Ayo SALAMI IFA

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Mr. Salami AY9 was bornsorne 37years ago '? ~¡
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into the union 01 Chief and Mrs. Anthony ,},
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Alárápé Salami 01Jagun Ójóágábí House, in 'r',
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9Y9, 9Y9 state, Nigeria He obtained his first 'ti
.degree inAgricultural Engineering frorn the'('f'
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then Univer.sity 01 11$, lié II~; now 9bál~miAw919w9 University. Mr. !
,. Salami had never sat for Yorubá as a written paper or under any l.,
I¡examination; but is good in oral andwritten aspects olthelanguage. !
1~ He was popularly known and called Ógúnmatthew by friends during
"~. his student day~ while still in the University because 01 his radical i:
~. . proverbs and identificalion with Yorubá as alanguage olwisdom. His (
,
second book, Dialects and Language Origin, would be lound lobe !
equally breathtaking Married to beautilul Edore, Mr. Salami lives in
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AYO 5ALAMI
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COMPLETE DIVIN,ATION·
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4. " AH rights reserved. No par! of this publication may be reproduced, reprinted, stored in
. -a 'rctrieyal system, photocopied, transmitted, recorded, or pirated in any form or by
, .•.means, .manual, electronic, mechanical, or olherwise, except for prívate study,
research purpose, review or criticism, without the expressed and 'consented prior
permission of the copyright owners.
This book is written under the auspices of International Federation for Arts, Religion,
and Cultural Imbibition of the Yorübás (IFARCITY)
ISBN: 978-36035-6-6
copyright (e) Ayr¡Salami, and IFARCITY; July, 2002
all correspondence to P.O. Box 26, Qyé¡,Qyé¡ State Nigeria
Phone: 234 38 241091, 234 804 613 0406
email;ogunrnat@yaboo.com
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Published and Printed by:
.,'
I .l i':.. "":-'1 l' -, ..•.. ", .:'," ~, .', .~.
NIDD ~b'li~hing andPrilÍtiI1.gLi~!ééI
f . . ~.. . .: ,--".
36, OgüntónáCrescent,
Phase 1, Gbágádá Estate,
Lagos, Nigeria.
0802 308 550I
cover page design by: Aye'¡ Salami
The name of the design has been termed 'Ifá ló layé'. The world as eneapsulated in
the face ofIfá tray. (Or in the haod of Órúnnñlá wilh ~iI overlooking from the top).
ii
'Ir(lni w~npa
.'.'''irá óle~ parun
.' , "Eké'~.w~~~~
, . ., Jrá ole~'Pl!'r1i~ ,
At~í~W(l la i>áía
.:.< .:"¡'.. ' ...11 omení t6 kQ(1
Ir(lni w(lnpa
Irá olee parun
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Dr (Mrs.) hábil Fágbúlúú, Mummy: 1have lo saya rnillion thank you lo this special
being created lo bring jOY'lO so many generalions and the yet unbom (Ákándá Olórun
ni wón jé), Without her, efforts of all the other people would have been futile. My
heart prays for you.
V
I also aeknowledge the following Babaláwos
.Ac~~()wl~dgment ..' .. . ,
1acknowledge Olódümaré, as the backbone that has.seen methrough thefirst phase of
. '. - ' . ' : " : . '.:';'. . • :.-,. 1 "',r, .. '1'-"
this projeC,I.!,ilh .1:Iis wil! carried 041 by sOrnan>: pe?ple across théwholeworld. Ir
so rnuch asI.try to shy awayfrom rnentioning names.jis] would h,(veio,'Wlrt anothér"
• • .., ".... , •. , '.' • 1 ._, ... .1
.. '" .' T. ' _ ' .' ," " ' . ,.'.' '. ,c; :', •. .".,
textbook indocumenting everyone; howevérrnúst rnentron these few distinguished
pers9n.al,itieswho' would'expr,~s:my thanksto thelarger society.They arethose who .
madcthe ernbryo tofurrn the baby. . . . ' ,
.; .,< '.' '.' ,: .. :. ,-
I thank Babaláwo lfátólá Joey Pounds Ókánbi. The initiator of the programo It is
amusing to note that an African American has inspired me this mnch.
Much of my thanks would go to the child ofIreteogbé, Professor Anthony Van der
Meer, of the University of Massachusetts, Boston, Dr Olúségun Ifála$l( and Ms
Obátóóyln Angela Williams, among others.
I am grateful to my American look alike friend, Babaláwo J J Kulevich, the child of
Osááwüre (the White lOan that shares striking physiological semblance with a
Blackman). QmQIyaa mi ríú se. Babaláwo Juan Carlos Maldonado, MI'. Asáolú 01'
University of Lagos who gave me a free coPY01' the 'Lingua' for thc tonal marks. My
Prof. (Chief) Wándé Abirnbólá, ÁWí$l( Ágbáyé: My godfatber who reviewed part 01'
the manuseript for me. ÁbQTÚ boyé bo sise
Chief Alárápé Salami: My father who provided me with the backing, inspirution, and
continuity. He even explained sorne knotty words to me. 'Kára ó lé'
a Chief BabaláwoIdówú Fástpé Fágbohún, (Olúwo 01' Órlsá World congress)
b Chief Babaláwo Babalolá Ifátóógün from IloMú, Osun state
e Babaláwo Ifálayé QjQQmQdá -Idéré, QYQ state
d The group of Babaláwos that I interviewed in Ówu, Abéókúta, Oógün State
e Babaláwo Táíwó and Kéhlndé Fásíp~ in QYQ .
f BabaJáwo DósúnrnúAkángbé
'.'
IV
Godlinessis.all about heaven
''¡i''.j ~~,~}.f"~ _~,~" ~;~'ií.
Heaven IS 'about théunknown
~'·.H- '_"":' ';~.'~:" s-, ,:.~,
Unknown}/reCip'itiJ.jes fear
'".:¡'•. r~t";.,'j '.". """" ,v.
While[edr lé'q(ls tllt'orment
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The tormented wlJuldseek'for solution
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¡¡¡I'" ':::L¡":Glúwamóyqwá<'James.
" ":::)(,.",6'bü:b¡:~i,jam;,'a~,h'ei~,dilledaniong' ,
.. ' ,"" ... , .. , •. , ; '<" "" (, ..,.-;, ";",_~ l,!;I>. "-';!~.-. . ~;'Il_",.',.o i!; ";";; ,1'
1-:,""" '1:','.; ::'¡ ,~an/Q(1is dl¡a~es.·"'lj' "". "
'jl¡:¡iMay·OIÓdU~dre'k~~p;,',~'~dmake-him'a
'i'¡' '1:n·: L;t':~~;!~,;l':" ;.; )'11':';,<):: ;~:r.! .r ,; o,,'j 1""¡~ ,:,:,::" 1i
complete man; so thcifhe:¿6'úf(:l,j¡
·"T·e.;.. ,Ji (,!; ,¡~:~~0:1Qhg¡lqs.t¡hg.J9Y)to'me.'"
" ' . ' ._t," ,.! l~, ,.l' 'o,' )~I) ('.: .•,,¡,. ; .• ;,:~::.. ':·,l.'_"J.,L"
Détlieáti0ñ.
W{iUD'; This"book is !Q~9lCc;1;t:~º,r()!m)',b:qYr "
:, eL ,·i:d¡,¡.:,/( 'q;; ".' ;i"'MY:b'Undle'of'joy. ji! HJi!':
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Mojúbá o
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friends,OlúkáYQdé orno Adénlyl.omo Olóbitótata- igiso; omo onisu árogüró by,
QmQam'álQÚ sójú ebo gbóhun Olórun v'í;<¡ffiQ eléré rnéfá orni' asündan, Túndé
AdélQwQ-Oníkakakí AfQnye,Q~<¡bab~anís'Qn:i rió bylójúdeOlófij~, 'r'Ché!nórforget'"
Olásúnkánmi Tégbe, Ajlió blú~Qtá,<)tiIig.in pÁliaapa:Oad¡Iy'Áiidy-Tíigbo1<orowei; -,
Mr. Léré F4ína, a friend índeed,among manythat did h~ final pi;;o!'&iiding, ,"'"¡j.:
, . -: J'. ,, ; ,'h", '-",- J f ., ." l' 'P ',-J'"
Finally1thank the officialsof UNESca and UNESCOfor welcórning me with'olien"
hands and deeming it properto award the contractfor the públícation of this researciC'
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, bya versatileBabaláwo, readíngs ofthedistinctsignature. ofIfa, (which can be,cast
. usingthe Op~I~ or the Ikin) are done.iwiththe Ibo which is-then used to.narrow the
bone of contention:BY" reflex :and"inspiration, the: Babaláwowould .then chant
matching verses attached to thatparticular Odü.iSacrifice would be prescribed. By
chanting the appropriate verses, the bone' of contention would ·have beendeciphered
and .timely observatíon. of 'the sacrifíces, an 'impending .doorn .would have been
averted. This process is called lfá divination, Therefore through divination, man could
knówwhat wouldbríng hirn success and-whatwouldbring failure: " "
There are a total of 256'bÍluin Ifá, These cornprise.of 16 maín.Le. theright hand,
Qrúrim1iil., hiíving the same markor signature with lheleft,E~rl'-The rest 240 are
terrnéd 'Ámúlu' or mixture with the right -and left handshaving different marks.
According to AbímbQlá, each of the 256 signatu~es or Odü has ~, total of about 800
poems attached to it, thus a total of 256 X 800 poémsfound in Ifá'alóne.-Outof which
thé Bab~áwowouldlóokfof orie that maiches thé Odü cast tochan!. Órúnmilá isthe
only one ,lha! kriows and could chant all the verses.-These verses weretaughtto his
students and passed through -generatíonsfíllft is lheturir -of iour presentday
BabáláwoaHówever, because ófso many factors, manyófthese poems.havebeen
iost and are stiHbelh'g 1 0 s t d a i l Y . " , .,',
A. Deaths: Many of the.great priests wehavearound die before beingableto teach
their subjects the totality of what lhey know in terms of the verses and their
appIications. 'i; '¡-c"'", :: e,' .,
.., B:-'.LackOfDocuinentation:Assaid',before, áll,verses of:lfá,have to', be '11emorized
'arid lhe' chanting' isconly.on inspiiation i and reflex.,However;,:it ~ould seel)1almOSl
'<impossibie"for:--an' ordinary being'.to· mem~rize,alLlhese verses"wilhoulhaxing l!Ily
, docilrnent to,fall', 011 iocas to'refreshlhe,memgry<:mis would be found. to:.I)e,a, l)1ajor
, : factor which contributé to lhevariance'iil mirilber and fuHness oflhe names of Ohiwos
,C' lhat are found in poems'even if it is under lhe same Odu '. ",'
C. E~~sure a~d'~~peatanceofOdii: Becaus.~~f~efacl lhat tlte~ppe!lflll1c~~fany .
Odrl is based on divine intervention, a Iearn~cB,abaláwo ,mayhaye. to"waitf()r a
particülar bdrlto appear for him to know lhefuH detailsofits verses, sacrificialorder,
constituents "and mariy more (MOSl especially under group divination).In, sorne cases,
soine Odrl' lire elusive and'ir leamer' Babaláwo' might.not' witness its, chailting; he
'lherefore"may have'li>'rely on !hose taught him;by chanceeor ifhehimself is
inquisitive.Onecan righlly. say lhat itis·what hehiinself knows lhal he.would teach
ánotherleamerpriestunderhim.. ' ,i', '.. ,¡ ,. ',u'.
I .xiii
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xii
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Man carné to lhis world to be bom, to live and to die. TIre obvious com~ to -I!lay,as he
did not witness his being bom nor wouId he witness his dearq, TIre tw~'~' aon~:~ilher
" • .... -,.: '.;'~ '.- ,.;,; r' ;H" ':' ~ ¡,~,,¡
In his subconsclous state or lifeless state; leaving lhe stagé of adultq<JR(URr'l'-li~to
hold on to, Actions wilhin which would lhereafter serve as a yardstic~ ~qrir¡i.!#§png
his success or failure in life. Because of lhe chauvinistic nature of rÍíán', he~ wantS to
have everything good in life to make him be seen as a PfOtOtype__onric6'¿~~':¡b'his
feHow roan; but for lhe unknown, man could not ordinarily-'kriow'whil:ti 'l!rtiCié íiÚuy
-"·U 1-.·'.···, ¡-.rl .'
or which work to do lhat would fetch him peace, weallh, good wiJe, cl,1ildre~:and
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lherefore good life. As a Yorilbá adage says 'O tibi Qjil. gbé til., o o Deér~' l'9wQ 06' .
YOu:jllI)lP ata ",rofitabIé oullet for cornmerce, you rath~r should fir~i 'briqil'irt!f it
matchesyour' destiny. CorrÍ¡iaieogbeQsf' A; .OfúiiogbFA' 61i"~;;g!>Jpíirti:tvith
otúrúpQnlrosrln B on the olher parto . '.:N ""'<i,'¡, h:
'-.~ ,~ :'d ""'),•.. ,.1 ~
. TIris is where Ifá divination process comes in. On consultation bY'!he',¿¡iehtele,
artieles of divination (see index) are brought out which upon simpll6ra:tS¡¡Ye'pl'ayers
and casting .
Had it been.that all dead p,ej~g¡;?v.7ri k'!,ti!'~J'1,fl?fp~~; -~
lróko trees In the forests wóulll'há've'goÍli!intciextln'€ti,(n
Castdivin~tíon. ~or hundreds ?f~eings. ~-'~tlr¡:"lih f~1} ~iHt:- jJf, ¿i ,;~~j; 1f
',' "Hundred.of Beings'were.comingfrom thecity ofHeaven tqi.~e"e,arm'''i<i? '1,,' ;',';;
I,·'Had'¡!ibeeMhat;all'lead.l¡eings.",ere,buried ¡n,foWn~:.;!"':?"J ",;; ;,¡'~i' ,i;:;¡~"¡¡"ii
lióko'~~es in-thefoyests.",o.uld,haye.go?e Ü)!Cj,ex¡inmiqp.;;:,i,'; ,:,:,;;, ,:,,,,",,,i,,,,,'"."
, 'GastdlvmalI(jn~or, Struggle ~c1~,lr¡,Ye"c:". /1 -':";"'''; ';,: ·.'d'idi;, "'Y"':' ~.i:
:,,;Sttuggle,and Strivewere.comingfrom heaye' lo,*e e~Ft~j¡N ,,,,;r,, " 1
We are onIy struggling , . ,',,,,,,,k'.''';
:';~~,~~:~~'í;i~;;¡~~:;~","';':';:' .".:;;:.'j"::":::',:;":;,;" :,:"I','i:,~~'~~:~,-~,:;,~;::.~.;•.:,~..~...,:~~:~,_..~,:,.,.~¡;''tt;·~f;¡':'",j¡;r:;:;~O'
• ". - '. - - -<. r; r ,'_':/~iJ ,l;::/:';r~f".~h.~ ':Ji~!
