A Semiotic Investigation of Philosophical Relations between Ifá and Ayò Ọlọ́pọ́n among the Yorùbá People of Nigeria

Ifa ́ is believed to be the foundation of Yorùbá culture. This means every aspect of Yorùbá life, including religion, philosophy, science, ideology, recreation, literature and so on has one link or another with Ifa ́. Previous works on Yorùbá philosophy have neither related Ifa ́ semiotic symbols nor elements with Ayo ̀ Ọlọ́pọ ́n nor established any connection between the two. This study examines the relationship between Ifa ́ and Ayo ̀ Ọlọ ́pọ́n objects and symbols with reference to Yorùbá culture. The work relies substantially on Yorùbá literary texts, especially Ifa ́ literary corpus. Semiotics, which is the science of signs, is adopted for the analysis of the data, because, symbolism underlies the Ifa ́ divination system. It is found out that, there is a synergy between Ifa ́ and Ayo ̀ Ọlọ ́pọ́n game in terms of the use of moral code. This shows that, African philosophies are expressed through their religious and social symbols, objects and artifacts that are ancient means of Africans communication and writings.