Necklace (Odigba Ifa)

Wearing a beaded necklace like this one likens a Yoruba diviner (babalawo) to a king; accordingly, a diviner’s necklace and a king’s crown both require ritual actions. The beaded cylinders of the chain are made of wood from a sacred tree that is said to ensure longevity and prosperity. The flat pendants protecting the diviner’s neck and chest are filled with medicines and other ingredients with similar protective powers.