Oggunda Biode

nº 137 of 256

The Odù of the children of Oduduwa that gets you out of any tight spot: inside the Igbodun room, it stands for the godfather.

29 patakíes 7 eewó 13 ebbós and works 16 proverbs

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Oggunda Biode is Odù number 137 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ogunda family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 29 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 13 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 137 of 256
Composition: Ogunda over Ogbe
In the Diloggún: 3-8 · Ogundá tonti Eyeunle
Orishas that speak: Elegba · Oshún · Orunmila · Shangó · Ogún · Yemayá · Egun · Osain · Olokun

What Ifá says in this sign

Oggunda Biode is the first omoluo — the first child of kings Olofin chose to stand for him on earth — and the sign that gets you out of tight spots and out of bad situations: as a child, he freed every Babalawo held prisoner in Metalofin. It comes with one condition: here you obey — whoever disobeys can lose everything, even their life.

Your character needs a rein on it: willful and headstrong even when it walks you into the fire — you even tear your clothes off when you get upset: stop doing it, because it holds you back. Friendships show you two faces: in this odu you have no friends who care for you — care for them without handing yourself over, and do not help up the one who will betray you.

«As a child he freed the Babalawos from prison — Oggunda Biode gets whoever obeys him out of trouble.»The pulse of Oggunda Biode

Your dead are calling you: three dead elders say they need you over there — the ebbó cancels that summons —, and three eguns are wearing you down: that is why nothing you do holds firm. Send them away and you will feel the ground harden under your feet.

Marriage here is sacred and watched: your wife is a good woman and there is someone who wants to take her with witchcraft — ebbó, take her out, and no mistreatment; the apetebí of this sign marries a Babalawo, and the great warning is flat: adultery is what opens the grave. Be careful where you eat — no meatballs or croquettes from outside — and watch for the loaded doll keeping an eye on you: the asokere of majagua for Oshún saves you.

Your destiny belongs in the santo room: you have to make Ifá before you die — or at least your Ikofafun or Awofakan —, and the santo house you do not like is exactly where your good and your salvation are: kneel down. The green tobacco leaf for Elegba keeps cancer away, and the Oshas are praying for you: whoever stands for Olofin does not walk alone — but he walks obeying

The sign in one line

Obey, send away the three dead who are calling you and make your Ifá — Oggunda Biode stands for Olofin, and gets his people out of any tight spot.

The prayer of Oggunda Biode · Yoruba

Ogunda Biode ferelanko temitan ashé manowa lokun igara nigara iré oferegbe oferigbo omo nimu amunita omo yumu atanleria moleri osa igara monife ekú eni afetefete eniba ribebe aburega lodafun se tinsheya Orunmila tio lo woro igara nigara amuni tinshoma Awó otun Awó osi.

Súyere
Baba yomi wawao — baba yomi wawao; Odun-Aremu wawao — baba yomi wawao.

Ifá says — what Oggunda Biode tells you

The Ifá of the first omoluo: Olofin said that no single Odù can live on earth on its own — the children of the Meyi are called omoluo, children of kings, and they stand for them too. An Ifá that gets you out of tight spots: Oggunda Biode, though a child, freed every Babalawo held prisoner in Metalofin. The Ifá of the godfather: it stands for the godfather inside the Igbodun room, and on the atena of Egun it stands for everyone recently dead. An Ifá of prison, disobedience and turning away from the religion: anyone with this Odù has to be obedient, because they can lose everything — even their life — by ignoring advice.
Before dying, this person must pass through Ifá, unless there is a greater cause that stops it: being a spiritist or adodi, or having problems in one of the hands. When the sign comes out for an aleyo, he is warned that the Santo or Ifá are waiting for him; that he should at least receive Ikofafun or Awofakan.
You are very willful and headstrong, even when it walks you into the fire; when you get upset you tear your clothes off — stop doing it, because it holds you back.
Your friends treat you falsely: one face to your front and another behind your back — in this odu you have no friends who care for you.
A child can uncover a secret of yours.
There are three dead elders calling you — they say they need you over there: make ebbó so it does not happen; there are three eguns wearing you down, and that is why nothing you do ever holds firm.
There is someone ill in your house who may die: let them make ebbó so they are cured.
The apetebí of this sign: her husband should be a Babalawo — if he is not, she will stumble and come to grief; that kind of man was not to her taste before. She puts 16 okra on her Ikofafun so she is not caught being cheated on.
Cheating is what opens the grave: be careful of adultery and what it brings with it.
Your weak points are your throat and your stomach: a steady brew of guarro blanco, bejuco wako and romerillo.
You go to a santo house you do not like, and you should kneel down there: that is where your good and your salvation are.
There are three of you, brothers and sisters.
Your wife is a good woman, but there is someone who wants to take her from you using witchcraft: make ebbó. Take your wife out and give her something else to think about; do not mistreat her, and she should never go to be read by paleros.
Someone in the house is watching you and following your movements: be careful of a doll loaded with egun (shisherikú) — the way out is to give Oshún a fine asokere of majagua.
Do not take pity on anyone: do no harm, but do not help back up the one who will betray you or forget you either.
Be careful where you eat: witchcraft can be put in your food — do not eat meatballs, croquettes or stuffed potatoes cooked outside your own house.
Ebbó has to be made with tobacco leaves to keep cancer away: Elegba is given a green tobacco leaf.
People envy you and treat you with contempt; be careful of another powerful person who wants to clash with you and destroy you.
If you go out to the country you have to have your head prayed over; the Oshas are praying for you.
Be careful of fights, trouble with the law and catching venereal disease.

