Ogunda Ogbe (Ogunda Ogbe · Ogunda Ogbe)

Patakín: On this path Orunmila made ebo for Oká — the majá (boa) — because he had no teeth with which to eat, using four white doves and three obí. Afterward he told him: go and wait for Obatalá on the road, give him the obí and the doves, and ask him for this favor.

Oká did as he was told, and when Obatalá saw him, he said: "My son, what use do I have for those obí you carry?" Oká said: "I give them to you, and the doves as well, if you grant me the favor of having teeth to eat with."

Since Obatalá did in fact need the obí, he accepted, and taking four pins that he had, he fastened them into Oká's mouth, two above and two below, and by his virtue transformed them into teeth, telling him: "From this day forward, and for as long as the world is the world, you shall have the power that every animal you bite shall fall dead at your side."

Obatalá withdrew very content with the obí and the doves. Along the way, something fell from his bag, and when he noticed it, he mentioned it to his servant Oketé (the rat), who said: "Wait here for me, I will go and find it." Obatalá told him: "No, leave it, let us continue on our way." Oketé disobeyed him and turned back to search for what was lost. When he arrived, he came upon Oká, who bit him and swallowed him whole.

When Obatalá learned what had happened to his servant Oketé, he cursed Oká, saying to him: "For as long as the world is the world, every time you swallow an animal you shall have to stop and rot it within your own entrails." To iban Eshu.

Patakín: Metalofín wished to put the bokones (diviners) of the city to the test. To this end, he had carved from a piece of wood the statue of a pregnant woman, and at the same time had the entire surface of his patio paved over with great stones. He laid the statue in the vestibule, covered it with garments, and placed inside it a living dove, whose movement gave the statue the appearance of being alive; he then had all the stones in the patio covered over with sand.

Ejiogbé was the first to be summoned. Metalofín said: "Here is my wife, on the point of giving birth. I have sent for you to help me with the delivery." Ejiogbé answered: "Very well — but first I must go fetch my ashé akrolole (ritual staff)." When he returned, he raised his staff to drive it forcefully into the ground, but its point broke against the stones — Ejiogbé had not expected this. Metalofín said: "You know nothing," and had him thrown into prison.

He then summoned Oyekún Meyi, and his staff likewise broke against the stone floor; he too was disqualified and sent to prison.

Ogunda Biode, though still a child, was very shrewd — he was even the chief of the thieves. The young rascal did nothing but travel from country to country under the pretext of interpreting Ifá. At the moment these events were taking place in Metalofín's patio, he happened to be away on one of his travels.

During that journey he had won three roosters, three balls of akará, and three five-cent coins. On his way back, about six kilometers from the city, he met Elegbá, who asked him: "Ogunda Biode, where are you coming from?" "I come from the house of a client," he answered, "for whom I interpreted Ifá." Elegbá asked: "Have you won anything?" He listed the prizes he had received, and Elegbá asked: "And my share?" Ogunda Biode gave him a rooster, a ball of akará, and a five-cent coin.

Each continued on his way, but four kilometers from the city, Elegbá — this time disguised — appeared to him again on the road with the same questions. Ogunda Biode again repeated the gifts.

At two kilometers, Elegbá appeared once more under his first form. The same questions repeated, Elegbá added: "Very well — Metalofín needs you. He has sent for you several times, for he has summoned many bokones to his house and has imprisoned them. But I will tell you a secret: he has scattered stones all over the patio of his house — there is only one place that is not paved, the spot where he sets his seat.

As for the pregnant woman on whose account he has summoned the diviners, she is nothing but a common wooden statue, covered with garments beneath which a living dove is concealed. When Metalofín calls for you, bring your ashé akrolole and do not fear to plant it as close as possible to his seat, right at his feet. Once it is planted, you will say to Metalofín: 'You are nothing but a troublemaker. You have set up a statue of wood dressed in garments in order to deceive people. If my family has wronged you, it would be better to say so openly, rather than imprisoning my relatives one by one through such tricks. You have buried stones all over the patio, all to deceive people.'"

Ogunda Biode followed Elegbá's advice to the letter. And when he had repeated these words to Metalofín, the latter replied: "What is he saying?" "Only the truth!" said Ogunda Biode. "It is Ifá who has told me this." Metalofín then asked: "And why have you not told the others?" "I was afraid of you," Ogunda Biode answered. After a while, Metalofín, filled with shame, ordered the prisoners freed, and thus Ogunda Biode achieved the liberty of all his kinsmen.

Nota: Here is the reason Ogunda Biode is considered an important odu — it delivers from difficulties and from bad turns those who find themselves in them.