Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Wednesday said that whenever people use the search engine Google to source information, they are consulting Ifa – a divination oracle.
He said that the universal search engine, Google, originated from Ifa oracle, adding that without Ifa, Google would not have been created.
Oba Ogunwusi said this during the Press tour of tourists sites within the ancient city of Ile-Ife ahead of the Tourism Innovation and Development Innovation Conference slated for April 24.
The theme of the forthcoming conference is, “Impact of Sustainable Tourism Development and Marketing of Tourism Destinations on Host Communities.”
Odu Ifa refers to the verses of the literary corpus that are usually consulted by people who believe in its efficacy before embarking on any project or activity.
It is also a West African religion and system of divination.
He said that Ifa, as a form divination, is all about sourcing for information and knowledge through traditional consultation.
He said that Google could be regarded as the modern way of sourcing for past information and what was likely to happen in the future too.
He said that Ifa originated several thousands of years ago and is seen as the Voice of the Almighty God, referred to as Orisa Oke, which is supreme to other lesser gods.
“Without Ifa, there could never have been Google; so, Google is the modern day version of Ifa.
“Ifa is all about information, getting knowledge from the Almighty God.
“Whenever you search the Google for information or knowledge, you are consulting Ifa; and without ‘Ifa’, there would not have been the google.”
He said that ‘Ifa’ is still relevant in contemporary time saying that is why people are still consulting the oracle for information and solutions to their problems.
Oba Ogunwusi explained that if the modern day youths and the educated want to know the date of any important event, they would search for it from the Google.
‘That is part of the functions that Ifa’ does for its believers and followers; that is the truth but it may sound strange, ” he said.
The Ooni who is the custodian of the Youruba culture and tradition called on Nigerians to embrace traditional worship peculiar to their communities.
He said that would not stop them from practising other modern religions.
NAN
