Iroso Matelekún

nº 78 of 256

The photographer, the coffin and the candle: here the change of heads is born, and Ikú, who ate only human flesh, ate animals for the first time.

16 patakíes 5 eewó 12 ebbós and works 16 proverbs

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Iroso Matelekún is Odù number 78 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Iroso family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 16 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 12 ebbós and works and the signs it shows in the consultation — with the full eewó in plain sight; the detail of iré and osogbo and the full recipes open with The Notebook, in English.

The sign at a glance

Order in Ifá: Odù 78 of 256
Composition: Iroso over Oyekun
In the Diloggún: 4-2 · Iroso tonti Eyioko
Orishas that speak: Eshú · Ikú (Death) · Oduduwa · Orunmila · Yewa · Obatalá y Elegba · Oyiyi (the shadow)

What Ifá says in this sign

Iroso Matelekún is the Ifá of the photographer, of the coffin and of the candle: death is near the house — and yet this is also the sign of the great pact: Ikú does not touch Orunmila's children until the day he hands them over himself. Here death learned to eat animals, so as not to eat men.

Its greatest tool was born here: the Ebó Yipada, the change of heads — which turns aside what has already been decreed. That is why this odu is not argued with: you act quickly — an urgent praying, a black hen for Ikú, paraldo, and the doorway washed down so death goes away. And the photographer's detail: if you were photographed with someone who has since died, have your image separated from that photograph — that Eggun is keeping closer company with you than it should.

«Ikú does not touch Orunmila's children until he hands them over himself — the pact shelters Iroso Matelekún.»The pulse of Iroso Matelekún

The luck of this odu has ears: while there is daily quarreling in the house, it does not come in — Obatalá and Elegba were carrying the fortune and left it at the neighbor's house because of the shouting. Stop the quarreling, it does you no good: family discord is the chief thief here.

Its finest risk has a name: Alaye Kpaye — one piece of luck arrives to replace another instead of adding to it — a child is gained and another lost, a joy arrives and collects on an old one. There is a special sacrifice so the fortunes add up: a goat for Eshú, the scissors with their medicine, and the white and black threads at the wrists. Ask for it by name.

Guard your heart against strong shocks — here people die suddenly from a fright —, no uncorked empty bottles and nothing red in the house, and do not open the door yourself until the ebbó is made. For the pregnant woman close to you, her sacrifice for a safe birth. And the hope of the pact, in its own words: we will not die young — the ram calms the earth, and heaven shuts the door against death

The sign in one line

Act quickly, make peace in your house and ask that your pieces of luck add up — the change of heads was born here, and the candle of this odu lights life.

The prayer of Iroso Matelekún · Yoruba

Iroso Yeku Iroso Makeleku koni Awó ofi abe lalá belé lelé maká dakuarere Ifá oni barabaniregun Awó bayebi Ifá kerere Awó obayá beiyé Ikú.

Ifá says — what Iroso Matelekún tells you

The Ifá of the photographer: if you were photographed with someone who has since died, have your image separated from that photograph — in iré that Eggun follows you, in osogbo it means to take you. Kaferefún Eshú and Osanyin.
It marks the death of an Awó, and that the Guardian Angel must be given whatever it wants, and Eggun a ram or a ewe.
The coffin and the candle speak: death is inside your house.
Your luck is being lost through the constant quarreling in the family: everyone is upset with everyone.
Envy and seduction: there are many evil eyes behind you; a change of job will bring you an improvement.
One piece of luck arrives to replace another instead of adding to it (Alaye Kpaye): a child is lost as another is born, or a wife as another is married — there is a special sacrifice to prevent it.
Strong shocks: be careful, your heart may stop and you may die suddenly.
Gossip that drags in godchildren, godfathers and godmothers.
A growth in the stomach and bruising; in a woman, a fibroid or a growth in the womb, and a false or ectopic pregnancy.
The sick person of this sign has no cure: death is certain, and only the works will drive it off.
The house falling apart, and the loss of the title to the house.
Two protecting spirits of your work who are fighting each other; the stronger one goes off into the bush and is reconciled with a rooster hung over two gourds.

