The divination tray is the central instrument used by the diviner-priest in the complex Yoruba ritual of divination, whose purpose is making decisions, sacrifices, and seeking solutions to serious problems with the help of ancestors and gods.

The priest places irosun powder over the tray and draws the tray into nine sections, with each section representing an ancient. He praises and honors each ancient before asking specific questions and casting pine nuts across the tray to seek answers. The large face on this tray represents an Esu, a messenger from the gods.