THE PATH TO DESTINY, IFA PERSPECTIVE BY BABALAWO OBANIFA

 

THE PATH TO DESTINY, IFA PERSPECTIVE

BY BABALAWO OBANIFA

 In this work Babalawo Obanifa shall critically examine the concept of path to destiny from the perspective of Yoruba spirituality. Destinies which can be define as future or the pre-ordained path of human life. It is usually a predetermine course of event as something beyond human power or control. Whenever destiny is point of discussion in Yoruba spirituality and culture what usually come to mind are term like ORI, AYANMON,IPIN, ORI INU, AKUNLEYAN, etc. all which  all mean the same thing as destiny or fate. In Yoruba ifa spirituality and culture, it is believed that destinies are the blue print of human life chosen from heaven.  And is believe   that the guiding spiritual element for destiny is ori (head), when I am talking of ori in this sense, I am talking of ori as spiritual entity that symbolizes one destiny. Not the physical biological head that contains brain, eyes etc. In yoruba spirituality we have two types of ori:ori ita (in Ekiti we call it ori ode) and we have ori inu, hence the saying "ori inu mi  ma ba tode mi je" which simply mean that my inner head should not destroy my outer head " the outer head is the physical head but inner head comprises your destiny, character, fate and similar sort. 

Ori inu( destiny) is divided into three categories which are :" Akunleyan, Akunlegba and Ayanmon"i will now explain each in turn and how it affects one  another in relation to human beings

. 

AKUNLEYAN: This is the request that human being make at the Palace of Ajalamon in heaven, when they are coming to this world. This request usually consist of what that person want to become when he or she get to this world. It will comprise what the person wants his life time to look like. For example how rich he wants to be, how poor he will be, what his or her life span will be whether to grow old or die young. Whether to be king, leader or slave, what is marital life will look like. Akunleyan itself can  be in categories like ori apesin(that is the person that will succeed and become leaders that many will serve them) ori olowo(the person that will be wealthy) ori asiniwaye(that is the person that will come to this world without impact or success) ori ogbo(the person that will have long life) ori oloja warawara  tabi ori ilemere(the person that will die young or die in their prime) etc akunleyan simply  refer to aim and aspirations of human beings in this world 

 

AKUNLEGBA: This simply refer to all conditions and circumstances or factors given to human beings to make him or her achieve his akunleyan (aims and aspirations that he or she chooses as akunleyan in heaven when coming to this world)for  instance :a person who choose in his or akunleyan to  become a king will be born into a royal family. A person  who choose in his akunleyan to become warrior may be born to a warlord. A person who choose  to die young may be given birth to  during war or during disease break out or during famine. Akunlegba simply refer to things that make akunleyan to be realise.

It should be noted that it is not every human being that choose good or perfect akunlegba. But any imperfect or akunleyan  or akunlegba that an individual may have chosen in heaven can be changed to good  in this world through Ifa divination consultation  and sacrifice and constant head propitiation or heard rogation. Because Orumila is present  where  of our one chooses his or her destiny hence he is called ELeripin(wthness of fate or destiny) atori Eni ti ko suhan se (one who remedy bad fate or destiny to good)this simply mean unfavorable conditions that one choose in heaven may be  in terms of money success, marital success, health issues etc can be changed from bad to good in this world by constant  idafa(Ifa divination) ebo(sacrifice) and iwure (prayer). 

 

AYANMON: This is an absolute permanent part of one's fate or destiny. Noting can change it whether good or bad. It is unchangeable. But Ayanmon in most cases have little or no effect on one's life. Examples of Ayanmon are: your  biological parent, you may choose to come to the world through rich or poor parent, your  gender you may choose to come to this world as a female, your stature you may choose to Come to the world as dwarf or giant etc. 

