Ogbe Di

nº 19 of 256

The owner of the knowledge that wakes Orunmila: intelligence, business and camouflage, fenced in by arayé and by traps that grow out of his own good luck.

43 patakíes 2 eewó 7 ebbós and works 17 proverbs

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

Ogbe Di is Odù number 19 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ogbe family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 43 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 19 of 256
Composition
Ogbe over Odi
In the Diloggún
8-7 · Eyeunle tonti Odí
Orishas that speak
Orunmila · Oshún · Shangó · Obbatalá · Oggún · Osain · Eshú
Eweses of the sign
Guanina · Ceiba · Paraíso · Algodón · Moruro · Mangle rojo · Abiwewe

What Ifá says in this sign

Ogbe Di is the owner of the knowledge that raises Orunmila: every morning, by Oshún's order, it is this sign that wakes the prophet. It is an odu of intelligence, business and skill — and for that very reason it lives surrounded by envy: its own good luck makes its enemies.

Here the arayé and bad wishes were born — other people's toward you, and yours toward other people too: in this Ifá there is good and evil, and the person chooses which one they feed. The golden rule of the sign: do not drop your own business to fix somebody else's, do not stand as guarantor for anyone, and do not take on trouble that is not yours — you will lose for sure.

«Ogbe Di was made king for never stopping his drum: what is yours, done well, is your crown.»The pulse of Ogbe Di

Watch out for the law and for traps: they may pin on you something you did not do, and they will bear false witness against you — but this odu promises that the trap will be uncovered. Orunmila beat his enemies with a party, not with a war: elegance and camouflage — which was born here — are worth more than a head-on clash.

Your protectors work for free: Shangó protects you without charging you — give him his ram —, Oshún Iyumu asks to be treated well and everything is asked of her early, and the river is paid its tribute so the roads open. The woman of this sign should live with a Babalawo, and the aleyo who brings it will end up an Awó or a santero: this is an odu of religious destiny.

Remember that every soul, before coming down, knelt before Olofin to collect its destiny: yours is a great one, but inexperience is your worst enemy — learn slowly, because «the surest way to know nothing is to learn it all at one blow». With the ebbó made, this sign reaches the throne: Ogbe Di was offered the government on the one condition that he never stop playing his drum.

The sign in one line

Do not carry what is not yours, do not learn everything at one blow, and play your drum without ever putting it down — the luck of Ogbe Di wakes Orunmila, and the kingdom comes on its own.

The prayer of Ogbe Di · Yoruba

Ogbe Di kaka Ogbe Di lele adifayoko kanfun onibarabaniregun adifafun Oshún, adifafun Oggún, obiní Ogbe Sa Yeyé Matero afefe lo salú ayé obolode Awó lodá lo inkin.

Ifá says — what Ogbe Di tells you

Proverbs of Ogbe Di · Òwe

14 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 Ogbe Di · Ìbí

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Ebbós of Ogbe Di · The sacrifices that open the road

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

Works of Ogbe Di · The workings of the sign

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

Patakíes of Ogbe Di · The roads of the Odù

1When Olofin handed all the Ashé to Orunmila

Since each Osha kept its own Ashé and sometimes could not be found when it was needed, Olofin decided to hand it all to one alone: to Orunmila, even though he was not crowned.

Here the grace of the Ashé was born. The drum was played to call everyone, because each Olosha had their own Ashé and, when it was needed, someone had to go and beg for it. Sometimes the person could not be found, or it was late and they refused to hand it over, and there you were with the problem of not having that badly needed Ashé.

Seeing the trouble this caused, Olofin decided to hand it all to one alone. That one was Orunmila, who was not crowned and had not reached the Adé of Osha, and to him he handed all the Ashé.

Prayer of the road

Ogbe Di kaka afofo agori tayeye ika bomin ilú meta bioretibo iyabomi bioetito lordafun tonitan ahemule ashé amuemban Orunmila orunten un kawe araela lordafun Olofin.

2The war between Ogbe Di and Otura She, and the dethroning

The greedy king Otura She, whose evil spell was driving his people away, was beaten when Ogbe Di broke his witchcraft. Olofin, his face smeared with mud beside Ogbe Di, caught him cursing and took his throne from him.

Otura She was king of the land of Adafa, cunning and greedy, and his people began to leave. One of those who left went for a consultation with Ogbe Di, who marked him an ebbó to take back to Otura She's land; the man prospered, and everyone ran to Ogbe Di's house.

