Yoruba Universe

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

The Efficacy of the Binary System - The Yoruba Perspective

Èjì Ogbè says…

Èjèèji ni mo gbè
N ò gbe ọ̀kan ṣoṣo mọ́

Translation…
I will only support two
I will no longer support one

This is a profound declaration by Èjì Ogbè - the principal desciple of Ọ̀rúnmìlà - the greatest philosopher who ever lived in Yoruba land.

The power of the Binary system has been harnessed in the computing industry since the dawn of the Information age because of its simplicity and efficiency. All digital equipments use “On” and “Off” i.e 1 and 0 to represent information.

Below is a computer machine code that adds the numbers from 1 to 10 together and prints out the result:
i.e. 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 = 55

0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

In Ifa, the patterns of bits above translate to...

owonrin-osa eji-ogbe eji-ogbe
owonrin-osa ogbe-osa ogbe-osa
owonrin-meji ogbe-osa ogbe-otura
ofun-osa ogbe-oturupon ogbe-otura
otura-meji ogbe-otura ogbe-ogunda
irete-owonrin ogbe-osa eji-ogbe
irete-osa ogbe-osa ogbe-osa
osa-ogbe ogbe-otura eji-ogbe
edi-otura eji-ogbe eji-ogbe

This was how programmers used to write computer programs before high level programming languages like Fortran and Lisp were created in 1957 and 1958 respectively.

For programmers, entering these patterns manually was a laborious, tedious and error-prone task. Even for a seasoned programmer, it could get dizzy and nauseating after assembling a couple of these patterns.
However, a competent Ifa priest can commit to memory 256 of these patterns without breaking
a sweat and able to recite close to 4,000 Ifa verses by heart!

Effectively, the meaning of the 1s and 0s in the code above is as follows:

1. Store the number 0 in memory location 0.

2. Store the number 1 in memory location 1.

3. Store the value of memory location 1 in memory location 2.

4. Subtract the number 11 from the value in memory location 2.

5. If the value in memory location 2 is the number 0 continue with instruction 9.

6. Add the value of memory location 1 to memory location 0.

7. Add the number 1 to the value of memory location 1.

8. Continue with instruction 3.

9. Output the value of memory location 0.

Using names in place of numbers for memory and instruction locations, we can do the following:

Set the value of "total" to 0.
Set the value of "count" to 1.
[loop]
Set the value of "compare" to the "count" value.
Subtract 11 from the value of "compare" .
If "compare" is zero, continue at [end].
Add "count" to the value of "total".
Add 1 to the value of "count".
Continue at [loop].
[end]
Output "total".

In a modern programming language like Python, we can write the following:

total = 0
count = 1
while count <= 10:
total = total + count
count = count + 1
print total

Information Technology/Computer Science - An allegory of a diviner!

Africa missed the Industrial Revolution boat which started in 1760 big time and we cannot afford to miss the current Information/Digital Revolution!

It is Africa's main hope of breaking the shackles of underdevelopment because this Information Age presents a level playing fields for all participants.

Information Technology in my opinion and as a practitioner, is one of the easiest professions to get into. You don't need a factory or large capital outlay or large hectares of land to get started. Surprisingly, most people already have what they need to get started - your head and a computer.
By the way, the smart phone in your hand is a powerful computer, more powerful than the computer that helped put two men on the moon in 1969!

Introduction to Computer Science - a traditional perspective...

Within our modern day computers are intangible beings called computational processes.

These processes interact with other invisible and intangible beings called data with the aim of changing their states.

The actions of these processes are governed by sequential rules called a computer program that programmers create.

Computer programs control the operations of these computational processes.

Effectively, computer programmers can animate the spirits inside the computer with their incantations (programs).

A computational process is akin to a diviner's idea of a spirit - invisible, intangible and incorporeal but very potent! It can fly a jumbo jet (autopilot software). It can pay out money from ATM machines. It can remotely drive a car on the surface of Mars! It can also control the behaviour of robots in a car factory and some have started driving cars in Europe and America now!

The instructions we use to conjure these abstract processes are just like a diviner's incantations. They are meticulously concocted from emblematic and symbolic pronouncements in mysterious and enigmatic utterances called programming languages (e.g C, Java, C++, Lisp, Python etc) that specify the function we want our process to undertake.

When a computational process works according to plan, it gives us accurate results.
Just like an apprentice to a competent diviner, a new and inexperienced computer programmers must study to comprehend and to anticipate the repercussions of their dexterity. Surprisingly, small mistakes (called bugs) in computer programs can have devastating effects!

Luckily for novice programmers, learning to develop software is not as dangerous as learning to be a diviner. This is because the spirits we deal with are securely contained within our computer hard drives and computer memories.

Nevertheless, computer programming demands serious attention to details, caution, expertise and intelligence because a little glitch in a software can cause a nuclear reactor to self destruct or cause a jumbo jet to fall from the sky!

Computer programmers are the current day diviners. However, they don't seek to know the minds of gods but the minds of humans. They can predict with great accuracy: tomorrow's weather, the likelihood of a stock price rising, the future price of gold or crude oil etc using sophisticated computer algorithms.

