Odù 32 of 256 · Oyekun family

Oyekun Nilogbe

The sharing out of light across the world, where the plea to Ozain is born: misery comes from not paying the tribute, and good luck comes through the Eggun.

Oyekun Nilogbe is Odù number 32 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Oyekun family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 20 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 8 ebbós and works and the signs it shows in the consultation; the detail of iré and osogbo, the eewó and the full recipes open with the Babalawo plan — that locked part is still written in Spanish.

The sign at a glance

Order in Ifá
Odù 32 of 256
Composition
Oyekun over Ogbe
In the Diloggún
2-8 · Eyioko tonti Eyeunle
Orishas that speak
Orunmila · Shangó · Ibeyis (Jimaguas) · Ozain · Eggun · Eshú / Elegba · Oduduwa · Oshún

What Ifá says in this sign

Oyekun Nilogbe is the sharing out of light across the world: the first omolú — a combined sign — to stand for Olofin on earth. Its luck has clear owners: Ifá iré elese Eggun — the good of this odu comes by the hand of the dead.

Here it was learned that what is sacred has to be paid for: misery came into the world because heaven and earth made no ebbó and paid no tribute to Ozain, and here it was born that drums do not play for free. Nothing great is obtained without paying its due: give alms like the trader of the patakí — who prospered as long as he gave and attended Orunmila — and good luck comes in through that same door.

«The drums do not play for free — what is sacred is paid for, and that is why the one who gives prospers.»The pulse of Oyekun Nilogbe

The sign paints a heart in need of healing: the wild cane — hollow inside — is the person who has loved no one, unmoved by another's pain. If you recognize yourself, this odu does not condemn you: it invites you to fill up. Start at home: there is rivalry with a brother and an old falling-out that are asking to be settled — mend that before you ask for luck.

The care to take in the body: the inner organs (womb, kidneys, testicles, lungs — this odu speaks of things being removed), blood rising to the head, and the sleeplessness that belongs to this sign: you hear far-off drums as you fall asleep — those are the Eggun asking for attention, not ghosts to fear. Feed them and give them a white rooster, and sleep. Never think of taking your own life: that door is marked here, and it closes with ebbó.

The promises are concrete: this person lives to a great age, in their house there is or will be a professional with a degree — doctor, lawyer, engineer — and a child of Shangó will bring the luck. Kaferefún Orunmila, Shangó and the Ibeyis: the light this sign shared with the world also lights up your house.

The sign in one line

Pay your tribute, give alms and attend your dead — the luck of Oyekun Nilogbe comes through the Eggun, and it comes with long years.

The prayer of Oyekun Nilogbe · Yoruba

Oyekun Nilobe baba amalú koma arugbo nishe ekun bayé ayalo bogbo nishe ayalo oun bisyé omode baya omá arugbo nitu aye she obifin obifa koñinibó.

Ifá says — what Oyekun Nilogbe tells you

Proverbs of Oyekun Nilogbe · Òwe

15 proverb interpretations in this Odù, locked.Every proverb explained: which road it comes from and how it applies. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Iré and Osogbo

6 iré and osogbo readings in this Odù, locked.The iré and osogbo of the sign, sorted by subject — health, money, love, death, loss… Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

What is born in Oyekun Nilogbe · Ìbí

What is forbidden · Eewó

7 eewó (taboos) in this Odù, locked.What the child of this sign must not eat, do or wear. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Ebbós of Oyekun Nilogbe · The sacrifices that open the road

LuckEbbó to draw luck🔒 Babalawo
Beating enemiesEbbó to win a court case🔒 Babalawo
MiseryEbbó against being held back🔒 Babalawo
OzainEbbó of the plea to Ozain🔒 Babalawo
4 ebbós in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Works of Oyekun Nilogbe · The workings of the sign

EggunWork to heal a sick person in the house🔒 Babalawo
LuckPraying the head and offering to Orunmila🔒 Babalawo
ObataláCleansing with Obatalá🔒 Babalawo
OshúnOffering to Oshún and baths🔒 Babalawo
4 works in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Patakíes of Oyekun Nilogbe · The roads of the Odù

1Here the light was shared out across the world

Bagba Oba Ounko guarded the door of light. He made his ebbó, but two Awoses who were meant to make theirs did not; feeling wronged, he shut himself in and left the world in darkness until Elegba and Olofin's mother talked him round.

Bagba Oba Ounko Nile lived in great misery and had no children, but he held a great power: he guarded the door of light, he brought up the day and lit the night with the moon (oshupa). He went to be read by two Awoses, Aiyefilegbe and Orun Yeliwo, who saw this Ifá for him and marked him an ebbó. The Oba obeyed to the letter, but the two Awoses — who had the same sign — did not make theirs.

