Okana Fun

The Rabbit That Did Not Listen, and So Lives Shut Away or Dies of Sadness

The rabbit was fleeing and hid because it felt cornered. Despite what Obatalá told it, the rabbit did not listen, and as a consequence, misfortune came. Since then, the rabbit lives in isolation or dies of sadness.

This situation also affects the person’s family. To repair the disobedience, it is suggested that the whole family take part in preparing the meal. In addition, two rabbits must be presented to Obatalá as an offering to ask his forgiveness and resolve the situation.

The Rabbit’s Discontent

The rabbit went to Olofin to ask him for a larger size, since despite being very intelligent, its size was very small. Olofin replied that he would do so if it brought him the skin of a tiger, a wild boar or a lion — something impossible to obtain given its small stature. Yet the cunning rabbit found a way to solve the problem and brought the skin to Olofin.

On seeing it, Olofin took the rabbit by the ears and said: «If at this size you managed this, if I give you a larger size, you will dethrone me». Then he cast it down to earth. After the ofikale trupon, the rabbit fainted and, since then, it reproduces every three months. Its urine causes it mange, skin eruptions and loss of fur.

Okana Fun Goes in Search of His Virtue

On one occasion, all the Santos gathered and went to Olofin so that he would grant them the virtues they lacked. Olofin took away their evil and gave them the virtues they sought. But there was a man named Okana Fun who was very lazy and fond of sleeping, and he arrived late to the gathering. On seeing him arrive, Olofin asked him: «My son, how is it that you arrived late? I have already handed out virtue to the others, and all that remains is what they left here, which is everything they had».

Okana Fun answered Olofin: «Well then, I will take everything they have left here». But the next day, Elegbá came to Olofin’s house and told him what was happening in the town without the presence of evil. Olofin replied: «Okana Fun was here and took all the evil they left behind; go and bring him to me». Okana Fun came to Olofin’s house, and Olofin asked him for the evil of all the Santos, to share it out among them once again. As a result, Okana Fun was left without the good and without the evil, all for being the way he was.

Prayers of Okana Fun

• First Prayer: «Okana Fun Ayelobi Oñi Oña; Tosa Owuko Adifafun Inle Abata Lada Tinshoma Oba, Aleyo Ayeri Kobori Eya Oro.»
• Second Prayer: «Omi Lozan Kaferefun Oshanlá, Eggun; Iya Baba Tobi, Maferefun Elegbá, Abata, Inle Y El Viento.»

One day, Abata went fishing but could not, because the sea was very rough. He then began to pray to Olofin, asking that, if it were possible, he send him at least one fish. He needed it to save the eyesight of his father, who was losing it. While he was pleading with Olofin, another deity appeared, Inle, who offered to protect him. Abata gave him a little water from his güiro, and so their friendship began.

When Inle drank the water, he began to plead with Olofin with these words: «Okana Fiodeno Kowa Eya Kekere, Mitosi Baba Tobi Ni Abata». Then he drew out the rod he had pointed toward the water and, on pulling it back, they found a fish caught on it: eya oro, exactly what Abata needed to cure his father’s blindness. From that moment on, Inle and Abata joined together to do good for humanity.

Note

Whenever Inle is received, Abata must also be received. The symbol of Abata is a kind of trident with two snakes entwined on it; it also carries two feathers made of metal, which represent the feathers that all fish have on their heads. Eya oro serves to cure the eyesight, to perform the head rogación, and to bathe with its water; in that way one removes the curse from oneself.

Path 6

Abata lived in the lagoon of Ilobu with her father, who was ill in his eyes. After searching in many places for a cure for him, she went to Orunmila to ask for his help. Orunmila told her that the only solution was to find a fish called «eya oro», obtainable only through the intervention of Olofin.

Abata had to make an offering to Olofin and ask for help from Inle, her husband and brother. Inle, known for fishing with a spell, left nothing at the shore, deepening Abata’s despair.

Orunmila advised Abata to seek help where the river joins the sea. There she found Ashikuelu, the guardian, and his son Yobia, who provided her with a special hook for fishing.

While Abata prayed for at least one fish to save her father, a spirit named Bayuto appeared, her Guardian Angel. Bayuto, after drinking water from Abata’s güiro, invoked the heavens and caught the fish «eya oro» with his fishing rod.

Bayuto handed the «eya oro» to Abata, who took the fish to Orunmila’s house and succeeded in curing her father’s eyesight.

Note

When the work with Inle is performed, Bayuto is included, and the guabina is called with oro, saying: «eya oro omolorun imole agba Eggun».

The Path of the Tiger

In a town where all the inhabitants were hard-working and lived in harmony, a tiger appeared one day. At the cry of «A tiger, a tiger!», the animal began to attack and wound the people of the town.

A mother, on hearing that the tiger was wreaking havoc, gathered her three children. Always concerned for their safety, she explained the situation to them, and together they collected what they needed to seek a safe place.

On reaching the far end of the town, they decided to settle there. The mother, wary for her children’s safety, prepared a trap along the path: a deep pit covered with grass, and she advised them not to stray far from the house.

One day, the children wandered too far from the house. The tiger, which had devastated the town, saw them playing from a hilltop. Determined to attack them, it crept closer.

The mother, ever alert, began to call her children. Not hearing them, she took her shotgun and went out to look for them. At that moment, she heard the cries of her children running toward her.

The mother protected her children and led the tiger toward the trap she had prepared, where it finally fell, and the threat to the town came to an end.

Obatalá and the Rabbits He Raised

Obatalá had a large brood of white, red-eyed rabbits that he loved dearly. Yet he noticed that the brood was shrinking day after day. So he decided to consult Orunmila, who read Ifá for him and told him that his rabbits were being stolen, but that he could make no allusion to it, since letting the thieves know could cost him his life. Orunmila then ordered him to make an ebbo with two rabbits and other ingredients, and asked him to take the ebbo to Oggún’s house.

Obatalá made the ebbo and went to Oggún’s house with the two rabbits he had used in the ritual. There, he told Oggún he was giving them to him as a gift. Oggún, furious, thought that Obatalá knew he was the thief of the rabbits. Yet Obatalá simply gave him the rabbits without making any comment.

Oggún was left perplexed and reflected on the fact that Obatalá, from whom he had been stealing, had given him two rabbits without knowing they were precisely the ones he had stolen from him. From that moment on, Oggún decided to steal no more rabbits from Obatalá.

Listen to Obatalá

In this sign, the rabbits did not listen to Obatalá, and when the storm came, they were trapped and blinded, losing themselves in the chaos. Only Obatalá was able to save himself, for he stayed aloft on his white mantle.

: ceremonies must be made to Obatalá in order to be saved.