Those that aredestined to be.e->cee~ip&Iy ¡r:i,c.~¡~e;,p,ot ,T~,PX nr; ". Vi "-'"
We are only strugghng .
AHofus
Weare onlystriving '.r.." ¡.H.; (;;-¡. . -Ó: '.,","','"J" .i¡;:¡ -'". ;.(j ~
Not all of us are destined to have good women as wivg{ ;'O¡" C" ' ,-,e,,;'
We are only struggling .. , ..C"'~ ;"'_ i,
AHofus "'C: ,',;J,,!: f,',: " :'ji ;j~¡
Weare only striving . ! .:::¡ ¡'!;~;: : ¡¡: -~:,: ¡ _~t-,":: ,,:-r~W">' ;:.;1 :.~; ~¡,-: í
Those that are destined to have exceptionally brillianrchíldren árenotimany".L;,20
We are only struggling :;i' ie
AH of us ::'"Oi;3 á i";"'i( h ~/:',~i; (,1
We lI1;~ only striving . I'.'Y"';Y:c,:.""¡-'
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8. D. ' ":Conservatism and self Aggrandizeinent:, Dúe.to thespiritüal.intonation.and
"":'''.'' vpower of sorne verSes,:some::Babaláwos'woJJld rather l<s:ep·,h,9S~;'yerses.to
'" ,,:',.themselves .and.réfuse'to,teach .otherssothatthey¡al,9.lJe¡;9.9,Í(1,explore.the
,e.fficacY: óf-its 'pover':maJ<ÍIhaHy;,Some.people ;whO,;P,Qssess~ such"gifl$,:at
,','. ;'tl,mes would 'preferr:,t~,die with them.than to.shareJhen¡t::f:0F¡everyºl),e:lp.,lse,
.,., " 'At best, they maydecideto teach just one oftheir e.bildreI):¡;',do .,¡,,;',,;, b,n,:
,,, j! . , ' . ",'1": 'd"¡·:,; ,:',',r-'.. .t. r~':,:¡:.'-;''-;k~ ::"'1 :'':;;:;;:' ;:;; ,::?.'¡,;(:"¡;..-: :~;:~"!, h-.,r;..,.'",
E. Incursionof:foreign relíglonst.Chrístianíty.and Islam.had, ~ip~e,ii.n~',9;',;~e
,'" " ", 'other',b~en:the.greatestt!}reat to global: Ifaism:as:pepple:,X'!t)lllr,,!1a1):SYo; Ifá
',"', ,'"asa religión would shy away ,ReC,~use:QftQeY; w,an,t,.tQ.RpnfQrmri0,he,~t9¡ates
" ".... ",-"ortbe contemPQ!WY s0getY,}1teydo notwant to be.branded as outcasts.
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,: ¡ ".:ii:'~'; •. ~J.)I¡!,i':.'.
St~~tu~~~(f~htV~~~~~Qi:ifá':~'-' '," ,i~:,';":'.,,:;;;':i':::~~;;L,).'),:i::;,~,~;::
Ifá verses.are wnnen mia~,!yto :slto:-,":lhat Y:orit!'~ 1l.ave,ape,el?}eqseQqr!á~re,
, :.science ,and;mathl'matlc~"as;expose~, ~Il,.their ,atTang!<went.al,1d 9e;>Pty",t,,~1!, verses, of
-Ifáwould have thefirst e;>1)1' to fewilínes.as, the.Olúwo.that chanted the verse at its
,".inception. :rhis WOJJId,be.followed,~y, 'c¡¡;;t:4i;i~ati¡;'"fó;;,aó((iheh¡¡;eth~~tThe
theme may either be long or short as the casemay be~riihthe.'~;hi~9j1~fjQY~f¿r'
lhe
person thal performs sacrifice and lamentation for its refú'saI'Tii';' éónCiú~ió~' is
usually the last line, which more often than not is a song, This would give credence to
"the Yorobá';s:!oveJor.fol<19re.songsan<!:rl)llsic.,."y; '¡,,' '. :;j '¡; ,',,,,r'" ''''l'','''; L
i",~;' ;··:;~.';·-'i "1(. .' :-{;;.' (ji '/..';';:, :~::¡',:¡ ',;; ;~L~~,,-¡j :;;1: ;":.1::;-,;;> .. :i.'.'rti
Yoriibá and Ifá's viewpoint of Sacrifices: """,.",.. ,"'"
F~om religious per~~ctive, the world can be said to be divided int~"th~ ph~~¡cal
~vIslble~, aIld.the metaphyslcal '(or,the spirititill):levels.,Bothlrealms,,,ha,,e'¡binding,ªnd
!: ,lOte~clIve forces exchang!ng between themforthe.mtocful!ctionh~rmoniously.
W;ben
','lhe'life, bf ~an functlOns m,such,a way.'that spells,succe,ss;it:termed,to::l1a,ve,a"good
"understandlOg''and, backing iof 'his' god; ,¡¡r'his',metaphysical. "Otherwise",~here,:i,s a
discordant tune'somewhere'álong the,line.Bringing the ,misfortuneback,tQ ,the,lil)eof
success requires an effort recógnizednotonly in '!he ,physicakw,orld ,bllt,aJs9 ;i]l,ihe
spirit realm; a norm or effort shouldered on Orúnmila, and referred to as sacrifice.
, ,-, 'Sacrifiées:could'be'saia to,belinexcha-ngefoj-;fáilures'."This'9Ólild.belseen ~rr~á verse
" ú~derholy ~gúilá:Otúá: Oiúrínllla asléed human'·beings: to bring rats; ..fishes,:.'anilÚals,
. ,'·'blrds etc lb. hlm'once they'noticed 3naberration pointing .to.failllre io,theirlife,¡md,the
"lives:of,·their children: -,Sacrificesare ;notonIy,an exchange f¡¡~(fail11Ies,',they::prO:~)de
; food'for'both heavenlyspir!t;the mother.e.arth,.an,d.fellow.¡JI1en;a.s,a ki!)d,o.f.shl!1'ipg, to
".let :e~erybody havea feeling of,:lo,ve,; andcrele.v~ce.SacIjfice,s;: ar.e;:pffS'~S'~i,i!1;¡the
'physI.calw?rldtothe.mouth'(The mou th'¡s'anl Orlsa: See,~<anran,Qlúá). 'A'!!1Ol!th,that
IS satlaled ISa grateful and prayerful mouth. Thanks'and"praye(s.defu¡itely.!wo¡¡J~'be
. ;!i:xiv 1
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directedat the person thatrefuses hunger tokill.his kinsmen, O¡Ie, can imagine the ~
mouths of everybody in a cornmunity, all praying for a singular person to achieve a
certain goal" Definitely, god wouldhearsuchmajority cry. Herice sacrifices offered,
bring blessings, from god and thereby eíucidating faith and continuity inthe tradition. O
Alsoby. sharing, prayersare offered to Esü, the Yorübá god ofjustice and may not iJ
always revolve ,around food andrnaterial things. rt could just be a word of advice,
which shoul.4bo; adhered to"SeeOtiJrúP9nQbanl~.Iríthis verse.Ttü as a being (all rJ
objects, living.or non living are believed by the Yorübás to have been in a state of IJ,
humanbeíng whencoínin'gfrom héavento the earth befóre they finally become that
WlUcll'íheyare'6n¿arth 'a( present, Theirstate is a factor depending on their obeisance JI
orref~sal to sacrificial w~ining on one parí and fulfillment of their mission onearth ti
ci{the 'other) was warÍiedíiot to 'let anyone accost him on his journey: He did not
listeh áncÚherefore 'died úntimely, " , . ' .
Again, it must be emphasized that timing is very crucial under any prevalent n
tlrcumstances in 'theYorübá custom, re!igion, deity, and 'tradition. All as lirnited lI,
under sacrificial obeisance, As Ifá says, there is actually nodifference between the
person' th,~¡ réfusesto offer sacrifíce con timeand the one that did not offer at all. 11
;Spiritüalresonance 'imd intonation changes with time. Therefore the occasion that LJ
maridates a particular sacrifice al a point' in life many never reoccur ifthe period
within which One is given to make or mar the piIrticular silUation elapsed without its "
being taken care of. lJ
E~u: The Yorilbá god of justice. Esu is not Salan as many do erroneously believe. His
actions also are antithetic to Satanism and should not be viewed as Satanic, He is the 3,
overseer of all Ajoguns and,control their aclions. Sacrifices prescribed by Babaláwos
for the melaphysical beings are mainly given to Esu who in tum would order his
!ieutenants (Ajoguns) to attack a person (who refuRedto offer sacrifice) or defend him ~,
and ev,n guide the person to success (if he offered sacrifice and on lime), For Esu, 11
there is no sacred cow as Orúnmila in oneverse under holy Osá mé]! was attacked by
witehes because he did not offer the sacrifices prescribed. 8
Ifá as seen from the beginning of this discussion has two important spiritual
fulfillments. Firs!, one would live a good !ife on earth with all its ephemeral goodies J
and devoid of its usual calamities (Ajoguns) through sacrificial obeisance. And
secondly, it would make one to know the mind of Olódumanl, (through recitation of
the poems), the apl word for God in Yorilbáland, thus doingwhat is right in the sight 11,
of God. Hence another good life in Qron, (heaven) with one's forefathers, It would U
therefore not be surprising to find Yorilbás consulting Babaláwos (who would chant
holy verses of Ifá) during almost all functi~~s undertaken by man from birth 3

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This is the Jrddúd'óYafe~i:~r~::h:l,:)¡'(:lhat éiücidate~:-ihe beauty of
the language, culture, rnusicand.social stratification of the Yorübás as a
distinct race in Nigeria. ' . ~ " _ .. " ' .. , ';'
This book is an additien-to'the.number ofbooks available in the
book industry thiltct<;rnOJ1~t~aie~Irá, theY~~l¡'bá;nythologyas the
custodian of th{Iiit~rat~i~;Os~hditY'
á'Mi Deities(jf thbVorilbá nation.
Written in modem Y9r.!ibªlanguage,the author has translated this
into English for easy unde¡stkrt¡¡ing'~ÍlÚs~imlliítion to make a good
reading for pupils"insenior secondary.schoolsand s:~hl>larHI1·tertiary
institutions. lt would also be a very good resource materialfor the
scores of devotees of Ifá oracle.
;~; !, ' ~."'
.- ':".- _'i· .;. .....::, ·l-~,:¡.·j ;) ~2ii-¡~<
.~his.work woul~H's9 fo~~;b~~}~! f~rJu~h~~nrse~rch and in depth
digging mto the beliefs and rnyths of the tnbe m the areas of
metaphysícs, cosmology, and science. More importantly, it would
protect the sacred poems of Ifá from extinction.
I commend the effort of the author who is an Agricultural Engineer.
by profession for using his natural talent in unearthing .this aspect of
Yorübá tradition. I am positive that those welding the seepter of
tradition would find this a useful and quintessential material.
~ :>
OFESSORA;BABALQ~i~~É
HONORABLE MINISTER OF EDUCAnON
viii
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'.- Ta:bleofcontents .
';" I..¡' --. ¡¡,:,"':J : ~i~:
i¡i~~~;Y~~~:8~b(;:.~·,:.:.·:·,:::,::·",,;,:::,:,:,·:·:·..::..:::·..:· ::::·..:·.::·..:·.·::.~:.:.i..{..?·.;...;:: ;,; :;,·.~·.;;L:/?·~l!':;~!.G;~::
Difficult Words of Odü Ogbé ....~ , ~ ~..' 52 .
Chapter 2 Odu Qy~kú , , .54
Difficult Words of Odü Oyékú ;..,;;,:;; ¡q~::
Chapter 3 Odü·lwór1.. :.:: :104'
Diffic It W ds of Odu''lwa'r1 k'.', ji ,"",:l'; • ¡,." ,",.,..r,.. d,;'.,"·,,,,.' . ·,148,'
1 U ar . .. ,,' Ór:
Chapter 4 Odü Odí y!..~::.~ ~'!;LE; ;::t.;¿••~,'".':.·.,: ..:,,'";;15.0-.
Difficult Words of Odü Odí ::··;',.:.::':.::'..:.',..':' :::":.:'L·:::/..:::.::209:
Chapter 5 Odü·Irosun , -;.., , :.,::::';2'1-1
Difficult Words af Odü·Irosun , '.:.":::::·.:'.,: :::.:::.:::.::,;269
Chapter 6 Odü Ówónrin ;::•.,:,.'.;::.F',..:•.: ,,;:;:',~..::::.~::;::27 ¡'
Difficult Wordsaf Odü Owónrin , :.: :::::::: :·..: ~..:.:.:::..:J'37'
Chapler7 Odü Obárá.. , ::~:'.' :.: :.'...':.:::3j~
Difficult Words of Odü Obárá , 400
Chapter8 Odü Qkanran 402
Difficult Words of Odü Okánrán 448
Chapler 9 Odu Ógúndá , , .450
Difficult Words of Odü Ógúndá 513
Chapter 10Odü Qsá 515
Difficult Words of Odü Osá .570
Chapler 11 OdüIká 572
Difficult Words of Odühá 619
Chapter 12Odü Ótúrúpón 621
Difficult Words of Odü Otúrúpón 677
Chapler 13 Odü Ótúá , , ••• 679
Difficult Words of Odü Olúá 744
Chapter 14 Odü'Irc:l~ s ' •• 746
Difficult Words of OdüIrc:l~ 815
ix
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Introducñcn.,
'. :,"-",'
What is Irá and Irá divlnity? ": ..,. !.:: ,....... ::..,., ." ','.
Ifá can simplybe 'sáid' to-bethe-relígíon -or dívinity.brought,intó theworldby
<)rúnrnlla. He is the custodianof'the'Deity,•moral,'económic, language, orígin.iand
metaphysical ordersof the Yorübá'nation and'of itsbelíevers'throughouttheworld..
The basics involve the priest or the mediator called Babaláwoor Baláwo.(elder in
the priesthood order) who aiedjnsulied byclientstforsolutionto lífe'snumerous
problems. . . "';. • .:;, . ':, >i..
'Asthe Iife of man isenmeshed in a lot ofriddles, seenor unseen, the quest to know
the obscured becomes juxtaposed bythe fear of the unexpected-andunknownrAs
Abímb(>lá positedin his bOók, Ojú Odi'l M~rWi¡i(finI6gún~cha¡iter 10;he said ';,' :
1bá se pé gbogboOrí gbogboníí sun pósí
lróko gbogbo1bá ti tán nígoq . : ,"-. ,. '.'"
Adíá fún Igbaeni '..
·'.i
Igba ~ni ó tc}mn bQ wálé ayé .. , ,{
1bá se pé gbogbo Orí gbogboníí sun pósí ". .. ..
