IFA OF THE YEAR 2008/2009
OTURUPON OTURA
The Odù of the year for 2008 / 2009 is Etúrúpòn nt’ewure (Etúrúpòn Òtúrá).
Ifá foresees the ire of victory for all Ifá practitioners the world over. Ifá advises all practitioners to offer ebó as appropriate.
For those born by this Odù, during Ikosedaye or Itelodu, Ifá enjoins them to offer ebó with one matured she-goat. This goat must not be slaughtered for any reason whatsoever. It must be handed over to the officiating Bàbáláwo to take away live. The officiating Bàbáláwo is free to do whatever he likes with the live she-goat when he got to his home. The important thing however is for this goat to be taken away from the home of those born by this Odù alive.
For all other devotees, Ifá enjoins to feed Ifá with two Kolanuts, four bitter kolas a bottle of liquor and plenty of palm oil. This will ensure the support of Ifá for all devotees.
THE MAIN MESSAGES
1. Ifá foresees victory for all Ifá practitioners this year. Ifá says that there is a lot of opposition in the lives and works of many Ifá practitioners the world over. Ifá however assures them of not only victory but also long life. In this Odù, Ifá says:
Boo tuu puke
O tu puke
Boo na gbaja
O na gbaja
Otu ni o lee tu puke
Ko na gbaja
Ko fi ba Eji-Ogbe je ooko
Igbo nla nii mu omo ni mu ori
Okunkun moni morun eni o
Awogbo ifohun nii m’eye oko su si’ni l’ori
Dia fun Aikulola
Tii s’omo Elesemawe
Eyi ti nbe laarin osiiri, Ti nbe laarin ota
Aikulola o nii ku l’ewe
Kangere
Ma dagba, ma d’arugbo
Kangere
Translation
If you want to unfold
You should do so
If you want to stretch
You should do so
Otu is it that cannot unfold or stretch
And still be in the same league like Eji-Ogbè
It is the thick forest that engulfs a child completely
Darkness is it that enshrouds one and even protects
Entering the forest without uttering a sound makes a bird defecate on one’s head
These were Ifa’s messages for Aikulola
The offspring of Elesemawe
The one who was experiencing hardship
And he was in the midst of adversaries
Aikulola will not die prematurely
Kangere
I will live long to old age
Kangere
2. Ifá equally assures all its devotees that all those who are waging wars and raising contentious issues against them shall be sanctioned.
This is the reason why Ifá devotees must never raise uncomplimentary and unsubstantiated issues or level frivolous allegations against other people. On this aspect, there is the need to offer ebó with three roosters, three hens and money. There is also the need to feed Ògún with a matured male dog. On this aspect, Oturupon nt’ewure declares:
Boo tu’la, o tu’la
Boo tu’kan, o tu’kan
Dia fun Aja toun Agere
Won jo n k’ejo re’di Ogun
Ebo ni won ni ki won se
Agere nikan ni nbe leyin ti nsebo
Agere nikan lo rubo tie lo ye
Ero Ipo ati Ofa
Ogun nii se fun ni nibe to ba bi ‘ni
Ko pe, ona o jin
E wa ba ni l’ajase Ogun
Ajase ogun laa ba ni l’ese Obarisa
Translation
If you want to harvest okra, please do so
If your intention is to harvest garden egg, you are free to do so
These were Ifa’s messages to Aja, dog and Agere, Ogun’s drum
When they were both going to Ògún shrine to report their contention
They were advised to offer ebó
Only Agere complied with the advice
It was Agere who complied that overcame and survived
Travelers to Ipo and Ofa towns
This Odù ensures victory if it is revealed during consultations.
In due course
Come and join us where we celebrate victory over opposition
3. Ifá warns all groups to be very careful this year. This is because five evil principalities will be moving from one group to the other and will be snuffing life out of important members of that group. Consequent upon this, there is the urgent need for each group to offer ebó with five matured she-goats. None of these she-goats must be slaughtered. It is very important for all devotees to offer this ebó. It is also very important for them to ensure that the goats were not slaughtered. The goats are to be taken away by the officiating priests and/or priestesses who offer the ebó. After this, food or snacks need to be supplied for all those present to be consumed.
