Editing Ọrunmila (section)

==Historical and literary sources==
Following the categories developed by the Nigerian scholar Peju Yemaje, Orunmila is recognized as a primordial Orisha, an ''ara orun'', one that existed before the creation of humanity and resides in Heaven, as opposed to ''irun-male'' or ''irunmole'', sacred beings living on Earth.<ref name="Asante">{{cite book |last1=Asante |first1=Molefi Kete |last2=Mazama |first2=Ama |editor1-link=Molefi Kete Asante |title=Encyclopedia of African Religion |date=26 November 2008 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-1-5063-1786-1 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uMv0CAAAQBAJ&dq=Orunmila++primordial+Irunmole&pg=PT707 |access-date=11 June 2022 |language=en |chapter=Entry on Orisha}}</ref>

Equivocally, he is praise named "''Igbákejì Olódùmarè''" (second in command to [[Olodumare]]). In truth, he is Ibikeji [[Olodumare]] and "''Ẹlẹ́rìí ìpín''" (witness of fate). Priests of Ifá are known as [[babalawo]]s and Priestesses of Ifá are known as [[iyanifa]]s.<ref>Chief FAMA Practitioners' Handbook for the Ifa Professional {{ISBN|0-9714949-3-2}}</ref>

Orunmila is considered a [[senex|sage]], recognizing that Olodumare placed [[Ori (Yoruba)|Ori]] (intuitive knowledge) in him as a [[Wiktionary:prime#Adjective|prime]] [[Orisha]]. It is Ori who can intercede and affect the reality of a person much more than any other Orisha.<ref name="Ela">William R. Bascom: Ifa Divination: Communication Between Gods and Men in West Africa {{ISBN|0-253-20638-3}}</ref>