ORUNMILA
AS THE CREATOR OF MOTHER EARTH (ODU IFA OKANRAN OGUNDA) BY BABALAWO OBANIFA –
Obanifa Extreme Documentaries- Reformed Africa Ifa Spirituality (RAIS)- Odu Ifa
Series
In this current work
Babalawo Obanifa will examine
another Ifa mythical stanza that dispute the fact that Oduduwa or Obatala is
the creator of mother’s earth. Many are time there have been confusion in
Africa Ifa Spirituality as to which version of Myth of creation is true. The
most popular myth in Africa Ifa Culture and Spirituality is the one wish claim
that Olodumare first sent Obatala to create the mother earth. The myth let us known
that when Obatala was coming to the world
, he get drunks on the road. This is what make the person who is second in command to him
Oduduwa take the materials from him and
went ahead to create the mother earth.
That is the most popular mythology in
Yoruba cosmology. The myth simply goes thus; Olodumare(God) gave Obatala (the god of the white cloth) who
is one of the celestial being with him in heaven a mythical five- toed fowl and a snails shell
that contain some sands alongside a chain. He was instructed to descend from
heaven and to carry out the function of
creating the world. The myth have it that on his way to carry out this mission
of creation given to him by Olodumare. He met other divinities where they are
drinking and merry. He join them and in the process he drank himself to stupor
.He fall asleep. It is was said that Oduduwa who is another divinities like him
overhead Olodumare when he was given
Obatala the message on how to create the world. He now see that Obatala is fast
asleep. He went to the spot and pick up
the materials given to Obatala and he descended
with the chains from the sky and on
reach the earth he met water. He pour all the sands from the snail inside a water and he place the five-toed hen on it . The hen use it huge claw to scatter the
sands over the water. It is claimed in that myth that where the claw dug deep
is call the valley, where it is difficult to spread is called mountain and
hill. And other flats land are useful .It is believed in Yoruba cosmology that
the place where this event occur is known as Ile –Ife ( That is the place where
the land spread). This is most popular Myths in Yoruba cosmology.
But the myth above is
subject to rebuttal, due to the facts that there are other myths and history
which claim with evidential proof that Oduduwa who was first reigning King of Ife Migrated from Mecca and meet some people
in Ile –Ife who are the real aborigine of Ife . And there is evidential proof
to that too.
This controversy make me
dig deep into Ifa mythology to find out
if there is any Ifa stanza that make other
creation story available . Truly I
did find one . It was Inside Odu Ifa Okaran Ogunda . Also known as Okanran
Eguntan. In that Odu One of the stanza
there explains that It is Orunmila that actually
responsible for the creation of the mother earth. The Odu Ifa Okanran Eguntan
says that it is due to the generosity of
Orunmila to one of the emissary of Olodumare that makes the emissary
revealed one the secrets of right
material to Orunmila when all the Irunmonle (divinities) are coming than from
heaven to earth. On this Odu Ifa Okanran Eguntan says:
Ewonba lerowojo
Dia fun Orunmila
A bu fun gbogbo Irunmonle
Olodummare di Eru sile
O ranse si gbogbo Irunmonle
O ni o ya ki won wag be lo
sinu Aye
Ebo ni won ni ki won se
Won ko eti Ogboin si ebo
Orunmila nikan lo rubo
Eyin ko sa I mon wipe
Riru ebo ni gbeni
Airu ebo ki gbe eniyan
Translations:
Ewonba lerowojo
This was Ifa’s message
for Orunmila
Same message was reveal
for all other’s divinities
Olodummare (God) prepare
loads
He send for all the
divinities in heaven
To come and carry the
loads to earth
They were all advise to
offer ebo
They all refused to comply
It is only Orunmila that
stay behind to offer required ebo
Don’t you know?
It is offering of ebo
that bring advantages
Failure to offer ebo do
bring disadvantages.
It happens in this stanza
that at the dawn of the creation. Olodumare send one of his emissary known as
Iko to all the Irunmonle (divinities). All the divinities before the time of this message
have been previously warn via Ifa divination to offer ebo with an hen and a lot
of drinks(wines). It is only Orunmila that comply. When the emissary got to all the Irunmonle non
of them show any sense of hospitality. None of them give him food and drinks.
When he got to Orunmila . Orunmila gave
him a lap of an hen and wine to entertain him. In the end as result of Orunmila’s
generous nature to him. He leaked the secrets behind the reason why Orunmila’s
is calling them. He told Orunmila that,
Olodumare want all of you (the divinities) to carry loads to the world. He said
it is the snails shell at base of the feet’s of Olodumare that contain the most
vital materials.
When all the Irunmonle(divinities)
arrive at the abode of Olodumare . After receiving the instruction. Olodumare
instruct them to carry out the loads one after the other. They are all rushing
to carry the loads. Some of them carry box of wealth, some carry box that
contain blessings of children, Some carry box that contains clothe’s, Orunmila
was about to rush too. The emissary now use whistle to blow message to him by
saying:
Orunmila ma sedo joko,
Ori n be ninu karahun
Translation:
Orunmila please sit
patiently
The vital material is inside
the snail shell.
When Orunmila heard this.
He quickly sit down and allow all of them to carry the most conspicuous loads
that contains all the blessings and great things to the world. He now stands up and went to the feet’s of
Olodumare and pick the snail shell there he comes last following all other
Irunmonle.
When all other Irunmonle
(divinities) approach earth. The place is full to the brim with water. None of them could descend on it. It is until
Orunmila arrived, they told him that they understand this mission because they
have no place to put their loads. Orunmila said they should wait. He put his hands inside the snail shells. He brought
out a shields. He spread it on the water, He then brought out sands again from the
snail’s shells and pour it on it. He brought out the five-toed hen and put it
on the soil. The hen spread the soil and spread it across the surface of the
earth to create the earth. Then it is Orunmila who is the creator of the
mothers earth who first’s step on it. All others Irunmonle need to take permission
from him where to place their load. This is part of the reason that make Ifa to
refer to Orunmila as Igbakeji Olodumare(the second in rank to Olodumare) .
Copyright: Babalawo Pele
Obasa Obanifa, phone and whatsapp contact :+2348166343145, location Ile Ife
osun state Nigeria.
IMPORTANT NOTICE : As
regards the article above, all rights reserved, no part of this article may be
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