Receiving
sequence
Musician/Drummer
Annual Cycle
Community Member
Performed in response to urgent spiritual or physical crisis without time constraint.
sponsor requirement
Head Initiation
Classification of ritual process types across Afro-Atlantic traditions.
Contextual notes about how this process is conducted in practice. Not a step-by-step sequence; general practitioner guidance. Access: community-only.
A threshold ceremony that permanently changes the initiant's spiritual status. Examples: kariocha (making Ocha), mano de Orula, abo faca, pinaldo, rayamiento (Palo), kanzo (Vodou), feitura (Candomble). Initiatory rites are non-repeatable transformations. Operational details are initiated-elder access.
Bembe
Protection
Tradition-Specific Level
Ceremony in which spirits may manifest through initiated practitioners. Includes tambor, bembe, wemilere (Lucumi), Vodou fet, Candomble xire. Drumming, singing, and dance are central.
Initiated Practitioner
Full head initiation permanently establishing the initiant as a priest or priestess. Specific name varies by tradition.
Whether this process has specific timing requirements. Values from TimingRequirementScheme. Access: public-unrestricted.
Ritual consultation for guidance. Includes Ifa consultation, dilogun reading, chamalongos in Palo, and card reading in Espiritismo context. Public category; specific methods and interpretations are access-restricted.
Can be performed by any person regardless of initiation status. Example: basic ancestor veneration at boveda, spiritual baths using common herbs.
Initiant
General duration of this process. Example: one day, three days, seven days, one year and seven days. Access: public-unrestricted.
Akpwon
Limpieza
Ceremonies specifically directed to the ancestral dead. Includes misa espiritual (Espiritismo), egungún masquerade, boveda work, and ituto (funeral rites for initiates).
Requires Ifa initiation specifically. Certain ceremonies and all Ifa-based divination require Babalawo authority.
Lunar Phase
The initiated sponsor responsible for the initiant's spiritual formation and ceremonial participation.
Kariocha
Ifa Initiation
Ritual cleansing of a person, object, or space. Removes negative energies, spiritual impurities, or adversarial influences. Includes despojos, limpiezas, spiritual baths, and space cleansings.
Authority requirements are tradition-specific and cannot be generalized. Document via iroko:operationalNotes with tradition context.
Head Feeding/Rogation
Medium
Chwal
Must be performed during a specific phase of the moon.
Ancestor Veneration
Rayamiento
Requires full head initiation: kariocha in Lucumi, kanzo in Vodou, feitura in Candomble, or equivalent in other traditions.
Axexe
Ebbo
The level of initiation or authority required to lead this process. Values from AuthorityLevelScheme. Access: public-unrestricted.
Iroko Framework: Travay Module (Ritual Processes)
The level of initiation conferred by this InitiatoryRite. Values from InitiationLevelScheme. Access: public-unrestricted.
Detailed list of materials, implements, and quantities required. Access: initiated-only.
Calendar/Feast Day
Any Practitioner
Fet
Collares
Documented variations in how different lineages or houses conduct this process. Access: initiated-only.
The name of this ritual process in its tradition. Example: Rogacion de Cabeza, Kariocha, Kanzo, Tambor de Fundamento. Access: public-unrestricted.
Authority Level Classification
Ceremony to elevate the spirit of a deceased person or clear unresolved spiritual burdens. Common in Espiritismo and Lucumi death rites.
Funerary
Despojo
Healing
Domain module. Vocabulary for documenting ritual processes in Afro-Atlantic traditions. Covers ceremonies, initiatory rites, and ceremonial sequences. Distinguishes ongoing ceremonial practice from threshold initiation events. Access control is at the property level — existence and general nature of ceremonies is public; operational sequences and details are restricted. Use with iroko-authority to document who may perform or authorize a ceremony; iroko-epistemic to model disclosure constraints on operational sequences; iroko-nkisi for the spiritual entities invoked.
Initiate
typical duration
lineage variations
sequence step description
Tambor
Community Working
Misa Espiritual
Co-Officiant
General category for receiving sacred objects or marks without full head initiation. The entry level of formal initiation in most traditions.
Divination
General description of the purpose and outcome of this ritual process. Non-operational. Access: public-unrestricted.
Reception of sacred objects conferring a level of initiation without full head initiation. Examples: receiving Warriors, receiving Olokun, receiving necklaces. Creates formal relationship with specific entities.
Celebration ceremonies: anniversary of initiation, feast days of entities, communal celebrations.
Initiation - Reception
Tambolero
sequence step (operational)
Classification of this ritual process. Values from ProcessTypeScheme. Access: public-unrestricted.
The person receiving initiation or the primary recipient of the ceremony.
Death and funeral ceremonies specific to initiated practitioners. Includes ituto (Lucumi), axexe (Candomble), and rites handling spiritual obligations of deceased initiates.
Lead Officiant
Requires recognition as an elder or authority holder within the tradition, beyond basic initiation. Community recognition is required in addition to initiation level.
Participant Role Classification
Initiation levels that do not map to general categories. Document with tradition context via iroko:tradition and iroko:operationalNotes.
plant use
Wemilere
Ituto
Iyawo
Timing Requirement Classification
Mambo
Initiation Level Classification
Oriaté
Ceremonies involving animal sacrifice or major offerings to spiritual entities. General category is public; specific animals, quantities, and procedures are initiated-only or initiated-elder.