Wko.gbogbo:l bá.ti.tánnígbó .1. ; ;ce ., :Y.''''A -. ';",:. ,'.>0'
A bü fún Owere ,-', . ".' . ¡.
Owereñ tlkQlé <)ron bc} wá 51 tayé , ,"",
Gbogboowa .. , ,.."."
Owerela ñ ja .1O
;.,,"; !(!"-:; :.C,,' ;:::'.<"'_;; ,'; .: .!),},
~" ::,';,;F -v.,j';i;." -yn :;U-;.' :: ,o. ,ce
.~"¡'r b~ll">,": !"'"Y:':'-" ,.... ,;-.,:: ' ..'- '(:.'!' . -;.: ¡~; ,
>'; .~,:::. '.:-:::i);;:;:Ai . _. i: " ," J
n~ :-;.' .~i. ,:!'" <-._.~:...:., ", -.' - -)~'. 'J}; ~;;:
;.-¡i.'. l·:;' ,;,t.;.,.. . ,_.-' . -~~. ":'!, ," ':
,"!¡;. ')'.'r ._ . ..f_, ,U.f I~: ;:J; ...',~.:}. ,"'.
awere la ñja -"', .c'::.
:",G.,~~~,~..~a..¡:,.:.,,:~.,·~>"· :):~_;,. r.v ,-,c .ir:,· .... :~:-;..~.~ ..; ,:
:':,';[." •. ...r. /;l>,' 0-': ,:>
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Photo plates
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x
Piciure.of.some the Babaláwosthat I inte.rviewed '"
Pícture of okel~, Ifá's templein lié I~
PictureofOrl, symbolof fuei~e;: man.... .
Ifáidancers ." ..' ......
Sornearticlesof IfA Celebration
<)~Áiu¡;¡yin staff
~~i(spotofAkAla Masquerade in <)y(>
Sángó'sspot of worshíp
[j.- ,
C~apter 15oae <)s~ ;;:~.,~I,~~~~.?:~f{~J.:~1 ..~J..~I,!frrf(f·4 817
Difficult Words of Odü vs~ :•.,:.~.~~.,." .•.,.,,~ 864
Chapter 16 Odü Ófún 866
'.' '., '. ··.·Af· : :.. .. '. "'¡"""'. ,.-
Difficult Words of Odu u un ".: :"..~,.•.·.:·.•921 .
Index ::..:: : : :..: :..: :..::::.:::.:::.;.;:;;;.;;;;;;..;".0 "::t:.i..·.'.'.D..!.•¡;.i923
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Translatedinto Englishby me as thus:
xi

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A. Deaths: Many of thegreat priests we havearound die before beingable to teach
their subjects the totality of what they know in t<:¡rms of the verses and their
applications. . i .' . ' , '.
,.' :
C. Exposure and Appearance ofOdu: Because of the fact that the appearance of any .
Odil is based on divine intervention, a leamer B.abaláwo may haye to wait f9r a
particular Odil to appear for him to know the' full details ofits verses, sacrificial order,
constituentsand marty more (Most especiaHy under group divination),In, sorne cases,
soine Odil; are elusive artda leamer 'Babaláwo' might not· witness its. chanting,' he
therefore" may have to rely on those taught him .by chance or if he himself is
inquisitive. One can rightly say that it iswhat hehiinself knows that he.would teach
.ancither leatner priest under him.. •,.
. .xiii
by a versatile Babaláwo, readings of the distinct signature ofIfá, (which can be.cast
· using the OÑl~ or the lkin) are done..with the Ibó which isthenused tonarrow the
bone of contention. By reflex and inspiration, the Babaláwo would then chant
matching verses attached to that particular Odü. Sacrifice would beprescribed. By
chanting the appropriate verses, the bone ofcontentionwould.have been deciphered
and timely observation of'the sacrifices, an impendingdoom .would have been
averted,This processis called Ifá divination. Therefore through divination, man could
·knowwhat would bring him success and what wouldbririg failure, '
There are a total of 256'Odil in Ifá. These comprise of 16 maín, Le. theright hand,
OrúrimUa, having the same mark or signature wíththeleftEsü.The rest 240 are
termed 'Amúlil' or tnixture wíth the rightand left handshavíng different marks,
According to Abímbélá, each of the 256 signatures or Odü has a total of about 800
poems attached to it, thus a total of 256 X 800 poems found in Ifá ;álone;·Olit'of which
the Babaláwo would lookfor one that maiches the Odü cast to chant. Orünmílá is the
only one that knows and could chant all the versesThese verses weretaughtto his
students .and passed through generations till it is theturil· of our present day
Babáláwos, Hówever, because of so many factors, manyof these poems have 'been
lost and are still being lost daily. .,'
BrLack Of Docuinentation: As saíd before, all verses ofIfá have to be mernorized
and the chanting is only.on inspiration and reflex. However, jI. would seem almost
impossible foran ordinary being to memorize all.theseverses .without having any
docuinent to·fall,'lin to.as torefresh the memory.This would be found ro-be-a major
· factor which contributétothe variance in numberand fullness of the names of Olúwos
· that are found in poems even if it is under the same Odü .,.
,
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Man carné to this world to be bom, to live and to die. The obvious con¡~~ !0,ll!31Yi~ he
did not witness his being bom nor would he witness his death, The.two are.doñeeither
'.', ; ,- , '. '~": "d"-"- 1 > .;~.¡
in his subconscious state or lifeless state; leaving the stage of adultl¡~!Jd}R(m~~to
hold on to. Actions within which would thereafter serve as a yardstick ~o,r¡l)1j~~Ipng
his success or failure in lite. Because of the chauvinistic nature of 00, he.wants to
have everything good in life to.make him be seen as a P,WtotyP.e.9f {u¡;c~~s'~W his
fellow man; but for the unknown, man could not ordinarílyknów whiéh article to buy
or which work to do that would fetch him peace, wealth, good wi.fe~' é:~¡¡dré~:'and
therefore good life. As a Yoriíbá adage says '0 I'íbi Qja gbé ta, o o be&rg:l(>wrÓñ'.
Yot>:j1l)1P ata profitable outlet for cornmerce, you rather should tistbfi¿jüi'fbf it
...... ",' .... ",. ,..... ,. ,. . (·-·':·"-·",:.Vl'i..·,.,"n'·j{",··~·t
matches your destiny. Compare ogbeQs~ A;' Ofúnogbe' A on' {irte" part'',)vith
otúrúpQnirosiln B on the other parto ~,'I!:'''-<j';''''
¡O; .'~ _.", ".... ".• "1 ;,
This is where Ifá divination process comes in. On consultation oy't1ie" elientele,
artieles of divination (see index) are brought out ~hich upon simple"ór~tStY'ph'yeTs
and casting .
Had it beenthat all dead !!1i~;S;I,;ri ~~nf~ ,¡~)F~fr~~{ .~
lróko trees m the forests woulll'havegonemtd'extmct",'n
Cast divination for hundreds of Beings ) e: . : '¡f, ," ;" -'-1 "i" -1,
Hundred of Beings werecoming from the city oJ Heaven to the earth " "".' e';
,. Had it beenthat al! dead beings were buried in coffins,. , '.
lrokótrees in the.forests.wouldhave gon~ into.extinction ,:.::,: '
Castdivínatíonfor-Struggle and ~!r¡'ye: ,,',.,,:, .. >.,. .. ,,,,,,,'::;',"
«Struggle.and Strivewere.comingfrom heavento.theearth., /.. "'; ••' :::",,,.,.e.: ,.,
We are only struggling .. .. '. . ,.•" ,
."AH of us.;'..,,,..:,,..·.•.,·,,',, ,,,.,.,•..¡ ,'.".-.,.:., .." •••., ..••.".,re."" '..::.•.•:,::".:;iO'
'J .···Weareonlystriving. " "" .. '" . ".. :,;, ... , : ·.i'
~, ~~~~et~~I;r;~:ili~;to be,exceegi~ily~~I¡;!!ré,~!'t:~~nY..n'.~,'i,,;!
AH ofus
We are only striving
Not all of us are destined to have good women as wives"" r.. .' 'j.; .. , .:,•• .:
We are only struggling ... -, ·"i· "''¡ ,
AH of us "'!I, .:.., ' :,,':; "';'"'
We are only striving . '." (j' .. '¡;' " '''.; "e "i "';.b'';
Those that are destined to have exceptíonally brilliantchildren' are:not.m¡¡ny,:.ii:,,20
We are only struggling ;i:' i.
AHof us .," u ." ",.,
We areonly striving
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directed at .the wrson, that.refuses hunger ¡okill. his kinsmeri.Dne can. imagine the g
mouths of everybody in a community, all prayíng for a singular person tO achieve a
certaiI!goaL,Definitely, godo would hear such majority cry, Hence sacrifices offered,
bring blessings, frOl]1 gol! and thereby elucidating faith and continuity in the tradition, f1
AIso,by.sharing, prayersare offeJedto E~ii, the Y ~riJbá god ofjustice ~nd may not ti
always revolve,aro~nd food andrnaterial things, It couldjust bea word of advice,
which should beadhered lo. SeeOtúIÚP9n9bÍld B. In this verse, Itú as a being (all n
objects, Iivingornoo living are believed bythe Yorübás to have been in a state of LJ
,humanpeing w,hen,coJI!iri,g from heaven 'to the earth befóre they finally become that
which they areon earth at present, Theirstate is a factor depending on their obeisance n
ór refO"sal to sacrificial warning on one partand fulfillmentof their mission onearth II
oñiheotherjwas wamed riottolet anyone accost him on his journey. He did not
lisien and thereforedied untimely, '
Again, it must be emphasized that timing is very crucial under any prevalerit fI
circumstances in 'the 'Yorübá custom.i religion, deity, andtradition, .Allas limited II
under sacrificial obeisance, As Ifá says, there is actually no difference between the
'person that réfusesto offer sacrificeon timeand the one thatdid not offer at all. JI
Spirithal'reson~nce and intonation changes with time. Therefore the occasion that U
mandales a particular sacrifice al a poirinn life many never reoccur if 'the period
within which one is given to make or mar the particular situation elapsed wilhout its n
being taken care of II
t~u: The YoriJbá god of justice. E~u is nOtSalan as many do erroneously believe. His
actions also are antithetic to Satanism and should not be viewed as Satanic. He is the 3
overseer of aH Ajoguns and,control their actions, Sacrifices prescribed by Babaláwos .
for the metaphysical beings are mainly given to E~u who in turn would order bis
lieutenants (Ajoguns) to atiack a person (who refu~ed to offer sacrifice) or defend him fJ
and even guide the person tO success (if he offered sacrifice and on time). For E~u, d
there is no sacred cow as QIÚnmila in one verse under holy Qsá méJl was attacked by
witches because he did not offer the sacrifices prescribed. B
Ifá as seen fmm the beginning of this discussion has two important spiritual
fulfillments. First, one would live a good life on earth with aH its ephemeral goodies fJ
and devoid of its usual calamities (Ajoguns) thmugh sacrificial obeisance. And IJ
secondly, it would make one to know the mind of Olódiimare, (thmugh recitation of
the poems), the apt word for God in YoriJbáland, thus doing what is right in the sight
of God. Hence another good life in Qrun, (heaven) with one's forefathers. It would a
therefore not be surprising to find Yorubás consulting Babaláwos (who would chant
holy verses of Ifá) during almost all functi~~s undertaken by man fmm birth a,
u
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.r: Conservatism and self ,Aggrandizeinent:, Due.to the spirítual.intonation and
"o '" "power of sorne verses.zsomeBabaléwos.wouldrather keepthose ,ver~es..to
,',," .themselvesánd.refuss -to.teach .others sothatthey -alone.could.explore.the
~ffi~acy'ofitspowercmaximallyn.Some people ,Wh9. possess, suc,h.,gif!s, at
tunes would ,prefen·"to: die.with them. than to,sb.arethen:>J'qr,everyo,J.I,eitg,lse.
'" At best, they may decíde.to teachjust one oftheir cJ:¡ildren,:,.;Jc, .' L",,,
,,~ :J.- .!.... !i:.. !:-~. :"l'1~L; ~"', ;1-' ;:.:' . r,.-:: .¿;. ,"!l" ..' ¡ ',.; i,;;_ ~: .c-. '<;.¡,. ;._. ;¡-t > r,,, .r:
Incursionof for~ignreligions:,Christianityand Islam,l,lac,atonc ,ti~e:,9i~~
" :other·.bee.rí:the gréatestthreat to global: Ifaismas. p~ople;!rath.eqb.an;~ee Ifá
00 -asa-religion wouldshy awaybecause.of they W!llLlO,~OI!f9IJI){¡O,me,¡;li.c!lltes
.' of the <;ooteWPQ.n¡ry s'1s¡ety"TIleydo notwant to bebranded as outcasts.
• ', " . o.",' ...... : , . , ;,' "".:i' •.;-- .".)"'!1'-;
" .. _ ;" :.:jr;1 ;. ;.;r;:( ;;:;-,." ,¡~ ;., ;j;j""~'-";" " .<'". ,_; '1." l.. - .
StructurecoUhe'Yersesof:lfá "',', ". ";:' .,'i':,'¡ > "''''''
. .Ifá verses. are .writtenina wayto ;~)'lp;:!jla¡Y9rÍt!?á; ha~;.'~ 'l!~~B's~~~~;qf){i~~~~~~e,
.!iSCI~nCe .and, rnathematicsas; exposed in.theirarrangementand context, .All.verses of
.Ifáwould have the ,fjr.~t one to few.lines ,~.theOlúwq.líiatchantedthé verse atits
.inception. Tbis W01,l!d pe.fºlllwcd, ~y, •c~t,diYin~ti~n [0(, and'thentÍieth~;ne.·'The
theme may either be long o~ short as the casém'ay b~~~,iihí)¡e'J~i~(911:p'ü'?r:f¡;~the
person that performs sacnfice and lamentatlOn for lts refusa!. The conclusion is
usually the last line, which more often than not is a songo This would give credence to
. the Yorilbá~sJovefor·.flI~)p~espngsan4:rr¡usic.",::,:c 'o,',,':,;., o,,:;;";: ""L.>.C, ¡.
'. '.' ,
.., '::-' .
·i~',.. , 'J.: i,'·.~:·¡. ',C~_:_ .::",.,:¡ ,::,::'/;;ó' 'j':':;}
Yorubá and Ifá's viewpoint of Sacrifices:"!i""
.F~om religious pers~ective, the wodd can be said to be divided into the physical
~vlslble~, and,the metaphysical:(or. the spiritUilI} levels;,Hoth,realmshaie.,pml!ing 'and
j' mteractive forces exc.hang!ng between themfor, them 10.fuI!ctioI!hW!Doojously. When
thel1feof man funcMns ID such, a way'that spells'suCcess,iUeflIlec;l,¡o)la"e,'l.gpod
'u~deI'Standinlr'andbacking ..of 'his;god"')f,his'métaphysical. ,'Oth~nvise".,there,ois' a
dlscordaht tune somewhere along the'line.·Bringing the.misfortU!!e,back.Q othe 1ine of
success requires an effort teeognized,notonly in 'the 'phy.sicaLw,odd but;;ajsp in>the
sl'irit realm; a norm or effort shouldered OnOIÚnmila, and referred to as sacrifice.