 

From the explanation above it can be deduce that, that it is not all the problems or the vicissitudes of life that human being encounter in life can be traceable to Aje(witches or elder of the night), Ajogun(malevolence forces) the deities or divinities( orisa and irumonle), egbe orun( comrade of heaven or astral mate) etc. it is believe in Yoruba ifa and orisa spirituality that some of these problems can be trace to one destiny. It is the destiny of human that is responsible for either their success or failure in life. In Yoruba ifa spirituality and culture. It is the physical manifestation of success or failure of human being that determine whether he  or she have good or bad destiny. It is believe that destiny can either be good or bad, fortunate or unfortunate), hence a person who is fortunate will be regarded as Olorire, and unfortunate person will be regarded as Olori Buburu. It is believe in Yoruba ifa spirituality that even those who choose unfortunate destiny can have it turn to fortunate one. Orunmila Eleripin (the witness of fate is believed to have the ability to turn unfortunate destiny to fortunate when hence ifa is called Atori Eni Ti Ko Sunhan se( that is one mend bad fate to goo). One thing that is certain is that no individual in life chose 100% perfect destiny, hence the existence of concept of ori in ifa tradition to activate one destiny and gravitate it toward fortune. Because of the imperfect nature of human destiny, how fortunate it may be, or otherwise, account for the reason why some have one good thing of life and lacking in the other.

 

You may think in your mind as you are reading this, that what is this that Babalawo Obanifa is saying,  why will human choose unfortunate destiny for their self ?, when good one  are available.

The answer is not far fetch, the Odu ifa Ogbe Ogunda also know as Ogbeyonu, make it clear that, before human being can come to this world, they must choose their destiny from heaven and in choosing destiny as point out by this Ogbe ogunda, involve carry out seven different herculean task, and it is believe that this tasks are so cumbersome or tedious that  it cannot be flawlessly carry out without making some blunder.  These seven stages involve in carrying out this assignment is know as Ipin yiyan( choosing of fate or destiny). It is believe that Orunmila is present through all these seven stages involve in Ipin Yiyan( making choice of fate) . He knows where individual has make a mistake and also know what to do to remedy it if consulted, hence Ifa orunmila is know as  Eleri Ipin( witness of fates  or destiny ) and Atori eni ti ko suhan se ( one who remedy bad fates). Now let me begin to give the chronological account of the seven stages and task involve in choosing destiny)

1.   IDAFA LORI WIWA SI IKOLE  AYE( IFA CONSULTAION ON COMING TO EARTH): The first stage involve  in choosing fate before coming to earth is to make Idafa(Ifa consultation on the life journey). It is believe that as we done on earth, that is what is obtainable in heaven as well.Thesame way we have diviners on earth that is the same way we have diviner in heaven making ifa consultation for their heavenly contemporaries. In Yoruba spirituality, it is believe that before any individual can come to earth, they do make ifa consultation on their trip. It is believe that those who make this consultation in heaven, and obey and carry out the sacrifice prescribe do have easy sail on earth. However some will carry out the ifa consultation and refuse to obey the prescribe ebo (sacrifice), these second categories of people usually have their life fraught with difficulty unless a lot of spiritual work are done to remedy such defects. The same way we have some people on earth who are care - free about their self. It is also obtainable in heaven; some people will not even bother to have the consultation about their journey to earth at all. So they make their journey to the world without direction or map to navigate the ocean of  life successfully.

2.   IRUBO( SACRIFICE) : The second stage involve in  Ipin yinyan (choosing of fate) before coming to earth by any individual is  ebo riru, that  is offering the prescribe sacrifice by the diviner, who make consultation for them. The two thing that normally occur at this stage as point out by people before us are ; some people will make the ebo , but make their ebo in such an incomplete manner out of their share laziness’. There is usually a grove or shrine knows as igbo, where they ought to drop their ebo. But these set of people usually dump their ebo half –way or any nearby location. They do this out of share laziness; these are set of individual that when they come to these worlds usually die prematurely. Among these sets, are people who drop their ebo in few meter from where they carry it , this set of people usually come to the world in in form of still birth or premature pregnancy, those  who drop their ebo in middle of the way  are people who usually die prematurely at their teenage years, the people who drop their ebo in few meter not long from the designated igbo( grove )  are set people who die at their prime when their family and society need them the most. There are some people who see the grove in front of them but did not struggle to reach and place their ebo there, these are set of people that die when they are approaching their old age. The  last category of people are people who obey and carry their ebo to appropriate location know as Igbo, they are term as eni to ru ebo re de igbo, that is where Yoruba word Arugbo( aged ) emerge. These categories of people grow till old age before they die.

