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    tion sacrifices, ese [ ˩ ˩ ]. After
    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