Ogbe Osa (Ogbe Osa · Ogbe Osa)

Before Ogbe Osa returned from Europe, the women of Ife rebelled against the men and the king. They barricaded themselves in Ilu-Eleye (also called Ilu-Omuo). Yeye-Omuo, a powerful witch, led the rebellion.

The men dispatched the army. Yeye-Omuo turned every soldier into a woman. The exiled witches used their arts to kill the men of Ife --- men began to die mysteriously. The king summoned the Awos. They told him: Only Ogbe Osa can end this. He is not in town.

When Ogbe Osa returned from Europe, the king sent for him. He went immediately to Awo Isa Wele Oawele, who told him: Sacrifice a goat to Eshu. Prepare maracas, bongos, drums, a comb and a mirror for your Ifá shrine. Offer a hen to Ifá. Get a rabbit, a fish, a hutia, and pounded yam, prepared specially and kept in your divination bag. The only war that can succeed against the witches is peace. Lead a musical procession from Ife to Ilu-Omuo. Take no weapons.

He was also told the four leaders had four personal taboos --- rabbit, hutia, fish, pounded yam. He was to bring four Tutu Opón beaded bracelets.

He made all the sacrifices. He sent an advance party of armed troops to surround Omuo with instructions to attack only at the signal kpaye gbaa. Then he set out with a few followers, dressed as a high chief --- not as a warrior. He led the procession dancing, holding the mirror in his left hand and the comb in his right, watching the witches' positions.

He sang:

Isa wele Oawele lon difa fun mi nijo timo gbe Ogun losi Ilu awon Obinrin. Ire nimowa ba yin she sawele, miowa ja sawele.

The witches heard the song and understood he had not come to fight. They came out with their own instruments and joined the dance. The four leaders, sensing his strategy, stationed themselves at the cardinal points of the town. Through the mirror, Ogbe Osa recognized them in their order of precedence and tossed each her personal taboo --- the rabbit to Yeye-Omuo, the hutia to the second, the fish to the third, the pounded yam to the fourth, all without breaking the rhythm.

The taboos neutralized their powers. He shouted kpaye gbaa, and his soldiers emerged. The witches said: We know you have come to take us back to Ife --- but will you ridicule us by calling us witches there? In answer, he snapped the four Tutu Opón bracelets onto their wrists, instantly making them his wives.

The leaders signaled to the others to accompany the soldiers home. Upon arrival in Ife, the men prepared to choose wives --- but Ogbe Osa announced no one was to touch the four wearing the Tutu Opón. His wish was respected. Peace returned.

This is why every wife of a person for whom Ogbe Osa appears in Ugbodu is destined to be a witch, and will use her witchcraft for his benefit if the proper sacrifices (Ono Ifa or Odiha) are made.

In this path Awo Abana was the one who cast the obi for Olofin. He was the only one who knew what Olofin's shadow looked like --- a shadow that always appeared to Olofin himself. The other Awos envied him.

One day, as Awo Abana was on his way to Olofin's house, the other Awos killed him and buried him. When they arrived at Olofin's house, Olofin counted them and said: One is missing. If he does not appear, I will rip the heads off all of you. They said he stayed behind on the road. Olofin: Bring him immediately.

The colleagues panicked. How do we bring him? He is in the kingdom of Iku. They consulted Orunmila and Ogbe Sa appeared --- the sign of the deceased.

They went to the grave with a ram. They sang the resurrection songs (in order):

Shango Lodi Ifa Abure Umbo Wa Baba Orunmila Ifa Male. Siku Eronsi Laye Laye, Eronsi Laye Laye Eggun Eronsi. Iwa Inle Gungun Siwa Dele Lareleo, Timbe Elese Olordumare.

They opened the tomb. Flesh and bone were separated. They gave the Eggun and the cujes the ram's blood and rum, singing the chant that calls Iku to open the way for the bones to eat:

Akuerese baba idemerro ige moro, aye beke nile aye aye eggun awa iku lerekun eran ten unyen, okuoroso lekun eran de kun yen.

Flesh and bone reunited. Awo Abana lived again.

At the burial site they built a throne for Iku, where Iku would be worshipped forever. They set flowers upon it and sang:

Sese iku kara ni iku, sese eweo iku, awa boro eggun bora.

They lit small candles for Iku and for the spirit, singing:

Itana keke iku eggun keke, abori boye iku eggun keke, itana keke, itana lau lau lau, eggun fumi lau lau.

They crowned the throne with a palm mortar and three ritual staffs in white, black, and red. They placed an effigy with an ancestor's bone, cow fat, snails, nine ikines, nine bull horns, nine porcupine heads, nine ewe ayo leaves, and a dove's head. They sacrificed the ram, singing:

Eru seye, eru seye, baba eru seye, eye mankio, eye mankio eye, eye ko eye mankio, maripo odara, ashikuela elebeo guero elebeo.

Then they called Eya Orun and Iku, singing:

Odere iku wa mu la orun, eya orun, orun aya iku.

A shadow approached and sat on the throne. They blessed it, singing:

Shango bi iku eggun, eggun obe lorun eggun, orun oba iku awa lode, Orunmila baba orun, mi la mewa iku, baba ni wa ishe iku, baba ni wa ishe.

They gave it a hen, singing "Iku yere eweye, iku yere." They gave it a dove, singing "Eyele birele eye eye eggun awa iku, eye birele eye eyele eggun awa iku." They gave it a guinea fowl, singing "Etu bale eye leri etu egunnile okuo olorun." They buried the heads at the throne. Awo Abana, kneeling before it, was consecrated with Death --- and Iku permitted him to leave the kingdom permanently so he could save his brothers before Olofin, despite their evil. He came home with them. Olofin blessed all of them. Awo Abana remained to care for the throne of Iku forever, for the good of his brothers.

Note: The person of Ogbe Sa sees a shadow at every moment. That shadow is Iku and Olofin. To overcome envy, place the throne of Iku in a corner of your house and call upon Olofin and Iku. The Ogbe Sa person must do things completely and not leave anything for later. If they call you, do not go immediately. They envy you because you do not ask anyone for anything and they want to know about your life. Ifá blesses the spirits of the dead.