 

3.    IpaGO ISE YIYAN NI AGBALA OLODUMARE(VOCATIONAL CONFERENCE AT THE compund of olodumare(god): This is the third stage and third task involve  in IPIN YIYAN before coming to earth at this stage each individual will line up and assemble at the temple of Olodumare. That is the day of identification that each individual present will be able to identify their self, their taboo and professions or occupation congenial to them. As it is obtnaible on earth here, some people will not even bother to attend this conference out of share laziness, some will attend but will not put their mind and attention to what they are doing there, some will know their professions but will refuse to follow it. Many are people who are unable to know all these about themselves in this world either as a result of lack of proper Ikosedaye( first ifa consultation for new born baby), Itelodu( ifa initiation) or proper ifa consultation.

 

 

4.    Igbamoran lowo asiwaju( taking advice from the elder): The forth stages is taking counsel and advice from those who have come to this world before. Many people do omit this stage, or is either they are just too proud or  wise to take counsel. Those who take this counsel are usually people who come to this world and become wise person like philosopher , counselor etc. but those who omit these stage are set of people who usually come to this world  making a lot of mistake in choice  of family , friends , spouse , friends etc. , they can make these mistakes many time without number.

5.    DIDI ERU AYE( PACKING OF LUGGAGE FOR EARTH): These is when people pack loads or  other things they need on earth. Those who make preparation at this stage well do have a lot of property on earth even though they earn little income. Those who omit of fail to carry out this task , don’t usually become possessors of property even though they earn big income

 

6.   IDIKOTO OFO LODO ONIBODE( FILLING UP THE DITCH OF LOSS AT THE GATE OF HEAVEN): This stage is when an individual is mandated to fill the whole of losses . This task is believed that it will make individual to make a lot of achievements on earth without embarking on wasteful and unprofitable ventures. Some people will fill up this whole. Those who fill up this ditch usually make easy success in life and make a lot of profit on what they do and able to show significant achievement for their effort. But those who fail to fill up this ditch usually encounter  a lot of losses in whatever they do , it is believe that until this ditch is filled there cannot be any achievement for them hence these kind of misfortune can be rectify in this world for such individual through a lot of spiritual work to fill these ditch of losses

 

 

7.   IPIN YIYAN( CHOOSING OF DESTINY): The  last task is choosing of destiny. This task is usually carry out at the domain of Ajalamon ,this elder Irumonle know as Obatala is know as ajalamon ti mon  ipin( the clay owner that mold human destiny) . This task at Ajalamon domain is the most difficult task that anybody coming to this world cannot escape, unlike the previously mention tasks which can be skip this task is unavoidable for anybody coming to this world. The task is difficult mostly because it is not easy to identify good ori at Ajalamon domain. There are big ori, small ori, strong ori, weak ori, burnt and un-burnt ori etc they are so much in variety that someone can easily pick wrong one. Unless with right guidance, but one thing that is certain is that any destiny that one chose can be remedy to good in this world through ifa consultations and ebo prescribed and other thing prescribe. And it also believe that those who fulfill the first tasks to the letter usually chooses good head in the end because ifa has the ability to guide one to choose the right ori. The fact of how ifa can help one in choosing right ori has been explain in detail by odu ifa Ogbe ogunda also known as Ogbe yonu. See what Ifa have to say:

 

 

 

 

Ebiti, egbake nii yedi pee

A dia fun Oriseeku, omo Ogun

A bu fun Orileemere, omo Ija

A dia fun afuwape tii somo Orunmila

 

Nijo ti won nrele Olodumare lo ree yanri

Awon meteeta ti a daruko wonyi, ore ni won

Nigba to dojo kan ni won ba gbimo po pe

Ki awon o lo sile aye

 

Ki awon o jo maa gbe be

Boya ibee le san awon ju orun lo

Ni won ba fi oro naa lo awon agbalagba to ju won lo

Won ni bi won ba nlo sile aye

Won ni lati koko lo si odo Ajala

 

Lati yan ipin nibe.