Yoruba Cosmology - an intro

It is virtually impossible to understand the Yoruba worldview without a good understanding of Mythology - the study of myths.

A myth is a traditional folktale that explains the origin and early history of a people and their culture.

Like any other ancient culture (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Jewish, Babylonian etc), the Yoruba have their own creation myth - a very colourful one indeed.

According to the Yoruba oral traditions, the world was created at Ilé-Ifẹ̀ (literally - The start of spreading) and the Yoruba were the first humans to walk the face of planet Earth and from them went forth other races to populate the Earth.
The implication of this is that the ancient Yoruba were the progenitors of the human race! According to the legend, the progenitors descended from the sky using a chain!

This may sound incredible or ridiculous to many people these days but at least, compared to other creation myths, this is one of the closest to the scientific truth that humans came out of Africa.

The creation narrative as captured in Ọ̀fún Méjì goes like...

Àtẹlẹwọ́ f’ode ṣọ̀kan
Àtànpàkò ya ara rẹ̀ lọtọọ̀tọ̀
A dífá fun Olódùmarè, Atẹ́-aiyé-matu,
Ọ̀yin fẹrẹ̀ fẹ̀rẹ̀, awo ilé Ọ̀rúnmìlà,
Kékeré ni mo ti j’olu
O dífá fún Oòduà, A-tẹ̀wọ̀n-rọ,
Ọ̀yin fẹrẹ̀ fẹ̀rẹ̀, awo Alaràn
A dífá fún gbogbo Ẹ̀-jẹ-n-din-lógún awọn isòrò
Ti nwọn yóó f’ori-k’ori l’alade-ọ̀run,
Láti fi idi ayé sílẹ̀
S’órí alagbalúgbú omi.

English Translation…

Àtẹlẹwọ́ f’ode ṣọ̀kan (The palm presents a unified face)
Àtànpàkò ya ara rẹ̀ lọtọọ̀tọ̀ (The thumb separates itself from other fingers)
Cast Ifa for Olodumare
The Sovereign Being in heaven who made the earth which can never go barren.
Two other Ifa priests
Ọ̀yin fẹrẹ̀ fẹ̀rẹ̀, awo ilé Ọ̀rúnmìlà (The quiet Chief priest of Ọ̀rúnmìlà compound)
Kékeré ni mo ti j’olu (From Childhood I became great)
Also cast Ifa for Ọ̀rúnmìlà himself,
Who is also called Oòduà,
The one who came down by a chain
From heaven down to the earth.
Still another Ifa priest,
Ọ̀yin fẹrẹ̀ fẹ̀rẹ̀, awo Alaràn (The quiet Chief priest in velvet apparel)
Cast Ifa for all the divinities
Who were the elders of heaven,
When all of them consulted in heaven
For the purpose of laying the bedrock of the earth,
On the primeval expanse of water
That submerged the uninhabited earth.

Logical Progression in Yoruba Epistemology - The concept of Ìmọ́dòye

Ìmọ̀ -> Òye -> Ọgbọ́n

In Yoruba philosophical discourse, Ìmọ́dòye means "knowledge (l̀mọ̀) becomes Understanding (Òye)".

Even though the nature and scope of knowledge have baffled philosophers for centuries, our ancestors were able to break them down by formulating a threesome alliance of Ìmọ̀, Òye and Ọgbọ́n:

Ìmọ̀ = Knowledge - the acquisition of information

Òye = Understanding - knowing the meaning of information gathered

Ọ̀gbọ́n = Wisdom - judicious application of knowledge based on understanding and sound judgement.

What other way to express this than with the following aphorism...

Ọgbọ́n ọlọ́gbọ́n kii jẹ ki a pe àgbà ni wèrè
i.e.
The wisdom acquired through a lifetime experiences prevents an elderly sage from being called a fool

By the way...

Unlike Red Bull (the popular caffeinated soft drink), knowledge, understanding and wisdom give you invincible wings, albeit invisible.

Wisdom is very important - Ọgbọ́n ṣe pàtàkì, o ṣe kókó

For the Yorùbá, the importance of wisdom in our daily lives cannot be overemphasised…

Ọgbọ́n inú ọmọ ni yọ ọmọ lẹ̀nu
Ọ̀nà ọ̀fun ọ̀mọ̀rán ni ro ọ̀mọ̀rán lérò
Ọgbọ́n inú ọ̀lẹ ni ọ̀lẹ fi njẹun
Aṣiwèrè ènìyàn ni ko mọ àtiṣe ara rẹ
Bi a ko jiya ti o kun agbọ̀n
A ko le jore to kun inu ago
Igbó etílé on ẹ̀gbin
Àdàpọ̀ òwò on ìyà
Yàrá ajùmọ̀gbé mbi ekòló ninu
Ọgbọ́n ribiribi nla fi gba ọgbọ́n ribiribi
Ba a o ba ni ọgbọ́n ribiribi ninu,
A ko le kọ ògùn ribiribi
Bi a o ba kọ ògùn ribiribi
A ko le wo arun ribiribi
Bi a o ba wo arun ribiribi
A ko le gba owó ribiribi
Bi a o ba gba owó ribiribi
A ko le ri nkan ribiribi gbé ṣe

In English...

