Wooden oracle board from the Yoruba, Nigeria, ca 1960

Beautiful tribal utensil, this wooden oracle bowl from the Yoruba. The board is used by a babalawo, an oracular priest. Babalawo means "father of secrets" He uses cola nuts with it.

Board diameter: 31.5 cm
Weight: 1424 grams
Origin: Nigeria
Date: ca 1960
Provenance: Obtained in situ by Peter Beaujean

A bit complex, but for the enthusiast this explanation (partially anyway) about the oracle board by Herbert van Erkelens.

The oracle board is decorated in a specific way, it has a raised edge in which lizards, birds, turtles and other traditional motifs are carved. These motifs always include a stylized human face. It is the face of Eshoe, the messenger of the orisha. During a consultation, the babalawo places the oracle board in front of him so that Eshoe looks straight at him. And rightly so, because Eshoe is the most powerful of the orisha. Moreover, according to tradition, he taught Orunmila the Ifa oracle. The relationship between Orunmila and Eshoe is therefore close. While Orunmila represents the principle of moral order, Eshoe is the great disruptor in everyday life. Oloeron, the sky god and also the deity of fate, has granted Eshu ashe, the power to make things happen and to 'multiply'. Ashe literally means 'so be it, fiat.' And armed with this power, he Eshoe fulfills his duties as inspector and messager of Oloroen. Every injustice, inadequacy, carelessness or greed is mercilessly punished by him. Disasters and misfortunes that seem to have arisen by chance later turn out to have been the work of Eshoe.