Won ni eewo kan naa ni e ni lati sa o

Bi e ban lo

E ko gbodo ya si otun

Bee ni e ko gbodo ya si osi

 

Ile Ajala ni ki e maa lo taarata

Won so fun won pe

Bi enikan ba gburo babaa re lona

Ko gbodo yabe o

Won ni ile Ajala ni ki won o maa lo taara

 

Won ni nigba ti won ba yanpin tan lodo Ajala

Ni ki won o too kori sode isalaye

Won ni awon gbo o

Ni won ba mura

O dile Ajala, Alamo tii mori

 

Nigba ti won rin saa

Won kan Afabere-gunyan nibi to gbe ngunyan pelu okini

Won ni e nle o, baba

O ni, Hoo

Won ni, E joo

 

Odo Ajala lawon nloo

Afabere-gunyan ni afi bi oun ba gunyan oun tan

Ni oun too le juwe ona fun won

Ni Afuwape ba gba abere lowoo re

Lo ba nfii gunyan

 

O gunyan naa fun odidi ojo meta

Ki o too gun un tan

Nigba ti o gunyan yii tan

Ni Afabere-gunyan waa so fun won wi pe

Ki won o maa lo

 

O ni bi won ba rin die

Ki won o ya si apa otun

O ni won o kan onibode kan nibe

Ki won o beere lowoo re

Yoo si juwe ona fun won

 

Nigba ti won rin saa

Ni won ba de ibikan

Ni Oriseeku, omo Ogun, ba duro sii

O bere sii gburooo babaa re

Bo ti nmu apo

 

To nmu ofa

To nmu orun

Oriseeku, omo Ogun ni oun o lo

Ba baba oun pale ogun mo o

Ni won ba ran an leti pe

 

Se bi won ti ka eewo fun awon

Pe awon o gbodo ya si ibikan

Ni Oriseeku, omo Ogun, ba sise

O ni ko buru

Ni won ban lo

 

Nigba ti won rin saa

Ni won ba kan ile Orunmila

Won ngbo bi Orunmila nsepon Ifa poro poro poro

Ni Afuwape ba duro sii

Awon meji yoku ni ki o je ki awon o maa lo

 

Afuwape ni oun o nii lo mo

Afi bi oun ba foju kan baba oun

Ni won ba ran an leti eewo ti won ka fun won

Afuwape sa ko jale

O ni oun fee foju kan baba oun

 

Lo ba  ra giiri wole

Ni won ban lo

Nigba ti Orunmila foju kan Afuwape

O bi i nibi nlo

Afuwape ni oun nlo sode isalaye ni

 

Oun si ni lati ko lo yanri lodo Ajala

Ni Orunmila ba ko Ifaa re

O fi kan Afuwape lori

Igba ti yoo da Ifa naa sile

Ogbeyonu [ogbegunda] ni won ri

 

Nigba ti awon babalawo ile Orunmila wo

Ifa naa suun

Won ni, iwo orunmila

Ibikan ni omoo re nlo yii

Komo naa o le ri ipin rere mu nibe

 

Ebo ni ki o se

Kin ni awon o ha ru bayii?

Won ni ki won o ni egbinrin iyo meta

Ko si ru egbeegbaafa meta

Ni Orunmila ba ko gbogbo re kale

 

Ni won ba sefa fun Afuwape

Won bu die fun un ninu iyo naa

Won si fun un ni egbaafa ninu egbaasan ti o ru

Ni won ba ni ki Afuwape o maa lo

Nigba ti Afuwape jade nile Orunmila

 

Ko ri Oriseeku,omoOgun

Ati Orileemere, omo Ija mo

Won ti lo ni ti won

Nigba ti awon meji yin lo

Won kan onibode akoko

 

 

Won bere ile Ajala lowoo re

Onibodee ni ile Ajala jina sihin

O ni bi ko ba jina ni

Oun iba fi han won

Ni won ba binu kuro lodoo re

 

Won beere lodo elomiran

Ni won ba dele Ajala

Nigba ti won dele Ajala

Won o ba a nile

Ni won ba jokoo de e

 