" 'Sacrifices::'c'ould be'said to be ¡'h'exchaiÍgef0ffá.ilures~''1'his'9óuld'be'seen.~n'a verse
Ii~oor holy ~gÚdá'Otúá' Ofúnrnlla asked humanbeings. tobring rats;,fisheS;ariiníals,
,... blrds etc to hlm'once theY·noticed an aberration pointing ,10.failurein.,th~ir.J.ife,and.the
°lives 'of·their children:;..Sacrifices'are Iiot.only, an eJ<.change fór'fail1,lres; .they,;pr¿~Jde
, foodfor'both heavenlyspirit;,the motherearth,.aldJeIloWJ11en w;.akiI)4¡1f,.~hari!)g, to
, let .e;,erybody havea feeling of;;Io"e;and:;Jelev¡mce.Sacl'ific.e~,are,;f?ffered')Il:,the
";'phys~cal w.odd to the,mouth'(ífhe mouth'is'amOñ~a.Sed)~anran.o.tú{¡}.•A;!110Iltll that
IS sanated IS a grateful and prayerful mouth. Thanks'and,prayers.dermitelY'wouJd,be
. :.; xiv
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(~s~ñt4Yé) to death,'(ildáw<;>I~) withgood tidings like Iwúyé, (coronation exercises),
Igbéyáwó (wedding ceremonyjetc found in between.
Embedded inthe poems is ,celestial knowledge that cannever be éxhausted. This
is rnorereason why all the other deitiesutianimouslydecided lo rnake Ifáthéirleader,
, As'seen inÓdi )r~I~, Orünmiláwas madi' the spokesman and fue presenterof their
cases, Also in l:ryl~irosiin, ,Ifá rescued all the.other' deities rrom the captíveof fue
Elénlni,the detractor whohad swállowed thém all and taken them hostage.":
,B~ing the leader of all the Orl~a,. Qrunrnlla could be saidto bethe leader of forces
governing the worId whÍle E$ii.is the Judge or the arbíter. The'tv() of themare
represented in Ifádivination casi with Órünrnilá beiIig~>n!he righth;mdside and B$i! '
on the left.There could not have been,a better representatíon'oi.balanceflf power than
as seen on the Qp~l~ and Ifá trays, with the mind of the two.ofthem madebare in lÍle
holy verses. ' ", .. ',' " , ,
Tohave a balancedlife, a balancedreligión isneces~afy'iindJfá is
tl1e firstamong
equals, (Primus ínterpares) . , "
In conclusion,this .book has come loaggregate in continuity, poems of Ifá as
scattered all over the worId so that it could be a thing lo ponder on; and be used lo
reshape the already.broken life of man wherelerror, hatred andanarchy are the rulers
of the day. " " ,
xvi
.
r
r
I , ,
CHAPTERl
OGBE MÉj) A
Ifá yií 16 se pátáki ji! fún gbogbo eeyan
oí gbogbo ágbáyé, Ifá náá ló pe ká rú
061q. 061Q ni bábará ninúu gbogbo nñkan
láyé. BéeY3f, bá tí fi 061Q gbé ilé ayétIlé
ayé o le dárú mó eléyíun lQwQ.
:eJ', '
Olqql<;>lq
Orqqr<;>rQ!
OIQQIQ láá j~pil
QtQQIQ ·Iaa jémumu '
LQIQ Iqlq ni wóón folú esunsuún sénu
Ohun tori ni tori
Ohun tóóñ ni loorl
Ohun torí toórí Iáá ro fÓba Mókin rú Me
l' )ranjé'" '.
Ki biúranJé 6 le baá fQIQIQ eeyán tani
; ,JQr~,., '
Béérün bá ja 16 bá tiI 10
W<;>n a fQwQ IQwQQ
Won a fi glyán balé,
A díá fún Ogo I~~r~
,Eyí ti.á.gbóguún-lc Ilü gbéñdü gbendu
~yin ówonrán
Wón oí kí Ogo I~~r~ 6 rúbo
Ogo I~~r~ si gbó ebo
-Ó'rú , '
,6 gbó eeru,
.Ótu, . ,
L4dQ okünrin ni Ogo I~~r~ wá 20
, ,
OGBE
OGBE MÉJ) A
This Ifá verse is the most important for all practicing
Babaláwos and in fact all people in the world. The Ifá
asks us lo be upright and honest. Truth is the rnost
importanl thing in human life. If one lives this life in
truth, one's life can never end in disarray.
QIQQI<;>IQ
OrqQr<;>rq
Separalely, one has lo eat groundnuts
Separately, one has lo eat cherries
In separale feedings, one has to pul 01ú Esunsun into
the mouth
Entities of Orírí belongs lo Orírí
Entities of Orirí belongs lo Orlrl
It is the facts of Orírí and Óriri that one has lo relate
lo the king Mókin in thecity of franjé
Such that Oniránje would give lo one a special person
as a gift
When soldier ants lay siege lo sornething and sting
it. 1O
They would move in an arrnytrailing each other
And unleash terror on their captive
Cast divination for Ogo téére
The one that w~s taking his warfare lo Ilú gbéñdú
gbendu éyln ówonrán
They asked Ogo I~~r~ lo offer sacrifice
Ogo t~~r~ heard about the sacrifice
And performed it
He also heard about the offering of free booties
He gave it out
Og, '~~r~ is with the rnale ,.10
1

14. 3
.: 'Theywould move in an army lrailing each other
And unleash terror on their captives
Cast divination for Ógo t~~r~
The one that was laking his warfare lo Ilú gbeñdú
gbendu éyin ówonrán
He would go lOcombal
He would arrest males as captives
He would go to battle
He would arresl females as captives : 60
He would go and bring to the earth as caplives,
. people from the toothless city
The contraption that we form
We pray that the result would be a child
The contraptionthat we forrn
W<¡n a fl}w9 1(>Vl}9
'Wllla figiyan balé
idá fci~ Og6~~r~
Ey, tí ñ gbóguún lo Ilú gbéñdú gbendu
~yin ówonrán
Yó6 já jáá já
y 66 fomokünrin sémú
Y66 já jáá já
Y66 fomobinrin sémú 60
Y6Órnüü ará Ilú áíheyín wáyé
Jgbekun táa bá di
Omo ÍlÍ á rí nibe
Jghekun táa bá di
2
Jlú gbéñdú gbendu ri be I(>dl} Obinrín Ilu gbéñdu gbendu is with the female
.(oyln Oblnrin kan 'Thé blll;kof oneferriale '. .., .•
Jlú kan ni Is a separate coinage of another city
Wón ní kí Ogo tééré 6 lóó jagun nilúú They asked Ógo l~~r~ lo go and wage war in JIu
gbeñdü gbendu t; . gbéñdu gbendu
Ó jagun jagun He should wage war relentlessly
Ó fokúnrinsérnú He shouldarrest males as c~ptive
Ó jagun jagun . He should wag~warrelentlessly . . ,;
Ó foblnrin sémú .He should arrest'fémales 'as taptivé
Ó 1l}(> mú ará ilú álheyin wáyé i' He should go and bririg iü' lhe earlh as'dlplives," "
K6 ' l' 6 di. ' people from the toóthléss'cíty ,
m<¡<¡ <¡. i lgbékün 30 H
Jgbekiín táa bá di yií e should also forrn contraplions 30
These contraptions thal are forrned however
Orno láá rnúü bó íib~
They would bring forth for us children
Jgbekiín óhún náá la íi,di lQdl} Obinrin It is the same contraption thal men forrn in women
Tee dom ., .c. Tilldate
Olódümare y66. fi .Obinrin rere k~ Olódümaré .would give each and everyone ofus.good
eníkóókan wa wives '. .
Y6 si fi omo rere ké wa pélü. .And would also give us good children ,
Áwón íi se b~~ They continued in this order
Ó dáa fún won . And life'becaf(le pleasant for them
N ni wón wá ñ-jó ni wón wá íi yl} They then started to dance alÍd rejoice
Ni wónñ yin áwon Babaláwo (: :....4Ó Thp were.praising their Babaláwos ,.40
Áwon Babaláwo íi yin Ifá Their Bábaláwos were praising Ifá
They said it was exactly as their Babaláwos said
Wí>nní b~~ láwon Babaláwo táwón VÍ Ql~í>l<¡lí> .' .
Qlí>í>i<¡lí>
Qr(>9r<¡r(> Qrí>(>r<¡rÍ'
A Separately, one has lo eat groundnuts
yll}l}ll} 1Mj~paSep'aralely, .one has lo eat cherries
Qll}l}Il}laajy lrnumu
In separare feedings, one has lo pul Olú Esunsun ínto
L9tl} 1(>1(> niwóón folú es~nsuún sénu . ..the mouth .
Ohun tori ni tori . , .'
.Entities ofOriri belongs lo Orírí
Ohun tóóri ni tóórí Entíties of órirí belongs to órírl ...'
Ohun loñ toórí 1M ro fÓÍJa M~kíii ní Ode It is the facts of Orírí and órirí that one has lo relate lo
Jranjé 50 "tli~ king Mókin in the city ofIránjé " ..50
Kí Oniránjé 6 le liaa f6,lÓ,tO. ¿~yari tani such lhal Oníranje would give lo one a special person
~ . asa~ " . "
Béerún bá ja 16bá ro When soldier anls lay siege lo something and sting
il

15. 4
OGBE ,MÉJI B
Ifá exhort us to be honest in life,The ¡Í~í'plewho
trouble the world these days are insíncere. Thehonest
on~s aretoofew. . i '".' .
d' '_ ;, .:
Whatever one feels sad about is one's sore point of
, , .persistent reference , "
If it is the fortune of children that saddens us ...;.:..30
Let it saddeií our destiny ."
Such that we could gel good children to bear
Whatever one feels sadabout is one's sore point of
persistent reference
If it is the good fortune of houses that saddens us
Let it sadden our destiny : -
Such that we could get a good house to build '
Whatever one feels sad about, isone's sore point of
, persistent reference ' ,
A1J the good fortunes that sadden us in this world
Let it sadden our destiny
Such that we obtain good tidings AO
AH the things one feel sad about
Is one's sore point of persistent reference
5
QrQ (¡ bá ó dunni lárankán eni
, Ire omo ní bá ñ dün wá 30
. Kó rnóo dun Ipiin wa
Ká rómo rere bí
QrQ tí bá Íl dunni lárankán eni
. Ire !lé ní bá Íl dünwá
K6 móodun ipíin wa
Ká rilé rere kQ
QrQ tí bá Íl dunni lárankán eni
Gbogbo ire tí bá Íl dün wá nílé ayé
K6 mQí' dun ipíin wa
Ká 1Í rere gbámú .40
Gbogbo Ore} tí bá Íl dunni
N lárankán eni
, .
,-,-,-
'." ,",
;
The upright that are on earth
Number less than twenty
The wicked ones therein
They are so many ".'
They number many more than one forty thousand
Castdivination for Orúnmíla , ... ,,' 'Ó:>
On the dayhe would be saddened by allcompellíng
incidents . , ,
Ifá enjoins us to be honest
The Deities would not allow us to compromise the
Truth
They were asked to always offer sacrifice so that
there would be many upright men in the
world
They offered the sacrifice ll
Thereafter, honest men started to be in the world
Life then became well arranged
They said that the Upright that are on earth
Number less than twenty
The wicked ones therein
They are so man y
They number many more than one forty thousand
Cast divination for Orúnmllá
On the day he would be saddened by all compelling
incidents .. " 20
If it is the fortune of wealth that saddens us
Let it sadden our destiny
Such that we could get to make good wealth
Whatever one feels sad about
Shóuld beone's sore point of persistent reference
The good fortune of wives that saddens us
Let it sadden our destiny
Such that we could get a good wife to marry
OGBE> MÉJIB
Ifá pé ka móo soótó. Awon (¡ ñ dayé
láámü láyé óde óní oni 06t9 rinú, Áwon
01606tQ ot6 nñkan mó.
01606tQ (¡ ñ be láyé
Won op6gún mó
Sikásíká (¡ ó be níb~ ,
WQnpQ
Wón si ju egbáágbéjelo ,
A díá fún Órúnmila
NíjQ Qn} gbogbo 6 mó dún ún nínú '
!fá pé óótó ni ká móo sí'
Irünmolé orrii j~ á sí' óótó nü O
WQn ní ki wón 6 rnóorúbo ki 01606tQ Ó
PQ·········································IO
WQn bá rúbo
Olóóótó b~r~ sii wá láyé
Ayé bá ñ gún
Wón ní 01606tQ tí ó be láyé
Won op6gún rnó
Slkáslká (¡ ó be túbé
WQnpQ
WQn si ju egbáágbéje lo
A díá fún Orúnrnlla
NfjóQrQ gbogbo 6 módún ún nínú 20
!re ajé ní bá ó dün wá '
K6 mQí' dun Ipiin wa
Ká rájé rere ní
QrQ tí bá ó dunni
K6 j~ árankán eni
!re aya ní bá ó dún wá
K6 móo dun lpiin wa
Ká ráya rere f~
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Ogbe wéyin wo
Bájáá réó baá pa ikún OgbéIook back
In case your dog kills the ikún rat ,
Awo Ode ló díá fúnOde The Babaláwo of the Huntercasts divinationforthe
,9d~ ní ó regbó méje ~Iuju méje . ", . . '.". " .'
Wón ní Id Ode 6 sÚá~~ . The Hun~~~:~ going lo seven ¡'eiibwnedf6r~stS lllla
Ebo ní ó se kó tóó rnéolo " bushes .
. Qd~ gbéboób~ ó rúbo They.asked hírri lo take care of the ground .' 1
Ogbé wéyln He should offer sacrifice before his departure ;'.
BájáB. r~ 6 baá pa Ikún " The Hunter heard about the sacrifice and performed il
A díá fún Oñyagbé ,. 10 Ogbé look back ", "
Byí ló ó 1'1 réé bá won mülé okoálrédün In case yourdog kills the ikúnral .. ' ,
WQn ní ó sá káal~ ebo ní 6 se kó lóó IQ Cast divination for the Farmer ; , ;' 10
Oñyagbé gbébo ób~ ó rübo . The one that was going to choose anew land for
Wón Il)Q bá won rnúlélégán annual farming . : .
Ode ó sode . .They asked him lo take care of the ground and , .
