Iroso Ate

Oba Ola refused to heed his omo Ifá

Olokun sent for a babalawo named Oba Ola over a certain matter, and an omo Ifá that he had told him that in seven days it was going to rain. He said to him: «look, before you go, to what you must do,» but he paid no heed.

The seven days passed and it did not rain, and so he said: «I am no diviner, since what I announced did not come to pass.» And straightaway he threw Ifá into the river. When Olofin learned of this, he sent for him, and Oba Ola told him that he was no diviner, and moreover that he had thrown Ifá away. But his son, who was listening, said to him: «you must go and comply, but first perform ebbo.» Oba Ola did so and went to the very place where he had thrown Ifá away. And as they cast the eko into the water, Ifá kept rising to the surface. And when it reached six, it came up and he retrieved it.

How the hunter obtained the animals

Obatalá ordered that the serpent, the monkey and the snake be brought to him, and he told the hunter to perform a cleansing, and the hunter did not. The hunter then went out to look for the animals and found none. Afterwards he went to Orunmila and said: «Iboru Iboya Iboshishe.» And Orula said to him: «did I not tell you that until you performed the cleansing you would not obtain them.»

The hunter then performed the ebbo and obtained the animals.

The proud king

The king sent for Orunmila to perform a rogation for him, but Orunmila sent word that he could not go — that if the king was able, he should come to his house. To which the king replied: «how could it be possible that he, a king, should lower himself before a Babalawo, or listen to him, or visit him?».

A few days later, the king dreamed that he was waging a great war, that he was getting the worst of it, and that he was losing his crown. He rose in great haste and very early went to Orunmila’s house. And as Orunmila’s door was very low, upon entering, the king’s crown fell off, and as he bent down to pick it up Orunmila said: «Obo Oto Achureo Juani» (the crown came by itself, back to the king’s head). The king, marveling at Orunmila’s power, told him the dream with faith. Then Orunmila told him that he had to perform ebbo, and a few days later a great problem arose which the king swiftly won.

The ceremony of Awo Meyerifa

Awo Mayerifa lived in the land of Awo Aguantora Ifá, and the latter had handed over all command to Awo Mayerifa so that he would resolve all the problems of that land. But Awo Mayerifa did not know how to do anything, so the problems grew worse by the day and he did not fulfill the commitment he had taken on. The first thing Awo Aguantora Ifá had warned him was that every time he fed Ifá, he had to feed Eshu and Erita Merin. But as Awo Mayerifa did not know how to do this, he did not do it, and he was always deeply sad.

One day, in despair at his inability to resolve the problems of that land where all the roads were closed, he took Ifá and placed it in two jícaras (gourd bowls), tied them to his waist, and threw himself into the river. The people of that land, in such circumstances, began to weep, sing and pray: «Awo Aguantora Ifá, Aguantora Ifá Moyekun Awo Mayerifa Lebo Ibu».

And they began to ring the bells. Just then, Aguantora Ifá Awo, who was coming along with Ifá Apetevi, hearing all this, came running and asked what was happening. When the people told him what had occurred, Awo Aguantora Ifá took two hens, presented them to the river and began to sing: «Aladé Tuyu Gomi Oro Iki Eshu Oro». And he killed the adie Meyi at once, giving their Eyerbale to Ilé Ibu. Immediately, the Apetevi cooked the adie and Aguantora Ifá Awo instructed her to take them to the river. He summoned the whole town, ordering them to kneel, and began to pray and to present the adie within the river. He prepared five little papers and placed everything there. Then he began to give everyone a taste of the food while praying: «Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Meri Ebbo Leri Adie Bagua Ifá Meta Ella».

And the first ikin came out of the river; he placed a small piece of eran from the Leri Adie on the ikin, gave everyone to eat, and also placed a small piece on each of the five little papers.

«Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo Okankan Adie Meyi Kinshelu Ifá Magüe Aye Lorun Akasha Mari Ebbo».

And the second ikin came out, and he repeated the previous ceremony.

«Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo Arun Beye Meta Adele Nifa Mari Ebbo».

The third ikin came out and he fed it from the gizzard.

«Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo Adele Meni Kinshero Ifá, Bogbo Aye Leri Inle Merin Ebbo».

The fourth ikin came out and he fed it from the neck of the adie. Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo. Adele Marun Kinsheran Ifá, Mogua Yeni Tenuyen Adele. Orunmila Akasha Mari Ebbo.

The fifth ikin came out and he fed it from the liver of the adie. Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo. Adele Mefa Kinshera Ifá, Adele Mefa Guagua Yeni Aguada. Yebi Ifá Meta. Kinsheni Orunmila Awo Elerifiko Adele Mefa Akasha Mari Ebbo.

The sixth ikin came out and he fed it from the breast of the adie. Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo. Eye Adele Eyi Makuate Nifa Aguenilorun Ofun Osi Maye. Ibi Akasha Mari Ebbo.

