Oracle

===Nigeria===
The [[Igbo people]] of southeastern [[Nigeria]] in [[Africa]] have a long tradition of using oracles. In Igbo villages, oracles were usually female [[priest]]esses to a particular deity, usually dwelling in a cave or other secluded location away from urban areas, and, much as the oracles of ancient Greece, would deliver prophecies in an ecstatic state to visitors seeking advice. Two of their ancient oracles became especially famous during the pre-colonial period: the Agbala oracle at [[Awka]] and the Chukwu oracle at [[Arochukwu]].<ref>Webster J.B. and Boahen A.A., ''The Revolutionary Years, West Africa since 1800'', Longman, London, p. 107–108.</ref> Although the vast majority of Igbos today are [[Christianity|Christian]], many of them still use oracles.

Among the related [[Yoruba people]]s of the same country, the [[Babalawo]]s (and their female counterparts, the Iyanifas) serve collectively as the principal aspects of the tribe's world-famous [[Ifa divination]] system. Due to this, they customarily officiate at a great many of its traditional and religious ceremonies.