Iyaaláwo or
Iyalawo (
Iyalao or
Iyalaô in
Latin America; literally meaning 'mother of divination' in the
Yoruba language), also known as
Iyanifa and
Iyaonifa (meaning 'mother of Ifá') is a spiritual title that denotes a Priestess of
Ifá. Its male counterpart is called
Babalawo (meaning 'father of the divination'). Ifá is a
divination system that represents the teachings of the
Orisha Orunmila, the Orisha of Wisdom, who in turn serves as the oracular representative of
Olodumare. The Iyalawo ascertain the future of their clients through communication with Ifá. This is done through the interpretation of either the patterns of the
divining chain known as
Opele, or the sacred palm nuts called
Ikin, on the traditionally wooden divination tray called
Opon Ifá.