Itefá – Initiation into Awo Ifá

Last updated on the 26th December 2025.
Itefa is the initiation into the Yoruba Ifá religion and divination system. The process includes Ishefa, which is the harvesting and sanctification of the sacred palm kernel, known as Ikin ifa. Ikin plays an important role in the life of an initiate as this becomes the focus of the individual’s new path as an initiated Ifa devotee.

What is Itefa?

Itefa is the official initiation of an individual into Ifa spirituality. You can follow or profess to be an Ifa devotee, which is fine. However , until you are officially initiated into Ifa by going through the Itefa process, you have not become an ‘awo’. Becoming an ‘awo’ is also the first rung on the process to becoming a Babalawo if you have aspirations to become a Babalawo in the future.

Going through the Itefa process does not mean you must become, or have become a Babalawo. It just means that in addition to becoming an officially recognised ‘awo’ you are also loosely affiliated with a temple of ‘awos’ who are there for you spiritually, should you need spiritual help or guidance at any point in your life.

Itefa process is when an individual is taken through the Itefa initiation process by a team of Babalawo (A minimum of three Babalawos is required). The Babalawos tend to be led by a senior Babalawo called Ojugbona, sometimes an even more senior Babalawo such as an Araba may even lead the initiation process.
Depending on the Ifa temple the Itefa initiation took place, it can take between three and seven days.

What do you need for Itefá initiation?

Once you have had conversations about the Itefá with your Babalawo. Itefá commencement date would be set and you will be presented with an Itefá list.
Items on the list vary, depending on your Babalawo and how the do Itefá in his awo. Most list consists of the following:

• Itefá fee
• Old clothes that you will not miss.
• 2 pieces of white cloth X 2 (A piece for the initiate, the second for the Oluwo).
• Bottles of spirit drinks (Mostly for pouring libation to the ancestors and deities).
• New white celebratory cloths for the initiate and the Oluwo

What happens during Itefá?

Let’s assume that the temple where the Itefá took place conducts their initiation rituals over three days. To get a good idea of the process, let us break down the initiation into day 1, day 2 and day three.

Day 1 of Itefá Initiation

This is the most intense day in a three day Itefá initiation. With all the Babalawos and ingredients at the ready. Ifá is consulted to select which member of the team of Babalawos does what during the initiation. There may or may not be any need for ebo, it depends on what Ifá says.
Once the green light for the initiation to start is given by Ifá, the initiation starts. The highlight of day 1 of Itefá is the procession to Igbo Odu, or Igbodu as it is commonly known.

Most of the rituals that take place at Igbodu are sacred, and tend not to be filmed or written about. The significant thing that is common knowledge in Igbodu is that the initiate greets the sixteen elders, Iyami oshoronga. Gets rid of the clothes he or she wore into Igbodu. The initiates Ikin is also processed and blessed in igbodu. The initiate emerges from Igbodu in white cloth and his/her Ikin.
The initiate must stay in the white clothes and on the property where the initiation took place for three days.

Day 2 of Itefá Initiation

Still wearing the white clothing from day 1, the initiate is invited to Ile ifá and a Babalawo consults ifá to find out the initiate’s personal Odu is. Once this is established, the initiate then has his/her own personal Odu for life.
This will give him or her guidance as to what path to follow in life that will lead to success. What to avoid, what to eat and not eat. What colour to wear or not wear etc.

Day 3 of Itefá Initiation

This is the last day of the Itefá process. The initiate is now an “omo awo” (some people erroneously think you are now a Babalawo. What you are now is “omo awo” you need about five or more years of training from this point to become a Babalawo). Many other rituals are done on the 3rd day, Ifá is consulted, some ebo may be necessary. Your Olu awo then talks to you about the ethics of becoming and awo. The dos and don’t of awo, including your conducts with other awos and the general public. After this and other talk, you now have the final ritual which is to go outside the place you were initiated, into the street for the first time in three days. You made three important utterances each time you walked from the compound into the street.
The first is: Moko ta
Second is: Moko je
Third is : Moko eta dilogun.
Your initiation is now completed. It is now time to celebrate your new status as omo awo with the rest of the awos.

More people are converting to Ifa (Isese)

• Coming out of the Ifa closet.
• Itefa for a non-Yoruba Ifa convert
• https://youtu.be/HRHqh5mllFU

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