The seventh ikin came out and he gave it the tips of the wings of the adie. Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo. Adele Meyo Kinshera Ifá Bogbo Aye Otalo Guaye Ifá. Aguelorun Oye Yogun, Oye Yameyo Akasha Mari Ebbo.

The eighth ikin came out and ate from the top of the back of the adie. Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo. Adele Mesan Kinshera Ifá Omo Mayenifa, Oñi Adie Guayenifa Akasha Mari Ebbo.

The ninth ikin came out and ate the egg sac of the adie. Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo. Adele Megua Kinshera Ifá Aguanilorun Guayenile Omo Nifa Eguaye Beifa Adie Akasha Mari Ebbo.

The tenth ikin came out and ate from the ovary of the adie. Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo. Adele Mokanla Oshe Biefa Mari Ebbo Mokanla Yeyeni Yeyeye Adele Obashe Akasha Mari Ebbo.

The eleventh ikin came out and ate efun and ishu. Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo. Adele Meyila Baraloye Ifá Odara Bayele Olorun Akasha Mari Ebbo.

The twelfth ikin came out and ate eko. Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo. Adele Metanla Bologua Yenifa Adele Nileo Akasha Mari Ebbo.

The thirteenth ikin came out. Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo. Adele Merinla Latotolo Yerun Ifá Tote Yorun Eifa Oshe Bogbo Eran Onu Ibashe Olodumare Akasha Mari Ebbo.

The fourteenth ikin came out and ate rice. Mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo. Adele Merunla Marun Akasha Laye Moguayo Tokoyere, Oshegun Ota Guaye Ifá Onire Akasha Mari Ebbo.

The fifteenth ikin came out and ate flour. mari Ebbo, Mari Ebbo, Akasha Mari Ebbo. Adele Mayerifa Medilogun Mari Ebbo Toyeni Ifá, Ifá Guaroshe Awo Guaguayorun, Guaguayoye, Guagua Inle Awo, Awo Metere, Awo Odara Mari Ebbo. And the awo Mayerifa came out of the river holding the sixteenth ikin between his fingers, and he fed it akara, black-eyed pea fritters, and thus total prosperity came to that land.

Note: when this ceremony is to be performed, the jícaras must be set out with water, and the owner of this Ifá must place the leri adie in the water while saying: «Alade Toyu Gumi Oro, Ikú Tuyu Gumi, Eshu Oro».

Then the adie are presented to Orunmila; afterwards, that awo is obliged to take those jícaras with water to the river and add every kind of food to them. Once the previous ceremony is finished, one must go out to deliver the five little papers in the following manner:

The first is cast at the street door upon leaving, and one calls: «Awo Shonile Awo Shonile Odara Ikú Unlo Aroni Unlo, Ofo Unlo, Eyo Unlo, Araye Unlo, Ashelu Unlo, Bogbo Osobo Unlo».

The second is cast at the first corner to the left upon leaving, and one calls: «Eshu Bayeku Nigue, Nigue Mogua Nile Elegbá Eshu Odara».

The third is cast at the next corner around, and one calls: «Eshu Ota Niku, Ota Orun, Ota Ni Ofo, Ota Ni Eyo, Etc. Eshu Banire Lague Ota Yeibi».

The fourth is cast at the third corner, and one calls: «Burala Yesi Ague Teniyi Eki Elegbá Moyenkui Obi Ouyen Tingue Elegbá».

The fifth is cast at the fourth corner, and one says: «Erita Meta, Meta Nilaye Eshu Owo Boyeiku Oggún Malagua Lode Elegbá Odara».

The awo returns to the house, gives foribale to Orunmila, eats a little from the four points of the board, drinks water, and then says: «Kudu Iyo Kudi Epo Seregun».

Thereafter, upon each appearance of an ikin, the same ceremony is repeated.

When the meal is not in eni bedun, an Ifá must be present, along with the apetevi who cooked the food. The owner of this Ifá must receive Orishaoko, Inle and Oba.

Who defends the house of Iroso Ate

When Obatalá governed the world, everyone shamed and mistreated Unkemi; even his godfather and godmother cursed him. The father of Iroso Unkemi had to clear the field in order to sow, and after finishing the sowing, he went out to fetch water to irrigate the crop. Along the way, he came upon a black maja snake; he picked it up and put it in his bag. A little later, he came upon a maja de Santa María and did the same.

Continuing on his way, he came upon Ekun Meta Keke, newly born, which he gathered up as well. He carried all of this to the house of his son Iroso Unkemi, so that these animals would watch over his son, and he sang to them: «Kelo Kuemi Ifá Aworiako Lo Kuemi Nishe Ifá Konshe Le Kuemi Nisae Aweribe». And so they defended the house of Iroso Unkemi against his enemies.

One must have Ozain de fundamento.