Heaven and earth were joined by a road no one could travel without light. Since the Awoses did not do their part, though they had indeed attended the Oba, Elegba, who saw everything, undid the effect of the ebbó and Oba Ounko was left just as he had been. Unhappy at their broken word, the Oba decided to shut himself in and took his light away from the world.

Life grew shorter, the earth was left frozen and in darkness, and crime, theft and betrayal grew. Olofin's mother went to the Oba's lit house and begged him so hard that in the end he let the light come back; the rain fell and freshened everything. Olofin heard the story, laid the blame on the Awoses and granted the Oba the right to stay in heaven with a wife and children (obini and omode). To take his place on earth the goat (ounko) was created, which looks like him; that is why, when choosing a she-goat, the goat sniffs, touches the ground with his muzzle and then lifts his head to the sky showing his teeth, saying «modupue aiye, modupue Olorun».

2Here the plea to Ozain was born

A rival mayombero was working against Ogbe Awó to take his wife Oyekun. His daughter Oyekun Nilobe, an omode of Ozain, spoke the plea to Ozain, and the sorcerers were beaten and turned into birds.

Ogbe was Oyekun's husband, but he had a rival, Olokushe, a mayombero who worked with Elilu Eyiosa and wanted Oyekun for his wife. They began to work against Ogbe Awó, who had a daughter named Oyekun Nilobe — who had never had her period and was an omode of Ozain. She said: «I am going to fight beside you to beat our enemies».

The fighting was terrible and filled the whole world with ogú, with witchcraft. After a long time, Oyekun Nilobe spoke a plea to Ozain to beat the designs of the mayomberos. Ozain appeared and said: «they will no longer be among the living when they meddle with you and with those you protect». And the mayomberos were turned into birds, like the sorcerers of today. That is why the plea to Ozain is placed in the foundation, praying Oyekun Nilobe.

3Road of José, whose father was ill

José, a poor babalawo with a gravely ill father, met an Awó Eggun who gathered money among the dead and taught him the work with the goat to heal his father.

There was a babalawo named José, in a very bad way for money, with his father gravely ill. One day, out walking, he met Oye Un, an Awó Eggun, and told him his troubles. The Eggun asked him to bring a rooster and a coconut at noon, saying he was going to do something for him.

Even though he was told not to go out because his father was very ill, José kept his word. The Awó Eggun had gone up to the other dead, explained the case and collected money in a bag. At the meeting, José laid the rooster and the coconut on the ground — because the Eggun could not take them into his hands — and the Eggun handed him the bag, saying: «buy an aunko, give it to Elegba, make a bonfire, throw the goat on it, grind the singed hair to powder and rub it on your father's body with urine; that is how he will be healed». Kaferefún Eggun, maferefún Elegba: when this road comes out, a rooster must be given to Eggun.

4The drums do not play for free🔒 Babalawo
5The peaceful sea received the power of Ozain🔒 Babalawo
6A lie has short wings🔒 Babalawo
7Here the image of Olofin on earth is born🔒 Babalawo
8The Awoses changed the reading on Olofin🔒 Babalawo
9The apprentices🔒 Babalawo
10Olofin's trap🔒 Babalawo
11The new aristocrat🔒 Babalawo
12The image of the illusion🔒 Babalawo
13Where Obbatalá calmed Olokun🔒 Babalawo
14The chaos of Ifá🔒 Babalawo
15The door of light: Oshún and Yemayá🔒 Babalawo
16The royal cup🔒 Babalawo
17The common plan🔒 Babalawo
18The child of the light🔒 Babalawo
19A jaded mind cannot manage to believe in Ifá🔒 Babalawo
20A nut called Ego🔒 Babalawo
17 more patakíes in this Odù, locked.Read every road in full with the Babalawo plan. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →
Before you subscribe: everything you read on this page is in English, but the locked part of the treatise — the full text of the other patakíes, the recipes for the ebbós and works, the iré and osogbo readings and the eewó — is still written in Spanish. We are translating it. · This page is also available in Spanish: See Oyekun Nilogbe in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Oyekun Nilogbe

What does the Odù Oyekun Nilogbe mean in Ifá?

The sharing out of light across the world, where the plea to Ozain is born: misery comes from not paying the tribute, and good luck comes through the Eggun.

What number is Oyekun Nilogbe among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Oyekun Nilogbe is Odù number 32 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Oyekun family.

Which orishas speak in Oyekun Nilogbe?

In the Odù Oyekun Nilogbe these orishas speak: Orunmila, Shangó, Ibeyis (Jimaguas), Ozain, Eggun, Eshú / Elegba, Oduduwa, Oshún.

What is a proverb of the Odù Oyekun Nilogbe?

One of the proverbs of Oyekun Nilogbe says: «What was lost long ago is going to turn up.».

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