Ogbe Ate

How he cured the deity of prosperity, Ola Aje

Ogbe Ate was a famous Awó in Heaven, where he was called Abaketekete. His greatest work was to cure the deity of prosperity (Ola Aje in Yoruba, or Uwa in Beni). Ola Aje had many enemies who transformed into mice at night to bite him while he slept. All the Awós in Heaven were well informed and had tried to cure him, but they could not. The more they tried to cure him, the sicker he became. He had three rooms whose doors were bolted shut.

The first held the messenger of Death, who carried a club in his hand to beat to death anyone who dared enter. The second door held Ogogohiahia, an agent of the divinity of witchcraft, who was capable of swallowing anyone who ventured into the room. The third room held all the gifts of prosperity, capable of enriching anyone who managed to enter it.

All the Awós who tried to cure Ola Aje were told to knock on the door of any of the three rooms as their compensation. Almost without exception, the Awós knocked on the wrong doors, never to come out again once they entered. When there were no Awós left, the turn came to Abaketekete oruko Ogbe Ate. Ola Aje sent word to inform him that the deity of prosperity was gravely ill and needed him to come and cure him. As soon as he received the message, he called on his two favorite deputies, Uroke Mi Lawo Ligorin and Uroke Mi Lawo Leturuye, to divine for him.

Abaketekete, the Awó Ogbe Ate, had managed to cure Ola Aje thanks to his wit and wisdom. After making a sacrifice to Eshu and preparing a special soap, he arrived at Ola Aje’s house and bathed him with the soap. He gave him a special white cloth to cover himself while sleeping, so he could see the identity of the wrongdoers who attacked him at night.

That night, Ola Aje had a dream in which he saw his wives transform into mice and be hunted by a cat that emerged from the soap dish prepared by Abaketekete. It also caught his favorite servant, who had transformed into a giant rat, and other members of the household who tried to attack him. Thanks to this, Ola Aje was able to sleep in peace.

The next day, five of his wives and his favorite servant did not wake, but Ola Aje and Abaketekete knew they had been eliminated by the cat in his dream. The bodies were buried far away, and Ola Aje recovered completely within 7 days. The Awó remained with him, grateful to have been able to cure him and resolve the problem of the nightly attacks.

Abaketekete decided to sing a song to provoke divine intervention and put Ola Aje’s good or bad faith to the test. However, this song was in fact a curse capable of causing harm and death. On hearing it, the Orishas were alarmed and gathered to find out who was singing it. When they realized it was Abaketekete, they sent a band of warriors to capture him and bring him before Olofin, the creator of the world.

Olofin was enraged upon hearing Abaketekete’s song and condemned him to immediate death. However, the Awó who had helped Ola Aje came forward and explained to Olofin that Abaketekete had been deceived by Eshu and did not know he was singing a curse. The Awó also revealed that Abaketekete had saved Ola Aje’s life and deserved a second chance.

Moved by the story, Olofin pardoned Abaketekete and granted him a special grace. Instead of being executed, he was sent back to Earth to serve Ola Aje as his personal priest. From that day on, Abaketekete became a loyal servant of Ola Aje and devoted his life to protecting him from any harm or danger.

While he was singing, a boy who had been waiting inside the third room, named Omiala Kpeji, spoke in answer to Abaketekete. The Awó called him by name and the boy replied «Omi ro ni o». Abaketekete changed the tone of his song and addressed the boy in this way:

«Maafoooko Du Kpa Asan Lo Rini Maafo Obo Gi Do Ri Yon Maafo Ni Yan Digi Owo Lonje Loni.»

After this, he knocked on the third door and a voice asked him to open it. When he opened the door, a boy ran to embrace him, carrying a crown in his hand. He handed it to him and told him to put it on.

When Ola Aje saw how events unfolded, he recognized Abaketekete’s skill in choosing the right door. However, as soon as Abaketekete entered the room, Ola Aje locked him inside by conjuring the door shut. After spending three days in the room, his guardian angel spoke to him and told him to persevere, for perseverance begets prosperity.

After completing the final trial, Abaketekete returned home with riches and blessings. The story of the Odu Ogbe Ate teaches that it is important to be grateful and to persevere, even in difficult times. The story also underscores the importance of making sacrifices and fulfilling the ceremonies of Ifá to secure prosperity and protection.

If a person falls under the influence of this Odu, they are advised to make sacrifices of a breeding ram, a duck and a pigeon to Eshu, and to be careful when extending their kindness to others, to avoid ingratitude and the risk of losing their life. If these recommendations are followed, the person can expect the arrival of a son named Adeyemí or Alakpeji, who will bring even more blessings and prosperity to the family. In short, the Odu Ogbe Ate teaches us important lessons about gratitude, perseverance, and the importance of fulfilling our religious obligations to secure prosperity and protection.

In Ogbe Irete, they threw Orula into the river

Orula asked his children for things every day so they would support him in a war and he would not lose it. One day, Ogbe Ate grew tired of so many requests and, when Orúnmila asked him for a fish, Ogbe Ate answered: «If you want a fish, go find it yourself.» Then he threw him into the river.

Eshu then slandered Ogbe Ate, saying he had poisoned the river. The news reached the King’s ears and, as a consequence, Ogbe Ate was arrested. In prison, he reflected on his error and asked Orúnmila for forgiveness, casting 16 stones. The guards informed the King that Ogbe Ate was a diviner, and so they released him.

Later, the King asked Ogbe Ate why he had been imprisoned, and he answered that he had been falsely accused. He explained that while the women washed in the river, Babaluaye bathed in the same river, and that this was what caused the confusion. Once freed, Ogbe Ate learned that Babaluaye had died of old age, and not from witchcraft.

After his release, the King asked Ogbe Ate to perform a work for him. Through divination, Ogbe Ate discovered that the King had a brooding hen and that a ceremony called ebó had to be performed to obtain his freedom. The King followed Ogbe Ate’s advice and achieved his goal.

Here, 2 hens are given to Oshún; they are roasted and taken to the river. 16 things are placed before Orúnmila, olelé, black-eyed pea fritters, and Ogbe Ate must offer a red snapper to his head.