Osa Kana

Omo Aberí Awó lived in the land of Ayereni Lokun and spent his time taking herbal baths. He no longer believed in the Oshas: he had begged them many times for help with an enormous problem he had to overcome, and nothing changed. Everything went badly for him, because he did not trust Oduduwa. Whenever Omo Aberí Awó turned to an Orisha, Oduduwa gave that Orisha something even better, and so kept him busy and deaf to the man's pleas. To do this, Oduduwa sang a song before the Saints, and they gave themselves over to eating and did not do their work. For that reason Omo Aberí Awó was completely losing the great war he was fighting against Awó Obá Oggo Obá Ishé.

One day Oduduwa went to see him and found the house in poor condition and Omo Aberí Awó downcast, because nothing prospered. The man threw himself on the ground before him and begged him to forgive him: before, he had looked down on him and had almost driven him out of his home. Oduduwa placed a hand on his head and spoke a prayer over him.

Omo Aberí Awó fell into a deep sleep, and during it Oduduwa blessed him. In the dream he saw Oyá, the ebbó that was meant for him and the baths he had to take. He woke up startled, saw Oduduwa beside him, asked for his blessing and told him what he had dreamed.

Oduduwa answered with his blessing formula (“ashe bó, ashe tó”) and promised to help him overcome his difficulties. He told him to do what Oyá had shown, but that first he would speak with all the Orishas Omo Aberí Awó had attended to, to take away the food that had been set out for them so they would work again. He went out, began with Eshu and took the food away from all the Saints. He came back and ordered him to make the ebbó and take it to the bush, where he would meet Oyá. Omo Aberí Awó was surprised, because with that Saint he had never had any dealings: he had asked her for nothing and done nothing to her.

He prepared the ebbó and went out to leave it. The aroma of the hen was so appetizing that all the Orishas, with Eshu at the head, followed him. Seeing them, he ran to the bush, handed the ebbó to Oyá and explained his situation. Oyá was holding nine sticks; she lit them, grabbed the machete and the pot with the ebbó, and set off quickly toward the land of Obá Oggo. The Orishas followed her to see what she would do.

On arriving, Oyá immediately put an end to Omo Aberí Awó's misfortune. She filled a pot with omiero and gave it to Eshu to take to the man, who was to bathe in the name of Oduduwa. With the strength of Oyá and the wish of Oduduwa, Omo Aberí Awó overcame all his problems and became great.

Ololukoye was a land with great and deep secrets. There, when a child was born, serious consecrations were performed so that neither he nor his elders would be lost. One day Shangó and Oyá came in. Olofin had charged Shangó with leaving Oyá to govern that place. Shangó arrived singing, and the people, hearing him, came out to greet him with moforibale. When everyone was together, he said: “Olofin sends me to bring you this woman, Oyá, to guide you and make his commands known to you.”

There lived an awó who was a son of Shangó. He led the ceremonies and was also the Obá of the land. Shangó explained that Olofin knew the customs of the place, where everyone born received ceremonies, and knew there were great secrets; but a person from outside was needed to confirm the consecrations. Having said this, Shangó took his leave, confident. He promised to return in time to see the progress and asked Oyá and his son to call him if they needed him.

Months passed, and Oyá and the awó went on consecrating the people of the land. Shangó’s son was not happy with Oyá’s presence, though he kept quiet because he feared his father and Olofin. One day a young man of the place came, one who was due to receive Ifá. The awó was glad and sent for Oyá so that she would inform Shangó. On learning of it, Shangó went to see the awó and reminded him that it was the first time a son of that land would receive Ifá, so the odu that Olofin gave him had to be watched very carefully.

Father and son arranged everything and consecrated the young man in Ifá. In Untefá the odu was Osa Kana. Through it, Olofin ordered that the elders of the new awó bind themselves together with him in a secret unknown in that land, so that there would be no losses. Shangó told his son that a pact with Ikú was necessary so that neither would come to harm. He asked him to gather nine black doves, two pieces of yagua, red bleo and yanifa, and to have everything ready until his return.

Shangó came back with Oyá, who arrived turned into wind. In his hand he carried a fish, an ejá orun (guabina), and sang for Ikú. When Oyá’s wind grew, Shangó’s son saw both of them arrive and told his godson to look after what his father had sent him to bring, because he did not intend to let himself be touched in front of Oyá. And he left.

With the gale, Shangó and Oyá reached the place. Shangó told the new awó of Osa Kana to leave his son, since he was already lost. With Oyá present, Shangó performed the new awó’s oath with Ikú. When it ended, Ikú told both of them that Shangó’s son had been sentenced by Olofin from the moment the godson came out with Osa Kana, for not heeding his father or respecting Oyá. He added that he could not help him: by not taking Oyá or Ikú into account, he had lost himself. The tale closes with the words To Iban Eshu.

Oyá (Yanzan) ruled the land of Takua. There the inhabitants plotted a great conspiracy to commit many wicked acts, and Oyá stopped them. Eshu made her aware of everything and she went to consult Orunmila, and the Odù Osa Kana came out. The ebbó he indicated included: a whip, a chain, three geese, nine gourds, nine ekó, a knife, palm oil, hutia, smoked fish, and a lot of money.

The geese went to Eshu, and Oyá hid the rest in the palace. When the whole population came to demand an account from her, Oyá frightened them with the chain and began to put them to death with lashes and stabs. The harm was so great that Obon, the Orisha of the city, came with Ayao to beg Oyá to take pity on the people.

Hearing her sister Ayao sing and listening to Obon’s pleas, Oyá was moved and forgave her children, all of them.

Whoever is awó of this Odù will receive Ayao and Obon when he faces a problem.