Omó Otura Airá was an awó, a son of Ogún, who lived in the land of Onibari. He spent his time buying, selling, and doing business, but things did not go well for him: the law was after him, nothing bore fruit, and he was sunk in poverty. He kept away from Orunmila, and his father was a stranger to him, since he had never seen him.
One day Eshu and Shangó were walking together and saw him on a corner, sitting and crying. Eshu pointed him out to his companion. Shangó remarked that the man cared nothing for Orunmila or for anything.
Time passed. Eshu crossed that corner again and the awó was still there, in the same state. This time he stopped and asked him the cause of his sorrow. The awó explained everything. Eshu laid his hand on his head and said a prayer; then he put honey on top of his head and dismissed him, asking him to return home until he came to pick him up and take him before Orunmila. The awó obeyed.
Afterward Eshu went to find him with a bell, gave it to him, and asked him to ring it while he sang.
On the way Shangó joined them. Eshu told him they had to save that man by taking him to the feet of Orunmila, to see what should be done. Shangó had two black hens with him, and he gave them to the awó to offer to Ifá at Orunmila's house.
So the three of them, Eshu, Shangó, and Otura Airá, arrived at Orunmila's house, greeted him with foribale, and knelt. The awó gave the hens to Orunmila, who cleansed him with them and sang. Eshu and Shangó tore his garments, washed him with herbs of Ifá, dressed him in clean clothes, and presented the hens to Ifá. They also performed a rogación with a piece of tiger skin. Then they sent him to the forest, telling him that there he would find his luck at once. No one except Orunmila entered that forest, because it guarded great secrets.
Inside the forest lived Ogún, the father of Otura Airá. When he saw him approaching, he raised his machete and wanted to know what he was looking for in that place. The awó showed him the piece of tiger skin. Ogún wanted to know who had sent him, and his son answered that it was Orunmila, and that he had come because Ogún was his father and he was suffering for no reason. Ogún softened. He said he forgave him because Orunmila had sent him, but that he must never return. He gave him some airá pods with these instructions: on leaving he must give one to Eshu so he would split it in his name, another to Shangó, and another to Orunmila; they would know what to do. With that his luck would change and the law would leave him in peace.
Ogún sat him on a stone and asked him to wait a moment. He prepared an inshé and placed it in his hand.
Outside the forest, Otura Airá did exactly what his father had commanded. Eshu, Shangó, and Orunmila each received a pod. From then on prosperity came into his life.