Proverbs of Oggunda Biode · Òwe

“One man alone, with Ifá's help, challenges 30 men to fight and beats them.”
“Cheating is what opens the grave.”
“Eye of fire, adultery of the heart.”
“If a slave dies, only his mother weeps for him; if a free man dies, the whole world talks about it. This is the unjust law of men.”
“The pig always looks for the mud.”
“Loving is good; trusting is dangerous.”
“A debate with no passion in it gets nowhere.”
“For as long as the world is the world, the vulture does not eat grass.”
“A man is one person when he is in need and another when he has plenty.”
“Using Ifá to lie destroys everything.”
“Before you ask a man for clothes, look at the clothes he is wearing.”
“A woman in the trousers, a man with no character.”
“Whoever is ill does not refuse the medicine.”
“Criminals mock believers; believers pity criminals.”
“As soon as the ship reaches port, they tie it up with a rope.”
“A ship with no captain will end up adrift.”

13 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 Oggunda Biode · Ìbí

The Osun of Osain.
Olofin, beaten by the magic box covered with the 16 ewe of Ifá, put ashé on it and gave it great power.
The destruction of human beings by pork.
It breeds a germ that sickens the blood and the insides — that is why pork is not eaten in this Odù.
That the dead are buried.
Before, they were laid out at the foot of Iroko: after the adulteress's deceit, Oggunda Biode buried her in a hole and slept on top of it for 16 days.
Standing for Olofin on earth.
Oggunda Biode was the first omoluo chosen: he was placed at the center of Oragún.
The decay of the body.
The person smells bad; they suffer from stomach and duodenal ulcers or malignant tumors inside.
That the Oluos ate Orunmila's adié.
From the ebbó of the two black hens: one wing for Iború, another for Iboya and a thigh for Iboshishe.
That Oshún brought Orunmila his wealth, and that Osun was left mute.
The three marks on the right leg of the okpele, and where Osun casts the shadow of egun at the Awó's door.
That the goat was killed for disobedience, by Olofin's ruling, for the first time in the world.
That Orunmila planted the secret of Igbodun for the first time.
The Awoses took the head of the thieves prisoner and made Ifá for him where nobody could see: the powerful light that drew him was Odun.
Yemayá's sadness and melancholy, and that Yemayá carried Orunmila and rocked him.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Do not eat pork.
It breeds a germ that sickens the blood and the organs inside — the secret of the father warned it: «never eat this animal that you have given me».
Do not drink alcoholic drinks of any kind.
You always suffer from stomach problems.
Do not lie down to sleep wearing your going-out clothes.
Do not eat meatballs, croquettes, stuffed potatoes or anything like that cooked outside your house.
Do not bang on tables.
The dead one hears it, answers, and shows up.
Do not take off anything of yours to give it to someone else.
It can cost you your life or your reign — the king who took off his crown for his son fell dead of a heart attack.
Do not curse, and do not mistreat your husband or wife.

