Obara Dila

How Shangó and Yemayá saved themselves

Obatalá had a very beautiful planting of maize; the maize had grown tall and the ears stood very high. Shangó and Yemayá joined together to steal the maize from Obatalá, but since they could not reach it, they devised that Yemayá would climb onto Shangó’s shoulders to reach the maize. When Obatalá noticed that his maize was being stolen, he suspected Shangó and Yemayá and accused them before Olofin. When they went to trial and Olofin questioned Shangó, he said: «I do not steal with my hands,» and Yemayá said: «I do not steal with my feet,» and both were absolved, because both were telling the truth and because neither of the two took responsibility for what they had done.

The night and Olorun

On this path everything was night, and Olorun needed to give light to the day. Every time he came out and shone, only a faint brightness was received, which left him deeply displeased, and he would begin to sing: «Agogo Nile Olorun Aye Agogo Nile Olorun Alakolaba Layeo Olorun Laygo«.

Oba Kolaba heard the song that Obara Dila was singing and said: «They are calling me because they need me.» So that they would know he was listening, he rang the bell and began to sing: «Agogo Olona Agogo Olona Obara Dila Eni Awao Agogo Olona«.

Oba Kolaba arrived and asked Obara Dila what was wrong. He answered that he wanted the full brightness of the world, but could not obtain it. Oba Koloba told him that he knew his son, who lived in the yagruma and was named Oni Osha Abuken. He lived covered by the leaves, and Oba Koloba would bring him.

For this, Oba Koloba painted his whole body with efun, orí and epo (palm oil). Then he set out on the road with his agogo, singing: «Omo Osha Abuken Eni Wawao Omo Osha Abuken Oomo Osha Abuken Oni Lawa Owo Osha Abuken Eni Wawao«. Osha Abuken, who heard the song, took 4 pieces of obi and akuko funfun and held them in his hands. Then he began to sing: «Ala Kolaba Ni Aye Osha Abuken Ina Eni Olorun Yekun».

Osha Abuke and Alabolaba said «Jekua Je, ua» as they carried him, telling him: «Olorun needs you to sustain him, so that he can give light to his children who are on the earth.» He answered them: «Let us go,» and they set out on the road singing: «Yanialona Yania Oke Bi Agba Osha Buken Yania Oke Bi Agba«.

They arrived where Obara Dila was, handed him the akuko funfun and the 4 pieces of obi, and at once he climbed on top of him, and the rays of the sun began to come out. Ala kolaba touched his forehead and prayed: «Eni Oshabuken Obaye Moda Nile Omo Olorun Jekua Baba Jekua Baba Obariboye Abayi Lade Olorun Ori Oba Eri Emi Osha Abuken«.

Afterwards, he cast obi to Oshabuken to know whether what he was saying was true. He also fed the blood of akuko to both of them so that they would have strength in the world, so that the rays of the sun would never fail and the children could live on the earth. He sang: «Eye Ogunda Oni Omo Oshabuken Ogunda Aye Olorun Omo Oloyo Lawa Eni Osha Abuken Eye Ogunda Eye Olorun Layewa Eni Omo Oshabuken Layewa«.

Then all the shadows of the darkness of the night began to withdraw, and the light of the sun covered the whole earth, sustained by Omo Eni Oshabuken.

: this ebbo is done at 6 in the morning; the 16 eyeles are given to the igba, and to the Santo of the year one is given at 12 noon; he eats at 4 in the morning.

The evil wind

Here the evil wind rules; kaferefun Shangó, who was the one who drew out that wind. This is where Olofin ate eure; here speaks the wide-hipped obini with gold teeth; it speaks of a young girl (a maiden) who may go astray if she is not reined in early enough. Here Shangó handed over to Yemayá; they eat together; the ebbo of the year was born. Obara Dila brought the light of day into this world; one receives Ala Kolaba and Eni Osha Abuken. Whatever bad the person carries is lifted from them quickly, and they emerge from the harm in which they live or move.