Nigba to di ojo keji ti Ajala o de

Ni won ba wi fun awon ara ilee re pe

Nnkan kan lawon waa se

Won ni awon waa yanri ni

Ni awon ara ile Ajala ba dahun pe

 

Bo ba se pe tori ni

Ori mbe nle

Ni won ba mu won lo sibi ti Ajala mori si

Nigba ti Oriseeku o boo sibe

Ori to je tuntun

 

Ti Ajala o tii sun rara lo mu

Nigba ti Orileemere naa o boo sibe

Ori nla kan bayii lo gbe

Laimo pe o ti fo sara

Ni awon mejeji ba gbe orii won bori

 

Ni won ba fon on

O di ode aye

O ku die ki won o dode isalaye

Ni ojo ba de

Ojo yi ro titi

 

O ko ko da mo

Bee ni o npa Oriseeku ati orileemere

Nigba ti ojo yi pa Ori yii to bee

Lo ba bere sii mumi yo

Bi Ori won naa ba ke yiin

 

Ni o baa ri bo sile po

Ori saa ke yiin

Titi ti o fi bu legbee

To fi ri danu

Ti gbogboo ree waa ku pelebe

 

 

Ni won ba fi bee wole aye

Nigba ti won dele aye tan

Won o rere je

Bi won ba fi eepini sowo

 

Eepini naa le tun da gbesee koo-kan-abo

Si won lorun

Nigba ti won se kini yii titi

Fun bi odun mewaa

Ti won o ri ojutuuu re

 

Ni won ba meeji keeta

Won looko akonilogbon

Awon awoyeroye waa fi yee won pe

Ori tin won mu ni o daa

Won ni, nigba ti e mbo

 

Nje ojo pa yin lona

Won ni, bee ni

Won ni, nigba ti e mbo wa sile aye

Ori buruku le gbe

Bi ori naa ko ba se tutu

 

A se eyi to ti fo sara

Won ni, be e ti mbo lona un

Tojo pa yin

Ni ori buruku te e gbe nyinrin

To nri danu

 

Won ni, nigba ti e o fi dele aye

Ori te e gbe ko ju pelebe lo mo

Lati igba naa, gbogbo ise ti e nse

Ori buruku pelebe un le fi ndi

Osi di igba ti e ba kun un titi

 

Ti o ba deedee eyi ti e gbe kuro lode orun

Ki e too maa ri se

Nigba ti Afuwape mbo

To rin saa

O kan onibode akoko

 

O bi i leere ile Ajala

Eleyiun ni afi bi oun ba se obe ti oun se tan

Ni Afuwape ba jokoo ti i

O mba a a kona

Ibi ti Afuwape ti nkona

 

Lo ti ri i pe eeru ni onibode mbu sinu obe

O ni, baba, eeru le mbu sobe yii

Baba ni ohun tawoon je ni tawon nu un

Ni Afuwape ba mu okan ninu egbinrin iyoo re

O bu iyo nibe

 

O fi sinu obe

Lo ba ni ki onibode o to o wo

Nigba ti onibode o fi kan enu

O ni nibo lo ti ri ohun to dun bayii

O ni nje o le bun oun nibi iyoku

 

Afuwape ni ko buru

Lo  ba ko egbinrin iyo mejeeji fun un

Nigba ti won se obe yi jina

Ni onibode ba dide

O saaju

 

Afuwape te le e

Won rin titi

Won burin burin

Ni won ba sun mo ile Ajala

Ni won ba bere sii gbariwo

 

Onibode  ni, ile ajala ni won ti npariwo un

O ni, Ajala o si nle nu un

O ti sa pamo fun olowoo re nu un

Olowo naa ni npariwo baun

O bi Afuwape bo ba ni owo lowo

 

Afuwape ni bee ni

O ni bi Afuwape ba foju kan olowo Ajala naa

Ki o ba Ajala san owo ti o je e

Nigba ti Afuwape dele Ajala

O ba eni ti Ajala je lowo naa

 

 

Ti nke, tin nyan bi esin

Ni Afuwape ba bi i ni ye gbese naa

O ni egbaafa ni

Ni Afuwape ba towo bapo

Lo ba san an

 