The wisdom of a child is his trouble
The throat of a diviner is his publicity agent
Lazy men live by their wisdom
Only fools do not know how to manage their affairs
If we do not bear suffering that will fill a basket
We will not receive kindness that will filI a cup
A forest near town collects rubbish
A partnership breeds suffering
A shared room breeds worms
Great wisdom is the key to getting even greater wisdom
If we don't have great wisdom
We can't learn strong medicine
If we don't learn strong medicine
We can't cure serious illness
If we can't cure serious illness,
We don't earn great wealth
If we don't earn great wealth
We can't do great things

Ọ̀̀rọ̀ àwọn àgbà - Voice of the elders...

Eji Ogbe says… it matters how you present yourself...

Ìṣẹ́ ko ti ibi kan mu'ni
Ìyà ko ti ibi kan jẹ eniyan
Bi o ba rin ìrìn oṣi
Bi o ba ojú ìṣẹ́ wọ̀lú
Igbákígbá ni wọn a fi bu omi fun ni

In English….
Penury does not lay hold of just one part of the body
Hardship does not attack just one part of the body
If you go about like a beggar
If you enter town with look of destitution
You will be offered water in any old calabash

Eji Ogbe says… look after your own...

Akọ ajá lọ́lá
Ago aala ni iyi oṣupa
Ọmọ bi ilẹkẹ, ọmọ bi idẹ
Ọmọ ẹni lọmọ ẹni
Ọmo ẹni ko le ṣe idi bẹ̀bẹ̀rẹ̀ bẹbẹrẹ ka so ìlẹ̀kẹ̀ mọ idi ọmọ ẹloomi

In English…..
Honour is given to a male dog
Venus is the glory of the new moon
A child is like beads, a child is like brass
One's own child will always be one's own
If one's child has a crooked waist, one does not because of that tie beads on the waist of another person's child.

Phenomenal Business Acumen of Yoruba Women

Before the arrival of the British on the shores of Yorubaland and the eventual colonisation of the country from 1861 to 1960, Yoruba women held sway in business (they still do these days to some extent).

They were the main participants in the marketplace hence the existence of chieftaincy titles like Ìyálọ́jà (Mother or custodian of the market) and Ìyálájé (Mother or custodian of the economy).

It is a known fact that Mathematics/Arithmetic is the language of business and trade. In a society where orality eclipsed literacy, the only way to become an astute businesswoman was to be well versed in the art of mental Arithmetic. Being able to perform complex arithmetic mentally without any computing device like abacus (used then in Europe and Asia) was a monumental feat but this was helped by the vigesimal (Base 20) Numeral System developed many centuries ago in the heartland of Yorubaland.
This is best demonstrated using the following examples:

15 = ẹẹdogun (from arun din ogun = five reduces twenty)

16 = ẹẹrin-din-logun (20 - 4)

17 = ẹẹta-din-logun (20 - 3)

18 = eeji-din-logun (20 - 2)

19 = ookan-din-logun (20 - 1)

20 = ogun

21 = ookan-le-logun ("one on twenty" = 20 + 1)

25 = ẹẹdọọgbọn (30 - 5)

30 = ọgbọ̀n

35 = aarun-din-logoji (five less than two twenties = (20 X 2) - 5)

40 = ogoji ("twenty twos")

50 = aadọta (20 X 3 -10)

60 = ọgọta (3 X 20, i.e twenty in three ways)

100 = ọgọrun = orun (20 X 5)

105 = aarun din laadọfa (20 X 6 - 10 - 5)

200 = igba

300 = ọọdunrun = ọọdun [20 X (20 - 5)]

315 = orin din nirinwo odin marun [400-(20 X 4)-5]

400 = irinwo (A big number like an elephant)

2000 = ẹgbẹwa (200 X 10)

4000 = ẹgbaaji (2 X 2000)

20,000 = ẹgbaawaa (2000 X 10)

40,000 = ẹgbaawaa lonan meji (ten 2000s in two ways)

1,000,000 = ẹgbẹẹgbẹrun (1000 X 1000)

Apart from numbers, there are also fractions (ẹ̀bù)...

Idameji = half
Idamẹta = one-third
Idamẹrin = one-fourth
Idamarun= one-fifth
Idamẹfa = one-sixth
Idameje = one-seventh
Idamẹjọ = one-eighth
Idamẹsan = one-ninth
Idamẹwa = one-tenth
etc.

And there are multiplications...

Ilọpomeji= two times (i.e double)
Ẹrin lọna meji= 4 X 2 (4 in 2 places)
Ẹrin lọna mẹta = 4 X 3 (4 in 3 places)
Ẹrin lọna mẹrin = 4 X 4 (4 in 4 places)
etc.