the fortnight, the pupil, having
learnt his craft, takes it out and
is an ɔb-akpɛlɛ. The ɔb-ɔɽ̃ɔ̃mila
must be a “priest” of Ɔɽ̃ɔ̃mila
[ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ], i.e. Ifa (Yoruba). (But
there are no public shrines or
priests of Ɔɽ̃ɔ̃mila.) Ɔɽ̃ɔ̃mila is
the Yoruba god of palm kernels
(and divination), and people
from Akurɛ e.g. are more expert
in this method than Bini people.
A full babalawo [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] (Yoruba
name for the Ɔɽ̃ɔ̃mila priest)
gathers the kernels from the
base of ivĩ‿ɔ̃ɽ̃ɔ̃mila [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ], “Ɔɽ̃.
kernels”, a special sort of oil
palm, and gives them to the
pupil. The pupil and his family
smoothe the kernels by means
of a grindstone, wash them with
a charm and keep them for three
months in a pot of oil. This is
called ɔvi-ɔɽ̃ɔ̃mila [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ] “he
has taken the Ɔɽ̃ɔ̃mila” (pl.
verb). During this time small
sacrifices are made to them until
the pupil is (financially) able to
“take” them. If he has no means
he must possibly leave them in
the pot for a year. At last, big
sacrifices are made over a period
of a fortnight during which
time the pupil must procure an
axwɛxwɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ], i.e. oracle in-
strument, of his own. Then the
Ɔɽ̃ɔ̃mila are taken out and are
afterwards put on an ukpo [ ˥ ˩ ]
(mud bed) on which many cloths
have been spread, forming a
heap with a shallow cavity at
the top. Parrot-tail-feathers are,
among other things, added as
adornments. The babalawo asks
the kernels whether the pupil
will live long and be prosperous