Ritual feeding and cooling of the head (Ori) with white foods and prayers. Strengthens personal destiny and calms spiritual disturbances. One of the most fundamental ceremonies across Yoruba-derived traditions.
Padrino
Marraine
Levels of initiation conferred by initiatory rites. General structure is cross-traditional; specific levels are tradition-dependent.
Life Event
Elder Designation
Helper/Aide
initiation level
Title or designation conferred upon completion of this initiatory rite. Example: Olorisha, Babalawo, Mambo, Houngan, Tata Nkisi. Access: public-unrestricted.
Full head initiation permanently transforming the initiant's spiritual status. Examples: kariocha (Lucumi), kanzo (Vodou), rayamiento (Palo), feitura (Candomble). The most restricted process type.
prerequisite process
Rogacion de Cabeza
Drummer, singer, or musician providing ceremonial music. May have specific initiation requirements depending on tradition and ceremony type.
Initiatory Rite
Whether a godparent or existing initiate must sponsor this initiation. General requirement is public. Access: public-unrestricted.
Ceremonial processes establishing or strengthening spiritual protection for a person, household, or space.
Mano de Orula
Components of this process restricted to initiated elders. OPERATIONAL ONLY - never exported to RDF. Access: no-access.
Necklaces/Elekes
Olorisha / Equivalent
Emergency/As Needed
Horse
material requirements
Tata
Madrina
A RitualProcess that must be completed before this one. Example: receiving Warriors before kariocha. Links to iroko:RitualProcess instances. Access: public-unrestricted.
purpose description
The spiritual entity (orisa, lwa, etc.) for whom or by whose authority this ceremony is performed. Links to iroko:SpiritualEntity. Access: public-unrestricted.
Associated with a specific calendar date or feast day of the presiding entity.
required authority
Plants used in this ritual process. Links to ewe:Plant instances. General association is public; specific quantities and combinations are initiated-only. Access: public-unrestricted.
Reception of consecrated beaded necklaces in Lucumi tradition. First formal step. Confers relationship with specific orisa represented.
Reception Level
Matanza
Level of initiation or authority required to lead or perform a ritual process.
Initiation - Full
Timing determined through divination consultation. The appropriate time is revealed rather than predetermined.
Any Time
Godparent/Sponsor
Feast/Celebration
Performed on an annual cycle, such as anniversary of initiation.
Los Guerreros
Babalawo / Ifa Priest
Collective ceremonial work on behalf of a house, lineage, or community rather than an individual. Includes cabildo ceremonies, community ebbos, and house-level divination.
Cleansing/Purification
Sacrifice/Major Offering
timing requirement
A recurring ritual event that can be performed multiple times for one or many participants. Examples: bembe, tambor, wemilere, misa espiritual, rogacion de cabeza, ebbo, despojos, velacion. Ceremonies are ongoing practice rather than threshold events.
Practitioner who may receive spiritual possession during the ceremony. In Espiritismo context, medium for spirit communication.
General attendee, potentially uninitiated, present for community portions of the ceremony.
General description of what occurs at this step, without operational specifics. Access: initiated-only.
Tradition-Specific Authority
An ordered set of steps within a RitualProcess. The existence of a sequence and its general structure are documented. Access control is at the property level: sequence step labels are initiated-only; operational content within each step is no-access.
secret components
Reception of Eleggua, Ogun, Ochosi, and Osun in Lucumi tradition. Protects the initiant and opens roads. Prerequisite for kariocha.
Warriors
sequence order
Egun ceremony
A supporting officiant with authority to perform portions of the ceremony.
Roles that participants may hold in this process. Values from ParticipantRoleScheme. Multiple values allowed. Access: public-unrestricted.
process type
Triggered by a specific life event: birth, death, marriage, illness, major transition.
Ceremonial Sequence
Feitura
Links a RitualProcess to its CeremonialSequence. Access: initiated-only.
Kanzo
Process Type Classification
A numbered step label within the ceremonial sequence. The label is visible; operational content is governed separately. Access: initiated-only.
Elevation/Levantamiento
process name
Exact operational instructions for this step. OPERATIONAL ONLY - never exported to RDF. Access: no-access.
Parrain
Ritual Process
Roles that participants may hold within a ritual process.
Integer indicating the position of this step within the full sequence. Access: initiated-only.
Ceremonial processes directed toward physical, spiritual, or psychological healing. May combine plant use, prayer, divination, and direct spiritual intervention.
sequence step
Possession Ceremony
Divination-Prescribed
Ceremony
Initiated helper assisting with logistical or supporting ceremonial tasks.
Head-initiated
Houngan
Requires initiation but not a specific level or title. General initiation into the tradition is sufficient.
participant role
conferred title
Base class for any structured ceremonial activity in an Afro-Atlantic tradition. Subclassed into Ceremony (recurring practice) and InitiatoryRite (threshold event). General process type, presiding entity, and tradition are public; operational sequences and instructions are restricted.
The principal authority leading the ceremony. Title varies by tradition.
Whether a ritual process has specific timing requirements.
Cumpleanos de Santo
operational notes
No specific timing requirement; may be performed as needed.
presiding entity
Babalawo initiation
Initiation into the Ifa priesthood. Mano de Orula (hand of Orula) is a preliminary in Lucumi; full Babalawo initiation is the complete level.