Because Nobody Lives Forever

Because Nobody Lives Forever

One may live long

And one may not.

One should share whatever one could to posterity when one is still able to do so.

This morning I decided to share this Odu because it is very important.

Listen:

Iya Oyo says before Ifá gave us ọ̀pẹ̀lẹ̀, there was Òrìṣà.

Ẹ̀rìndínlógún is the eye (ojú) of Olórìṣà.

Ẹ̀rìndínlógún is the ẹyẹ (bird) of the women.

Iya Oyo says, “I am Ọmọ a yọ orù bá wọn wo ọmọ tuntun; ọmọ́ gbó, orù ò gbó: offspring of those who bring out the Orù pot to care for infants; the infants grow old, yet the orù remains fresh.”

“Tell me more, Iya Oyo,” I said.

“There is an Ẹ̀rìndínlógún text that goes with the odù,” Iya Oyo continued. “It is called Òdí.”

“I am attentive, Iya Oyo,” I responded.

Iya Oyo chanted Òdí sonorously; they opened their mouth and sang:

1.Orí ní kí n lówó lọ́wọ́

Orí ní kí n bímọ lémọ

Orí ní kí n lálàáfíà

Orí ní kí n níre gbogbo

5. Orí ní kí n gbó gbóó gbó

Orí ní kí n láyọ̀ kún ayọ̀

Orí ní kí n kọ́lé mọ́lé

Orí ní kí n jẹun ọmọ

Á dá fún Lágbájá, omo a yọ orù bá wọn wo ọmọ tuntun;

10.Ọmọ́ gbó, orù ò gbó

A dá fún Tàmẹ̀dù, omo a yọ orù bá wọn wo ọmọ tuntun;

Ọmọ́ gbó, orù ò gbó

A dá fún Làkásègbé, omo a yọ orù bá wọn wo ọmọ tuntun;

A dá fún Lámọrin, omo a yọ orù bá wọn wo ọmọ tuntun;

15. Ọmọ́ gbó, orù ò gbó, ọlọ́jà mẹ́rìndínlógún

Àwọn mẹ́rẹ̀ẹ̀rin ọmọ Ọ̀ṣun ni wọ́n

Ọ̀ṣún wò wọ́n dàgbà

Wọ́n di géńdé

Ni wọ́n bá fẹ́ àgàn lóbìrin

20. Àwọn mẹ́rẹ̀ẹ̀rin.

Ǹjẹ́ báwo ni àgàn ó ṣe bímọ fún wọn bayii?

Wọ́n ní kí wọn ó rú aṣọ̀ àlà

Wọ́n ní kí wọn ó rú ẹfun

Wọ́n ní kí wọn ó rú osùn

25. Wọ́n ní kí wọn ó rú omi

Wọ́n ní kí wọn ó rú oyin

Wọ́n ní kí wọn ó rú iyọ̀

Wọ́n ní kí wọn ó rú epo pupa

Wọ́n ní kí wọn ó rú ọtí

30. Wọ́n ní kí wọn ó rú ìlẹ̀kẹ̀ idẹ

Wọ́n ní kí wọn ó rú àgbébọ̀ adìyẹ

Wọ́n ní kí wọn ó rú àgùntàn bọ̀lọ̀jọ̀

Kí wọ́n ó sì rú Orù mẹ́rìndínlógún

Kí wọn ó pèsè ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ońjẹ àti ọtí

35. Kí wọn ó sì wá saworo idẹ ìlù ọṣun.

Àwọn mẹ́rẹ̀ẹ̀rin bá kó owó jọ

Wọ́n kọrí sí ọjà Ejìgbòmekùn

Ni wọ́n bá ra gbogbo ǹkan wọ̀nyi

Wọ́n fi bọ orí i wọn.

40. Nígbà tí yíò fi di àmọ́dún

Àwọn àgàn, wọ́n ti ọwọ́ àlà bosùn

Wọ́n fi pa ọmọ lára.

