Oyekun Sa

Shangó was once at war with Eshu's son, who always went armed with the intention of killing him wherever they met.

One day, while he was walking, Shangó crossed paths with Eshu's son, who drew his weapon. Shangó carried none and started running to save himself. Eshu's son followed without hesitation. After gaining a good distance, Shangó spotted a poplar, climbed it and hid in the foliage. When the pursuer reached the tree, he found no trace of Shangó and was left bewildered, unable to explain how he had disappeared. At that moment Shangó let himself drop onto him, knocked him down with his face to the ground and managed to defeat him.

For this reason, when poplar leaves are chosen for the saint or for some favorable work, those that lie face up are taken; those that lie face down serve for harmful works and for the ituto.

Azowanu, Soyi and Nami had a daughter of great beauty, Agoi. She turned down all who wanted to marry her, since she would accept only someone equal to her in beauty and wealth. She tended her stall in front of her father's palace.

One day she caught sight, far off, of a slender man, elegantly dressed, who captivated her. Impatient, she left her stall and went in to get ready. She gathered her brothers and her parents and declared: “I will marry that man.” Everything was arranged that same day and the wedding took place. According to custom, she could no longer sleep in her father's house, so she left with him for his lands.

After hours on the road, Agoi asked where they were going. “To the center of the earth,” he answered, and they went on. Farther along a voice came out of the wilderness: “Debli Godó, hand me your clothing.” The husband took off his clothes without difficulty in front of his wife, who was terrified when she understood that the beautiful man was a spirit. What remained was a flame like a candle's, bright, without head, arms or feet. Agoi had been sworn since childhood to Zamgbete, that is, among the Egun arará. She gathered all her courage and resolved to go on to the end.

They crossed a river of strange waters, where many cloths of showy colors walked about, speaking like people: they were Egun. Agoi, recovered from her surprise, remarked: “What strange things.” Then she noticed a child shaped like a fetus walking inside a jar, with a crown of feathers on his head. At nightfall she saw something even more astonishing: a rooster in trousers smoking a pipe, the spirit of Osain.

Her husband's spirit warned her: “Never tell it, or you will die.” When she reached his house, she was received by beings stranger still, who moved driven by thought. Since they found her too thin to be offered to Alosin, they gave her seven days of rest to recover.

Darico went to Orunmila's house, performed the ebbó with everything he was asked for, and then painted his house white. One day he was out when a great storm with wind broke; the rain caught him in the middle of the street and he took shelter in Obatalá's house, soaked. Obatalá felt pity and gave him clothes.

From then on Darico's earnings grew: he began to trade and to deal in horses, and he had great luck. But one day, when Orunmila was coming toward him, Darico, mounted on his horse and full of vanity, did not get down to greet him; he greeted him in passing and in a hurry. Orunmila was indignant and ordered Elegba to ruin him of everything, leaving nothing. Darico ended up in misery.