Ogunda Juani

Obá lived in Obayokoye, a poor and sad land. It did not get ahead because its people avoided work and lived on the little she managed to gather. The cause was a curse from Shangó: Obá, proud of her power, had shamed him, and for that reason she moved to that place and gave it its name herself. It was a miserable site that nobody recognized. When she arrived she sang some words in the old language.

The inhabitants came out little by little, thin and sick, although content with their life. Obá offered them her help so that they would live better, but they answered that they were already happy as they were. Obá struggled with them and did not manage to make the land prosper.

On one occasion she sat beside a river and asked Olofin to help her. Then she continued on her way to Obaaye, the land where Shangó and Elegba lived. Shangó saw her from afar and, hiding, called Elegba to ask him: «Obá is coming over there. Go with her and help her. I will go ahead to speak with the people of Obayokoye, and whoever disobeys me I will hand over to Ogún». So it happened: when Obá and Elegba set foot on that land, everyone was already working and producing.

Obá noticed the change and, happy, told Elegba that Olofin had heard her after all. Elegba answered by singing to Shangó. She cried with emotion at what Shangó had achieved. Elegba invited her to look at what Shangó had left behind. Obá turned her head and saw six otás. Elegba explained to her that she must look after them and feed them with guinea fowl.

Later, Elegba won Obá's love, and from that union a child was born, to whom they gave the name of the land, Obayokoye. When he grew up, he did not want to work either. Obá never stopped complaining to Elegba, until he got tired, took the child, and abandoned him on a road.

After some time, Shangó crossed that road and found the omó Obayokoye, who asked him: «Look at the state I am in, Shangó». Shangó told him that this was the result of his disobedience and that he would live according to his destiny. That is why, in this path, Eshu Obayokoye is the slave of Obá.

At the beginning of the world, Ogún had another name and a strength without rival: he was called Sokoti Ladé. His throne was made of stone and he had no head, because he was a plain piece of iron. He lived in the forge, which was also his home, where he made weapons and prepared harmful witchcraft. Olofin had given him that great power when he distributed the offices at the creation of the world, but Ogún used it only to do harm. The land suffered endless wars and the weight of witchcraft. Its people, with no other resource but despair, asked Olofin for help with a súyere.

Olofin decided to send two envoys, Orunmila and Obá. When they arrived, they looked for a very famous awó, Arolotaye, who knew the secrets of all the herbs and trees of that land and the neighboring ones. They talked about the conduct of Sokoti Ladé and about how to save him and, with him, all the children of that land.

Then Arolotaye and Obá set out for the place of Sokoti Ladé. When they set foot there, they found Ikú wreaking havoc together with Ogún among the children of the land. Obá, filled with anger, took a machete and a dagger and began to kill all the children of Sokoti Ladé. Arolotaye threw a white cloth over her and in this way made her obedient. At that moment Ogún arrived, wanting to know who the intruders were who had killed his warriors.

Ogún had known Arolotaye Awó for a long time. Seeing him there, next to Obá and carrying the insignia of wisdom, he bowed down before him and asked for forgiveness, because he recognized in him a messenger of Olofin. The awó proposed: “Let us divine for you, to see what we can do for you and for your land.” In the osode the Odù Oggunda Lenin came out, and with it the indication that his good lay in being consecrated in Osain. Arolotaye consecrated him, and with that his secret was set. The awó warned him that, thanks to it, Ogún and his children would be spared the tragedy of witchcraft and of justice.

From then on Sokoti Ladé lost that name and came to be called Ogún Arere, through the work of Arolotaye Awó, who consecrated him with the secrets of the forest. That is why Ogún always goes in the company of Osain, who strengthens his power.

Ogún wanted to repay the good that he and his land had received. He announced to Oggunda Lenin, the Odù of Arolotaye Awó, and to Obá that he was giving them the power to do all things: the anvil, with which they would never lack the strength to resolve any situation in life. One anvil went to Oggunda Lenin and another to Obá, and from that day that is how the secret of Orunmila and of Obá remained in this Ifá.

Whoever has Oggunda Lenin and wants the power of resolution must receive certain foundations of this path. The details are reserved for the awó.

Olofin sent Olokun to live on the earth, and he came down accompanied by Yewá. The two made their home in the deepest part of the sea. After some time, Olokun grew weary of a life in which nothing changed and began to spin on his own axis in the depths, near Yewá. The whirlpool stirred the sea floor, and monstrous creatures of every kind came up to the surface. Among them appeared a singular being of great beauty, with lovely long hair, who carried a golden shield and traveled the sea riding on the waves.

Ogún caught sight of her once and was captivated. She rejected all men, so Ogún sought help in the powers of Osain to win her. But Osain too fell in love, and seeing that he could not get her either, he cast a spell on her so that she would never belong to either of them. As soon as the enchantment reached her, the beautiful creature turned into a snake with two bodies. Dead with fear, she called for help to her father, Olokun. He saw what had happened and threw himself upon the earth with whirlwinds of wrath and a thirst for revenge.

Osain and Ogún, full of panic, went to see Orunmila. He consulted the osode and the answer showed Oggunda Lenin. He told them: “It falls to you to repair the harm you caused. Come with me to see Olokun.” They found him roaring with fury over the fate of his daughter Orona. Orunmila talked with him and promised that she could have an acceptable place in the world. He had Orona called and, calmly, ordered her to kneel. Then he applied his powers: he washed her with the blood of a ram, wrapped her in the animal's hide and turned her into sea foam. Ogún and Osain begged forgiveness. Olokun calmed down, and the earth was spared from being destroyed.

This story also explains how the Olokun that is received is put together.