Obara Irete

The jícara and the güiro

Orunla went out walking through the countryside and came upon a güiro, whom he told that he had to make an ebbo. The güiro replied that he did not have to do anything, since he had been living happily for a long time. Shortly afterwards, the owner of the land appeared and, seeing so many dried güiros, drew a machete and began to cut them down. Orunla, however, had already gone on his way and came upon a jícara (gourd bowl), to whom he had also recommended making an ebbo. The jícara obeyed him, and when she was thrown into the water, she floated instead of sinking. From then on, the jícara was of use to everyone. Seeing how the jícara fared, the güiro felt ashamed and threw himself into the river, sinking to the bottom.

The daughter of Olokun

The ebbo goes directly to Olokun, an inshe to punish the obini: Eran Borbo Loricha Fifetu Eran Lori Cha Fife Egun Eran Lafinu Toche. The head of an etu and tiger hide are burned, along with a mate and atare meyi, and iyefa is made — that is, an Inshe of Ozain.

Obara Irete does no favors

On one occasion, Orunla was riding on horseback toward a town when he came upon a blind man walking along the road. Orunla greeted him and asked him where he was going. The blind man replied that he was going to the same place as Orunla. Orunla told him he was not headed there, but that he would carry him on his horse as far as he could. He helped the blind man up onto the horse and they continued on their way.

When they reached a bend in the road, Orunla told the blind man that he would leave him there, but the blind man began to make a scene, saying that his horse was being stolen. Orunla, embarrassed, asked the blind man in front of the crowd that had gathered: «Is the horse male or female?» The blind man began to run his hands stealthily over the mare, and when he slipped his hands between the hind legs, the young men began to shout: «Look how he puts his hands between the legs to find out whether it is male or female!» Thanks to the intervention of the young men, Orunla did not lose his horse for doing a blind man a favor.

When the truth arrives, the lie bows its head

This says that when the truth arrives, the lie bows its head and leaves.

The disobedient ayapa

Olofin had forbidden passage along a certain road, but the ayapa wondered what was so special about that road that she could not travel it. She invited other animals to conspire with her, and the ayapa, who went in front, climbed up to a spot to watch Olofin. When Olofin discovered her, he asked her why she had climbed up there without his permission. The ayapa lay down before Olofin and kissed his feet, but Olofin saw through her hypocrisy and told her that from that day on she would have to drag herself along the ground. This is the story of why the ayapa must crawl, and it closes with the salutation «To Iba Eshu».

The person is a hypocrite and has a pending rogation; Obatalá must be fed and Osha must be seated.

The hens and the moorhens

The hens got trapped in the mud of the river, and the roosters, noticing their absence, went out to look for them because they wanted oficale Trupon. They headed to the river and found them trapped there, but when they went to rescue them they saw the moorhens, forgot about the hens, and set about courting the moorhens.

Your husband has courted other women right in front of you.

In this sign the ebbo is set in place when, because of the gravity of the sick person or of the person’s problem, one cannot wait until the third day for the ebbo to take effect.

Only Obara Rete was missing

Olofin had all the awoses imprisoned, but Obara Rete was missing. Olofin ordered that he be sought out, and when he came into his presence he said to him: Ifá Lori. Obara Rete answered: Lori Eshini Eika Osun Ashede Araba Baba Ariguo. There the irofa lay scattered about, for the awoses were Ikú (death), and Obara Rete told him to release those who were alive or had not died and to gather up the irofa that lay rolling about. Another awo came with an irofa in each hand and handed them to Obara Rete, saying thus: Akoda Asheda Baba Bariwo Labae Febodo Daseke Fete Efan Osikueyu Olofin Ebbo Ada. La Leri Del Alakaso Kaba Yata Nifani Kasayata Asita Adufun Aye Eye Omo Olokun Mashakere.

Take with wine a stone that a certain fish carries.