Iwori Ojuani

nº 51 of 256

The guardian of the Kutun, the pit of the Egun: pride loses this person, but whoever sings frightens their troubles away — attend your ancestors.

16 patakíes 4 eewó 7 ebbós and works 11 proverbs

First time with an Odù? Learn how to read one →

Iwori Ojuani is Odù number 51 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Iwori family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 16 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 7 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 51 of 256
Composition
Iwori over Ojuani
Orishas that speak
Shangó · Eshú · Orunmila · Obatalá · Oshún (Iyaloshun) · Oke · Eggun (Alagbo)

What Ifá says in this sign

Iwori Ojuani is the guardian of the Kutun — the pit of the Egun — and cannot be missing from the atenas of the dead. But its medicine for the living is pure joy: whoever sings frightens their troubles away — in this odu, laughter is ebbó.

That is why it has two twin prohibitions: do not cry poverty — it holds you back — and do not be proud, since pride is the osobo of this sign: here an Obá died of shame over an embarrassment. Be content, laugh and sing even when things are tight: Olofin and the Guardian Angel help whoever does not give up in spirit.

«Whoever sings frightens their troubles away — joy is the ebbó of Iwori Ojuani.»The pulse of Iwori Ojuani

When the wealth comes — and this odu says you are not far off winning the lottery — do not look down on the poor: luck that rises by scorning drops like a stone. Remember the corn cob: bare is how the person who forgot where they came from is left.

Your defenses: here Obatalá left the house upset because of the children, and it was Eshú who brought him back with the luck — give him his rooster at New Year, and make offerings at the doorframes and windows, because that is where the paleros' witchcraft is sent in. Pay what you owe Yemayá and keep your promise to Oshún: debts to the saints close roads.

And the party as a ritual duty: a drum for the Guardian Angel — possibly Shangó —, a feast for the Saints, food for the ancestors and for the Kutun this sign guards. Guard yourself against blows to the face from badly placed sticks and against sailing the rivers — and everything else, sing it: this odu is saved by joy.

The sign in one line

Do not cry poverty, do not put on airs and give a drum to your Angel — luck reaches Iwori Ojuani singing, and with Eshú at the door.

The prayer of Iwori Ojuani · Yoruba

Iwori Ojuani Lale Ariku Laye Koyiwo Ilu Balendi Ifá Koyiwo Ilu Balembere Egun Deñigo Aye Ina Okaka Fiwo Tiku Egun Toto Bitan Lawayi Odofun Kawayeri Odo Adushu Ishu Wayuwo Kodide Tokoso Kutun Oyuto lodafun Orunmila kaferefun Shangó ati Eshu.

Súyere
Wara Wara Mi Moro · Kasheita Kashemini · Wara Wara Mi Moro.

Ifá says — what Iwori Ojuani tells you

Proverbs of Iwori Ojuani · Òwe

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

Iré and Osogbo

6 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 Iwori Ojuani · Ìbí

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Ebbós of Iwori Ojuani · The sacrifices that open the road

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

Works of Iwori Ojuani · The workings of the sign

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

Patakíes of Iwori Ojuani · The roads of the Odù

1The two princes

Two princes wanted to know misery and hunger. Orunmila made them ebbó and told them to throw it away after walking; lost in the bush, hungry and filthy, Osain showed them the way out and they understood what a man goes through.

Two princes were curious to hear the poor tell of their hardships, and they came to Orunmila with the request that he show them what misery, hunger and backwardness were. Orunmila laughed: that, he answered, was madness on their part, and it is not something you go and look at. They insisted, saying they had money to spare. He did an osode for them, this Ifá came out, he marked them ebbó and ordered them to drop it far away, after walking a good stretch.

They walked through the bush until they were worn out, they lost their way, they went whole days without eating, their clothes in tatters and no water to be found; they found a turtle and ate it raw. There Osain appeared to them. They begged him to get them out, and he reminded them that misery was exactly what they had wanted to know. In the end he put in their hands two little sticks of abre camino, telling them to throw them away as soon as they got out; the moment they threw them, a path and some farmers appeared before them. Back in town they said: "let us go tell Orunmila that now we know the hardships a man goes through in his struggle to live."

2When the Guardian Angel stopped being attended

Omo Laye received everything from his Guardian Angel, but never attended him. He fell into misery; Orunmila told him to give a drum to Osha, and from then on he prospered and never again failed to attend him.

Omo Laye received everything from his Guardian Angel and from the Saints, but never saw to them, nor set out ademú for them, nor held a feast. He began to go through hardship and to lose everything, even peace in his house. He went to Orunmila, who saw this Ifá for him, marked him an ebbó and told him to give a drum to Osha. Omo Laye did it, gave the drum to his Guardian Angel, and began to prosper and to have peace. Never again did he fail to attend the Saints, and every year he held a feast for them and kept up with them.

3When Iwori Ojuani finished off his enemies

Iwori Ojuani, king of the land of Ike, fell ill from a spell a sorcerer set in his doorframe. Orunmila told him to pray to his ancestors; healed, he chased the sorcerer and beat him with his ivory coconut and his sword.

Iwori Ojuani came down by Olofin's order to the land of Ike, where fierce animals lived; with his sword he made himself respected, civilized them and became king. The chief of the cannibals, a sorcerer, fled to the forest with his cauldrons and sent witchcraft against him: among other things, a spell in the doorframe, so that Iwori Ojuani, every time he came in, caught himself on a spike, his crown fell and he fell ill, and the animals took the chance to gather strength. He grew so troubled by it that he shut himself in and would not get up.

His warriors went to Orunmila, who saw this Ifá for him — the one of his birth — and marked him a praying to his ancestors and an ebbó. His Bode Egun prayed his head to the guiding protector with a coconut, told him to wear the cap half red, half white, with a green tuft, and Orunmila consecrated him his half-round board, for him alone. Iwori Ojuani was healed, got up and with his ivory coconut and his sword went after the sorcerer: he threw the coconut at him, left him senseless and cut off his head, coming back in triumph.

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 Iwori Ojuani in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Iwori Ojuani

What does the Odù Iwori Ojuani mean in Ifá?

The guardian of the Kutun, the pit of the Egun: pride loses this person, but whoever sings frightens their troubles away — attend your ancestors.

What number is Iwori Ojuani among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Iwori Ojuani is Odù number 51 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Iwori family.

Which orishas speak in Iwori Ojuani?

In the Odù Iwori Ojuani these orishas speak: Shangó, Eshú, Orunmila, Obatalá, Oshún (Iyaloshun), Oke, Eggun (Alagbo).

What is a proverb of the Odù Iwori Ojuani?

One of the proverbs of Iwori Ojuani says: «Whoever sings frightens their troubles away.».

Unlock the 256 Odù See all the Odù See something to correct? Write to us with your source
← Iwori KosoIndexIwori Obere →