Ifa ni, ka fini koni ka le baa lola
Ka fiwa kowa ka le baa niyi A difa fawon Odu merindinlogun Won jo n rin won o rinu ara won... Ifa said we should reason together So that we may be wealthy That we behave well to earn honor Cast Ifa for the sixteen Odu Who were moving together but could not understand one another... Whenever EjiOgbe would divine, OyekuMeji would despise him. Likewise, whenever OyekuMeji would divine, IworiMeji would despise him. In turn, whenever IworiMeji would divine, OdiMeji would despise him. On and on, each of the Olodu would insult one another. Why was it that all of them had come into the world without a leader? Why was it that whenever one of them would divine, the other would belittle him? If was for that reason that the Olodu took their case to Olodumare for direction. The Olodu asked Olodumare to choose a leader from among them. They asked him to determine who would be the highest, who would be the lowest and who would be in between? However, when they went to see Olodumare, OyekuMeji did not call on IworiMeji. IworiMeji did not call on OdiMeji. It was only Orangun who went to the house of EjiOgbe to ask why he had not departed with the others. EjiOgbe replied that he did not know that they had already embarked upon the journey. It was then that they decided to travel together. EjiOgbe explained the mission to his wife and then he bid her farewell. As EjiOgbe left home, he went into the backyard, where he discovered a very large, black snake. He killed it and put the snake in his abeti aja cap. Then, EjiOgbe put the cap on backwards. Finally, EjiOgbe and OrangunMeji travelled together to see Olodumare. When they arrived, they found the other forteen Olodu seated in a circle. Olodumare greeted them in the name of IworiWofun: He who prostrates will grow old He who prostrates will live long He who prostrates will have all blessings Olodumare commanded the Olodu to follow him. He pleaded with them, "Don't be vexed because I do not have much to offer you." He then gave each of the Olodu a mound of eko. He then prepared egusi stew with worowo vegetable in it. He apologized for not having any meat to offer the Olodu. A bowl of water was brought out for them to wash their hands. They all struggled to wash their hands at once, because none of them recognized one as their leader. The water spilled onto the ground. Each of the Olodu then touched the water on the ground and then they began to eat. This was the beginning of pouring libation. Later, Olodumare greeted the Olodu. He greeted them for their trouble in making the journey. He pleaded with them not to be upset that he had no meat to offer them. It was then that EjiOgbe rose up, praising Olodumare: Everlasting King King who reigns supreme, forever King who covers all spheres of life Why do you say you have no meat?I killed a creature on the way here. Olodumare asked to see it. EjiOgbe produced the snake he had killed. Olodumare asked EjiOgbe to hold it by the head. He asked OrangunMeji to hold it by the tail. He stretched the snake and then cut the head. Then, he asked OyekuMeji to hold the snake and cut another portion. One by one, Olodumare had the Olodu hold the snake, while he cut a portion. They all ate to satisfaction. But EjiOgbe did not eat the head and OrangunMeji did not eat the tail. Olodumare then asked the purpose of their visit. The Olodu explained that they had gone into the world without a leader. They explained how one would insult the other any time he was divining. The Olodu explained how they all insulted one another. Olodumare then asked who was holding the head of the snake. EjiOgbe showed him the head. Olodumare then proclaimed EjiOgbe the leader of the Olodu. "You are the head. You are the father. When they cast you, they must say 'Kabiesi'. They must not cast a second time." Olodumare then asked, who had the tail. OrangunMeji brought out the tail. "You are their chief whip, OrangunMeji. Whenever they see you, they must hail you, 'Hepa!' They must not cast a second time." Olodumare declared that the remaining Olodu must be cast twice. Olodumare declared that the Olodu must be kind and good to one another. The Olodu than accepted EjiOgbe as their leader. They said, "We have a father today!" The Olodu accepted OrangunMeji as their chief whip. They said, "We have a chief whip today!" Olodumare then proclaimed that the stomach of the snake is straight and the babalawo share one stomach. Therefore, they should not betray one another. The stomach of the snake is singular. Therefore, Sango devotees should not betray one another. The stomach of the snake is singular. Therefore, Obatala devotees should not betray one another. The stomach of the snake is singular. Therefore, Osun devotees should not betray one another. The stomach of the snake is singular. Therefore, Ogun devotees should not betray one another. The stomach of the snake is singular. Therefore, Esu devotees should not betray one another. The stomach of the snake is singular. Therefore, Yemoja devotees should not betray one another. The stomach of the snake is singular. Therefore, Olokun devotees should not betray one another. The stomach of the snake is singular. Therefore, Oya devotees should not betray one another. The stomach of the snake is singular. Therefore, Sanponna devotees should not betray one another. The stomach of the snake is singular. Therefore, Osanyin devotees should not betray one another. ABORU BOYE BOSISE AGBO ATO ASURE IWORI WOFUN
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