A · . perform sacrifice before his departure
gb~ ó sagb~ The Farmer also heard about the sacrifice. a~él
WQn wáá gbébo ñbé wénnibo '. performed it
Rfni ebo eeru atUke~u . The 1-"0 of them went into the deep forests -
E wáá bá ni ní j~búní íre " " . The Hunter was hunting for games in the bushes
Jébütú ire láá bá ID I~s~ 'IbaOñsá.i.,;:20 The Farmer a1sofarming , .
~j~ á móde mág~kó le yeni . Theyboth had heard about the sacrifice and offered it
Agb~ ó tokoó bó ' . Offering of prescribed sacrifices and free gíftsto B~u .
Come and rneet us with good tidings . . .
One is usually found with good tidings al the.feet of ..
. the king of Oñsas ; ; 20
Let us combine hunting with farming for our world.to
be better .
The farmer was returning from the farm
OriBE rwont A OGBE iWORi A
Ifá pé Ire fún eléyiun. Yóó jérétí bá-ñ Ifá wishesIbis person weII. He would be: successful.
húwá rere: aun áti eníkan 6 j'l múraa Ifá asks him lo be of good behavior because he and
W'In JQr*: Ifá pé Id wón 6 rnó fi araa someone would be good friends, They both are
.-. won síl~; W'In Osi gbodósahurí. advised .not110 disparage each other. They shouldnot
be stingy.: " .
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cWQn oí Erin ló fi kúkú rno inú ilé l' Th~y;said Elephant used the advantage or"his death '
g¡¡i,¡Il~:(i (¡timi¡ Qja' ',' : i . . ' ; . ' .,' ; .. ":' to knowthe'insíde of'a hóuse : .
15pNlíA'Nn·t::bri eyin " ....1",[', ChickenJsed,the advantage of being sold to know
gEb~·tyln"tíí SQIDQ iyá Og~n . .Ó>: . . , ,the,marketplace .
J ~~. t::i,'d' Eyin' n1 "tí' .¡¡' b~yéyl( H Cast divination for ebU eyin
"6' ?! 30 The bloodbrother ofOgun
"b' e • n~, ~un,:·l..·b·
....·é
....:~·:é
......~...... So, it is tbU Eyin that had been destroying the setup
e u ",ym u SI n11 e ay Y11J m" o fth: Id . . . . . ? ! 30
i, u e • 1 . ' . " . o IS wor ever Stnce its mceptíon........
",b ",ym. ~bu eyin' will henceforth neverbe able todestroy the
r t , . ". , ' o • :sl¡tup of this world again .
, . , ' ~bu ~ylti
I
Elephant used the advantage of his death to know the
insíde of a house
And Chicken used the advantage of being sold to
. know the marketplace
Cast divination for t::bu t::yin
The sibling óf Ogun
Ogun is an energetic person
But whenever he plans to perform a function
t::bU t::yin would go to destroy the setup
If he fixes another for next tomorrow
t::bU tyin Would also have gone there to cause a
discord
Ogun then .started to wonder 'What could be the
cause of these' 10
He went to consult with !fá
Ifá asked him to offer sacrifice
And should be secretive about his plans and joul11eys
'Wherever you want to go'
'Always make spontaneous decisions'
'We would go somewhere today'
'Do never talk about it prematurely'
'Never allow anyone to know your itinerary' Ifásaid
One day aftérwards
Ogun stood up 20
tbU tyin Jet us go
'Where'? tbu tyin asked
'When we get there'
'You would.know', Ogun countered
tbU tyin ever since then could not disrupt Ogun's
setup
10
D~::éEbín:;~f!~~{¡6SQ~Q:k~:~Q~~¿:~ ~~~~vr:O~~t ~hen this per~~Í1"is' '~i~~~¡~f)e
fún QrQ ásotán ki. aw'lln eeyaiLtí'6, be. ,s~glldi refrain from expatiation so th~t p~opl~'ció~:íp.
fl nitosi 6 mó ba ni'lkan re 'j~~""Eeyan hirn,,·w.quld ·not destroy him. Ifásays':theAper~bll
'".1 mQtíIDQtí tí 6bfIégb~~ ~éléy¡unfií 6dá' s~us¡ng,U:9lblein hislife issor~~ne.clgsf~óh!~,bÚE '
nilkan ~ rúo ,'•.. C· "",'" '?~: s?ould. not quarrél -with ' the;"person 'whén ·he
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11 '.Ó» ;; "-i;:'~: c-; ::L¡
Erin fi kúkú mo inú i1é .
IlAd¡~ fi títa mo Qja
" A díá fún t::bu t::yin
Eyítíí5QmQ iyá Ogun
¡1Akikanjú eniyan ni Ogun
t " Sügbón b6 bá pé óün ó se nilkan Ióla
I t::bu t::yin 6 ti lQQ ba ib~ j~ ,
1" TI Qn bá pé lótüünla láwén ó IQQ se
1_ nilkan
1 t::bU t::yin 61QQ bá á j~
f
iOgún w~,~..:~~..~..~..~.~..~~~:..~i~y1
6bátQ!fáIQ'
'J'!fá oí kó rübo
~,KósimQ~nu~ .
I Ifa pé ibi tí ó baá lQ
,
I'JNí ó mQQ pé ó yá
" ÁWQn 6 IQ ibl kan lónií
,1, Kó mQ SQ asQt~l~ mó . .
r1~ó mé méo so ibi tí ó lo fénlkan mQ
'1 ' Ngbáó dijQ kan
rOgún bá náró.., 20
j 1",6 oí iWQ t::bu eyin 6 yá .
:, t::bU t::yin oí óbo?
,Ir Ogun oí 'rigbá abá dé ibf
~¡~ ·6.w~
11

18. ". '
12 13
li is Olúfón that casts divinatiori for Ogele
Alásiá would cast divination for Oglyán ..
Ooslüílá would never sell his own children for peanuts
Ogbédi is a good Ifá .
¿ast divination for Ájágbé
Cryingbecause of Children
'WouldI have many children'? Heasked
Theytold him to perfonn sacrífice
Ajilgbé perfonned it . a
'Bow do we recogníze Ájagbé'?.. "".".. """"""..."lO· ..
'He is the one we call the Housefly'
There is no city one would not find Ajagbé '1
Life pleased him ti
.. People started saying 'Are the children of Ájágbé
these many'? ,JI
He was dancing U
. And alsorejoicing
H~ was praising his Babaláwos
Bis Babaláwos wer~praising Ifá a
He said it is exactly as his Babaláwos used their good
..mouths in praising Ifá •.
It is Olúfón that casts divination for Ogele...:....".20 "
Alásiá would cast divination for Ógiyán . ' IJ
OosMlá would never sell his own children for peanuts .
Ogbedi Isa good Ifá 11
Cast divination for Ajágbe IIJ
Ajagbé that had been crying because of children
People from the city oflpo n
People from the city of <)ta IJ
Where do you travel to for celebration withoutseeing
Ajagbé? 11
Ájagbé is back with a lot of ríches , IJ
a
la
t
Olüfón níí wofá Ogele
Alásiá níí wo Ifá Ogiyán, ..
Orl~a níiilá o j~ ta QmQ@ le:;pQ ,
Ifá rere n 10gbédí .
A díá fún Ajagbé¡,
Ajagbé tí ii fomi ojú sógbéré omo
e'Oún le bímo le:;pQlQP9 báylí?
We:;n ní k6 rübo
Ajagbé bá rúbo
Aáseé mQ Ajagbé? .::"".."" 10
N 1Mpe Eesin
Kósí il~ tí Ajagbé o sí .
Ayéy~~ ,
Wón ni QmQ Aj'Ágbé 16p~ t6 báylí?
Ijó ní ii j6
.AyQní ñ yp
Ni ñ yin áwon BabaIáwo
AWQn Babaláwo ii yinlfá
Ó ní b~~ láwon Babaláwo tóún wí
Olüfón níí wofá Ogele..." .. "".,,,,,,,.,,,.2Ó
Alásiá níí wo Ifá Ogiyán
Orl~aníiiláoH ta QmQ ti~ le:;pQ
Ifá rere n 10gbédí .
A díá fún Ajagbé
Ájagbé tí ii fomi ojú sogbére QmQ
Erólpo!
Eró <)fa
Bo l~ gbé joye ~~ rÁjagbé?
Ájagbé dé o abQla r~b~r~b~
1,¡9,~~E ~)I)Í B . ..... . OGBE ODÍ B
,(;!r~!QmQ fúneléyiun, Ifá pé aWQnQm<¡ ~ ó Ifá wishes this personthefortune of children. Bis
mo gbókééré.wón ó si móomuti, . .. children would live abroad ami' they would consume
. wine in large quantitíes, . .
l'
f,': .~ ~-: .¡
..Kólálü.Iawo.abé-ota;."'.' . ,..<. : '''-''.' .,.. . " "'''. '.' "',: ..."./ .." u.: '.' ,J'C.' [,Ji'
.Ejóló.kó.láñgbáIáñgbáwo.isá:..,,;., 'k9¡~UIa,~oabé ota ';,í ,..' ,
A díá fún Baáyánnr; .",'. "o!: ", '" ,¡," ,!t is thesnake that runs fearfully into lhe burrow
TI ií IQ síiüu s~l~ . C:alJtdiy,ilationfor Baáyánni
Wón ní ó níbo TIla!wasgoing to lhe forest of s~l~
We:;n níre fún un He was asked to perform sacrífice.
Eékejl ~ si ií be nílé They wished himplenty fortunes
Ó si ñ rúbo síl~ .de é His cornpatriot meanwhile was at home
~ekejii ~ 1M pe ní Sángó And performing sacrífices pending his arríval
_ His compatríot is the one called Sángó
Ngbá tí Baáyánní dé .. ,.. " .10 On Baáyánnl's arríval
Owó PQ' .' , , """""".." 10
The money was too much
Ó bá kó dí~ fún Sángó He gave sorne to Sángó .
Sango bá so owó mó aSQ ~ Sángó tied.some of it on his cloth
Ifá pé ki eléylun ó téjú ééyán dáadáa Ifá asks this person to take care of his fellow men
Ayé bá y~ Baáyánni very well
N ní wá ií jó ní wá ií YQ Life pleased Baáyánni
Ní ií yin áwon Babaláwo He then started to dance and rejoice
AWQn Babaláwo ñ yin Ifá He was praising his Babaláwos
Ó ní b~~ láwon Babaláwo tóún wí Bis Babaláwos were praising Ifá
K 'lál' l bé . He said it was exactly as his BabaIáwos predicted
Ej~ l:k~~~:biii~~¡;i·~~·;~A",.'''"",,20 Ke:;láhl lawo abé ota """"".""""",,.20
It is the snake that runs fearfully into the burro~
A díá fún Baáyánnl tí ií IQ sijúu S~I~ Cast divination for Baáyánní who wasgoing to the
Wón ní ó sá káalé k6 rúbo forests of S~l~
K6 le baá múre dé H
. e was asked to take care of the ground and perfonn
Dada me:; sunkún me:; o . sacrífice
Dada me:; s~H me:; o Such that he would come back with fortunes
Eró Is~l~ ii bQlQna Dada don't cry again
YÓ6 tuún Q166kan o so me:;tí Dada don'~cryblood again
The people, ofls~l~ forest are coming back soon
They would give you a cowry to tie to your hair
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OGBE IROSUN B .J.' ...OGllE IROSUN B '... .J. J . '
,)f~.pé,~i,eJ~yi~n'Ló,m9!I~j~(~~'~§9:~Uf~':lis¡¡~:
)thjs~erson nqt to.d¡~rega¡¿'~t pr¿¿mpt
',',~n~ !ff,§~:P~1;WÍ1Jp.n' i1.b~ .I~pá;¡~ijtiiw..~th~~t'~~:! i:lr 'taíi<íós:'Hé" ~h¿;uld"liéh~;¡e¡'ih', ITa'S
;,!!6J~ ~~~~.,lffÍlé,Y9.~, ~W?:~~g~Qn,M ~ Ii~é~és,~< ~fá "sees"'Oñe' W6man
Óth'áiís
r'blli'rl!iY:' She
¡.;~y.in,aqi~fIl~iin(liÍ116gcin... .,': 7' . S~?~I~ ·?ffe~sixteet1 'chicken('~ggs fotherto-have
. . .... . childreninlifez: .' ~-?:,' ¡JI; pi~:,> ,~~~(,; ;r!,:~ :. t'/
'~:..-, '«;:-F/ !.!f!;'J..i1.': -,:.,{ _.>:i,:·-.~!" ... _··di '::",_ ~. J
:~~r~hi~~l:~~~~';~:.d~á·iZ¡;~:::f;::.,;:.¡,;,:PHk~~i:,'.·.·:;.'.Ii:';¡;'.~·,:,:.···'::.".•....... ;..:..,',',.... ':".,:::
t4iM~bQngan 'gbQngarr,;r"",....,roc. "" . 'l,1~,,~~8~I~wo ,9t the.Gong.casts d,yt¡l.atwn;J<?r"the
Baba~áWO'Áj¡ja:16díáfún'Ajlja" ".'; .,' ER~¡'~n~n:bQngan "';'C; .;' i i; ,,,
Mo ru weere Th B b ,'á f Á"" divination f , ..
ó da " e a a, wo o J1J~ casts tvmation ror AJiJa
"w~~r~, • .:', tSll~tifi~~~in quantities' ';:"':".'
A ~Ia f4r>9s~~G~J~ga,!. 0"; ••... " .;Ii,¡ír.ov,~~,efficacious inquantities.,
. ~~:~~~:ibda~~itC~n)(rri¡f' : '" ': ~~(~.iviration for <)sln G~gaa~a ..:,"",";" '
,L'. "",. " " " 8,. ".,,' ,. " ,,,' '.. ,Th~. onethat would carry his children on his head
<)slnOagAaga g~¡jqfi¡;~ ~:.:: ...:.....,.10, 'TIiciy tola' him to ¡;;;rro~~¿¿rH'icéfor'l'ún'iio:'¡;Jar
Ó rúbo ... .... ,;'.' .' .' .children .... ¡;i j, •.,): ";,(;,., "",'
Morúw~y,r~.. ,:,;,': c.i'¡ .. ,' :MnQ~iaagaheái<Í'aíi(¡iií'¡iicisá:¿¡'¡ii~~::::.:. ':...10
9A~':Y~~r~""";":'::L';'; ;: ,,"Fie'l#tf?rineiliCi . "'" ",'<" ",,,',: •
Qsln gagaaga 16 bímq báwQnyí?! .. I'sácrificedIn quantities .. :,;;., :'V' 'o
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Mo rú w~~r~ ,'.".i, .... ",,; '.>1 Jfpr?Y7!t~fficacious ilt"qúahtities'J" "
Ó da w~~r~'i" ,. ,iú~ 9~n GilgMgathat has childrenthisplenty?!
,;,.. .,., ' .,.Isacri(tc~inquantity u' ."".