Proverbs of Iroso Matelekún · Òwe

“No one dies until the day Olofin decides.”
“I will use the ram to calm the earth, and pray God to shut the door against death.”
“Where there is shouting, the luck walks straight past.”
“People talk about you when you prosper, when you marry, when your child is born — and when you die.”
“One piece of luck should not arrive at the cost of another.”
“Death is a gift when the body is worn out and in pain.”
“You do not judge a book by its cover alone.”
“If you do not look after yourself, nobody will do it for you.”
“The human soul is like the dew, that goes with the sun and comes back with the moon.”
“Everyone who argues their case looks right, until the judge examines it.”
“Luck puts an end to every quarrel.”
“Do not sell me a cat for a hare.”
“It is easier to win over the brother you offended than the one who runs you down.”
“Whoever finds a good wife finds happiness; whoever does not, finds grief.”
“Do not pass off goat meat on me as something else.”
“The poor man pleads when he speaks, while the rich man demands.”

13 proverb interpretations in this Odù, locked.Every proverb explained: which road it comes from and how it applies.Unlock →

Iré and Osogbo

5 iré and osogbo readings in this Odù, locked.The iré and osogbo of the sign, sorted by subject — health, money, love, death, loss…Unlock →

What is born in Iroso Matelekún · Ìbí

The Ebó Yipada: the change of heads.
It is done with your back to the board, a hole dug between the two, two candles, and the black hen killed in the shadow over the hole; it holds good for the Awó for 16 years.
Ikú Otonowa: that death comes by order of heaven.
Ikú Lari said she only took each person when Olofin said so, and not when anyone else wished it.
That Ikú ate animals for the first time.
Through the oath before Awó Oba Yebeiye Ikú: the black hen buried in the hole fools death and saves the Awó's children.
Orunmila's pact with Ikú.
Ikú used to eat Orunmila's children, and by the pact she does not kill them until the day Orunmila hands them over.

What is forbidden · Eewó

The full eewó of this Odù, open to everyone — with the road each ban came out of.

Do not go out into the street at night.
Do not keep uncovered empty bottles in the house.
And cover all the holes in the yard and the walls.
Until you make ebbo, do not open the door yourself when they knock.
Like the tailor of the black cloak, who went out to receive the visitor, and Death took his life for being disobedient. Let someone else open.
Do not use anything red, no clothes or ornaments in the house.
Do not get involved in gossip with your elders of blood or of religion.

Ebbós of Iroso Matelekún · The sacrifices that open the road

Keeping death awayEbó Yipada — the change of heads🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayA ram for Ikú🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe secret for driving Ikú off🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesOrunmila's three snails🔒 The Notebook LossAgainst fortunes that come and go (Alaye Kpaye)🔒 The Notebook HealthWashing down for the sick person🔒 The Notebook HealthThe feather duster of the sick Awó🔒 The Notebook LoveThe sacrifice for a safe birth🔒 The Notebook

8 ebbós in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes.Unlock →

Works of Iroso Matelekún · The workings of the sign

Keeping death awayThe cleansing of Komawo Fía🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe clay figure behind the door🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe Ifá that lives in the skull🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesThe rooster of the two spirits🔒 The Notebook

4 works in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes.Unlock →

Patakíes of Iroso Matelekún · The roads of the Odù

1The mysterious land of Ikú Lari

In the land of Gogo Orun, the shadow of Ikú Lari took only whoever Olofin decided, and respected Awó Ori Kalekun for being good. When many were asking for his death, the Awó went to Ilé Yewá, where a skull that divined gave him its secret; Ikú Lari embraced him: «I will take you only when your turn comes».

In the land of Gogo Orun, a very mysterious one, Orunmila lived under the name Awó Ori Kalekun; there he did nothing but good, and even so he had enemies to spare. That land gave worship to Ikú Lari, the great shadow of Ikú, whose home was in Inle Yewá, and who went out through the land to take away whoever Olofin decided. Awó Ori Kalekun, on the other hand, she always respected, and she even came to him at night in dreams to warn him what his enemies were plotting against him. There was no shortage of people calling on her to finish him off, but she answered that she would take him the day Olofin ordered it, not when someone asked for it.

One day the Awó saw for himself Iroso Yekun, Ikú Otonowa, and set out for Ilé Yewá with two black hens and three black doves. As soon as he went in a skull spoke to him and he got scared; then Yewa appeared and calmed him: "Do not be afraid, that one is an Awó like you: his name is Awó Ifá Orun Abi Orun and he is going to help you". The skull asked him to put his Ifá next to his own and to feed it, and gave him 21 small unpeeled ikines, the secret of Osanyin with which Ikú Lari was fed; Yewa, for her part, gave him the bones of the right and left foot for his fundamento. When Ikú Lari arrived and saw that secret, she hugged the Awó: "I will only take you when it is your turn, and whoever disposes of you without Olofin's permission will have on him my curse, Yewa's and Olofin's". That is why the Ifá of this Awó lives in a wooden skull, and his children carry only two names: Ifá Ori Malekun and Ifá Orun Abi Orun.

