Iwori Bara

From a neighboring town they sent for Orunmila. Before deciding whether to go, Orunmila consulted for himself and the Ifá Iwori Obere came out, which demanded that he make an ebbó before leaving and make it urgently: a trap awaited him on the road.

Just as he was about to begin it, someone called at his door. A distressed man asked him to see him immediately about a serious problem. Orunmila answered that he could not now and that the man should come back later, but the man insisted with so many pleas that Orunmila gave in and read him the same Ifá.

Eshu was watching everything from the side. While Orunmila was attending the visitor, he placed a big rock in the doorway that opened onto the street. The man, on going out, did not see it, and went straight to the governor to report that a diviner had taken his money.

The governor set out for Orunmila's house accompanied by the accuser and the guard. Orunmila did not know of the danger: he had already made his ebbó and, beside the entrance, had given Eshu the goat and the rooster, together with that same rock.

As they drew near, the governor asked the man to show him where the diviner lived. The man answered: “A moment ago I was around here and nobody of that kind lives in this place; there is nothing but pica pica.” The governor called him a liar, believed he was mocking him and ordered the guard to jail him. Eshu, after eating the goat and the rooster, had wrapped the place in his power in the form of pica pica, and nobody in the group, neither the governor nor the troops nor the accuser, managed to find the house.

Enigan was an awó known as ingenious and with resources to spare. When the destiny of people decided to come down into the world in the form of an Orisha, he went to the house of Iwori Obere. He admitted that Enigan's ability was more than enough to face the problems of the world, but demanded two requirements: an ebbó and a disguise, with which his enemies could not harm him.

The land of Abaata, a swamp, was assigned to Enigan. To reach the bottom without getting stained by the impurities, he crossed it walking on stilts.

Thus, if the Guardian Angel descends upon someone, it stays above that person like someone who walks on stilts. Spiritual irradiation arises in this way, since the spirit remains up high above the person, and their guide rides on them, with one leg on each side.

In the kingdom of Obe Meku lived a king so generous with his people that his subjects handled him as they pleased. If someone stole, he cried and promised to reform, and the king, moved, let him go without a penalty; and to whoever had suffered the theft he returned what was lost, to leave him content. For that reason theft, corruption and every kind of vice spread through that land without anyone paying for it: the monarch's kindness was exploited by everyone.

One day the rulers of the region met in a nearby kingdom, and the king of Obe Meku went. The other sovereigns complained that in his domain everyone did what they wanted without consequences; they said this set a bad example for the neighboring kingdoms. When the meeting ended, he returned to his palace sad and ashamed, summoned his ministers and counselors and asked them for direction. They all agreed with the other kings, except the oldest, who said: “Sir, at the edge of the city, near Mount Oribo Ota, lives a wise man known as the awó Orunmila. Go before him and ask for his guidance.”

The king followed the advice. Before Orunmila he explained his situation. Orunmila consulted, saw the Ifá Iwori Obere and told him: “They abuse you because of your good heart. To remedy it you must make an ebbó.” Within a few days, the king brought everything he had been told to bring, and Orunmila performed the ebbó. Eshu and Osun received the rooster, and Orunmila charged them with helping the king. The hens went to Orunmila himself. The large fresh fish he set before Obatalá, with a prayer.

When the prayer was finished, Orunmila gave the fish to the king with this order: “Prepare it well seasoned and tasty, and serve it to everyone at a big feast in your palace.” So it was done. Shortly after the banquet began, the criminals who were there became dazed and drunk, and Eshu and Osun arrested them. When they came out of their daze and saw their situation, they begged the king to forgive them and promised to become honest people. But Orunmila had warned the king: kind treatment for the good, no pity for the wicked. This time, therefore, the king did not heed pleas or promises.

From that day on, thanks to Orunmila's wise guidance, Obe Meku and its king earned the respect of all.