.. . " , ' )(pi,óyej:(efficacious in quantity ;,:,
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OGBE IROSUN A OGBE IROSUN A .
U,.Ifá,RJ~~~'ia)é~~~~léyiun ilátio~eerc'Ne'Iiáí~'¡'~h~s ihis,person.well.f0rtun~.~¡~~~i~ót;'h!m
L .. }l~a SIn j9.)f.~a, pá '~'i K.6cA9Q bo Od~;. rr'?m..~b,ro,ad. Ifa asks mm' tooffer .sacrificéfó- Odü.
Qp>lqP9 Igbín IOdu6 gba átieyin adie..~ qdu~cceptsmany snails and chickéneggs.va...".,
", ", '" -,
Ogbe dáwó ósün t~l~ . Ogbe dáwó ósün telé '", ,,'"
nó ró jinnginní.jinnglnni '.. '. :' ':":., 6'rÓ'jiíllginnijin~ginni"" .
J, ; b díá fún OdUk~k~~k~tas~diYination for Oüukekeeke '. c,,;';, ,;',
~~ítí nre inúIgbé réé kájé'wálé " .. "" th~¡jÍ1" going to the forests to cart hóri,efortunes:
i. '.1. 'wÓ~Unkn~~1ek:~6kfU~'nb~nre inúig.,b
..~,;'.,.',..,' .• íiwas·.Óduk~k~~k~ that was travelingtoithe.forest ;,
. y y H;e' was asked to performsacrifice. : . ,.1 '",.... , l.
K61e baá kóre.dé.. ....·sb~i1iá(h~ wouldbefittQi.haulms·"fon~n~sh~ine
Ó b
H." performed the sacrífice. . . .
~
r'1 á rübo .," .',.. . ", .... "
LiTe'pleásedO d u " •". "."
Ayé bá y~ Odu ' . '. . Héb .';. h h '.""".'. ':"'j' ..''''
Ó k6 ir ' . e .roug tome good fortunes :.1O
. . re wa e ,·:·.':..,.!....:.: I·; IO ·He then'was dancing and rejoicíng" " 'h.' ,'"".
1
N ní wá fi jó ní wári.yó: . : . He waspraising his Babaláwo . i e" ,;•.
_ Ní nyin áwonBabaláwo .. ' . His Babaláwo was praising Ifá " ", ,. :'..:,
Awon BabaláwoÓ yin Ifá He said itwas exactly as his Babaláwo had ~a:id " ,',!
iJ' Ó ní 'b~~lawqn BabaláJió loún wí" " :OgbedáwQosun t~lf . ,." . ,:; "".,)
.~ O~be dáw> osun t~l~ .' 'Ó r6 jinngínni jinngínni "
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!. Ó r6 jinngínníjinngínni '.... '.Casts. di~ination for Óduk~k~~k~ going to theforest'to
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'], AdíáfúnOdiik~k~~k~ ' . ' ' ··..'carthomefortunes' .. ,..,",,;; " ,,:.,:, f,.!
. Eyí tí Ó re inúigb~ re" kájé'~álé ; , What is:bringing good fortuheS'foi' m,,?:" i ..,:; .• " i.
Kín ní nkqre,é bQ wá.á bA mi?' ..'óifcik~k~~k~ .... , :" . : ' ..
',l Ódiik~k~~k~ '., , .,. .~ásays, is bringing good fortunes· tomeet, me,,:::.20
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<)naeni 1M II¡ i, l:i':r<{!v-It,is.¡¡nepvay that one should lrea4;;·¿, C!¡ ,.1,¡:
· .. rrQiia~táa II¡ri níí senislbálá síbolo ',¡;,"-.•• The .wayIb~ on~.has,!1e,;er l!1'eJ.1 mal:' make one ,10 .:
'.' J"'~';á" f' ...~ ... a- k'"'' '16ñ ,'" '(í ' " :. ', ...-:Ceel strange .... . . . .
., Z",-uI· un'."e~ee~- ,,-' -yrn"u,sQmQ' .,.... : ;'¡".' '..';" "" .;"'. " .. ":' '"""".,'.
~.nJ' [;¡ 'u;'lJjbíiíi~'ÁgbQrinl~~ún;<;·"'i'
Cast,dl~lrr!p.I)~0J:, ~~~~~~"~'c? IMi. ym, lhe,chl,~,of
1CN 6;i'OlsTi;blii'Ajé '.' .,.... N:c """"''';,,, ,. '~':. ,. "fg?9nmregun s bowels
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6' ,-·,r' ,.,,;. ,',;:' ...,.., .Iwíll.be'praised forweallh
g a ew ereym ' : ,
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" "16' .. .. l' ., Hundreds are the leavesof eréytn
momo n eyin m erru o '11 d fií '1 h lh O' f .
Igba lewé p ....yln 30 I WI e ímte y ave e n o P~se",,c .,; "
T~y •..• ;i~·.:··.; ",.. ', Hundreds are the leaves'of ~r~y¡n.:, ;..:..., ,30.
N 610órí ~ym aya . . ' ,." ','" , ,•.
, ;,,i,,,,, ···)'....'Lwíllbe.praised for my wives ."
Igbalewé ~~yrn . ¡!" ...:¡':.'~; "'i: ".. r' Hundreds are lhe leavesof ~~yln··.:· .' "
N 6 ml¡ml¡lórí ~l:'lX,~V~~,9."¡r",,'; '¡' Lwill definitely h~~b"ili~'O¡:¡·ofp'r.¡¡s~·);
,1 ba lewé ~r6 In . - . . .. ' ";," . ¡ '0'"'''''' -Ó:; ,,, ....
5~¡l ....·",'01: r,'!" .. ;L, "'1;" ...", ·,.. i¡;·, ... Hundreds are the'Ieavésof eréyin
N 610órí eyln QmQ " .i.I will be praisedfor my children
Igba lewé ~~yln", ..'.," .: ¡ . Hundreds aretheí~áieS'6t ~~yin
N 6 ml¡ml¡lórí ~yin n11~JT1Lo,:..,'; t. '.';, .Iwill.definitely hay!' the Orí of praise
Igba lewé.eréyln;..,)'i ;;" ..¡;,.'; '0,0;; ... "o" I Hundreds are lhe leaves cif~t~Y¡ri"'; .
N MOórí ~yin,iregbogbo·n'¡lé·ªyé ;il' ¡.:'. lewílí-bepraised foraIl good things 00 earth
;)Igbalewé'~i~Y¡n.'U'" ;",..i ;;.,."...."..•.,...:;....40, Húndreds;¡re the leavesof ~~yln;::".';:5. ~:..:::..;.:AO
N 6 ml¡ml¡16rí~yln n1iémi o";,'';,···, :'''hviUdefit,itely have lhe Orí of praise .
Igba lewé ~r~yln ,.,; ..¡..... ';).",.; Húndreds ¡rre lhe leaves of ~~yln' ..
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...... : .', ...., Qgt>e·.húnlé .. ..'i. .' "'c" .• '.<
Dé ~ni ~3á hú~;:',:,;', ..,,; li.!fón~'~'house that one should.iuTl!IIg~¡~~n , .....:.
<)na ~~113á 19 ",: .,',' ¡ . ' ,!lls:!,ne>,s.way that one,.~~oulcl tread , '
, Qna:lÚlQ' ííiíí(~#i'sibal~s.il:i!519. "";'The'wa.{lhal one haSrievefíJikeq may in~e one feel
"Adíái6nSe~ées~koí&ií'yin"'" ., '..." ,.,¡ ';'''' 'strange ... .. "./; ", ,"" " . ,.
:1' ,Eyí líí sQ~Ql[JW.in!ÍAgilQ~~g~I<~'~;.;<:as¡~i~il1'ationfor Seseese- ka- 1M- yin . ,
GbogbOnñkiulIÓ;1ñ'ó se tí ;';;'Qo ÓY¡~:ou~ne.~Ii}I,d. from the bowels of ÁgbQnniregún .'
I WQn wá le yin oun báyií? .,.",.,;. ;',' ;~I"háv~~n trying alI sortswilhoul being¡iraised for
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' WKíQn~61¡g?ál~~:yi" n~1I6~Qj~:";;"0'.•.• -i~d~~~~~d 1be prais:~'?"~e~~~' "',,' .
K6~~~w:~~::j~'·""'···'·····;:,':f..t ..;;Th~y¡isk.~ him lo gel oil palm seeds '," ,',
K6 <p oún;e . 'f.·):"" . . .. , : ~e lhen sl¡ould cook il.. 10
..- .. . . '".' " . ':. ÁMí'assemble as many Babaláwos as possible
Bí Qn ba tí f¡ j~un kí wQn 6 m§Q mú ~yin 'l'repare p,lenly.offood also'
.. I¡húnJ~ 'They sh~uld pick lhe oil palm seed and eal il aslhey
Ó bá rubQ eill lhe food' lhey instrucled
Layé bá ó yin 1n He perforined lhe sacrifice
Nñkan ~ dára The whol~ world slood up praising him
Ko bajé mQ His things were beller' .
N n1 wá f¡ j6 n1 wá ó yl¡ They did nol g!'1 spoill again
N1 ó yin aWQn Babaláwo . He lhen slU1°O lo dance and rejoice
ÁWQn Babaláwo f¡ yin !fá 20 H~ was p~:using his Bab~l~wos
Ó n1 ~ lawQn Babaláwo 101n wí Hls B~b~awoswere pralsrng.!fá., :20
Ogbe húnlé He sald 1Iwas exactly whal hls Babaláwos had sard
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~m aa un I . , 'h h h Id II .
liS one S ouse I al one S ou arrange we
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Kukuuku I~~kln~~k'~"" '/¡;:;"'~;;:i ,,'n;' ¡,." f· n. '.
K'~k¡¡ilkul~~kul'~¡(d'" él', " .' ,; ó; :' I "" Kukuuku.lééku I~~kíi"
A díá fún K6rew~ti. .""".;; ~,/, iKilkUlíkil, ~~kil l~~ku ..,,'.'
E ' " , " "."y", ") c',',;·'"" ó··· Cast.divination.forK6rewátl. .."',
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I In ~Qmf bll~!lkm~;,'}¡g>J?I)boJ)Wrbg,und"~C!' .The cltild".of AgbQnnlregd~;{bÓ'w~P 1',:
ón m won e QJu lre g g o a oun . ' . • . ; .,,' .... ,,,,, ,
bá "? ,'''-'0',,) ," l. ',,,,,, ,;;,,' "" 'WoiJlddhey favor me with aH good: íbmgs'?He
W n ní kó rüb k6 le¡rii~;'6ilii¡"ú' {,c ,,'; ,i ik asked . ' . , s;' ,,' fe; n·; '.'.
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á' bá ,Q '" ':",' ~,.,' <l'}'i.' ,,1. He.wasasked to offer sacrífice .. 'Y"", ss:':
rew 11 rub,9".; ¡'. '," )"U ·j'.'vi ··i'.di.,K6réwáti:offered ihe saerificé ".,.<,:", . ,.,'.
":Qn bá ~Qj~ i:e ~bf1g~.f1;,~~á",.",;!, ,;¡They'lhenfavored him wíthall goodthíngs
Bi ti ft láJ,é'.m,~!~Y~,;j¡¡; Jj ',','. • ''''''.' .f-she.was'having. wealthisowashehavingwivés: ,-
~A~§I~ní.~,I1í.m.'i':'" ',:.',;,.,'.'".';'7',,"";:19" Hewas, buildinghouses and.having chiIdren"";''''i;10
Óun náá? "':i'; '.1""'.'".' ';:"""."" ~I!rpr,ised,.hee)(claimed"Me',~;; .' . . " ,,-
Ó ní Kukuuku l~~k~:l~)<u:.,;;. 'j'l He.said Kukuuku I~ku I~ku :" .. '" " "
Küküükü l~~kil l~~ku . Küküükü ¡~kil I~kil
A díá fún Kérewátl tlí sorne bíbí inú Cast divination for Kórewátl .the child oC
Ágbormírégún . AgbQnnlregún's bowel .
~wí Ad6 ñ kóreAjéé bQ wáá bá mi The king ~wl of Ad6 is coming lO me with plenty of
¡aniljan goodfortunes of wealth
N 1M kégunguún kiíkltAn . ¡¡¡niljan . .
¡aniljan . . Is the heaping of rones on a refuse dump site
~wí Ad6 ftk6re Ayaá bQ wáá bá mi ¡aniljan
¡¡¡niljan 20 Theking~wl of Ad6 is bringing the good fortune of
N laá kégunguún kákltán wives lo me
¡aniljan ¡¡¡niljan ' ,..~ , 20
fá mo ft k6re Qm<¡Q bQ wáá.bá mi Is the heaping ofbones on a refuse dump site
Janiljan' ¡¡¡nilIan :
N 1M kégunguún kákltán Ifá is bringing !he good fortune of children lO me
Janiljan ¡aniljan ,
Gbogbo ire ilé, aJMfia,ire gbogbo 1s lhe heaping of bones ona refusedump site
[fá ft k6 gbogbo ~ b<) wááhá mi ¡aniljan :
Allthe good fortunes of houses, gO(J(!health
fá is bringiitg !hem lo meel me
18 ;;, i .
OG,BE QWQNRÍN'.! ~D'''''''''' ;¡;¡; U,hOGBE'9WQNRÍN. B , . ;",' ",
Ifá"pr¡~~'R¡¡'fí.BQIAiik~~~;¡(á"r1ibQ"síj~'!lfá'says ~ certatmgood-fornmeísseen.coming from
.,. ~e é,. QP<)I<¡p<) e~gun.kéegun.¡¡Fllf·k6 j¡broad. H~ should.sacrífice-prior lo itsarrival.;Ifáasks'
:';ílik'¡M;~liQ':kó'fi' &bfiyl;~l[ ~Y~. ')/;yé hiiJf IO"gá!her differel)t,kiJl~s;g~,ál1imal .bones in an
6 ye~' ;:"'/")".: '··I'!.';!".""!,,, ·offertory. ¡:~Iabashand use. lo !!t:fe~,,~~qJ;ifiq~ for
,1,','c,, .: ;·V!) .affluence: Life would please hirn..
rT!'¡:::!'. ":" :::"":;;"'1 ~)l;:' .... ;~ ;i;,:j".iL'-:;,;:';l.; .
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22. 20 )1
OGBE c)BÁRÁ A , OGBtc)BiRÁ A ';;
Ifápé ayé"6y~: eléylun;)'66 n1Llsinmi 16 :IfLsays ,th)s»person .,wuldd,b,a~e,:resl 9f"n¡inci;'He
bá le mQQ wá ojú.oblin~. Ire IQpQll;>pQ 6 should:b.u~ever take good care of his wife because,he
be fún un lálQdQ ob1nrin náll 16 bá mójú would obtajn favors through her, He should als~-~e~~r
16 o, tí ka bá sl sahun s1 i. Künmó kan be a miserlflher, Ifá asks him lo sacrificea club.
