irunmọlẹ

Yoruba

Alternative forms

• irúnmalẹ̀

Etymology

From blend of irún +‎ imọlẹ̀, ultimately from irún (“four hundred”) +‎ i- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ mọ (“to mold, to shape”) +‎ ilẹ̀ (“land”), literally “The four hundred creators of the land”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ī.ɾṹ.mɔ̃̄.lɛ̀/

Noun

irúnmọlẹ̀

1. primordial spirits in Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, they are the first group of four hundred and one deities (imọlẹ̀) created after the creation of the world and the ones who live in the sky with Olodumare, such as Ògún, Èṣù, Ọ̀rúnmìlà, Ọbàtálá, and Olókun.
   • Humans chosen or inhabited by the imọlẹ̀ are known as òrìṣà

   Synonyms: imọlẹ̀, àkọ́dá

   àgbà irúnmọlẹ̀ ni Ògún ― Ogun is a senior primordial divinity

2. earth spirit

   Synonyms: òrìṣà, ẹbọra