Igbadùn/Itẹnilọ́rùn (Gratitude/Gratefulness) within Odu-Ifá Ọ̀bàrà Ògúndá (Odu governing 2011/2012)
•Ifa says that some Ifa devotees had been blessed and they had been given prominence by Ifa. Instead of them to be contented with what Ifa had done, they are planning and behaving in a way that will make them overstep their bounds. Ifa warns that this people will meet with shame and disgrace. Ifa warns that all male married devotees must not allow their women to push them into doing what is abominable. In the same vein, all female married devotees must not push their men into committing social, economic, spiritual, or physical taboo. Ifa advises this people to offer ebo with one matured he-goat and to heed Ifa’s warning.
Bi aye ba ye won tan
Iwa ibaje ni won nhu
Dia fun Onjemi Akoko
To mo awo tan
To ni o ku obinrin oun
Ebo ni won ni ko waa se
O ko’ti ogbonyin s’ebo
Bi e ba taa wo bi o ba jo o
E lo si apere oba wo
Translation
Whenever they meet with the favor of the world
They begin to engage in misconduct
Ifa’s message for Onjemi Akoko
He who was shown the secret of Oro
And insisted that his wife must also be shown the secret
He was advised to offer ebo
He refused to comply
If the Oro icon refuses to function
Go and check the seat of the Oba
This ancient story within Ọ̀bàrà Ògúndá tell us of a time when the King (Oba Onjemi Akoko) of the town was living very well and enjoying all the blessing Ifa had brought to him, he had wives, lovely children, plenty of wise Elder Council, peaceful township, prosperous & contented inhabitants, fresh water was plentiful, the Head Market-Women reported the market was profitable, the Head Agricultural Society was reporting the cultivation of sizable yams & crops yearly etc.
In all ways the Kingdom was enjoying the blessings Ifá had predicted in the Kings own coronation Ifá consultation & ritual, but one of the messages of Ọ̀bàrà Ògúndá was ignored, the King went against Oro tabu. By allowing his beloved wife, upon her insistence, to witness the coming out and movement of Oro divinity, during the annual Oro festival, which is tabu for women to view. The King had allowed her to hide underneath his Royal Stool covered in cloth, and partake of the sacred ceremony. Shortly afterwards, everything went awry, his wives womb closed up, his children fussed insistently, several fell ill, the Elders started exiting in quick succession, the central Market shrine refused to bless with good commerce, the crops were spoilt within the ground and reaped useless goods, fights and unrest broke out within the town, many foreign towns hearing of the unrest had threaten takeover etc etc
Once the BabaAwo performed Ifá Dida (Ifá Divination), to know the root of the problem within the town, and Ọ̀bàrà-Ògúndá was revealed and the above stanza was recited, those BabaAwo then approached the King (Oba Onjemi Akoko) to confirm if it was true, he had allowed his favorite wife to witness the Oro festival, and the King confessed he did in fact hide her under his Royal Stool.
Ifá is advising us to be mindful, grateful and appreciative of our blessings and do not become complacent. Ones blessings might be counted on one hand or may be to numerous to count, but the reality is the blessings one has must be appreciated and not abused, less they disappear.
Let us all learn from this lesson of Oba Onjemi Akoko in Ọ̀bàrà-Ògúndá, and applies not only this New Yam Year, but every year, while teaching it to those whom we come into contact.
May Ifá and the Irunmole guide and bless us, those with good hearts and clean intentions,
The complete synopsis of Ọ̀bàrà-Ògúndá (governing Odu) for New Yam Year 2011/2012 can be found at: http://alawoye.com/Ifa_Orunmila_%3A_Alawoye/Odu-Ifa_for_Year_Ano.html
Awo Ifálojú
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