Ní ọjọ́ kẹjọ

Wọ́n mú ẹfun, wọ́n fi ẹfun pa ọmọ lójú

45. Wọ́n bu omi, wọ́n fi omi tọ́ ọmọ lẹ́nu

Wọ́n rọ oyin, wọ́n fi oyin tọ́ ọmọ lẹ́nu

Wọ́n kó iyọ̀, wọ́n fi iyọ̀ tọ́ ọmọ lẹ́nu

Wọ́n dá epo pupa, wọn fi epo pupa tọ́ ọmọ lẹ́nu

Wọ́n ṣí ọtí, wọ́n fi ọtí tọ́ ọmọ lẹ́nu

50. Wọ́n mú ìlẹkẹ̀ idẹ, wọ́n fi ìlẹ̀kẹ̀ idẹ sí ọmọ ní bẹ̀bẹ̀ré ìdí

Wọ́n tún yọ orù bá wọn tọ́jú ọmọ tuntun

Ọmọ orù mẹ́riǹdínlógún la fi kàgbo Ọ̀ṣun

Ọmọ́ gbó, orù ò gbó

Orí ní kí n lówó lọ́wọ́

55. Orí ní kí n bímọ lémọ

Orí ní kí n lálàáfíà

Orí ní kí n níre gbogbo

Orí ní kí n gbó gbóó gbó

Orí ní kí n láyọ̀ kún ayọ̀

60. Orí ní kí n kọ́lé mọ́lé

Orí ní kí n jẹun ọmọ

Á dá fún Lágbájá, omo a yọ orù bá wọn wo ọmọ tuntun;

Ọmọ́ gbó, orù ò gbó.

Wọ́n ń jó, wọ́n ń yọ̀

65. Wọ́n ń jẹ

Wọ́n ń mu.

Ǹjẹ kí la ó yọ bá wọn wo ọmọ tuntun?

Ọ̀ṣún ni ká yọ orù bá wọn wo ọmọ tuntun.

Lọ́ja Ifẹ̀ Òòyè Lagbò

70. Ní ibi àgàn ti ń bí wẹ́rẹ́.

1. My head is destined for wealth

My head is destined for many children

My head is destined for health

My head is destined for all god things

5. My head is destined for a long life

My head is destined for happiness

My head is destined for house ownership

My head is destined for rewards from my children

Cast for Lagbaja, offspring of those who bring out the Orù pot to care for infants;

10. The infants grow old, yet the orù remains fresh.”

Cast for Tamedu, offspring of those who bring out the Orù pot to care for infants;

The infants grow old, yet the orù remains fresh.

Cast for Lakasegbe, offspring of those who bring out the Orù pot to care for infants;

Cast for Lamorin, offspring of those who bring out the Orù pot to care for infants;

15. The infants grow old, yet the orù remains fresh, sixteen merchants strong.

The four folks are the children of Osun

Osun nursed them to adulthood

They became mature

Then went ahead to marry infertile wives

20. All four of them.

But how will their infertile women bear them children?

They were asked to offer as sacrifice a white piece of cloth

They were asked to offer as sacrifice white powder

They were asked to offer as sacrifice camwood

25. They were asked to offer as sacrifice water

They were asked to offer as sacrifice honey

They were asked to offer as sacrifice salt

They were asked to offer as sacrifice palm oil

They were asked to offer as sacrifice liquor

30. They were asked to offer as sacrifice brass beads

They were asked to offer as sacrifice a hen

They were asked to offer as sacrifice a large sheep

And to also sacrifice sixteen Orù clay pots

With lots of food to eat

35. And cymbals for Osun music

The four of them raised the funds

And proceeded to the Ejigbomekun market

And bought all these goods

And offered them as sacrifices to their heads

40. Within a year, their infertile wives birthed,

Rubbed their babies with camwood, wrapping them in white cloths

On the eighth day

They brought out white powder, and rubbed it on the babies’ faces.

They brought out water, and touched it to the babies’ mouths

45. They brought out honey, and touched it to the babies’ mouths

They brought out salt, and touched it to the babies’ mouths

They brought out palm oil, and touched it to the babies’ mouths

They brought out liquor, and touched it to the babies’ mouths

They brought out silver beads, and wore them on the babies’ waists

50. They brought out the Oru pots to care for the infants

Offspring of the sixteen Oru pots used to prepare Osun’s herbs

The children the infants grow old, yet the orù pots remain fresh.

My head is destined for wealth

My head is destined for many children

55. My head is destined for health

My head is destined for all god things

My head is destined for a long life

My head is destined for happiness

My head is destined for house ownership

60. My head is destined for rewards from my children

Cast for Lagbaja, offspring of those who bring out the Orù pot to care for infants;

The infants grow old, yet the orù remains fresh.”

Cast for Tamedu, offspring of those who bring out the Orù pot to care for infants;

The infants grow old, yet the orù remains fresh.

65. They started dancing, they started celebrating

They dined lavishly

And wined generously

What will we use to care for infants

Osun says we should bring out Oru post to care for infants

70. At the Òòyè Lagbò market of Ife