Controlled Vocabularies

The foundation every module builds on. Defines access level governance (iroko:minimumAccessLevel, six levels from public-unrestricted to no-access), the Assertion superclass and RelationshipAssertion reification pattern, AccessPolicy, TemporalVariation, FieldworkEvent, SacredMedia, and a thin narrative spine (Narrative, NarrativeVariant, TextSegment, Commentary) that iroko-narrative extends. All 58 properties are annotated with their minimum access level; numeric notations (1–5, 99) support filter-based enforcement.

Sovereignty-aligned agency model. Defines sacred agents (including spirits as first-class participants) and ritual events without metaphysical claims. Covers authorization events, refusal events, stewardship mandates, and authorization chains. Designed for graceful degradation — minimal use requires only ag:SacredAgent, ag:Spirit, and ag:RitualEvent. Pair with iroko-authority for full authorization governance; iroko-manifestation for mode-of-presence modeling.

Full development of the iroko:RitualAuthority stub in Core. Models authority types, authorization basis (succession, consecration, community recognition, divinatory selection, hereditary, appointment), jurisdictions, recognition networks, and temporal validity. Used to authorize assertion-level claims across all modules. Distinct from ile:ReligiousOffice, which models specific title instances held by individuals. Commonly paired with iroko-epistemic.

Knowledge gating for sovereignty-aware archives. Governs when, to whom, and under what conditions knowledge may be disclosed, withheld, or restricted — without encoding the restricted knowledge itself. Distinct from iroko:accessLevel (which controls who may access a resource): epistemic constraints model the basis and conditions of restriction. Basis types: initiation, lineage, gender regime, community mandate, ritual condition, safety, temporal, unknown.

Full narrative modeling built on the thin Core spine. Adds story transmission chains (narr:StoryLineage), contested kinship claims as Assertion subtypes (narr:KinshipClaim), testimonies, fieldnotes, and typed variant relationships. Researcher voice (Fieldnote) is kept structurally distinct from community voice (Testimony). Covers odù verse traditions, patakí, konté, and equivalent narrative corpora across traditions.

Optional module for modeling how sacred agents are asserted to manifest — through embodied presence, possession, dream, divination, symbolic representation, territorial claim, or auditory sign. Plugs into ag:ManifestationEvent. Supports iroko:TemporalVariation where manifestation modes shift by ritual calendar or initiation cycle. These are descriptive, not metaphysical — they record what a tradition asserts in its own terms.

Vocabulary for documenting sacred plant knowledge in Afro-Atlantic traditions. Provides ritual use governance layered over Darwin Core botanical data, with field-level access control down to harvest protocol and preparation method. Composes with iroko-epistemic for disclosure constraints on preparation details; iroko-travay for the ceremony contexts in which plants are deployed.

Vocabulary for documenting spiritual entities across Afro-Atlantic traditions. Covers orisa, lwa, mpungo, vodun, egun, ajogun, Ori, and spirits of place. Supports camino/path modeling, syncretic identity tracking, spirit kinship relations, and polarity modality. Composes with iroko-agency for manifestation events; iroko-authority to govern assertion claims about entity identity; iroko-narrative for patakí and odù verse attribution.

Vocabulary for documenting ritual processes in Afro-Atlantic traditions. Distinguishes recurring ceremonies from threshold initiatory rites. Access control operates at the property level: ceremony existence is public; operational sequences and material details are restricted. Composes with iroko-authority to document who may perform or authorize a ceremony; iroko-epistemic for disclosure constraints on operational sequences.

Vocabulary for documenting Afro-Atlantic religious houses, lineage structures, initiation genealogy, authority transmission, and schism events. Extends schema:Organization and FOAF with tradition-specific governance and lineage modeling. Covers ilé, terreiro, hounfò, cabildo, and analogous institutions. Composes with iroko-authority for title and governance modeling; iroko-epistemic to constrain disclosure of initiation details and membership records.

Vocabulary for documenting divination systems, sacred signs, reading records, and verse corpora across Afro-Atlantic traditions. Covers Ifá (256 odù), Dilogún, Fá, Obi, and Chamalongo. Sign names and system typologies are public; verse texts, reading details, and prescribed works are restricted at the property level. Composes with iroko-authority to document reading authorization; iroko-narrative for verse corpus transmission and patakí variant relationships.

Vocabulary for documenting initiatory societies, graded initiation systems, esoteric governance structures, and masquerade traditions. Covers Ékpè/Ngbe, Abakuá, Ogboni, Oro, Gelede, Egungun, Poro, and Sande. Models institutional structure without exposing restricted grade content or member identities. Composes with iroko-authority for grade conferral and recognition networks; iroko-epistemic for restricted content constraints.

Vocabulary for documenting graphic sign systems, sacred diagrams, and esoteric scripts across Afro-Atlantic traditions. Covers Vèvè (Vodou), Firma/Patipemba (Palo Monte), Ponto Riscado (Umbanda/Quimbanda), Anaforuana (Abakuá), Nsibidi (Ejagham), Adinkra (Akan), and Kongo cosmograms. Access control runs from public (sign system typology) through initiated-elder (operational drawing sequences) to no-access (selected Anaforuana protected by tradition authority). Composes with iroko-authority to document transmission authorization.

Vocabulary for documenting sacred rhythms, songs, consecrated instruments, drum set lineages, and musician authority transmission. Covers Lucumí bàtá (Añá), Vodou Rada/Petwo, Candomblé atabaques, and Palo nkómo. Public knowledge includes rhythm names and entity associations; toque sequences, song texts, and drum consecration details are restricted. Composes with iroko-agency for consecrated instrument agency; iroko-authority for musician lineage authorization; iroko-narrative for song transmission chains.

Vocabulary for documenting revitalization movements, diaspora returns to African source communities, and reconstructed practices. Heritage relationships are modeled as iroko:RelationshipAssertion — multiple perspectives documented without adjudicating authenticity. Composes with iroko-authority to document who may authorize heritage relationship claims and tradition recognition; iroko-narrative for movement histories and contested origin accounts.

Vocabulary for documenting sacred lexicons, liturgical languages, and esoteric terminology. Qal (ቃል) — Ge'ez for "word." Covers Lucumí, Kikongo, Haitian Kreyòl ceremonial register, Fon/Ewe, and Ge'ez. Integrates OntoLex-Lemon for multilingual lexicographic infrastructure. Access runs from public definitions through no-access secret names. Composes with iroko-epistemic for secret name and esoteric term disclosure constraints; iroko-narrative for liturgical phrase transmission chains and praise poetry provenance.