Ogbe Kana

nº 23 of 256

The Ifá of being looked down on: the greedy one was killed by his own greed and deformity turned out to be a blessing — the one they scorn, this sign crowns in another land.

24 patakíes 5 eewó 7 ebbós and works 13 proverbs

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Ogbe Kana is Odù number 23 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ogbe family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 24 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 23 of 256
Composition
Ogbe over Okana
In the Diloggún
8-1 · Eyeunle tonti Okana
Orishas that speak
Shangó · Obbatalá · Orunmila · Oddua (Oduduwa) · Yemayá · Oggún · Eshú / Elegba
Eweses of the sign
tuna espinosa · cardón · añil

What Ifá says in this sign

Ogbe Kana is the Ifá of being looked down on: the child of this sign is underestimated — and that, secretly, is their advantage. Here deformity was a blessing and greed led to death: what others scorn in you is exactly what saves you.

Its threat works the way the sea works on the mountain: from below, where nobody sees it — the mountain thought it was strong, and the sea ate away its base until it came down. That is how the hidden illnesses that appear all of a sudden work (take care of your chest and of draughts), and the enemies who work in the dark. That is why the sign calls for oparaldo and food taken to the cemetery: there are spirits wrapped around this person who want to take them before their time.

«The mountain thought it was strong, and the sea was eating it from below — the danger of Ogbe Kana never attacks head-on.»The pulse of Ogbe Kana

Learn from Yemayá, who lost the power to rule the earth here: she went back to the sea, and the reefs protected her until she got it back. If they take away what is yours, do not argue and do not let yourself be ruled: pull back into your own element, get strong — and put a little piece of reef in your ebbó, because that is the memory of the victory.

Your happiness has a color: dress in white and lean on Obbatalá, Shangó and Orunmila. To Shangó — from whom this sign can never be parted — fresh fish is given at the foot of the ceiba to win; in a great war, he is taken out to the yard for six days with a red flag, aguardiente and a maraca. And do not take anyone into your house, nor sick animals off the street: harm comes in that way.

This is an odu of the born Babalawo: the Board of Ifá and the Irofá were born here — this person's prosperity is in the religion, and often in another land. Receive Ifá or its hand, work matters of employment with this Odù (it is good for that), and remember its protecting sentence: death cannot, after eating a person's food, kill that person — so feed people, and live.

The sign in one line

Dress in white, do not argue and give fresh fish to Shangó — this Ifá crowns the one they look down on, with the Board in his hands.

The prayer of Ogbe Kana · Yoruba

Ogbe Kana lordafun Obatalá lordafun Shangó ni miti alamoni alakosi moni yeun. Oggún babaré. Orunmila lorubo.

Ifá says — what Ogbe Kana tells you

Proverbs of Ogbe Kana · Òwe

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

Iré and Osogbo

5 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 Kana · 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 Kana · 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 Kana · The workings of the sign

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

Patakíes of Ogbe Kana · The roads of the Odù

1The greed that led him to death

Ogbe Okonron refused to sacrifice before coming into the world and swore to cool down the hot earth, but he made life impossible for everyone. The town made ebbó over his head and he died soon after; he was reborn in Ife, held a feast for the elders and became famous.

The Awó who divined for Ogbe Okonron in heaven told him to sacrifice so he would live long and not ruin himself. He refused, and swore he would cool down the world, which was too hot. When he arrived, he made life hard for everybody.

The town asked a diviner how to be rid of him; he told them that this man was already ripe for death and that they should sacrifice with a hen. They did it, and before long Ogbe Okonron died.

He was reborn in Ife, where they told him to hold a feast for the elders with a she-goat and to give a goat to Eshú. He did it, the elders prayed for him and cleared the road of his craft, and he became famous. When this Odù comes out for someone starting a business or moving house, they must give a banquet for the elders with a she-goat.

Prayer of the road

Erinkui ton ton ton lode, Ere keni oje tere olu akoko ko oha.

2The abandoned house

Ogbe Konron forgot he was not to live in abandoned houses and was giving consultations in a run-down place. After sacrificing to his head and to Eshú, Eshú shamed the town for consulting in such a ruin, and they built him a proper house.

Ogbe Konron was advised not to live in abandoned houses and to serve his head with a dove, a she-goat and shells. He forgot, and went to live in a run-down house with a leaking roof, and there, famous as he was, he gave consultations to everyone.

He consulted his Ifá, which told him to sacrifice a goat to Eshú and to serve his head. He did it, and then Eshú challenged the people of the town, asking them whether they were not ashamed to be consulted in such a run-down place.

They all got together and built him a proper house. After that he lived happily and prospered, like the trees and the palms that respect the ginger plant.

Prayer of the road

Tigi Tokpe loun Shaanu fun ighere.

Tanto los árboles como las palmas hacen honores a la planta jengibre.

3The greedy elephant and Orunmila

The elephant refused to sacrifice and kept the clients' gifts in his belly, refusing to share them, boasting that not even Oggún could handle him. Oggún, who heard him, shot him dead, and Orunmila collected his reward.

A stand-in for Orunmila divined for the elephant and for Orunmila when they were going to the land of Owan to practice as Awó; both were told to sacrifice to avoid the death of one of them, through greed or through words of the mouth. The elephant refused; Orunmila sacrificed a she-goat to Eshú and a dog to Oggún.

In Owan, Orunmila's craft impressed everyone and they had many clients. The elephant was the treasurer and kept the gifts in the pouch of his stomach. On the seventeenth day, Orunmila asked him to show the rewards so they could be shared, and the elephant refused, saying nothing came out of his pouch unless he died, and that not even Oggún, owner of the forest, could handle him.

Oggún had heard the conversation, took aim and shot him. The elephant struggled for a while and died. Oggún called Orunmila to come and take his reward. To live long, you must keep away from foul speech, greed and boasting.

Prayer of the road

Iroko amenu jigini Adifafun Orúnmila Abufon Erin Nijo Tiwon She Awó Losi Tiwon She Awó Losi ile Owan Ani Kiwon ruebo Tori iku enikan ninu won Tori erunke ki abakpo kia tun sora ojukokoro

21 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 Kana in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Ogbe Kana

What does the Odù Ogbe Kana mean in Ifá?

The Ifá of being looked down on: the greedy one was killed by his own greed and deformity turned out to be a blessing — the one they scorn, this sign crowns in another land.

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

Ogbe Kana is Odù number 23 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ogbe family.

Which orishas speak in Ogbe Kana?

In the Odù Ogbe Kana these orishas speak: Shangó, Obbatalá, Orunmila, Oddua (Oduduwa), Yemayá, Oggún, Eshú / Elegba.

What is a proverb of the Odù Ogbe Kana?

One of the proverbs of Ogbe Kana says: «Touch the body: the current is in the body.».

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