Ebbós of Oggunda Biode · The sacrifices that open the road

Beating enemiesThe abo dun dun for Orunmila (to win a war)🔒 The Notebook HealthThe ebbó of the sick person🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe three oparaldos (intori osogbo)🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe oparaldo at the river🔒 The Notebook LoveThe ebbó of the asokere🔒 The Notebook MoneyThe ebbó of the three arrows🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe ebbó of Olofin and Abita🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Oggunda Biode · The workings of the sign

LoveTo keep from being cheated on🔒 The Notebook LoveThe Awó's Inshé-Osain🔒 The Notebook MoneyOgún's steak🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesTo reach power on earth🔒 The Notebook HealthFor impotence🔒 The Notebook MoneyThe akará-fule of the blessing🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Oggunda Biode · The roads of the Odù

1When Orunmila made ebbó for Oká

The boa had no teeth to eat with: Orunmila made ebbó for him with four white pigeons and three coconuts, and sent him to wait for Obatalá. Obatalá needed those coconuts: he accepted the trade and pinned four pins in the boa's mouth — two above, two below — turning them into teeth: «every animal you bite will drop at your side». On the road, Obatalá dropped something; his servant Okete disobeyed him and went back for it: Oká bit him and swallowed him. Obatalá cursed Oká: «every time you swallow an animal you will have to stop and rot it inside you». To Iban Eshu.

Oká, the majá, could not eat because he had no teeth, and so Orunmila took care of him with an ebbó of four white doves and three coconuts. Once the work was done, he instructed him: "Go and wait for Obatalá on the road, give him the coconuts and the doves, and ask him for that favor." The majá obeyed. As soon as Obatalá had him in front of him, he noticed what he was carrying: "My son, how I need those coconuts you have there." Oká set a condition for handing them over: "I give them to you, and the doves too, if you grant me the favor of having teeth to eat." Obatalá badly needed those coconuts, so he agreed. He was carrying four pins with him; he fixed them in the majá's mouth, two on top and two below, and his virtue turned them into teeth. Then he ruled: "From today and as long as the world is the world, you have the virtue that every animal you bite falls at your side."

With the coconuts and the doves, Obatalá went on his way very pleased. Something slipped out of his bag along the way, and when he noticed the loss he mentioned it to Okete, his servant, who right away offered: "Wait for me here, I am going to look for it." Obatalá did not want that: "No, leave it, let us keep going." Okete ignored the order and went back over his steps after the lost thing; back there Oká was waiting for him, and he sank his teeth into him and swallowed him. When Obatalá learned about the end of his servant, he threw his curse on the majá: "As long as the world is the world, every time you swallow an animal you will have to stop and rot it inside you, in your guts." To Iban Eshu.

2Metalofin and the pregnant statue

Metalofin put the diviners to the test: he had a pregnant woman carved out of wood with a live pigeon inside, and paved his courtyard with stones covered over with sand. Eyiogbe and Oyekun Meji broke their staffs against the stones: off to jail. Oggunda Biode — a child, sharp, head of the thieves — was coming back from a journey with three roosters, three akará and three coins: Elegba tested him three times in disguise, and each time got his share. Then he told him the secret: the only unpaved spot was under Metalofin's seat, and the pregnant woman was a statue with a pigeon in it. Oggunda Biode planted his staff at the king's feet and called him out: «Why did you not tell the others?» — «I was afraid of you». Metalofin, full of shame, freed every prisoner: that is why Oggunda Biode gets people out of tight spots.

Metalofin wanted to test the diviners of the city. He had the figure of a pregnant woman carved in a log and, at the same time, had his whole yard paved with big slabs. He laid the carving in the entrance hall, threw clothes over it and hid a live dove inside it: the flapping of the bird made it look like a body with life in it. Then he ordered sand to cover every stone in the yard.

The first one called was Eyiogbe. "Here is my wife about to give birth; I have sent for you to help me with the birth." Eyiogbe brought his ashé akrolode, and when he lifted it to drive it hard into the floor, the tip burst against the slabs. "You know nothing — to jail." Right after that he called Oyekun Meji, whose ashé broke the same way against that stone floor; he ended up in jail too. Oggunda Biode was still a child, but remarkably clever — he even had command over the thieves — and he went from country to country reading Ifá. From that trip he brought back three roosters, three balls of akará and three five cent coins that he had earned. On his way back, when he was about six kilometers from arriving, he ran into Elegba: "Where are you coming from?" — "From a client's house, where I read Ifá for him" — "Have you earned anything?... And my share?" He gave him a rooster, a ball of akará and a coin. Four kilometers further on, Elegba came up to him in disguise with the same questions, and got the same again. Two kilometers later he appeared again in his first form, took his share and added: "Metalofin needs you: he has jailed many diviners. I will tell you a secret: he has spread stones all over the yard — only the place where he puts his seat is not paved. And the pregnant woman is a plain wooden statue with a live dove hidden inside. Plant your ashé as close as you can to his seat, right at his feet, and tell him the truth to his face."

