Description

The Yoruba believe that an individual’s character, behaviour and ultimate life destiny is pre-defined at birth by the individual’s ‘head’. As such, an individual’s head is highly revered and respected as an individual spiritual entity. This ‘spiritual head’ (i.e. a person’s individuality and destiny) is represented physically by an ibori which is created at birth. The ibori is filled with a sacred mixture of clay, sand and other ingredients concocted by a diviner (babalawo). The ibori is then kept in an ile ori for protection.