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The woman doggedly curved her hands
She tookh~r husband as being miserly
Casts divination for the Ridge
The one th~t was going lo marry Melon as wife
'How would1have a wífe'? He asked
TheRídge éombíned two cowries with three
He wentto the house of a Babaláwo
They lold hirn thal he would have a wife
They told hirn lo perforrnsacrifíce
'You should not be miserly' theysaid 1O
When he g11 a wife lo marry
It was the Melon that he rnarried
When ít w~ lime for Melon lO produce children
She had so many children
They filled ¡¡n available spaces
The womandoggedly curved her hands
She took her husband as miserly
Casts divinátionfor the Ridge
. The one th~l was going lo marryMelon as wife
Whohas children these many? 20
Meloni
It is Melon that has children thesemany
Melon; ,
Oblnrin sQwQ kQkQrQ
Ó mQkQ ~ láhun
A,díáfún Ebe
Eyítí61Q reégbé Bárá níyáwé '
aún le 16b1nrin báylí?
Ebébá mééjl kún ~ta
Ó bá roko Aláwo
WQn ní '06 níyáwó'
WQn ník6 rúbQ
,~ilgbQn o agbqdQ sahuno.........•......10
Nígbá ti Ebé 6 gbéé '
Bara 16 gbé níyáwó
Ñgba tí Bara ~~ 5Ú birno
L6 bá bí QrDq d8á1~
QmQ kún i1~
Oblnrin sowé kQkQrQ
Ó mQkQ ~ láhun ,
A díá fún Ebe
Eyí tí 61Qreé gbéSara níyaw6
Taa 16 bímo báwónyí beere? 20
Bara
Bárá16 bímobáwQnyí beere
Bara
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úfGBEOKÁ.NRÁN Ai "j);/ :()GBE'<:1KANRÁN A :, /,,'/';i '.
~'~'¡"'é" té""" 'ó'd""Wik rlilW won 0"" 'Ifá"says iihis,:person.,would, undert,ake a w~nde¡f~1
~. '.•,'..•..¡b
..~.,,<.p ..'.:.'.'''.~'..'~~.~·l·.<d.~.·~ .J{ra'· n.a.áa
...·ípia';t~·'óf~a..·t ¡¡Hife:., N.O.b-.O
..d
.. y,.
.w
.. OU.ld
....e.xp
..e.~1.'I.t. from .... h.l.m... H.IS
#N WRnP;.'r; "e,. :.' ..,,;:. 'h "6' 'hi'capáéilyi'oul<:l:be.fell .Vor,Id,w~d~.,If4seeJ.., 'r0maP
.1í,~~~)~~pe)'(>}LI]jlly!lJM~';!i
9-,;,? who haSW~I.dehyered,.~.chlkt Th.e ch,I1d V,?~ld
ft ...•·.·"'.n~~4'>,báJqXR llI~¡jc~~,"y9~~'J,~1?~~lelI~ .oeéome'a.,high chief and the head of his clan. ~f I(!s.•a
.; . Ií>la. Bó bá jé lran olóyé ni wón, oba n~ crowned: family, the child would become a king.Tle
f orno náá ó je, Eléylun ó ID ire kan tí ko should offer sacrifice because he would gel a certam
I gb~k~ lé, sügbón tí yó tó o I(>w(>. good forturie that he did not expec,t, .. ,.."
~ ',. ',' " .
ji¡ .; ..
¡;,>'¡ '-
I Akókóró eliíbí> níí sodó¡¡jaftk~ko::: 1", ~k;;Ó~Ó~I~b(>níí sooó gbañkoko gbañkoko .
¡ gbaiíkoko., .e' .., '. '.' ". Casts divination for Lábógundé ' .": ." ....
r- A díáfúhLábógundé ··¡C'··, .,' Onlhe day:he was cryingbecause ofdearth ofaIl'
! .¡Níj(>tíJ'rfomi'ojú~Ogbére ire'gbogbo; .. :? ••• ...gooofortunes· '.' . '.' ..... '.'
I W(>n ní ó rúbl ,,' He was:asked lO perform sacrifice ., .
~ Ó bárúbQ ..;,.,'.. " '..'He didit? :
, Asé Lábógundé llbá kan .." ,.' 'No knowiilg lhal it was Lábógundé's!Urri lobecome
, 2}¡,§b'Ubógúridéni'ójoye"-"'" ."'" ". lhe King .,,'
¡ ,,' e ' N o l knowib.g lhal il was Lábógundé .lhalV(ould be
¡ Ubógundé bá jlba ",WilAdó ... ...
; A~Q~~~Y&I"~Iri~ '.",~~;.;, ::~.':,~: ~'''''l~'¡ábÓgU~~~o;;:~:~e lhe ki~~i;:~~~.~~ city of Adó.,
¡ Pe Lábogunde le jlba , ·:·.., .' . ' . .. . . k ' ..;
1 " , ", ..".,. '..'" .The,people.never new .. ,'. "" .. ' ..
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.. ~~ wYi~~~?Q~!¿tr¡r~8"" "" "Th¡¡I~¡jÓgunddécadn ever bde a ~ing ,.,."." ,..:.. IO
U(u'., "~':'; :;' ::, ... " " . " He lhen'starte lo ance an reJolce
, AWln ~ab~lawo n ym Irá , , ' ". He was pr~ising his Babalá",o, -< .' ..
1 Ó ní b~~ lawln Babaláwo loun ~,." 'His'Bába'láwo was praising Ifá . ..
í Akókóró eliibí> nfí~,ooó ,g~~k'?~9 .,,- He:said'it i.-asexactly as his Babaláwo ~a¡d ,
gba*",kq"/,,·.,, •.;, ,)' :,.c) ,i .AkókórÓ ~liib(> níí sodó gbañkoko gbañkoko"
A<!íáJún I.,á]jógl!llc:l~ ,o'. ;,:,,!,;''''! 'd', 'Ca'sisdi~idalion"fotLáb6gú;;dé''''.. " ..•..' .
Ti w(>n ó miiú jlba I<5c:l~~Wi IM9",r 'That'wouldbe pick~d¡ig'iJe'iÍíikihg'i;:Wí'iriihe City
IOnlkan,o,gb,(>no.:., "! , ••
,.,.. ce' ;:,,," ·,··0[Ad6 ,',.," ,.. '. ,"~o . . •
Enikano m(l .;.,"",;". :Nobodywaswiseenough '.''''..: .
Ao m9 pé Lá]jóg),lll.dé ¡e;ilba.,.:"..e,,,.2Q.." Nobody'eVer knew' '·:t" ".:' ,.',.";, .. ,' . ' .' .
AséLábógundéólójlbai;:W¡.!Mó" ~.,. Wenever knew lhal Lábógunde can e~er 'bea
. ,.. k ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' " .., .•' 20
Enikan o gb(>n o '". . .",,) ,. •l' ,,'.:' ,,: ¡ng :..·;·":·, ·• ·:.. ·" .
Enikan o m9! '. '. '.y ;'.i S'o"itis,tábógundé who would be'lhe king'tlWi m('..·
, . " "",.·.'.l"F"·"." 'j.",','. J.: ;A·'dóc'·I'ty','?' :,: :.... :"'i' ~.,;'1 .',H .,.,.: )- .
'{o':;~':;" , :,.
••' ,', ,.. '. "''''Nobody was wise enough
' .. , : "Ndliodyever knew
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f:'{~ /.<:l ;<;l{);r> ~,
:;;-tic .;.,}'j;¡¡¡i' ~d!;":!ih. ;,)?,;'~.' ~
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t.~: ...:r.,r;s(., ,~,j f.,;. 7!.:.¡,~. :L:~¡.1 :ii:~
'.'; .,;.".~L~; '",,! ,;'::': ¡...~'((~~¡;'!-' ~~,.!~:
i!n;?iJ~·;;l ;"-'..::;¡ e :,:l-;h~d¡'::! ;~:.f i
"~(e: .' "-'S, ::~'~¡!.;)'; ¡!;'.-+~bff'in~'·!!~"':; ;jt.; :;,i}':~.:·! ':'.-/'!:!
·~t_!¡(-'·j ~:.;j:d 1:·'1 L·:;t·,'l;·ni)n'::~-] '1.'-<=: :;.[".<.'
;;,/, l>nr;)'¡¡~::!iÚ~!'!'! ;/:;~.1.U"'" :;;'V
>/ :~:-J .J•• '). qU¡; d:':',/l 'J:: r~:·:;L". ,d;.;q:;~ ~¡:J,¡r;,i-,::! ::·:L::
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Kó rójúlilú ~ .He could not find headway .
Ó lún 1lC¡dC¡ awon19iri Egbárá igi .H~abaricÍo~ed Igiri Égbárá igi and ~~iíedjgiJ·i
E wáá bóun se nñkan oun'...· ' . 1 ,", ;~("..... ""lOgbara i g i " . , . ,. "
Wón lún se é . ", .',':.":.0 'Please.corne and help me'",..
xedáa.. .... .:.. :,:.:.:.,;.....:...:!:.'!...;;;J...30 ijetoo:Qlill1.e and tried his q~.1,1:E, .::;.,
Ó 1
, 1 ód > A"ó f 1Í ' .< 'd'd'" He was not.successful.. JO·'
un ly l awon J o sopo l y~'''' '''''''''.': ,.".,
W(>n tún lÍ se é .c .i ", ',,; He cqnsll,ledA-jó-foñ S9P(>-9~~~~:;;
Ko wúló ' .......;........:...',': Heal~oll'!e.d lo act as his m~,dlalor ", :.",.d' ':., ,: .'.,
, A • . •• _ ...,., {, b'" . é 11 wasafutile effort· . .
W(>n m "ym~I~I~pI~~ re :,~ .~.. ~,S,~e .P~ópl~~,?~ ask '~al about Ay'in~i~ihpin;'your
, e r ?~(> kll~1 n,~l: ..ve , ,.,. ,¡", '.;;o'.' ',oc, :"surces~fulpnesl of lhe olherday?' ." .
O n....ag,mga oü nn m(>Q(> beere., ..... , 'He asks foi' wineall lhe time' El~gUdúm(lr(>teplied
W(>n ní ?óbábrerélágalÍgaltí ñ.k(> :. .• "if he'asksfor a big bottle·ofwine is il notbettet'?
'Ngba tí'Ayinriipinpin ..~. beere'Iá~fu,í~a' ':Whe~Ayinnipinpin was 'askin'g {or bigbottlesóf
.ltí ... ',:',··.·;·'.'.wine' <'.," ¡·.i:·· '.',
<;Jbogbó n~kll.?tí a~,~n.f¡b'eer~:.. ·;AiJ)h~lhings we desired' .'. ,,,
Aw(>n ií ñ ¡' ...... ,.... . . ....' 'We gol lhem' "C • •
AWln táw9(>n 19(> pe.yí ,' , ,..::.49' .'Tt¡ese new)riests we have sought' .40
Wln o béere nñkankaj¡:I~wQ ~~ln "",•. ~Tl1er~ked for nolhing from u s ' " .,,, .
~iigb(>n gbogbo nñkan tí aw(>nlÍ wá ':BiJl,~1 9'élhings we wanl' : " ,'o
Awon o ri','e.c~JUIc¡n'l gel lhem' ..•" , ....
Ló bá lún ké sí Ayinnipmpip. " j~l~g~4~m9~(> lhe~ reca,lIedAyinnipinpin.
~óti tún dé ~~7~1a.l~IY ?n hls arnval., .
Lá .e; a ti16 ' "re'e GIVe me a blg bOltleof wme he sald
gang l lun r 'Where are'all lhe bottles ofwine'?
:Qtí d~'? , 'Bring me wine now', he said repealedly
lO gbltí wá . They felched lhe wine
W(>n bá lún gbqti kal~ Ayinnipinpln performed divinalion for
Ayinnipinpin tún ~e Ifá fún 101~gildum9r(> 50
IOI~gildum9r(> 50 His house tiecame full again
lié ~ lún kún And surprised he said 'Me'
Oun náa 'So I have been 10Sl all lhis while'?
A~é oún ti slnilll ni? Life so lhriled IOI~gildum9r(>
Ayé wáá Y'f ~1~gildum9r(> He drew Ayinnipinpin lo himself
Ló wáá fa Aylnnlplnpln 'm(>ra ~ He lhen staj'led lo dance and rejoice
N ní wá lÍjó ní wá lÍ Y9 He was praising his Babaláwos
Ní lÍ yin llwln Babaláwo His Babaláwos were praising Ifá
AWln Babaláwo lÍ yinlfá He said il was exactly as his Babaláwos predicled
Ó ní b~~ lawQn Babaláwo loún wf
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'pqqBE OGúÑlj,A;;>f",,>" .. ",' ÓGBEiÓGÚNDÁ A . '.
[ lfá,ré ~i ~á kQJ,;¿?¡;A,~~..j?í;~á's¡';n U~~sk~íhis~ersonloassemble Babaláwo~and serve
IJ;~~d~~~J~~~~~~(>1~0 a.'~.~~P.;.;i¿~:.á~.••.~p.'~:~6~~i~!.i¡r:~~n~a~:e~h:n~~:eo~~~;;~~oli~~:~~:l:. ~~
~ o kó o lédé, kó mó baá,sonü, ,Jf~ pékó •hll)! .I,~l?, (t¡efold such that he would not belost in life.
t
'"]rúbo; kÓ'sllÍl(>peé.ti,~ni ók(>>4:iunlédeÓ I~á:}~~f;·rim lo offerisacrifice.. !fe should never
1.1~ó':~.~.bá pé óun ~/,;~~I~~.Il~~~~a~r~S[~~~~r:o~~~r of his l.~~cher as. tlJis,.qlllYleadhim
) A'ro gbódo l~f9(>' ',:' " . . '"~~~'~~~d~l~f9(>". . '
' ¡tlr9 w~si ni léMIo .•. , )"1. ~r~'~~~lrii,l,ebólo .".) ,¡ ' . , .'
Ara o níí ni ni kákááká .,'·.i. ,,' OiiéW.Ó~ldriol fee! so sjckly . ,;; ..';' . " '
Ko níí ni ni kuküurikun. "'., oC". Arilffeelirig so cresit'álJeÍt···h "~" e,'. !',' ", c,..·•
'1 K' ó I 'd k f. And
..riOl,'being able lo pi'oslÍ'ille lo ¿aSlane divI'n'a'tI'on
am ee á ákaalfá~ni . "". ... .
~
díá fún Ayipnipinpirr ., ".," "Ca~t~ivj'nalionfor Ayinhipiripiri', ,',
, 1 Th,
"priest'of IOI~gildum9r'<'s household
- 'Í1 sawo ilé IOI~iildÍIin9r9 . " ; . V
1.~Bó b~ ti dé
..•~,é...E
...),~
..'g;il,d.u.m.,9r(>.·' ....." •.... ..... .liiupedlal~ly he arrives al IOI~gildum9r(>'shouse
.. ,H.:e~o.
