The twins Ada Ilu and Ada Ifa had the same Odù and sixteen children each, but opposite tempers: one proud and working for ill, the other gentle and working for good. The Obá put the first in charge of the sorcery against his enemies: the talisman destroyed them all — and went on killing, until it devoured its own maker's sixteen children. Only Orunmila's ebbó brought the monster to heel.
In the land of Atoromofe the diviner was Awó Ada Ilu, twin of Awó Ada Ifa: both had the same Odù, Ojuani Tanshela, and both were sharp and clever, but Ada Ilu was proud and willful, and Ada Ifa gentle, methodical and unhurried. Both were Babalawos and Osainistas of great name, with sixteen children each whom they taught their work: Ada Ilu liked working for ill, and Ada Ifa for good.
Obá Akishale was attacked by his enemies, the Fon, and came to the brothers. Ada Ifa told him ebbó had to be made to save the situation; his brother said what had to be done was cut off heads. The Obá, knowing Ada Ilu's destructive power, put him in charge of the sorcery. He prepared a terrible talisman that lived buried in a pot with a chain and a black cloth. He set its devastating powers going and destroyed every enemy of Akishale — but when their bones were already whitening in the sun, the talisman began doing damage among the people and warriors of the kingdom itself, until Awó Ada Ilu's sixteen children were dead. Ada Ifa had to be called, and he told his brother: «This has happened to you through your own hot temper. Be obedient to Orunmila's word and make ebbó, because though you always beat your enemies, the evil ideas your own mind breeds will take shape and come after you». Ada Ilu took shelter under Orunmila's protection, made ebbó and was able to bring to heel the monster of wickedness he had made — though he had to weep for his children, destroyed by his own hellish power. Here the sorcerer's pot is born: an enormous destructive power that has to be handled with care, because in this Ifá people are ruined by pride.