Otura Shé

Otura Shé lived on a very high mountain and all his powers were gathered there. From up there he could see the whole population around him. He came down and went up without difficulty, walked anywhere among the people, and wore around his neck a talisman that warned him of danger from his enemies.

One day, it happened that a town was attacked by a band of cannibals who carried the children off for their own purposes, and who had beaten the troops of the King of that land.

Otura Shé stepped in against the band of cannibals, who already had the King's troops under their control. Through the power his talisman gave him, he beat the band of wrongdoers, saving the King's troops. He came down to the center of the city and the King, in gratitude, decided to honor him and hold a feast for him, inviting the whole town.

When Otura Shé appeared before all the people, they gave him great signs of liking and put all their trust in him. The King, jealous at such a show, had Otura Shé locked up. But among the King's troops there was a part that backed Otura Shé, as did most of the people, and they all joined Otura Shé and overthrew the King, crowning Otura Shé as «the saving King».

Note: that is why it is said that a good deed is paid back with a bad one; but when it turns from osogbo, it is set to iré and it is said: there is no ill that does not come for some good.

Otura Shé had a very beautiful wife, and he knew everything about the ashé Olofin had put into a gourd for Awó Ishekute; he kept this secret very close, since everyone needed that ashé for whatever they wanted to do. All the Awoses and Orishas were looking for a way to take it from him, because he held it with great greed.

One day, Otura Shé Awó Ishekute told his wife, who was called Awa Lade, that he was going to visit Obatalá's house, because it had been a long time since he saw him. Awó Ishekute hid his secret and told his wife that she had to look after it well while he was away, and that before handing it over she should die first.

When Awó Ishekute set out for Obatalá's house, the different Awoses who were watching the house saw him leave and turned up, talking with his wife and asking her for the secret. Awa Lade told them that before handing over the secret she would rather live with one of them. And so she did, and that Awó turned out to be Ogbe Di, who, although he stayed with her, could not get the secret and had to leave without it.

Ogbe Di went along the road annoyed and resentful, because earlier he had been sent for by Shangó, who had told him he had a trap ready: for when Awó Ishekute got home, Ogbe Di, changed into the likeness of Elegbá, would try to take the secret from Otura Shé Awó Ishekute. Remembering that, Ogbe Di began to sing: ELEGBA YOBO NI LORUN ELEGBA BABA NI LADEO ELEGBA BA YONI AWO.

Elegbá appeared at once before Ogbe Di, and Ogbe Di said: «Take this rooster and eat it, because I need you to help me when I need you. You will have to lend me your clothes and change me into your likeness.» Elegbá answered: «Very well.»

After Elegbá had eaten the rooster, they set out walking for Shangó's house. As they were arriving, they made out from a distance that Awó Ishekute was there, but Elegbá had his doubts about it, and to satisfy them both they came closer to Shangó's house. Shangó signaled to them, because Awó Ishekute wanted to leave and Shangó was keeping him there, to stop him going to Obatalá's house.

When Shangó realized that Ogbe Di was changed into the likeness of Elegbá, he went on keeping Awó Ishekute there and told him it was too late now to visit Obatalá. So the Awó decided to go home and, when he arrived, his wife told him everything that had happened while he was away. Awó Ishekute took the secret, which was in the gourd, and held it against his chest. Just then Ogbe Di arrived, disguised as Elegbá, and asked Otura Shé for a little ashé. This brought on a great argument and, when it was at its height, Ogbe Di began to call: A FEFE TENI YEBE OWA ADE AFEFE TENUYEKE AWO AWE.

At once a very strong wind rose, which served him and tipped over Awó Ishekute's gourd, and the ashé fell on the ground and was scattered through the world.

Ikú (death) lived in a land where she was the Obá and was called Ikú Doro.

Osanyin lived in the woods and, because of his powers, was so great that word of his deeds reached the ears of Ikú Doro. And she said: «Osanyin wants to take my kingdom from me, but first I am going to destroy him, along with his son.»

So death got all the dead (Egun) of Ibuson Orú ready for the fight with Osanyin. The war was hard, but Ikú Doro was advancing slowly and closing in on Osanyin and his son Awó Yire.

Then Osanyin met Awó Otura Shé and told him what was happening to him with Ikú Doro, who was Awó Otura Shé's enemy too. Otura Shé said: «Come with me, and I will make ebbó for you, and with our powers we will beat Ikú Doro, since when good ebboses are made, Ikú (death) cannot get through.»

Then Otura Shé took him to a riverbank and made the ebbó for him there, and Otura Shé sang: IKU DENDE DENDE DEKU BI KU BATELEKUN EBO MISI OTURA SHE TELEKUN OSANYIN OWO AWO YIRE.

When Ikú Doro arrived, all she saw was a gallinuela: Osanyin had already blown the powder over him. The gallinuela flew through the air, fooling Ikú, and was lost in the water. Ikú felt defenseless after she smelled the powder Osanyin had sent, with Otura Shé's power.

Then Ikú felt unwell, and so she chose to leave Osanyin's land.

Ever since, Otura Shé and Osanyin beat Ikú.