Editing Ọrunmila (section)

==Priesthood and initiation==
Awo in every tradition study the 256 Odu; each Odu is traditionally considered to include stories and prayers that have been passed down from the time that Orunmila walked the Earth as a [[prophet]].<ref name="Ela"/><ref>Adeoye, C. L. (1989). Ìgbàgbọ́ àti ẹ̀sìn Yorùba (in Yoruba). Ibadan: Evans Bros. Nigeria Publishers. pp. 285–302. {{ISBN|9781675098}}</ref><ref>Bàbálàwó Ifatunwase Tratados Enciclopédicos de Ifá (Colección Alafundé), {{ISBN|978-0-9810387-04}}</ref>

Some initiatory lineages have only male priests of Orunmila, while other lineages include female priestesses. The term "''Awo''", meaning "secret" is a gender-neutral title for an initiated priest of Orunmila. The debate surrounding gender is a result of diversity in the history of Ifá in various locations. In [[Latin America]] and some areas of [[West Africa]], only men may become full priests of Orunmila, while in other regions of West Africa the priesthood is open to women. Ifá practitioners believe in duality in life: males exist because of the female essence and females exist because of the male essence, so every major rite or ceremony includes both genders.<ref>{{cite book|title= Yoruba Culture: A Philosophical Account |first=Kola|last=Abimbola|edition=Paperback|publisher= Iroko Academics Publishers|year= 2005|isbn=1-905388-00-4}}</ref>

Every Ifá stanza has one portion dedicated to the issue of teaching the Iwa that Ifá supports. This Iwa, which Ifá teaches transcends religious doctrine, is central to every human being, and imparts communal, social and civic responsibility that [[Olodumare]] supports. Of great importance to this is the theme of [[righteousness]] and practicing good moral behavior.<ref>Ifaloju , [http://ifaspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/02/odu-ifa-iwori-meji-ifa-speaks-on.html Iwòrì Méjì: Ifá speaks on Righteousness], (an extract from S.S. Popoola, Ifa Dida, Library, INC) 2011</ref><nowiki/>