I

126 127 Okanran- 128 Okanran 129Okanran-

Okanran Owonrin Obara Ogunda
Irosun Okanranowonrin Okanranoba Okanranogun
Okanraniros ra da
un

II II II II II II I II

I II I II II II II II

I II II II I II I II

II II I II I II

130 131 Okanran Ika 132 133 Okanran

Okanran Okanranika Okanran- Otura
Osa Oturupon Okanranotur
Okanranosa Okanranotur a
upon Okanranalas
e

I II I II II II **Okanranai
goro
I II II II I II
Okanranadas
II II I II II II enu

II II I II
 134 135 Okanran Ose 136 Okanran
Okanran Okanranose ** Ofun
Irete Okanranofun
Okanranirete

II II I II I II

II II I II II I

II II I II II I

I II II II II II I II

137 Ogunda 138 Ogunda Oyeku 139 Ogunda 140 Ogunda

Ogbe Ogundaoyeku Iwori Odi
Ogundaogb Ogundaiwori Ogundaodi
e ***

II II I II II I

II II I II I II I

II I II II I II I

II II I II II II I II

141 Ogunda 142 Ogunda- 143 Ogunda 144 Ogunda-

Irosun Owonrin Obara Okanran
Ogundairosun Ogundaowonrin Ogundaobara Ogundaokanran
 II I II I II I II

II II II I II I

II II I II II

I II II II II II I II

145 Ogunda 146 Ogunda Ika 147 Ogunda- 148 Ogunda

Osa Ogundaika Oturupon Otura
Ogundaosa Ogundaotur Ogundaotura
upon

II II II I ***Ogundag
ara
II II I II Ogundabede
II I II II I

I II II II I II

149 Ogunda 150 Ogunda Ose 151 Ogunda

Irete Ogundaose Ofun
Ogundairete
Ogundaofun

I II II II II II I II

II II I II II I

II II I II II I

II II I II I II

152 Osa 153 Osa Oyeku 154 Osa 155 Osa Odi
Ogbe Osaoyeku Iwori Osaodi
Osaogbe Osaiwori
 I II II II I II II II

II II I II I II I

II I II II I II I

II I II II I II

156 Osa 157 Osa Owonrin 158 Osa 159 Osa

Irosun Osaowonrin Obara Okanran
Osairosun Osaonibu Osaobara Osaokanran

I II II II II II I II

II II II I II I

II II I II II

II I II I II I II

160 Osa 161 Osa Ika Osaika 162 Osa 163 Osa
Ogunda Oturupon Otura
Osaogunda Osaoturupo Osaotura
n

I II I II II II

II II I II

II I II II I

II II I II

164 Osa 165 Osa Ose Osaose 166 Osa

Irete Ofun
Osairete Osaofun
 I II II II II II I II

II II I II II I

I II II II I II II II

I II II II II II I II

167 Ika Ogbe 168 Ika Oyeku 169 Ika Iwori 170 Ika Odi
Ikaogbe
Ikaoyeku Ikaiwori Ikaodi

I II II II I II II II

II II I II I II I

II II I II II II II II

II II I II II II I II

171 Ika 172 Ika Owonrin 173 Ika 174 Ika

Irosun Ikaowonrin Obara Okanran
Ikairosun Ikaobara Ikaokanran

I II II II II II I II

II II II I II I

I II I II I II I II

II II I II II II I II

175 Ika 176 Ika Osa Ikaosa 177 Ika 178 Ika Otura
Ogunda Oturupon Ikaotura
Ikaogunda Ikaoturupon
 I II I II II II

II II I II

II II I II II II

I II II II I II

179 Ika Irete 180 Ika Ose Ikaose 181 Ika Ofun
Ikairete
Ikaofun

I II II II II II I II

I II II II I II II II

II II I II II I

I II II II II II I II

182 183 Oturupon- 184 185

Oturupon Oyeku Oturupon Oturupon
Ogbe Oturuponoyeku Iwori Odi
Oturuponogbe Oturuponiw Oturuponodi
ori

Oturuponla
wi

I II II II I II II II

I II II II II II II II

II I II II I II I

II II I II II II I II
 186 187 Oturupon- 188 189
Oturupon- Owonrin Oturupon- Oturupon-
Irosun Oturuponowonrin Obara Okanran
Oturuponirosun Oturuponob Oturuponokanran

ara

I II II II II II I II

I II I II I II II II

II II II I II

II II I II II II I II

190 191 Oturupon Osa 192 193

Oturupon- Oturuponosa Oturupon Oturupon
Ogunda Ika Otura
Oturuponog Oturuponika Oturuponotura

unda

I II I II II II

I II II II I II

II I II II I

I II II II I II

194 195 Oturupon Ose 196

Oturupon Oturuponose Oturupon
Irete Ofun
Oturuponirete Oturuponofun
 II II I II I II

