Oyekun She

A father and his son loved each other very much and helped each other in everything, although the father had other children as well. The father was a blacksmith and his business, which included work with horses, went very well. The son, very close to his father, learned the trade and specialized in clipping the animals.

Over the years the boy became a grown man and left his town to make his way against hardship. He met a woman to whom he gave his love and trust; they got along very well and shared great closeness. Later she became extremely selfish and he decided to leave her. Then he met a young woman and, after some time, married her.

The first woman did not openly oppose it, but she swore that this marriage would be a disaster and would last a short time, because she felt mocked. The couple's problems were not long in appearing; even so, with faith and keeping in mind that woman's oath, they decided to stand firm and overcome the obstacles. The wife became pregnant and all went well for the baby and for her. When she became pregnant again, a lovely girl was born, but from birth she had serious health problems: she had hardly recovered from one illness when she fell into another, and at times she was close to dying.

With so many difficulties, the couple went to see Orunmila. He consulted this Ifá and explained to them everything necessary to come through. He marked an ebbó that included the tools of the trade, as well as scissors, a brush, a comb and horse hair. The girl improved at once, began to prosper and was very happy. All of it had happened because the man did not believe in the saints.

Olofin sent Orunmila to a place with no living inhabitants, which served as a resting place for the deceased kings of Ife. That is why in this sign prayers are said for the great dead and they are fed, the Obá and the Omó Kolobá, who pray for the great fallen.

In that town there were no men and nothing at all; only two twin sisters existed. Elegba, who had not seen Orunmila for a while, went to visit him and was glad to find him. When he asked about his state, Orunmila answered that he felt very sad. Elegba then proposed to bring the two women, who lived in another part of the town, so that Orunmila could examine them.

When they arrived, Orunmila told them his situation. They noticed his manner of expressing himself, so good, and became captivated. Elegba encouraged him: “Keep both of them.” Orunmila answered: “No. I keep one, and you keep the other.”

Thus Orunmila had children and the family was formed. In this path the marriage between cousins originates. Here it is also explained that, when someone dies, his spirit is born again in another person. For that reason, when the Ituto is held, this odu is included, which represents the dead of the family and other similar dead.

Olokun, the King of Kings, fell ill. The doctors of the city gathered without finding how to heal him. An old man who had just arrived learned of the case and presented himself at the palace. He asked to be received by the king and promised to cure him. The doctors doubted him, but the king, terrified by his illness, allowed him to try.

The old man was Orunmila. From his jolóngo he took sage leaves, placed them on the king's forehead and prepared a decoction for him to drink, asking him to wait a few days. After that time the king felt renewed. He wanted to pay him, but Orunmila refused the money.

The king decided to thank him with a banquet and sent Ogún to look for him around the city. The doctors, who envied Orunmila, convinced Ogún not to do so, and he listened to them. Meanwhile, Orunmila had consulted Ifá and a sign came out that told him to be careful about a betrayal.

When the day of the banquet came, the king, uneasy because the old man did not appear, asked about him and received only evasive answers. He ordered his soldiers to look for him and they brought him right away. The king invited him to sit at the table and asked for the food, but became very angry when he saw that nothing had been prepared. He stood up and announced before everyone that Orunmila would be the supreme chief of the courtiers, as payment for his kindness and for his generosity that sought nothing in return.