Obara Fun

They ate the dead man

Orunla and two friends visited the house of Olofin and learned that his son was ill. Orunla advised him to perform an ebbo and to let him know once they had everything needed to carry out the ritual. Orunla’s friends carried out the ebbo without telling Orunla and, as a result, Olofin’s son died. Olofin, enraged, cooked a pot of yam with the dead body chopped into the middle of the broth. Then he invited the babalawos to eat from that broth, since they had declared there was no problem with the ebbo. After they had eaten, Olofin informed them that they had eaten the dead man, for not one of them had spoken the truth.

The offering of the eleguede

Upon arriving on earth, the first thing Obatalá did was consult Ifá to learn his destiny. The diviner told him he had to make an offering of a great deal of salt inside a pumpkin together with a white cloth, and Obatalá asked why he had to make that offering. Orunla answered that it was to avoid misfortunes on earth. But Obatalá refused to do the ebbo and went home. There he received many visitors, but the next day he found he had an enormous hump on his back. After asking around, he realized the deformity was the result of the offering he had failed to make. Eshu had taken the pumpkin from the offering Obatalá had refused and had placed it on his back, covered with a white cloth. When Eshu visited Obatalá, he told him that, because of his refusal to make the offering, he would be a hunchback and would never eat salt. That is why hunchbacks exist and why the offerings to Obatalá carry no salt.

The path where cramps and nervousness were born

TO RESOLVE DIFFICULTIES AN INSHE IS MADE: take a little damp earth, the sticks of heno, leri de eya with Ashe de Orunla, eri and efun, juju de alakaso, okokan, liver and oyu — all go into the inshe. Sarayeyo with asho fun fun, cover Obatalá, and it goes into the ebbo.

Obatalá lived in the land of Towa Teleun and was always hurried and desperate because he could not resolve his problems and could not see his son, who was named Oni Ifá. He also had another son, named Awo Leri Ifá, who was always at his side and whom he had taught to keep secrets so that he might live and govern in that great land. But this son never wanted Obatalá to leave his house, and so he could not travel to any other land — all so that he would not go see his brother Oni Ifá, against whom Awo Leri Ifá had made an inshe to dominate Obatalá and keep him sick in the legs.

Obatalá had not had a reading in a long time, but it happened that an awo named Otori Ni Bawa arrived at his house, sent by Orunla, who knew the situation Obatalá was in. As soon as this awo reached Obatalá’s house, he cast Ashe de Orunla on the doorway and began to sing: «Baba Ni Ladeo Baba Olona Jekua Baba Awo Oni Ifá».

Obatalá was startled and opened the door, and the awo came in and said: Obatalá, I come on behalf of Orunla to see you, but this work must be done with you alone, and no one else may be present. This awo already carried the ebbo that Orunla had prepared for Obatalá, for they already knew everything that was happening. Moreover, I will give you proof that your son Awo Leri Ifá is to blame for what is happening to you. Awo Otori Ni Bawa performed the ebbo for Obatalá and told him: take it to the foot of the tree that stands on the bank of a river. Obatalá carried the ebbo to where the awo had indicated, ringing his agogó and singing: «Ñaye Baba Jekua Obara Fun Obo Nire Awo».

When Obatalá returned from leaving the ebbo, he began to feel better and thought about what he had to do with his son Awo Leri Ifá. Meanwhile Awo Otori Ni Bawa went to Orunla and said: I have fulfilled your errand. Orunla said to Awo Otori Ni Bawa: To Iban Eshu.

Meanwhile Obatalá went to where his son’s secret was kept, took out the inshe he had made, cast it over himself, knelt down and cursed Awo Leri Ifá. Then a cramp seized Awo Leri Ni Ifá from the knees down so that he could not move, and the earth began to open and tremble under Awo Leri Ni Ifá, and he was gripped by his great nervousness. Obatalá went out onto the road and said: the earth will keep trembling until you pay for your betrayal; meanwhile, I am going to Awo Oni Ifá. Along the road Obatalá went ringing his agogó and praying: «Obara Ni Badun Wara Obara Ni Bafun Wara Wara Obara Ni Bafun Efun Oní Ifá. Obara Ni Bafun Layele Oní Iré».

Obatalá arrived in the land of Obara Mafun, where his son Awao Oni Ifá lived. His son was already waiting for him, for he had heard his father’s prayer and agogó, and as soon as he saw him he gave him Moforibale and fell to his knees at his feet. Obatalá was nervous and had cramps in his legs, and said: «I am your father, Jekua Yeku Yeku.» And Awo Oni Ifá — who was the very same Awo Otoro Ni Bawa, who had gone in disguise so as not to be recognized — threw the asho fun fun over him so that no one would see the state his father was in, for his father had told him he could neither move nor stand.

Awo Oni Ifá carried Obatalá and took him to his ilé. Obatalá was astonished at how his son Awo Oni Ifá lived, for he was very intelligent. Obatalá, knowing that he had not been the one to teach him, was deeply surprised. Then Awo Oni Ifá said to his father: «All this good fortune of mine is thanks to my brother, and everything here is yours.» Then Awo Oni Ifá took the agogó and began to sing: «Baba Ni Olona Jekua Baba Ni Ifá Baba Ni Olona Baba Ni Ifá». And everyone in the land of Awo Oni Ifá came to render Moforibale to Obatalá.

Maferefun Elegbá

On this path, Shangó wanted to burn the 16 awoses who had gathered with Orunla, and he called on Elegbá so that, when Orunla went out, he would burn the 16 awoses.

But Elegbá went and told Orunla, and Orunla told him to fetch 2 barrels of petroleum and two of water, and they came to an agreement. Shangó knew that Orunla was with the 16 awoses and was waiting for Orunla to leave in order to carry out his work, but Orunla had already told Elegbá: when I go out, pour out the 2 barrels of water — and Elegbá did just that. And at that very moment Shangó poured out the petroleum, which mixed with the water, and the fire could not take hold. And in this way the 16 awoses were saved, thanks to Elegbá and Orunla.