Nigba ti o san owo naa tan

Ti olowo naa lo tan

Ni ajala ba be sile lati oke aja

To sa pamo si

O ki Afuwape

 

Afuwape naa ki i

O ni nje o ba enikan  nihiin

Afuwape ni oun ba a

To so pe o je oun ni egbaafa

Afuwape ni sugbon oun ti san owo naa o

 

Ni Ajala ba dupe ni owo Afuwape

O bi i pe kin lo waa se

Afuwape ni oun waa yanri ni

O ni ko kalo

 

Nigba ti o ya

Won de ibi ti Ajala mo ori si

Won ba okanlerugba ori nibe

Ni Ajala ba ju opa irin si okan

Nse lo bu pee

 

Ajala ni, o o ri i

Eyiun o daa

O tun ri ekeji

O ju opa irin si i

Eyiun naaa tun bu pee

 

Ajala ni eyiun naa o daa

Ni won ba tun nkaakiri

Titi ti Ajala fi ri okan

O tun ju opa irin si oun naa

O dun kango kango, koro koro

 

O tun gbe e

O ju u mole

O yi gbiiri

Lo ba gbe e fun Afuwape

Afuwape ni se eyi lo daa

 

 

Ajala ni bee ni

Ni Afuwape ba gbe e kari

Lo ba kori sona ode isalaye

O ku die ko dode isalaye ni ojo ba de

Ojo yi po to bee gee

 

O si pa afuwape etii ree feree di

Bee ni ntaa danu

Koro koro ni ori naaa ye nigba ti o dele aye

Nigbati Afuwape dele aye tan

 

Lo ba bere sii se owo

O sin je opolopo ere

O nire ni anito

O kole, o kaase

O ni opolopo aya

 

Osi bimo lopolopo pelu

Ko buse gada

Ko buse gede

Ni won ba fi joye Orisanmi

Nigba ti Oriseeku, omo Ogun

 

Ati orileemere, omo Ija, foju kan Afuwape

Puru ni won bu sekun

Won ni, n o mobi olori gbe yanri o

Mba lo yan temi

N o mobi Afuwape yanri o

 

Mba lo yan temi

Afuwape naaa si da won lohun wi pe

O o mobi olori gbe yanri o

O ba lo yan tie

O o mobi Afuwape yanri o

 

O ba lo yan tie

Ibikan naa lati gbe yanri o

Kadara o papo ni

 

 

TRANSLATION

It is the snare which strike suddenly

Ifa divination was performed for Oriseeku, the son of Ogun

Ifa divination was performed for orilemeere, the son of Ija

Ifa divination was performed for Afuwape , the son of Orunmila

 

On the day they were going to the abode of Olodumare to choose Ori

These three people were all friends

One day, they deliberated together

And decided that when they arrived on the earth

 

They will settle down there

Hoping that earth would be better for them than heaven

They asked for advice from older people

And they were told that before going to the earth

They must  first of all go to Ajala

 

To choose Ori

They were warned thus; you must observe one prohibition

When you are going

You must not turn to the right

Neither must you turn to the left

 

You must go straight to the house of Ajala

They were warned thus

Even if one of you hears his father’s voice on the way

He must not go there

They were told to go straight to the house of Ajala

 

They were told that it was after choosing Ori from Ajala

That they would go to the earth

They promised to heed the warning

They got themselves ready

And started off on their journey to the house of Ajala the potter who makes head

After walking for some distance

They got to He-who-pounds-yams with-a-needle  pounding yams with a needle

They said, father, we greet you

The old man replied, thank you

They pleaded, please sir

 

We are going to the house of Ajala

He-who-pounds-yams-with-a-needle said that he must first finish pounding his yams

Before he showed them the way

Afuwape took the needle from him

And started to pound the yam with it

 

He pounded the yams for three days

Before he finished the job

When he finished pounding the yams

He-who-pounds-yam-with-a-needle told them that

They were free to continue on their journey

 

He told them that after travelling some distance

They should turn to the right

Where they would find a gatekeeper

They should ask from that man

And he would show them the way

 

