Binary code: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:01, 4 June 2025

Revision as of 22:55, 16 July 2025

Line 40:

===Ifá, Ilm Al-Raml and Geomancy{{anchor|Ifá}}===

The [[Ifá]]/Ifé system of divination in African religions, such as of [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]], [[Igbo people|Igbo]], and [[Ewe people|Ewe]], consists of an elaborate traditional ceremony producing 256 oracles made up by 16 symbols with 256 = 16 x 16. An initiated priest, or [[Babalawo]], who had memorized oracles, would request sacrifice from consulting clients and make prayers. Then, divination nuts or a pair of chains are used to produce random binary numbers,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Olupona |first=Jacob K. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/839396781 |title=African Religions: A Very Short Introduction |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-19-979058-6 |___location=Oxford |pages=45 |oclc=839396781}}</ref> which are drawn with sandy material on an "Opun" figured wooden tray representing the totality of fate.

Through the spread of [[Islamic]] culture, Ifé/Ifá was assimilated as the "Science of Sand" (ilm al-raml), which then spread further and became "Science of Reading the Signs on the Ground" ([[Geomancy]]) in Europe.