Ofo Ase

by Awo Fa'lokun Fatunmbi

The most fundamental ritual used in the worship of Ifa and Orisa is the process of praying to the sacred
vessels in an Ifa or Orisa shrine. The traditional format for prayer is to say an oriki (invocation) followed
by an offering and a petition for either assistance or guidance. Before a request is made it is important to
feel the presence of Orisa following the process of invocation.
If an oriki has failed to achieve the desired effect it is sometimes necessary to raise the level of ase by
calling the Orisa by a praise name. Praise names are called ofo ase in Yoruba meaning "words of
power".

For the student of Ifa and Orisa, an understanding of the praise names of Spirit can provide new insight
into the inner essence of the Force of Nature being called during the process of prayer.

Various praise names have been presented below to assist with developing a basic understanding of the
above concepts.


Ofo Ase Esu

Atobayjaye-eleso- ogun
Spirit-who-is sufficient-to support life-who-has
powerful-medicine

Alagada-eye
Spirit-who-carries-a-sword-of-light

Tabirigbongboon-abonija-wa-kumo
Spirit-who-finds-a-big-club-for-those-who-argue

Alajiki
Spirit-who-is-addressed-first

Olofin-apkea-luu
Spirit-who-enforces-divine-law


Ofo Ase Osoosi

Ata -matase
Spirit-who-aims-with-accuracy

Olog-arare
Spirit-who-guides-us-to-self-mastery


Ofo Ase Ogun

Ogun-laka-aya-osinmole
Spirit-of-Iron-powerful-Spirit-of-Heaven-and-Earth

Olu-irin
Chief-of-Iron

Olona
Spirit-of-the-road

Olumaki
Spirit-of-Strength


Ofo Ase Obatala

A-ke-bi-ala
Spirit-who-brings-radiant-white-light

Alabalese
Spirit-who-knows-the-future

Oluorogbo
Spirit-of-the-medicine-of-truth

Oluwo-igbo
Spirit-of-the-mystery-of-the-forest

Obanla
Spirit-of-Purity


Ofo Ase Olokun

Ajibaaje
Spirit-who-discovers-abundance

Oba-Omi
King-of-the-Waters


Ofo Ase Yemoja

Olugbe-rere
Spirit-who-brings-goodness

Agbomo-obinrin-welewele
Spirit-who-protects-women-during-childbirth

Omi-aribu-sola
Spirit-of-water-makes-a-place-of-honor


Ofo Ase Oya

Afefe-jeje
Spirit-of-the-whirlwind

Efufu-lege-lege
Spirit-of-the-gentle-wind

Iyansa
Mother-of-nine


Ofo Ase Sango

Arira
Fast-as-lightning

Bambi
Spiritually-reborn

Oluoyo
Spirit-of-Oyo

Ato-ba-jaye-o
Spirit-who-is-sufficient-to-support-life


Ofo Ase Osun

Osun-oyeyeni-mo
Spirit-of-the-river-is-full-of-understanding

Amo-awoma-ro
Spirit-who-does-not-reveal-her-mysteries

Ore yeye
Most-gracious-mother

Yeye-onikii-Obalodo
Gracious-mother-Queen-of-the-River