PrintShare
Export citation
Text size Increase font sizeDecrease font size
Encyclopedia of African Religion

iconEncyclopedia

Encyclopedia of African Religion

Molefi Kete Asante & Ama Mazama

Pub. date: 2009 | Online Pub. Date: January 26, 2009 | DOI: 10.4135/9781412964623 | Print ISBN: 9781412936361 | Online ISBN: 9781412964623| Publisher:SAGE Publications, Inc.

About this encyclopedia
Text size

Bokonon

Thomas Houessou-Adin

In Fongbe, the language of the Fon people of Benin Republic, the Bokonon is an exceptional diviner, who after several years of arduous and sustained training is initiated to the Fá rituals and language. In Africa, particularly in the Republic of Benin, the belief in divine ancestors or divinities and the consultation of the Bokonon have remained active and strong. The Bokonon is all the more revered today, although some bamboozled proselytes are in denial of the important role of a Bokonon in modern societies. The Bokonon is a noble practitioner of the Fá divination. In the Fon Cosmology, the Fá (IFá in Yoruba) is the Messenger of Mawu-Lisa, the Supreme God, and the spokesterson of all deities. Consisting of 256 signs, of which 16 are main signs and 240 ...

Users without subscription are not able to see the full content on this title. Please, subscribe or login to access all content on this website.