Ogbe Oyeku (Ogbe Oyeku · Ogbe Oyeku)

Ebbó: Two young hens, a bow (akofá), a small trap, a stuffed lion effigy (insu konsún león), white cloth, black cloth, a doll (malaguidí), eku, eya, epo, all the ewe, honey, otí, coconut, a candle, abundant money. Distribution: one chicken with its ingredients for oparaldó; one chicken with its ingredients for Eleggua. It is asked whether an Inshe Ozain must also be made.

In the beginning of time, all the animals had advantage over the Lion. When he lay down to sleep, they would climb on his back, laughing and mocking him without the slightest bit of respect. The Lion was noble, peaceful, defenseless. Tired of humiliation, he went to consult Orunmila and asked: Why do I suffer this way? What can I do to earn honor and respect?

Orunmila performed divination, and the sign Ogbe Oyekun appeared. He told the Lion to make ebbó with: a gourd, ashes, three nails, and the sacred leaves ewe ifá. He was to mash the leaves in water, add the ashes, and drink the potion. Then, before sleeping, he should urinate in a circle around the place where he lay.

The Lion obeyed. From that night on, when he rested, his circle of urine became a barrier of power. Those animals who dared cross it fell dead to the ground. Thus the Lion became feared and respected. When he roared, the animals trembled and said: Apart from Man, apart from himself, apart from the God of Heaven. And so the Lion became King of the Jungle.

Note: Ogbe Yekun is considered the oldest and most powerful of the signs in which its two sides (miradas) differ from one another, and he is able to outlive even the oldest of marks, aro or waro.

The Edanes of Oshun desired to hold an important position in life. Theywent to consult Awo Ogbe Ate, the diviner of the land of Edan Nilé. He cast the osode and Ogbe Yono came up --- the father of all Omoluos.

He told them: Before the Edanes die, the eldest of the Iworos will die first. So they were entrusted to be** the protectors of Oshun and of the Ogboni**.

The Lion, who was a friend of the Edanes, was being criticized by his own family. They said he had a bad head; they had given him an inferiority complex. The Edanes took him to Awo Ogbe Ate, who saw thesame Ifá and told him:

**In the future, all will respect him **--- if he made the prescribed ebbó, drank the prescribed brebaje, and urinated around the place where he was to sleep.

The Lion made the ebbó. Then he urinated around his resting place. When all the animals went to climb on him as before, they sensed the smell of his urine and died. Then the Lion roared with his new voice, and the animals said: It is not a man, it is not me, it does not come from heaven --- what is this here?

And the Lion answered: It is I, Kíníun, the Oba Igbo Birí.

From that day, all the animals recognized the Lion as King of the Jungle. Every time the Lion roars, the world trembles.

Note: Under this sign, the Edan is placed at Orunmila's foot, and an Inshe Ozain wrapped in lion skin is prepared. A gourd is placed with water, crushed laurel leaves, and ashes; the sixteen Meji are prayed over it, and it is drunk. This is for power. The odu also speaks of an Orisha once worshipped in that place or by that person who has been forgotten --- that Orisha must be honored again.