All these ought to be taken seriously and handled as quickly as possible in order to prevent highly placed people from experiencing premature death. On these, Ifá says:
Bi a soore, a o kuu
Bi a sika, a o kuu
Parakoyi o dari iku jin enikan
Olorun o dari iku jin eeyan
Eruko idi, abidi sangele
Àwon maraarun ni iko ti Olódùmarè ran wale aye
Won dele Alara
Won pa Alara
Won gbagun Ile Alara
Won dele Ajero
Won pa Ajero
Won gbagun Ajero
Won dele Owanrangun Aga
Won pa Owanrangun Aga
Won gbagun Owarangun Aga
Won dele loja-loja, lade-lade
Won pa won
Won gbagun won
Won lo ku Ile Òrúnmìlà
Òrúnmìlà wa to awon Ikorita meta
Abidi yakata-yakata lo
Dia fun Orunmila
Nijo ti won ni Iko marun-un n waa bo wa
Ebó ni won ni ko won wa se
Òrúnmìlà si wa gbebo nibe nni lo n sebo
O ni eyin o mo pe Oturupon ti tu ewure lo ni o
Translation
If we are benevolent, we will still die
If we are wicked, we will still die
The administrators of the world (likened to a market place) do not spare anybody from tasting the bitter pill of death
The Heaven does not spare anyone from experiencing death
The hoe handle made with Idi tree with its crooked base
All these five delegates were sent to the world by Olódùmarè
On getting to Alara’s house
They killed Alara
They also confiscated all his belongings
When they got to the house of Ajero
They killed Ajero
They also confiscated his belongs
When they got to Owarangun Aga’s home
They killed him
They also took over his possessions
When they got to the homes of Lord temporal and Lord Spirituals
They slaughtered them all
And took over their possessions
They declared that their next victim would be Òrúnmìlà
Òrúnmìlà then approached Ikorita meta abidi yakata-yakata, the three cross roads with broad base, the resident Awo of Òrúnmìlà
They cast Ifá for Òrúnmìlà
When they declared that the five delegates were coming to visit him
He was advised to offer ebó
He complied
Òrúnmìlà declared that ‘don’t you know that Etúrúpòn had untied the goats and taken them away’?
Note: One goat represents appeasement material for one evil
principality. Therefore, the five goats are meant for the five evil principalities to disperse from the group’s lives.
4. Ifá says that it foresees the ire of many children for Ifá devotees this year. Ifá assures that the way will be opened for our women who are looking up to Olódùmarè for the fruit of the womb to receive their blessings this year. Ifá however cautions that these couples need to be eating very well before they think of going for fashion or to look good and smell nice. In fact, Ifá says that these people need to eat first before bathing. They however need to offer ebó with rats, fish and money. On this, Ifa says:
Eleko la ba ki
Ebi dandan ni yoo p’olose
B’obun o ba yo tan, kii we
Dia fun Elede e yayi
Ti nmomi oju sungbere omo
Ebo ni won ni o waa se
O gbebo, o rubo
Omo sun niwaju
Omo sun leyin
Laarin omo yooyo laa gbe nb’odo
Translation
Let us praise the person who supply us with our daily meal
A soap seller will die of hunger
If a dirty person does not eat to his satisfaction, he will never think of bathing
These were Ifa’s messages for Elede e yayi, the pig
Who was lamenting her inability to bear children?
She was advised to offer ebó
She complied
Many children are in the front
Many children are also coming from behind
In the midst of many children do we find a pig?
5. Ifá says that there is the need for all Ifá communities to investigate and find out who among them is a fair complexioned lady that Ifá says is being threatened by death. Ifá says that the moment this woman is identified, she must not bath for seven consecutive days. If this step is taken, the woman would definitely be spared from experiencing untimely death. Ifá describes this woman as the wife of a highly placed person in the community.
Ifá advises this woman to offer ebó with one matured he-goat and money. If this can be done, then long life can be assured. On this aspect, Ifá says:
Awo felefele boju egungun
Dia fun Adaramawe
Tii sobinrin Olofin
Ebo aiku ni won ni ko waa se
O koti ogbohin s’ebo
Ero Ipo ati Ofa
Eyin o mo pe ojo ti Ina we
Ni Ina b’omi lo o
Translation
The light leather is used as veil to cover the face of Ègúngún, the Masquerade
This was Ifa’s message to Adaramawe (the beautiful one who must not bath)
The wife of Olófin
She was advised to offer ebó of longevity
She ignored the advice
Travelers to Ipo and Ofa towns
Can’t you see that it was the day Ina, Fire took a bath?
That she was snuffed to death by water
6. Ifá warns everyone to beware of food poisoning. They must be careful about what they eat and/or drink. Ifá also warns everyone against taking hot food and drink during this period. Ifá says that even if the food to be taken is hot, it must be allowed to become a little cool before it is consumed.