After travelling some distance

They got to a certain place

Oriseeku, the son of Ogun, stood still

When he heard his father’s movement

He heard his father taking his quiver

 

And taking his arrows

And taking his bow

Oriseeku, the son of Ogun, then said that he would go

To help his father prepare for war

But his comrades reminded him that

 

They had been warned

Not to call anywhere on the way

Then, Oriseeku the son of Ogun, moved forward

He said that was alright

And they continued on their journey

 

After travelling some distance

They came to the house of Orunmila

They heard Orunmila striking his divining board loudly with his Iroke

Afuwape then stood still

The other two urged him to let them go on

 

But Afuwape said that he wouldn’t go

Until he had seen his father

They reminded him of the warning given to them

But Afuwape  refused completely

And insisted that he must see his father

 

He then hurried into the housepp;

The two others left him

And they continued their journey

When Orunmila saw Afuwape

He asked him where he was going

 

Afuwape said  that he was going to the earth

And he must first go to Ajala to choose ori

Orunmila then took his divination instruments,  and with them touched Afuwape’s head

When he cast the instrument on the ground

 

Ogbeyonu [otherwise known as Ogbegunda] appeared

When the priests of Orunmila’s household studied it carefully

They said, You, Orunmila

Your son is going on a journey to a certain place

So that he may choose a good lot there

 

Let him perform sacrifice

When Orunmila asked what they would use for sacrifice

He was told to perform sacrifice with three bags of salt

And three times twelve thousand cowries

Orunmila got all the materials ready

 

And the sacrifice was performed for Aguwape

Part of salt

Together with twelve thousand cowries was given to him

They then asked Afuwape to proceed on his journey

When Afuwape came out of Orunmila’s house

 

He saw neither Oriseeku ,the son of Ogun

Nor Orileemere, the son of Ija

 

They had gone

When these two were going

They got to the keeper of the first gate

 

And asked for the house of Ajala

But the gatekeeper said that Ajala’s house was too far

He said if it was not too far

He would have taken them there

They left him in anger

 

And asked another person

At last, they reached Ajala’s house

When they got to the house of Ajala

They did not find him at home

They decided to sit down and wait for him

 

When, on the second day, Ajala did not return

They told the people of Ajala’s household

That they had come for a certain thing

They said that they had come to choose Ori

The people of Ajala’s household answered thus

 

If  that is your mission

Numerous heads are available

They then took them to Ajala’s store house of heads

When Oriseeku entered

He picked a newly-made head

 

Which Ajala had not fired at all

When Orileemere also entered

He picked one very big head

Not knowing that he had cracked

The two of them put on their clay heads

 

And hurried off

On their way to the earth

A little distance before they reached the earth

It started to rain

It rained for a long time

 

And it refused to stop

Yet it was beating Oriseeku and Orileemere

After the rain had beaten their heads for long

The heads became water-logged

As a result, the heads expanded

 

And they started to drop off in bits

The head expanded more and more

Until the sides were completely worn away

And started to drop off in lobes

So that what remained was flat and small

 

It was in that state that they entered the earth

When they got to the earth

They worked and worked

But they had no gain

If the traded with one half penny

 

It might lead them

To a loss of one-and-a-half-pennies

When they did this

For about ten years

Without any hope of improvement

 

They added two cowry-shells to three

And went to consult Ifa priests

These wise men told them that

The fault was in the bad heads they had chosen

They asked them, when you were coming to the earth

 

Were you beaten by rain?

They answered `we were’

The Ifa priests said, when you were coming to the earth

You chose bad heads

If they were not unbaked heads

 

They must have been broken ones

And as you were coming to the earth

And you were beaten by rain

The bad heads you chose were wearing away

And dropping off in pieces

 

Before you arrived on the earth

Your heads had become very flat

Since then all the gains from your work

Were being used to replenish the worn-off parts of your bad heads

And it is when you have replenished sufficiently

 

So that they are restored to their original sizes

That you will begin to prosper very well

When Afuwape was coming

He walked some distance

And got to the keeper of the first gate

 

