Okana Ojuani

Prayer and Ebbo

In the land of Onika, Awo Ayoshe, a son of Elegbá, faced constant enmities that kept him from prospering. Diligent as he was, he had to deal with attack after attack and make ebbo continually to protect himself.

Weary of this situation, Ayoshe decided to seek out his father Elegbá. He set off toward him, invoking Elegbá with songs and carrying an agogó.

When he found Elegbá, Ayoshe poured out his affliction. Elegbá took him to the house of Awo Kani Yoko, where it was revealed to him that his enemies were close at hand and that he had neglected his spiritual father.

Awo Kani Yoko performed a special ebbo and took it to Elegbá, where offerings and rituals were carried out. An opon was blown with specific ingredients, and Ayoshe was instructed in how to use the leri of the Owunko to protect his home.

Thanks to these acts, the scent of the leri of the Owunko scattered Ayoshe’s enemies, allowing him at last to live in peace and prosper in his land with the blessing of Elegbá and Orunmila.

Prayer and Ebbo

Important Note

This Ifá points to a long war caused by disobedience toward Orunmila and toward Oshún, and warns that the awo of Orunmila must not sit in public parks.

Aumbi, an awo of Orunmila with the oddun Okana Yabilari, received counsel from the wise elders during his atefa, including avoiding conflicts, respecting the daughter of Oshún, and always following the advice he was given.

Despite that counsel, Aumbi was disobedient and did not follow the instructions. One day, after trouble in his home, he met the daughter of Oshún in a park and forgot to make ebbo as he had been advised. The relationship between Aumbi and the daughter of Oshún deteriorated, until Aumbi raised his hand against her. That act brought the elders’ counsel back to his memory and drove him to seek out his godfather.

Aumbi’s godfather explained that his troubles were the consequence of his disobedience and performed an ebbo. He instructed Aumbi to make ebbo with the young woman, to live close to his Ifá, and to make offerings to Oshún to avoid traps and legal problems.

After fulfilling his godfather’s instructions, Aumbi saw calm and stability return to his life and to his relationship.

The Paper-Cone Seller

In a town there lived a seller of paper cones who was going through hard times because he could not sell his wares. On his way from town to town he met Elegbá, with whom he made a pact: as his business prospered, he would give Elegbá food.

Elegbá led him to a town where nobody sold paper cones and took him to the marketplace, where he had great success. His business grew so much that he came to forget Elegbá, and a long time passed without him keeping his promise to feed him. As a result, his business began to decline, his health worsened, and he found himself in misery.

He then went to Orunmila, who told him to place something inside a paper cone that would be brought to his dog, and that if it came inside a closed cone, he was not to take it. When the closed cone was brought to him, he told the person to place what it carried inside before Elegbá, and to take the cone away and break it in front of the door of his house, filling it with water.

From then on, his health and his business prospered, and he kept his word to Elegbá, for what the cone carried served as an adimu to Elegbá.

Elegbá’s Neighbor

Elegbá lived in the farthest part of town, and to reach his house one had to pass along a path overgrown with maize and corn stalks. Because of this planting, Elegbá kept stumbling and grew angry, saying he was going to call Oggún to have that path cleared.

The owner of the farm went to see an oluo, and this Ifá came out for him: «You have a neighbor who is angry with you. Make ebbo so that he has no quarrel with you over the path that stands in his way». After making the prescribed ebbo, his oluo told him to give his neighbor a gift. From then on, his business began to go well.