Akala, son of Oduduwa, tormented Orunmila while he was staying in his house. When Akala fell ill, Orunmila made Ifá for him to save him, and on the day of the Iyoye he took his revenge, striking him across the back all through the bush.
Before coming down to the world, Aideju Awó — that was Orunmila's name in Orun — made osode and this sign came up, and its warning was: "once in the world, do not try to avoid suffering". He came down in the lands of Oduduwa, father of an only son named Akala, and that boy made tormenting Orunmila his job: he woke him at dawn, shook him and jabbed him with pricks, without Orunmila answering a word, since he was a stranger in that house.
Soon after, Akala was the one who fell ill, and within fifteen days he was dying. At a loss, Oduduwa sent for Orunmila, who saw this sign again, asked for a large number of animals and took the boy deep into the bush to make Ifá for him. When the Iyoye came, he said to himself: "this is the moment to take my revenge"; he took the switch, sang "Akala Awó Nifá, Ifá mabinu" and laid hard lashes on his back, chasing him among the trees. Now healthy, Akala went back to Oduduwa, who was overjoyed. From here you understand how fiercely the Awoses whip on the day of the Iyoye.