Oggunda Biode followed the advice in every detail: he drove his stick right up against the seat and told him straight what Elegba had dictated to him: "You are nothing but a troublemaker: you have set up a wooden statue covered with clothes to fool people. If my family has done you wrong, say it openly, better than jailing my relatives one by one with such tricks. You have buried stones all over the yard to fool people." Metalofin cut in: "What are you saying?" — "Only the truth: the one who told me is Ifá" — "And why did you not say it to the others?" — "I was afraid of you." After a moment, shame got the better of Metalofin, who ordered the prisoners released; that way Oggunda Biode got all his relatives set free. Note: that is why Oggunda Biode is held to be a weighty Odù — it frees whoever finds himself in tight spots and bad steps.

3When Oshún was poor and made Santo

Oshún, poor, went to Orunmila: an ebbó with three arrows inside three balls of yam, with cakes and jutía, carried out to the country walking until she was tired. At the end of the road, a man invited her into his house under false pretenses — he had fallen for her, and there were two more bandits inside. Before laying hands on her, the three ate the food from the ebbó: they swallowed the arrows and died. Oshún found the money stacked up, ran to tell Orunmila — the prayer had been made to find the money for her Santo. Orunmila announced that something bad would pass through the city: every house was shut and covered with white cloth, Oshún came in with the money unseen, and made Santo with a feast — with nobody knowing where the money came from.

Oshún was in poverty and went to Orunmila. He made osode for her and marked her ebbó: three arrows and three balls of yam, with the arrows put inside the balls, plus buns, jutía, fish and the rest; she had to take the ebbó to the countryside and walk on her own feet until she was worn out. Where the road ended a man was waiting for her, who offered her lodging in his house and promised to introduce her to his wife. She believed him and accepted, but that was nothing but a trick: the man had fallen for Oshún and talked that way to abuse her. In the house two other men were waiting, both bandits, and all three of them fell for her. Before carrying out the abuse they got hungry and started eating what Oshún had brought; with the food they swallowed the arrows hidden in the balls, and the three of them died there.

Looking through the house, Oshún found a large amount of money stacked up. She ran back home to tell Orunmila; her prayer had been, precisely, to find the money to make Santo. Orunmila then announced that something bad was going to pass through the city, and there was no house left unlocked or not covered with white cloth. Taking advantage of that, Oshún crossed the city with all the money without anyone seeing her, and she made Santo. There was a party, and where that money had come from nobody knew.

4Where Orunmila ate abo dun dun🔒 The Notebook 5When Yemayá carried Orunmila and rocked him🔒 The Notebook 6Oshún's asokere🔒 The Notebook 7Standing for Olofin on earth🔒 The Notebook 8The birth of the Osun of Osain🔒 The Notebook 9Destruction by pork🔒 The Notebook 10Cheating is what opens the grave🔒 The Notebook 11The road of weakness🔒 The Notebook 12The three thieves and Oshún's wealth🔒 The Notebook 13The argument between Olofin and Abita🔒 The Notebook 14The band of thieves and the birth of Igbodun🔒 The Notebook 15Another man's wife is respected🔒 The Notebook 16Elá, the elephant's child🔒 The Notebook 17When Osun lived with Olofin🔒 The Notebook 18Olodumare's honesty🔒 The Notebook 19The dishonest one who never came back🔒 The Notebook 20Karangbada: may wealth come looking for me🔒 The Notebook 21The stingy hunter🔒 The Notebook 22The rogue and the palm🔒 The Notebook 23A mother's heart🔒 The Notebook 24The exclusion of Ogunda Bede🔒 The Notebook 25The low blow🔒 The Notebook 26The devil's bird🔒 The Notebook 27The silk road🔒 The Notebook 28The dishonest maiden🔒 The Notebook 29The leopards and the gold🔒 The Notebook

26 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 Oggunda Biode in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Oggunda Biode

What does the Odù Oggunda Biode mean in Ifá?

The Odù of the children of Oduduwa that gets you out of any tight spot: inside the Igbodun room, it stands for the godfather.

What number is Oggunda Biode among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Oggunda Biode is Odù number 137 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ogunda family.

Which orishas speak in Oggunda Biode?

In the Odù Oggunda Biode these orishas speak: Elegba, Oshún, Orunmila, Shangó, Ogún, Yemayá, Egun, Osain, Olokun.

What is a proverb of the Odù Oggunda Biode?

One of the proverbs of Oggunda Biode says: «One man alone, with Ifá's help, challenges 30 men to fight and beats them.».

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