When Shangó found himself without a house

Shangó’s house was in very poor condition, and he went out to look for materials to repair it, leaving Elegbá holding up the main post for him. On the road, Shangó met an obini and courted her and went off with her, and the same thing happened several more times, and he forgot about Elegbá. Elegbá grew tired of holding up the post and let it fall, and Shangó’s house collapsed. When Shangó returned, he found himself without a house; and when Olofin came to Shangó’s house and heard what had happened through Elegbá’s complaints, he cursed Shangó, saying: «Just as your house fell, so shall your nature fall.» And so it happened to Shangó in this Ifá.

You must not protest or complain

One day, Yemayá was going through a difficult situation and decided to go and see Orunla so that he would help her. Orunla told her that in order to overcome the problems that would come her way, she must not complain or protest, and he marked an ebbo for her. Yemayá did as Orunla said and left her house forewarned that she would meet with a setback, but that she must not complain.

Yemayá was walking along a road that led to a forest, and at its entrance a young man asked her for help carrying a basket of palm oil, which smeared all her clothes. Yemayá remembered Orunla’s warning and kept walking, even though those were the only clothes she had. Later, she met a man leaning on a staff who asked her for help, but the old man tipped the contents of his sack over her and ran off laughing. It was Eshu again, who followed her.

Yemayá continued on her way and met yet another figure, and the same thing happened to her, but she did not protest either. When she was tired of walking, she saw a clearing in the forest, and on reaching it she was astonished to see that a very beautiful city lay a short distance away, with fine buildings. She came to the gates of a splendid palace and wanted to enter, but the guards standing at the door with their pikes crossed would not let her pass.

On one occasion, Yemayá was going through a hard time and went to consult Orunla, who revealed to her that if she wanted to overcome the problems that would come her way, she must not complain or protest. Then Orunla marked an ebó for her, and Yemayá carried it out. When she left Orunla’s house, she met a boy who asked her for help with a basket of oil, smearing all her clothes. Yemayá remembered Orunla’s warning and went on her way, later meeting a man who threw the contents of a sack over her and ran off laughing, who turned out to be Eshu.

Despite everything, Yemayá did not protest and continued on her way until she came upon the entrance to a very beautiful city with fine buildings. When she tried to enter the palace, the guards stopped her. Yemayá sat down to weep, believing her sacrifices had been in vain, and fell asleep. On waking, she noticed the changing of the guard and seized the moment to enter the palace, marveling at its beauty.

At that moment, the sovereign of that kingdom and spiritual guide of other kingdoms saw her and knelt before her, asking for her blessing. Then the king, Shangó, took off his crown and placed it on Yemayá, who from that day on was regarded as the queen of that kingdom.

He who does not announce himself does not sell

On this path, the drake and the duck were remarking that the duck’s eggs were the best — the firmest and at the same time the most nourishing — and the rooster, who happened to be nearby, overheard this conversation. He went and told the hen, and she answered him: let us go to the house of a Babalawo who lives near here.

The awo, after performing osode on them and having seen this Oddun, told them to bring him many eggs to make ebbo. When the ebbo was finished, he told them to go together with the chicks to the scrubland and sing there all together, and so they did. The farmer, hearing that racket, went to the spot and saw all the eggs, and since he was on his way to the market he gathered them up and took them along, and when the people saw him they bought them all. The drake, proud of his eggs, stayed behind waiting for the people to prefer his when they came; and since he did not announce his goods, no one came looking for them — not for him, nor for his eggs.

The hen that laid the golden eggs

On one occasion, Orunla was treating a man who was, for him, like a hen that laid golden eggs, for the man paid a good sum of money for his weekly cures. Yet after seven months the man was still ill, and Orunla was keeping his household on the money the man paid him. One day when Orunla was not at home, the man arrived and asked his wife, Yemayá, about his leg and the sore. Yemayá gave him a remedy made with vines from the coast of Olokun, and the man was cured.

When Orunla returned home, Yemayá told him about the man and the gift he had given her. Orunla explained that she had killed the hen that laid the golden eggs, since he had been keeping his household on that man’s money. He gave Yemayá some cowries as a gift so that she could read, but told her that from the Oddun Eyila Chebora onward, the next Oddun that came out should be sent to him. He also told her that he could not live with a woman who knew more than he did. To Iban Eshu.