Babaláwo
/ˌbɑː.bəˈlɑː.woʊ/noun
A Yoruba priest and diviner, especially one initiated into the Ifá divination tradition.
Did you know?Babaláwo are traditionally specialists in Ifá, a divination system whose sacred verses were recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial Yoruba
Yoruba
bàbá
“Father or respected elder”
Precolonial Yoruba
Yoruba
àwò
“Secret, mystery, or hidden knowledge”
Precolonial Yoruba
Yoruba
bàbáláwo
“A father or master of secret knowledge; an Ifá diviner”
19th Century
English
babalawo
“A Yoruba diviner or priest, recorded in English-language accounts of West Africa”
Modern English
English
babalawo
“A priest and diviner in the Yoruba Ifá tradition”