Ifá also advises people to careful in any gathering or get
together where there are foods and drinks to consume. This is because poison may be introduced deliberately or inadvertently. In the same vein, there is the need for everyone to watch the expiry date of any food or drink for consumption in order to avoid consuming contaminated food or drink. Ifá advises the group to offer ebó with one bearded he-goat and money. More importantly, extreme caution must be exercised. On these aspects, Ifá says:
Boo tuu puke
Koo tu puke
Boo na gbaja
Koo na gbaja
Dia fun Òrúnmìlà
Baba nloo ba won mo Etutu n’Ife
Otun ilu, otii mi ree o
Ijin, ojojo nii ganranmu, ijin
Aro, osi, iyalode, odofin ilu, otii mi ree o
Ijin, ojojo niganranmu, ijin
Translation
If you want to unfold
You should do so
If you want to stretch
You should stretch
These were Ifa’s declarations to Òrúnmìlà
When going to participate in a ritual at Ifè
He was advised to offer ebó
He complied
Otun of this town, here is my drink
Ijin, ojojo ni ganranmu, ijin
Aro of this town, here is my drink
Ijin, ojojo ni ganranmu ijin
Osi, Iyalode and Odofin of this town, here is my drink
Ijin, ojojo ni ganranmu, ijin
7. Ifá says that there are many people where this Odù is revealed whose efforts are being misconstrued for evil. Ifá says that all the things they are doing are for the development of the community, yet people feel that they are the ones responsible for the pains and agony in the community. Ifá however enjoins them to continue to do well in spite of all their tribulations and oppositions. If they continue to do well, very soon, very very soon indeed, their good deeds shall be noticed and recognized. Ifá advises these people to offer ebó with two roosters, two hens and money. Ifa also advises them to feed Oro with a ram. An aspect of Oturupon nt’ewure dealing with this issue says:
Ita jare
Irele jare
Dia fun Orunmila
Baba ns’oore l’Otu Ife
Won ni ibi lo nse
Nje Ita jare, Irele jare
K’Otu Ife o r’oju, k’Otu Ife o r’aaye
K’aboyun Ile-Ife o bi tibi-tire
K’agan Ife o t’owo ala b’osun
Ita j’aare, Irele j’aare
Translation
Ita, we beg thee
Irele, we beg you
This was the Ifa cast for Òrúnmìlà
Baba was showing benevolence at Otu-Ife
And was misconstrued that it was evil
Ita and Irele, Oro deities, we beg of you
May the land of Otu-Ife be peaceful
May the land be tranquil?
May the pregnant women of Ile-Ife deliver safely?
May the barren have the fruit of the womb?
Ita deity, we beg thee
Irele deity, we beg you
8. Ifá warns all its devotees to heed warnings and never to take anything for granted. Ifá says that there is the need to investigate everything properly before dismissing it as insignificant. Ifá says that it will not be favorable for any of its devotees to be made a victim whom people would see as an example of avoidable disaster. There is the need for this people to offer ebó and remove stubbornness in their lives. On this, Ifá says:
Oturupon boo tu puke, koo tu puke
Oturupon boo na gbaja, koo na gbaja
O o lee tu puke, koo na gbaja
Koo ba Eji-Ogbe jooko
Dia fun Oloogbe, tii Sologun lode Itori
Dia fun Alagbata obinrin re
Won ni ki won rubo, ki won ma baa bogun lo
Nje Oro gb’Oloogbe lonii o
Oro gb’Oloogbe o
Alagbata o o ye’ra wo
Oro gb’Oloogbe o!
Translation
If you want to unfold
You should do so
If you want to stretch
You should do so
Otu is it that cannot unfold or stretch
And still be in the same league like Eji-Ogbè
These were Ifa’s messages for Oloogbe
The warrior in Itori land
And also to Alagbata, his woman
They were advised to offer ebo against being overwhelmed by uprising
They refused to comply
Behold! Oro has carried Oloogbe today
Alagbata, you better be careful
Oro has carried Oloogbe away!
ABORU ABOYE!
AFFILIATED ORISA / IRUNMOLE
1. Ifá
2. Orí
3. Èsù Odara
4. Ògún
5. Òsun
6. Egbe
7. Oro
8. Sango
TABOOS
1. Must not eat Okra
2. Must not eat garden egg
3. Must not eat or drink hot meal
4. Must not show stubbornness or rely on any special means
5. Must not plan against others
6. Must avoid eating crab
7. Must avoid maltreating strangers
ABORU ABOYE!