Description

What is the Opele?

The Opele is a divination chain, typically consisting of eight half-seeds (from the opele tree, or sometimes coconut shells, metal, or other materials), strung together on a cord or chain. These eight segments represent binary positions (open/concave side up or closed/convex side down), allowing the diviner to generate patterns.

It is considered a faithful “assistant” or messenger to Orunmila (the Orisha of wisdom, knowledge, fate, and divination), faster and more practical for everyday consultations than the more sacred and time-intensive method using 16 ikin (palm nuts).

With the opele, the diviner can obtain the odu (fortune) of the querent and prescribe remedies (such as taboos, Adimu, Ebo etc) according to what that odu entails.