Ogbe Kana

Before being born, Ogbe Okonron consulted the awo of heaven. The answer was that he must offer a sacrifice if he wanted a long life and wished to avoid his own ruin. He did not accept it. Instead he declared that he would cool the world, which he saw as far too hot. However, once on earth, he devoted himself to complicating the existence of everyone around him.

The people went to a diviner to learn how to stop him. The diviner answered that the man was already ready to die and that they must sacrifice a hen. They did so, and soon afterward Ogbe Okonron left this world.

Then he was reborn in Ife. There he was told to prepare a feast with a goat for the elders, and to give a billy goat to Eshu. He obeyed. The elders asked for blessings on his head, his art made its way clearly, and he became very well known.

This is the origin of the custom: if this odu comes out for someone who is starting a business or moving to another place, that person must invite the elders to a banquet at which a goat is served.

When Ogbe Konron was coming into the world, the awos called Eja un Ubu Ati Oniji Male Odo performed divination for him. They advised him not to live in abandoned houses and not to play marbles with anyone while he was in the world, so that he could enjoy his luck to the end. They also told him to serve his head with four snails, a dove and a goat, to receive the honor of the people. He made the ebbó.

Once in the world, he was told to live in an abandoned dwelling. Without remembering the advice, he went to live there. The house was in poor condition and the roof leaked when it rained. Even so, he was a famous priest and consulted everyone in that rickety place.

One day he consulted his Ifá, which advised him to make an ebbó with a goat for Eshu and with a dove, a goat and a snail for his head. He did all of it.

Afterward, Eshu challenged the people of the town and asked them whether they did not feel ashamed to be consulted in such a run down place. To draw them in, he used an enchantment which says that both the trees and the palms respect and honor the ginger plant. They all gathered and built a suitable house for Ogbe Konron. From then on he lived happily and prospered.

In heaven, a helper of Orunmila named Uranke consulted the oracle for the elephant and for Orunmila, who were preparing to travel to Owan to work as awo. The message was the same for both: they had to make a sacrifice because one of them was in danger of dying, because of greed or because of what came out of his mouth.

Orunmila tried to persuade his companion, but the elephant refused. Orunmila made the sacrifice on his own, with a goat for Eshu and a dog for Ogún.

Once in Owan, Orunmila's work amazed the people, and the two received many clients. The elephant was put in charge of the gifts and payments, and he put everything into a bag he carried in his belly. After seventeen days, it was time to go back. Orunmila asked him to bring out what they had received so that it could be divided. The elephant refused and answered that whatever went into that bag came out only if he died, and that not even Ogún, lord of the forest, could touch him. Orunmila wished him luck and said goodbye.

Ogún had heard everything. He took his main hunting weapon, aimed at the elephant and fired. The animal fought back for a while, but finally fell dead. Ogún sent for Orunmila to collect what was due to him. Orunmila thanked him, gave Ogún a reward for his help, and went home to look for someone to help him cut up the elephant's meat.

From this it is taught that whoever wants a long life must avoid foul language, avarice and boasting. Greed would earn him deadly enemies, and talking too much would bring him death. When a person comes for a consultation, he or she should be asked whether he or she is ready for an adventure far from home; in that case, the person is advised to avoid greed and showing off, so as not to risk losing everything, even life.