Otura She, losing his power, prepared a great witchcraft beside the river to destroy Ogbe Di, and the war began. Ogbe Di made osode and did sarayeye with álamo, ceiba, paraíso and cotton, and carried it to the river. There Olofin, who was on his way to see his daughter, took mud from the river, mixed it with his Iyé, marked the signs and smeared Ogbe Di's face and his own.

When Otura She arrived asking for Ogbe Di's destruction, Olofin stood in front of him, wiped off the mud and said: I am Olofin, and this is Ogbe Di, your brother, whom you want to destroy unjustly without seeing that your evil is inside yourself. From today you will give up your power so that Ogbe Di may lead your people.

3The reconciliation between Elewa and Orunmila

Elewa falsely accused Orunmila of stealing a goat. Orunmila made ebbó, shared out the meat with guards posted, and caught Elewa eating it; ashamed, Elewa asked his pardon and they agreed to obey each other.

Elewa left a goat with Orunmila for safekeeping, and one day Orunmila needed it and took it. Elewa, who was at odds with him, went to Olofin to accuse him of theft. Orunmila, once he heard of it, made osode and made ebbó with another goat: he wrapped the meat in the hide of Elewa's goat, spread it out in several places and posted guards.

Elewa, seeing fresh meat along the road, took it and began to eat. The guards said to him: did you not say Orunmila stole your goat? Then you will look bad before Olofin, because you are eating it yourself.

Frightened, Elewa ran to Orunmila and asked his pardon: from today we will not fight any more; what I do for you will be well done, and what you do for me will be well done. So Orunmila brought him to obedience with his wisdom, and they were reconciled.

4The Awó and his music with the drum🔒 The Notebook5Ogbe Di, the owner of knowledge🔒 The Notebook6The trap and Oggún's snake🔒 The Notebook7The crab's theft from Obbatalá🔒 The Notebook8The tribute to the river🔒 The Notebook9Oshún's embarrassment🔒 The Notebook10The one who wished for death🔒 The Notebook11Pact of Orishaoko and Olokun🔒 The Notebook12The camouflage🔒 The Notebook13Road of the wild beast🔒 The Notebook14When Obbatalá ran a shop🔒 The Notebook15The proof🔒 The Notebook16The broken promise🔒 The Notebook17Knowledge was shared out🔒 The Notebook18The road of Eshu Male🔒 The Notebook19The liquor thief🔒 The Notebook20The war of the mayomberos🔒 The Notebook21The war of Ogbe Di and Ogbe Yekú🔒 The Notebook22When Elegbá was robbed🔒 The Notebook23The arm of the sea🔒 The Notebook24Ifá knows all the things of the world🔒 The Notebook25War is born🔒 The Notebook26When Ogbe Di thought he was the master of the world🔒 The Notebook27When Shangó had to recognize Orishaoko🔒 The Notebook28The eggun who guarded Ogbe Di by Olofin's order🔒 The Notebook29Why Ogbe Di is the one who wakes Orunmila🔒 The Notebook30The command of Ozain (the secret of coffee)🔒 The Notebook31The deity of the secret Oro (the coffee of the ancestors)🔒 The Notebook32The man who wanted to go back to heaven🔒 The Notebook33Ifá knows every destiny (the divination of the newborn)🔒 The Notebook34Orunmila became owner of the city🔒 The Notebook35The pact between Shangó and Agayú (the warrior and the farmer)🔒 The Notebook36The breaking into the house (eating meat is born)🔒 The Notebook37The grateful disciple (Ogbe Di and Ogbe Ate)🔒 The Notebook38The strength of the weak dew🔒 The Notebook39The bat and the kingfisher🔒 The Notebook40The moneylending wife🔒 The Notebook41The snotty prince (the devil's horse)🔒 The Notebook42The kingbird and the vulture🔒 The Notebook43The judgement of the fishermen🔒 The Notebook
40 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 Ogbe Di in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Ogbe Di

What does the Odù Ogbe Di mean in Ifá?

The owner of the knowledge that wakes Orunmila: intelligence, business and camouflage, fenced in by arayé and by traps that grow out of his own good luck.

What number is Ogbe Di among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Ogbe Di is Odù number 19 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ogbe family.

Which orishas speak in Ogbe Di?

In the Odù Ogbe Di these orishas speak: Orunmila, Oshún, Shangó, Obbatalá, Oggún, Osain, Eshú.

What is a proverb of the Odù Ogbe Di?

One of the proverbs of Ogbe Di says: «Perfectly clear: Ogbe closes.».

Unlock the 256 Odù See all the Odù See something to correct? Write to us with your source
← Ogbe WeñaIndexOgbe Iroso →