Exploring African Traditional Systems of Illness Diagnosis: A case study of Ifa System in Yoruba Society

Abstract

Every culture has traditional knowledge, which forms their universal view and understanding around which life is well defined. An example of this is evident among the Yoruba people of South-western Nigeria, whose cosmological demystification is derived from Ifa - a divine oral text of corpuses. There are many verses (odu as the Yoruba call them) in Ifa, each of which has holistic approach to human lqe etc. A major part of Ifa themes is the healing system through which etiology and diagnosis are carried out for curative purpose. However, this aspect of indigenous knowledge has not received enough empirical research attention. Thus, a study was conducted to reveal the system of divine Ifa diagnosis within the Yoruba culture in Nigeria. Using exploratory research design, ethno-methodological theory served as a framework for the study. Hence, the study was carried out basically by qualitative technique where 4 focus group discussions (FGD) comprising twelve discussants and 16 In-depth Interview where employed as instrument of data collection from ifa priests referred to as ~babalawo and patients. The data were content analyzed. The study found that the Ifa diagnostic method was systematic and perceived to be a divine way of seeking God's revelation on any health challenges in order to provide a to provide a very comprehensive and holistic cure to any human health imbalance. Therefore, it is pertinent for policy makers as well as the enthusiasts of African self-generated development, to preserve, modernize and promote Ifa therapy system for sustainable development's sake.