Osa Kana

In the land of Ayereni Lokun lived Omo Aberí Awó, who did nothing but bathe with herbs, because he had lost his faith in every Osha, of whom he had asked a great deal and made many requests about a great problem he had to overcome. Even so, everything went wrong for him, because he did not believe in Oduduwa. Every time he did something for any Orisha, Oduduwa gave that Orisha something greater and better, so it would be occupied and would not hear Omo Aberí Awó's requests. When Oduduwa did this, he sang to the Saints: «Orisha abelele omoni lele, orisha abelele omo lanire, orisha abelo». All the Saints set about eating, and so they did not work. That was the reason he was being completely beaten in a very great war he was keeping up with Awó Obá Oggo Obá Ishé.

One day, Oduduwa went out to visit him, and when he reached his house he could see how badly off he was and how unhappy he felt because his affairs and his work were not coming out right. Omo Aberí Awó, seeing Oduduwa, threw himself at his feet and asked his forgiveness, since on other occasions he had looked down on him and had nearly thrown him out of the house. Oduduwa put his hand on his head and began praying over him: «Omo Aberí Awó leri odara omo lade Awó mayerbi edubule». Omo Aberí Awó fell fast asleep, while Oduduwa gave him his blessing in the dream. He dreamed of Oyá and of the ebbó he was to make, and the baths he had to take; he woke frightened, and seeing Oduduwa he asked his blessing and told him what he had dreamed.

Oduduwa told him: «Ashe bó, ashe tó. I am going to help you so you can overcome every difficulty. Do what Oyá told you; but first I am going to speak with all the Orishas you have done something for, and I am going to take away the food I have put out for them, so they work». Oduduwa went out and started with Eshu, and took the food away from all the Saints; he came back and told him: «Make ebbó, and when you go to throw it out in the bush you will meet Oyá». Omo Aberí Awó said: «Well now, Babá, that is the one Saint I have never asked anything of and never done anything for».

The ebbó was made, and when he went to throw it out, the hen smelled so good that it drew every Orisha, who, led by Eshu, went after Omo Aberí Awó. Seeing them, he took to his heels, reached the bush and handed the ebbó to Oyá, telling her what was happening to him. She had nine sticks in her hands: she set light to them, and at once took the machete in her hands, along with the pot from the ebbó, and ran off to the land of Obá Oggo, with all the Orishas following her to see what she would do.

Oyá, on reaching that land, at once put an end to the trouble Omo Aberí Awó was in; she took a pot of omiero and handed it to Eshu to take to him, so he could bathe in the name of Oduduwa. So, with Oyá's power and Oduduwa's will, Omo Aberí Awó overcame every difficulty and became great.

In the land of Ololukoye, which was a land of great and deep secrets, children born there were given great consecrations to avoid losing them and losing their elders. One day Shangó came to the land of Ololukoye, accompanied by Oyá: he came with Olofin's order to set Oyá to rule that land. When Shangó came in, he began to sing: «Baba Olofin omo Shangó Iyá beleke Oyá Yanza omo dide inle Ololukoye». All the people, hearing Shangó, came out to give him moforibale. Once everyone was gathered, Shangó addressed them: «By Olofin's order, I bring you this woman called Oyá, to lead you: she will pass on Olofin's orders among you».

In that land there was an Awó, a son of Shangó, who ran the ceremonies and was also the Obá of that land. Shangó, seeing him, told him: «Olofin knows that in this land ceremonies are made for everything born, and that this land is full of great secrets; but there has to be someone who is not from here to confirm the consecrations of this land». Shangó withdrew confident, with the promise of coming back in time to see how things were going, but not before telling Oyá and his son the Awó that if they needed him, they should call him.

Time passed, and Oyá along with Shangó's son the Awó went on consecrating the children of that land, although Shangó's son was not very happy about Oyá being at his side — but he said nothing for fear of Shangó and Olofin. One day a child of that land came before the Awó for whom Ifá had to be made. The Awó was very glad and sent for Oyá to let Shangó know about the new consecration. Shangó, on being told, came and said to the Awó: «For the first time a child of this land is going to be consecrated in Ifá: we have to watch closely for the Odù Olofin gives him».

Shangó, along with his son, made the preparations and made Ifá for the child of that land. When he brought out his Odù in Untefá, Osa Kana came out, where Olofin said that the new Alawo's elders had to take the oath with the new Awó in a secret unknown there, so there would be no losses. Shangó told his son that a pact had to be made with Ikú so neither of them would lose, and sent him to fetch nine black pigeons, two pieces of yagua and the herbs red bleo and yanifa, and to have everything ready for when he came back.

Shangó came back accompanied by Oyá, who came in the form of wind; Shangó was carrying an ejá orun (guabina fish) in his hand and singing: «Ikú lele Ikú bela iba Orun Awó Osa Kana ofo ira Obá Orun». At that moment the wind Oyá dragged with her grew stronger, and Shangó's son, seeing Oyá coming with his father, told his godchild: «Hold all these things my father sent me for, but I am not going to let anything be done to me in front of Oyá» — and he left.

When Shangó and Oyá reached the place, along with a strong wind, Shangó told the Alawo Osa Kana: «Leave my son, he is lost». Shangó, in Oyá's presence, gave the Alawo Osa Kana the oath with Ikú. When he had finished giving him the oath, Ikú told Shangó and Oyá: «Your son, for not listening to you and not respecting Oyá, was sentenced by Olofin when the godchild came with the Odù of Osa Kana. I can do nothing for him: for not valuing Oyá and not listening to me, he lost himself». To Iban Eshu.

In the land of Takua, where Oyá (Yanzan) reigned, there was a great conspiracy of the citizens, who wanted to do a great many wicked things, and Oyá would not allow it. She, told everything by Eshu, went to be read by Orunmila, and this Odù Osa Kana came out for her, and Orunmila marked her ebbó: three geese, a chain, a whip, nine gourds, nine ekó, palm oil and a knife.

She gave the three geese to Eshu and hid everything else in the palace. When all the citizens came to make their demands of Oyá, she threatened them with the chain and began killing them with the whip and the knife. The punishment went so far that Obon, who was an Orisha of that city, went to see Oyá along with Ayao, and they begged her to take pity on the people.

She, moved by her sister Ayao's song — «Ayao mi lodo ee, Ayao mi lodo ewé, Ayao mi lodo» — and by Obon's pleading, forgave all her children.

Note: the Awó of this Odù, whenever he has trouble, will receive Ayao and Obon.