2The tailor's black cloak

An Awó who was a tailor, envied for how well he dressed, made ebbó and was told to be careful about visitors. Ikú knocked two nights; his wife answered that he was asleep. The second time he went out to meet the visitor himself, and Ikú took his life for disobeying and carried off his cloak. Orunmila sent her back where she belonged with a black hen.

There was an Awó who was a tailor and lived very well, dressed very well and wore a black cloak; everyone envied him. When he read for himself his own Ifá came out, he made ebbó, and Ifá told him to be careful about visitors. One night Ikú came for him and knocked at the door; Iroso Yeku did not open and sent his wife, who said her husband was asleep, and Death went away. The next day she came back; the wife said the same, but Iroso Yeku, forgetting what Ifá had told him, asked who it was. His wife told him to keep quiet, he paid no attention, went out to meet the visitor, and Death took his life for disobeying, took his cloak and left.

With the cloak on, Death appeared in the market square and sat down beside Obatalá. When the traders and Ogún arrived and saw her, they ran shouting to Orunmila's house. He took a black hen, cleansed himself with it and went to the square; seeing Death, he told her: «You cannot be among the living: you have to go back where you belong», gave her the black hen, and so Death went away. That is why, when this Odù comes out, a black hen must be given to Ikú, along with the paraldo, and food to Ogún and to the Guardian Angel.

3When Ikú ate animals for the first time

Awó Oba Kolaye saved his own by turning into a shadow and leaving Ikú nothing but a chair and a black hen. Ikú, resentful, took up with Elegba — whom the Awó owed a chicken. The Awó's father made him swear a pact with Ikú: the hen buried in the hole; and Ikú, who had never eaten animals, ate.

In the land of Koyeronifa lived Awó Ifá Oba Kolaye, who held the secret of the shadow for saving his children from Ikú: he sat them on a chair before his foundation, sang «Akuada Oba Yebeiye Ikú», killed a black hen behind the chair, and whatever was there vanished. Ikú would visit that land and find nothing but the chair and the hen; she would clutch her head in fury, because she could not find the Awó either, who by his virtue turned into a shadow that Ikú took for the night itself.

One day Ikú, in her resentment, came upon Elegba, whom the Awó had once refused a chicken, and together they gathered the Awoses in the land where Oba Kolaye's father lived, Awó Oba Yebeiye Ikú. His father called on him: «You have to give a chicken to Elegba, and every time you do the paraldo of your sign, bury the hen in a hole so Ikú finds no trace; and for wanting to be greater than I am, you will swear an oath with Ikú». He knelt his son and Ikú before the Awoses and made them swear the pact. For the demonstration, the Awó brought a dove and a hen, and Ikú, who had never eaten animals, ate them and said: «And you cover it over». So the changing of a life was born, and for the first time Ikú ate the flesh of animals.

4The house full of shouting🔒 The Notebook 5The secret for driving Ikú off🔒 The Notebook 6The priestess Oyé and the witch mother🔒 The Notebook 7The divination before coming down to Earth🔒 The Notebook 8Fortunes that come and go🔒 The Notebook 9The pact with Ikú (the painter)🔒 The Notebook 10The ox and the donkey🔒 The Notebook 11The sparrow and the hare🔒 The Notebook 12The ruin of Elegua's children🔒 The Notebook 13The look that accepts you🔒 The Notebook 14The elephant and the stake🔒 The Notebook 15The tree of love🔒 The Notebook 16The disgrace of Azowano's daughter🔒 The Notebook

13 more patakíes in this Odù, locked.Read every road in full with The Notebook.Unlock →

The full treatise is in English. With The Notebook, the whole sign opens on this page in English: the full text of every patakí, the recipes for the ebbós and works, and the iré and osogbo readings. · This page is also available in Spanish: See Iroso Matelekún in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Iroso Matelekún

What does the Odù Iroso Matelekún mean in Ifá?

The photographer, the coffin and the candle: here the change of heads is born, and Ikú, who ate only human flesh, ate animals for the first time.

What number is Iroso Matelekún among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Iroso Matelekún is Odù number 78 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Iroso family.

Which orishas speak in Iroso Matelekún?

In the Odù Iroso Matelekún these orishas speak: Eshú, Ikú (Death), Oduduwa, Orunmila, Yewa, Obatalá y Elegba, Oyiyi (the shadow).

What is a proverb of the Odù Iroso Matelekún?

One of the proverbs of Iroso Matelekún says: «No one dies until the day Olofin decides.».

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