';lId ask for a big bottle of gooo wirie 9
beere laganga llí ' . , '.: .. "1 ' .
.",.~g,!d~iri9r(> would felch for il and a;ve il lo him '
IOI~gildum9r(> ó si gbé e kale........'.:::.IÓ· . . ".
, . Afle~.he. had prepared Ifá portions for IOI~gildum9ró
_~g?a? bá ~e Ifá fún IOI~gildl;1,rr¡<}r(> ~ Théy wluld all eal logelher .
I ~ lnJ~ . . Arid·tiá~edrinks ..
" I (>n ml!áp. .' ",¡ lOí~~d~ÍIinQr(>started having weallh, '
~1~gildum9r(> bá lÍiájé . . '. He had'children . .
blÍ bímo .. '.'.,. orisij#.~~ciuenldays of Ayinnipinpin's,~~j¡.
¡
olaó bá lún dé lÍjlmiTIn He would;ask for a big bottle of good wirre.
e A lún ní láganga ltí 1Ík(>? Meanwhile all lhe good fortup~s}oughl ·for.by
~bogbo ire tí IOI~gildum9r(> lÍ wá 1;:1~gildum9r(>c"" .
l
-Ubogbo ~ ló ñ He was getting lhem .
JÍlb'ód'" . Bl d .
r -o ~: IJ?kan 20 u one ay 20
I FI~gudumlr(> bání 'gbogbo 19ba n IOI~gildum9r(> asked 'Why is il lhal lhis priesl has lo
. leléyií (> m(>l(> beere ltí ni' , be asking for ",:ineall time'?
YÓÓ ~e á mQl beere ltí lÍgbogbo igba He woul~ b~ demandmg for wine on each of his
JI' 'd ' VISlts
. ~gu umlr(>bá 19(> ké sí aWln 'lgiri "1' ild ;,
IOgbárá i i' '" ~g umlr(> lhen wenl lo call lhe priesl 'lgiri
Ó
g "gbár" .,
ní k:í w(>n ó m(>l bá oun se nñkan oun k "'d h.
a
Igl .
Ir
·(>n lÍ~e é fún un..' He aseA' • I~. l? conlmue where he sacked
. . ,ymmpmpm
~ He perfonned divination for him

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,)~?~~ÓG~N~¿,BT 'o Iáliókeere O~:~~~~~on~oo~fersacrificeforwealth. 1he
I ;¡~~, Ire~, PQ, ~ne,e~1U ,., ... , fortunes of wealth.and women wouldgeltohlmfrom
I ';!éfetefé. Aje: O~tnnn, ~I n bQ l~ll ok~ere. abroad. He shouldbuy kolafrom the rnarket, and
IK6IQ(Í ra obl lójá, kósl fi bo Ifa. ifi ' '1t I'f'
I . . . , sacl'l)Ce'l o a.
i'wl.n'" lu binnibínní IóiüdeMnní:' ' " ,
¡ v " , . W6n tí lubinni bínní 16júde Ibinni .' ,
¡W(ln ri lu piíkiliípiíkilií lódeIwonrán ' .. W¿n ñ.lupiíkiliípáküá l(de)wQnran ," "
W(ln tí lu jQgbQdQ·TÚkú-n·jQgbQ 16júde WQn tí lujógbódó-rúkú-ñ-jogbó 16jM,eljQgbQ
ljQgbQ .' ' TheIbáábátribe of Upper.Ogün river ,". ,
AWQnThiíiíbií óke Ogün Theyltave imported anotherwonderful practice
W(ln ti kárií mí1ndé Theyarebéalinggbádágbádá ...,..,'
W~n tí lu gbádágbádá They are bealing gbudugbdudu on water surfaces
W(ln tí lu gbudugbudu lójú omi CasI divinatiO'n for Qrunmila
A díá fún Qrunmilií Ifá was going lo marry Somúgiígií ", .', , '.
Ifá tí lQ reé fi SQmúgiígií soblnrin They lold Qrunmila lo perforrn sacrifice....::.::.;.....10
W6n ní leí Qrunmiliíó rubQ IO ' Whenthey were preparing the objecls of sacn~ce
IÍIgbií tí w(Ín6 m(lQ kebQfún un They told him thal a ral would always be lhe wlfe of .
W(ln ní eku nií saya eku ,another rat .
K1 Qrunmilií ó fi eku rubQ Orunmila should offer rals as sacrifice
Ábird,would always he the wife of another bird
~d~m 'fi
I K1Qrunmilií 6 fieYe TÚbQ , Qrul1miliíshould sacrifice birds as sa~n Ice' ,
J
I , Afish lhey,sald. would also be the wlfe of a fish
I;'ja nií saya eja '",n, He should'óffer fish as sacrifice
I
t
~~:~~:~~:ta,~~¡QoÍ~~éfe' Qn1nmilií'offered two r a l s .
. V'u Sacrificed lwo fish ' "
I Ó ru "ja méji ablw~ gbiídií H~alsosácnfiéed lWO birds ,' :, ,,20
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Ó TÚ eYeméJl ab~dQ luk~ luk~.......:::..:20 Theytoldb'im lo buy kola nuts forrnthe, lTIarke¡
W(Ín ní k6 ra obil<>jií ,;" Andcuse,itto sacrifice lo His Ifá "
í'K6 fi bQóke ipqrí e ..' , Órúnmila did as instructed
¡ Qrunmilií ~e ~~ Aboul a time and withoUl watping
f IÍIgbií ó d~~kan Weallh carne lo him
Ajé bá dé Wives carne lo him
Ayá dé AHg09d lhings carne lO him
Gbogbo iré bá dé
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I ' W ' / Ú O 'gbódb l~fQQ "...:,.,.60
" ~rQ w~slrii teíioloi
" . -. :~iQw~sl ni l e b ó l Ó r .
1, Ara " níí ni ni kákááká . ';':Óne wouldnol feel so sickly:'/
( Kó níí ni ni kukuunkun '''', 'And feelingso crestfallen
Kámó leé dá káká dIfá'eni ' And'Wóüld nor.bc ..able toprostrate lo. cast .onets
A "f" .'ir, "divinatíon- . .;: . ,
A díáfún yliliilplnjJln ...,. .
Tú sawo ilé I;'I~giidJ,lín9r(l " , 'Óisfdivihation for Aylonlplnpln , '..
Eyí tí ó bééreelágiítíg'fQíi . " ¡'Tnépiieslóf I;'I~gUdum9rQhousehold
, ,""The'otieth~tasks.for.big bottles(,lfwine.,
.Awon 19iril;'gbáráa gi, '-.' '
OIQ'le~i wQnfiWolfál!W~(lniúfl; The priestsIgiril;'gbáráa gi . ,
A "" b' > • 70 They are. priests lo sOlI1e.ofl~,e!s~. .
wQl!lgin,l;'g .at:"a.gl·.. " ....,.,.,.;.,",..", " Th' '. 1" E b;~; .,." . 70
Q1Q le~iw(Íntí woIfáa w(l(lQ (ún .' . ePOesls gtn ,g .'liI,gL: , ,•..,.,.' .
, .'The'y praCtice.¡!¡eirpriesttlocw tó,sómiofle'~lse ..
Awcm A·jMoti"sQp6TQd~d~.: Tle prie-~ls A::jÓ::{On-sQp6::Qd~d~' . ""
QtQle
ni
w(ln tí wo Ifáa w(l(lnfún"Theypractife their pries!h,o!?df~r s,<,llI1e;>!?dyels~ '.'
Aylnnlplnpln níí sawo ilé I;'I~gUdum9r(ÍAYlnnlpl~pln is lhe priést o[ I;'I~iildumQr~'s....
1;'j~ n bÓgbey(lnú m u m i ' " , household
P'ú tí mu' L e l111edAnk water withOgbeY(Ínfr "
Qsln tí mu SIavesdódrink . .. . . .,
Aylnnlplnpln Serlánt~;do'drink ' ".
1;'j~ n bÓgbeY(ÍnúmuqU A'yln~lpl~pln " ,
Aylnnlplnpln..::.:.......;·
.....;: ::......?O ~tmedrink waler with ÚgbeY(Ítiú .,' ". r,
. "" . Ay!it~jÍ>lQpln........................ ",,: ..::..:::.:.::/80;
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When itwas time for the yearly festival ', "
Bódún ti pé I .", She'b~lledherbaby on her backthere.. :.: :30
. QmQ16.pQnI<¡" .,.J..... I •••,." ....... • • • .3° t he ;Uól)lh that wás predicted forher . '.' 11
Osúti.én-wfóhún-s..' ',' , ' "'.' Shedidholpassthroughllwilhoúlbeingpregnanl 11
, Kórnú u je Shehádachild" ,.', ,
'[6 bábímo . , " ' . 00 getting lo the stage again, ' , n
Wóh dágbóiseré bíitiíl~ylnwá" Those that spearheaded thedisgraceofthe past year lJ,
'A~Qti tión ~lr~gún~lésfin ' ,;Th~Ybe.~ameremorseful . . '
Ojú bá ñ 11 wón S1~Jldé then started lo dance and rejoice fI '
S1~j1dé bá tí j6 ní bá tí y(l 'Sing for her', E~u said hoars~ly , 11
E~ú ní '1;' dárin fún un' ',' 'Asyousang for her,lhe last time .. ,40
'Bée se dárin fún un l(lj(Í kunn.í'.. ' '. '.R,.ed
..o y.Q.,u.r mockery .........:I·d·..·h
....·I....l
..l··....;.:..... ft
'E'ciárin fún un· :Ap 'Ó¡-didn}'youaskofherchl 1 .eas Ime: , lI'
'E .l' • dií lágbo IÓj~ kl1QIIÍ', . 'Sing,as you lhink appropnale lhls llm~ a.~~ln
~E:~n~~~~~~~tí dá al6ró. Y.'ír.,,' Re.lu
..claI)ll~ lhey said :O~~íf~e",..Q'n b
..aY" . n'
,., ; ",' .; " e ",6n bá ií . . .The l3abalawo of Ogu~m~tn ,
WQn ba I~n,m~ ~ '. Y .. Uflprofitable commerclal pracllce . . .
Awo Ogunmklfl ' "'¡ A . 'fóne does not know ho.wto negollale
Asó~~Qj~~e . ."C~:t~i'Viflation for S1~Jldé. . . rt
Ó da blalal mQJaajlá .' Tllal sacrificed for wealth and for chlldren . ti
A díáfúnSi~j,dé • 'Hei~isyour child' . • '. ..' .' ..
~~~~ér~6;~~b~Qlií 16SlSe
b9QmQ
"',' '. :~:~1dts;~b~;~.h¡id.b~.~;;~~ ".:.: :..50ul
S1 ' ~d' o· .......50·, .h .
leJI e.................................. Y()uarenc
QmQQ re re.é lágb
.. o.'.'.," , ',-, " YO.."•. rt~.w.' have a child lO carry on your!>ack " ..ni
O lów6 IQwQ S1~Jldé '1.1 .
O wáá r6mo P9n wá" . '. Hereis your child on lhe slage ,
Si~Jldé Ój ; " •. ,-. " ,
"Qtl'ii¡Qr~'ree lágbó' U
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24
OGBE OKÁNRÁN B , OG~EOI(ÁNRÁN B . . .', .•-. . -:
IfáriObinrinkan tí'ñ'gbayl,nínúiíwiljQ. Ifá says.there is a W0'PaIl, ofsubstanceín the SQ<:iely
Ifá pé kónibo leí iyi'Qhúil 6 'mó baádin where this person Iives, ifá a:s~s her lo sacrifica such
kil.·.... ·.' Ifápébi ~9n óbáfi'lyiíj~eléyiun; that her.capacity .of wealth wouldnot diminish, Ifá
lre óníí16o IQw~. LNmí1n, inú eléyiunó saysif thisperson is not maltréáted, his good things
d q i l : ' w o u l d notget lo hím.But hewould sooneror later be
happy. "',.', '
Orí níí se wén báyií
Orí níí se wón báyif
Awo Ogúnníkin
The Babaláwo of Ogúnníkin
Asówóó jere 'Unprofitable commere:iál practice
Ó dií bí alál mQjiíáná Asif one does nol know how lo negoliale'
A díá fún Si~j1dé " CasI divinalion for Si~Jldé
Si~j1dé tí (Ín ní 6 sebQQlií k6 SI sebQQmQ. Thal was asked lo sacrifice for wealthand forchildren
Si~Jldé ni ó ti QmQ bí Si~Jldé has no child
~ilgbQn 6 yaw(Í Bul slie is very generous
A m(ÍQ náw6 ,She spends'a 101 for peop)e',., ,
IÍIgbOó yá, w(Ínbá tí senlní e······...1O Afler a period of time,t5ome people started mocking
Ni Qnje lán ni (Ínmután her. :.,.,...............•.....................10
NiQn bá b(Ísí gbangba l~eré ;rhey finished merry making in a ce.lebralionone day
Si~j1débá b(Í(Íj6 ' ;~~~lJIoved () lhe ~ancing stage "
W(Ín ñ da ow6 bó 6 ,SieJldéstarted lo dance , ,
W(Ín lQmQQre dií o' She,wa.s,dancing and was sprayirigmohey
They.s~ng proverbially ablsinghef 'Wheré is your
QmQQre dií
, ,¡:hild'? " ,
Si~j1dé QmQQ re dií lágl:k. 'Where isyour child'? "C
O lówó I(Í»,(Í >, 'Si~Jldé,where is yóurchild oil stage'
O ó rQmQ ~ií o , .." . ·,'You.are rich bul you cannol buy a child'
Si~Jldé Qn;i;>Q re dA lágbo ~.~ .20' 'Si'~d' h 's o h'ld lag ,.', 20
'''ro. " . ,leJIe,W ere 1 y urc 1 ons e'.:: ..
Si~Jldél>á,bú~kúnl~9dQ,yrúnml1ií . '$1~j1dé,cried tears lo meel Qrunmilií
AWQD Oríníí~ewQnbáyi( awo The priesl Úrí níí ~e wQn báylí lhe Babaláwoof
Ogúnníkin '" '..' 'Ogúnníkin _"
AwQn Asówóó jere bí alál mQjaií nf The priesl Asówóó jerebí alál mQjiíá ná
WQn b~,sefáfún §!~j1dé 'They prepared an Ifá ¡iortion forher
WQn ní b6l,Jádi~~mí1n'When il is lhis lime nexl year'
WQQ,ní)núil re 6diln " Y Q u.will be happy' They predicled
'WQn níwQQ wQn le~ jQ ~ehun 16dáa 'You and lhey would partake in somelhing good' they
Ñgbií 6 dQdún keJl ',' ' . ,.' 'said in conclusion
TheJ~!lowingyear
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