I II II II I II II II

II II I II II I

II II I II I II

197 Otura 198 Otura Oyeku 199 Otura 200 Otura

Ogbe Oturaoyeku Iwori Odi Oturaodi
Oturaogbe Oturaiwori
Otura Orí
Oturaoriko

II II I II II I

I II II II II II II II

II I II II I II I

II I II II I II

201 Otura 202 Otura Owonrin 203 Otura 204 Otura

Irosun Oturaowonrin Obara Okanran
Oturairosun Oturaobara Oturaokanran

II II I II I II I

I II I II I II II II

II II II I II

II I II II I II I

205 Otura 206 Otura Osa 207 Otura 208 Otura

Ogunda Oturaosa Ika Oturaika Oturupon
Oturaogund Oturaoturupon

a
 II II II I

I II II II I II

II I II II I

II II I II

209 Otura 210 Otura Ose 211 Otura

Irete Oturaose Ofun Oturaofun
Oturairete Oturemeeeye

II II I II I II

II II I II II I

I II II II I II II II

II II I II I II

212 Irete 213 Irete Oyeku 214 Irete 215 Irete Odi
Ogbe Ireteoyeku Iwori Ireteodi
Ireteogbe Ireteiwori

II II I II II I

II II I II I II I

II II I II II II II II

II I II II I II

216 Irete 217 Irete Owonrin 218 Irete 219 Irete

Irosun Ireteowonrin Obara Okanran
Ireteirosun Ireteolota Ireteobara Ireteokanran
Iretealao
 II II I II I II I

II II II II I

I II I II II II I II

II I II II I II I

220 Irete 221 Irete Osa 222 Irete Ika 223 Irete
Ogunda Ireteosa Ireteika Oturupon
Ireteaaya Ireteoturupo
Ireteodunjo n

II II II I

II I II I II

I II I II II II

II II I II

224 Irete 225 Irete Ose 226 Irete

Otura Ireteose Ofun
Ireteotura Ireteofun

II II I II I II

I II II II I II II II

II II I II II I

I II II II II II I II

227 Ose 228 Ose Oyeku 229 Ose 230 Ose Odi
Ogbe Oseoyeku Iwori Oseiwori Oseodi
Oseogbe Oseonise
 II II I II II I

I II II II II II II II

II I II II I II I

II II I II II II I II

231 Ose 232 Ose Owonrin 233 Ose 234 Ose

Irosun Oseowonrin Obara Okanran
Oseirosun Oseobara Oseokanran

II II I II I II I

I II I II I II II II

II II II I II

II II I II II II II II

235 Ose 236 Ose Osa Oseosa 237 Ose Ika 238 Ose
Ogunda Oseika Oturupon
Oseogunda Oseolofa Oseoturupon
Osemolu

II II II I

II II I II I II

II II I II I

I II I II I II

239 Ose 240 Ose Irete 241 Ose

Otura Oseirete Ofun
Osetura Oseofun
 I II II II II II I II

II II I II II I

I II II II I II II II

II II I II I II

242 Ofun 243 Ofun Oyeku 244 Ofun 245 Ofun Odi
Ogbe Ofunoyeku Iwori Ofunodi
Ofunogbe Ofuntena Ofuniwori
Ofunigando

I II II II I II II II

II II I II I II I

II II I II II II II II

II I II II I II

246 Ofun 247 Ofun Owonrin 248 Ofun 249 Ofun

Irosun Ofunowonrin Obara Okanran
Ofunirosun Ofunsanyan Ofunobara Ofunokanran
Ofinranekun

I II II II II II II II

II II II II I

I II I II II II I II

II I II II I II I

250 Ofun 251 Ofun Osa 252 Ofun Ika 253 Ofun
Ogunda Ofunosa Ofunika Oturupon
Ofunogund Ofunoturupon
a Ofuneko
 I II I II I II

II I II II I

I II II II I II

II II II I

254 Ofun 255 Ofun Irete 256 Ofun

Otura Ofunrete Ose Ofunse
Ofunotura
Ofuntopola
Hometowns of Odù Ifá
Ejiogbe – Ode Otun
Oyeku Meji – Ode Apa
Iwori Meji – Ilu Igodo
Odi Meji – Ode Eju
Irosun Meji – Ode Idere
Owonrin Meji – Ode Owon, Ode Ifon
Obara Meji – Ode Iwo, Ode Ikole
Okanran Meji – Ode Itile
Ogunda Meji – Ilu Oko
Osa Meji – Ilu Ota, Igbonna, Ikirun
Ika Meji – Ode Ika, Ode Ebute
Oturupon Meji – Ile Igbon, Ode Ikoolo
Otura Meji – Ode Ipapo
Irete Meji – Ode Emere
Ose Meji – Ode Ibadan
Ofun Meji (Eepa!) – Ode Ila