Obara Kusheyó

Awó Orí, odifa fun Orí tonwa aye apesin: this Odù made the reading for the Head when it was coming into life, in which it would be universally served by each and every one of them.

It made sacrifice with a female goat, a bell and a piece of white cloth. That is why every divinity and every mortal serves the Head to this day: in this sign, the first thing to see to is the prayer over your own head.

«Ebara tua tua tua», the Awó of Ukpe, made the reading for the trumpet when it longed to be recognized. It was told to make sacrifice with a rooster and a knife, and to go out to the country and stay beside a young palm: when the palm grew, it would climb into its branches and have many children.

Meanwhile, Eshu went to Olofin and taught him how to use Ukpe as the trumpet of his annual festival. Eshu went out to the country and blew the trumpet, and everyone in their houses heard the sound; then he went home and blew it again, and everyone in the country, the forest and the market heard it. The Obá was so impressed that he ruled that, from that moment, the trumpet would become the bugle that called the people to the worship of Ogún, and would also call them to arms in case of war. That is how Ukpe became famous. When this Odù appears: make sacrifice, because you are meant to become someone your community cannot do without.

Alagbara (Ogún), Oloogun (Osanyin) and Otito (Orunmila) were three brothers who came down from heaven to earth at the same time. In the reading they were told to give a goat to Eshu so as to succeed at any task, to feast their Guardian Angels with a female goat, and, in order to obtain clarity from God, to sacrifice white cloth, a white pigeon, cascarilla and red parrot feathers. Ogún and Osanyin did not sacrifice; Orunmila did it all. They all came down, built their houses, and one day traveled to Ifé for the practice of Ifá: Orunmila dressed in white every morning and sat in front of his house — he stood out for telling the truth; Ogún, for his physical strength; Osanyin, for his powers.

Olofin's wife had been seven days in labor without being able to deliver. Osanyin the doctor was the first called: he used all his medicines, and could not. Ogún tried as best he could too, and could not get the boy born. That was the moment when Eshu worked on the royal advisers to suggest to Olofin that he bring in the man who dressed in white. Two messengers invited Orunmila, who at the palace threw himself into the reading and declared: the woman could not deliver because she had lain adulterously with three different men — if she confessed and gave the names, she would deliver. The woman admitted it, gave the names, and almost immediately gave birth to a boy, to general rejoicing. The Obá loaded him with gifts; the town learned what Orunmila was capable of, clients came in crowds, he had a great deal of money and built his own house in Ifé. Ogún and Osanyin, who could do nothing, went for a reading: they were to return to the land of their birth and sacrifice — they did, and began to prosper in Ifé. And Orunmila was sent word to come home to be made Obá: he went back to collect his crown. In Igbodu: sacrifice, because a high position or a leadership is waiting for you in the land where you were born.