The Yoruba Dictionary.

The animating force or spiritual authority that allows a thing to come to pass. The power inherent in a word, an action, or a being to make things happen.

Usage: "Mo fi aṣẹ mi" — "I place my aṣẹ on it." A blessing or sanction.

Etymology: Yoruba root, present in all Yoruba liturgical and political speech. Borrowed into Brazilian Candomblé as axé.

The Good Human. A person of iwa rere (good character) — one who exhibits integrity, respect, courage, truthfulness, and a clean heart toward the community. The non-negotiable code of the House of Oduduwa.

Composed of: Omo (child) + tí (who) + Olúwa (the Lord) + bí (gave birth to). Literally, "the child the Lord begat."

Foundation status: CANONICAL · The defining standard of the Foundation.

The inner head — the spiritual seat of destiny. In Ifa cosmology the highest deity, because it is the part of you chosen by you, before you were born. To worship the Ori is to honor the destiny one carries.

Two aspects: Ori inu (inner head, destiny) and ori ode (outer head, body).

Foundation principle: The Ori chooses; Ifa supports. You may follow any religion provided you honor the Ori within you.

The Yoruba system of divination, ethics, and accumulated wisdom — encompassing 256 odu (chapters), each containing thousands of verses (ese). Treated by the Foundation as the global encyclopedia of the House.

Custodians: The Babalawo — the keepers of the verses.

Status: Recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (2005).

Character. The arrangement of one's conduct over a lifetime. The Yoruba say: "Iwa l'ewa" — character is beauty — meaning that the only beauty that lasts is the kind built by behaviour.

Forms: Iwa rere (good character), iwa buburu (bad character), iwa pele (gentle character).

The progenitor — the founding ancestor of the Yoruba race. Variously regarded as a deified ancestor (the Atewonro, "the one who descended on a chain") and as the historical first king of Ile-Ife.

Titles: Olofin Adimula, Atewonro, Olofin Otete.

Authority today: The Ooni of Ife reigns as Arole Oodua — the representative of Oduduwa on earth.

The Heir of Oduduwa. The official title of the Ooni of Ife as the spiritual representative of the founder. Holds moral authority over all Yoruba royal houses worldwide.

Blessing. Goodness. The desirable outcomes that follow alignment with one's Ori — long life, children, prosperity, peace of mind, victory over enemies, and a good death.

Counter-concept: Ibi — misfortune, obstruction. Not "evil" in the moral sense.

Misfortune, obstruction, or imbalance — not moral evil. Often confused in Western translations. Ibi is a natural part of existence to be navigated, transformed, and overcome through alignment.

Foundation note: Moral evil is properly named Ika. See Ika.

Wickedness. The deliberate human choice to inflict harm, deceive, or sacrifice the many for the few. The proper Yoruba term for moral evil — the target of the Foundation's force against evil.

Foundation definition: Anything that knowingly sacrifices the majority for the minority.

The traditional ruler of Ile-Ife and the spiritual head of the Yoruba people worldwide. Bears the title Arole Oodua. The current Ooni is Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni Adimula Ojaja II, who ascended in 2015.

The deified ancestors and named energies of the Yoruba spiritual cosmos. Variously numbered as 401 or 1,440 by tradition. Worshipped in the cradle and across the diaspora as Orishas in Brazil, Orichas in Cuba.

Notable: Sango (lightning), Ogun (iron), Yemoja (waters), Obatala (creation), Esu (the crossroads).

"Father of mysteries." A trained Ifa priest, custodian of the verses (ese ifa), responsible for divination and the transmission of the Odu Ifa. The Foundation maintains the global Register of Recognized Babalawos.

"The house of love." The ancient city in present-day Osun State, Nigeria, regarded as the cradle of Yoruba civilization — where Oduduwa is said to have descended. Continuously inhabited for over 2,500 years. Seat of the Ooni and of the O'Dua Heritage Foundation.

Coordinates: 07.4905° N, 04.5521° E.