He asked from him the way to Ajala’s house

The gatekeeper said that he would first finish cooking his soup

So, Afuwape sat patiently by him 

Helping him to kindle the fire

As Afuwape was helping to kindle the fire

 

He noticed that the gatekeeper was putting ashes into the soup

He said, father, what you are putting into the soup is ordinary ashes

But the old man said that, that was what he always ate

Afuwape then took one of his bags of salt

And took a little salt from it

 

And put it  into the soup

And asked the gatekeeper to taste it

When he tasted it

He asked Afuwape where he got such a thing

He implored Afuwape to give him more of it

 

He later agreed

And  gave him the two bags of salt

When they finished cooking the soup

The gatekeeper stood up

He led the way

 

 

 

And Afuwape followed him

They walked for long

They walked and walked

When they came close to Ajala’s house

They started to hear a loud noice

 

 

The gatekeeper said, that noise is from Ajala’s house

He said, that shows that Ajala is not at home

He is in hiding to avoid his creditor

The creditor is the one making that noise

He asked Afuwape if he had money on him

 

 

And Afuwape said he had

The gatekeeper said that if Afuwape saw the creditor

He should help Ajala to pay up the debt

When Afuwape arrived at Ajala’s house

He found the creditor

 

Shouting, neighing like a horse

Afuwape then asked him the amount of money involved

The creditors said the amount was twelve thousand cowries

Afuwape then opened his bag

Brought out the money, and paid the debt

 

After he had paid the money

And the creditor had left

Ajala jumped down from the ceiling

Where he had hidden himself

He greeted Afuwape

 

And Afuwape also greeted him

He asked whether Afuwape found someone in the house

And Afuwape said he found someone

Who said that you [Ajala] owed him twelve thousand cowries

Afuwape said he had paid off the money

 

Ajala then thanked Afuwape

And asked him what he wanted

Afuwape said that he had come to select an Ori

Ajala then took him

And asked him to come along

 

After some time

They got to Ajala’s storehouse of Ori

They found two hundred and one Ori there

Ajala threw is iron rod at one

And that one broke into pieces

 

Ajala said, don’t you see

That one is not good

He saw another one

And threw his iron rod at it

That one also break into pieces

 

Ajala said, that also is not good

So, they went on searching

Until Ajala saw one

And he threw his iron rod at that one as well

It gave a loud and sonorous sound

 

He then took it

And threw it on the bare ground

He gave it to Afuwape

Afuwape asked whether that was a good one

 

Ajala said it was good

Afuwape then fixed it on the head

And started to go towards the earth

Just as he was about to get to the earth, it started to rain

The rain was very heavy

 

And it beat Afuwape so much that he was almost deaf

As the rain was beating Auwape’s Ori

The rain particles were dropping off

The Ori was quite intact when he arrived on the earth

When Afuwape eventually got to the earth

 

He started a trading business

And he made a lot of profit

He had enough of good things

He built a house and furnished it with decorated doors

He  had many wives

 

And he had many children as well

After some time

And in due course

He was honoured with a tittle of ilesanmi

When Oriseeku, the son of Ogun

 

And Orileemere, the son of Ija, saw Afuwape

They burst into tears

They said, I don’t know where the lucky ones chose their Ori

I would have gone there to choose mine

I don’t know where Afuwape chose his Ori

 

I would have gone there to choose mine

Afuwape answered and said

You don’t know where the lucky ones chose Ori

You would have gone there to choose your own

You don’t know where Afuwape chose his Ori

 

You would have gone there to choose your own

We chose our Ori from the same place

But our destinies are different

The odu ifa ogbegunda  just explain above give detail fact about how ori is  choosing in orun ( heaven) and how it is through ifa guidance that one can choose good ori. We see in that odu how Oriseeku( the son of ogun) and Ori ileemere( the son of ija)and  Afuwape( the son of orumila) how  the three of them were going to Ajalomon house to choose destiny, but it is only  Afuwape( the son  of Orumila) that make Ifa consultation and perform ebo as regard the trip as a result, he was able to make good choice of while other make bad one.

Copyright: Babalawo Pele Obasa Obanifa, phone whatsapp contact: +2348166343145, location: Ile Ife Osun state Nigeria.

            

 

 

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