Ìrẹtẹ̀ Méjì.

Do you know why people say Ọbá wàjà (the monarch climbed the rafter) and not Ọbá kú (the monarch died)?

You will find the answer to the riddle in Ìrẹtẹ̀ Méjì.

Orunmila was a monarch, who gave birth to several other monarchs including Alárá, Ajerò, Ọlọ́wọ̀ and several others.

You will also find out in Ìrẹtẹ̀ Méjì why Yoruba people (ọmọ a yọ orù bá wọn tọ́jú) do not die, but climb the rafter.

You can read the entire Yoruba and English translations or you may just go straight to the English version at the bottom of this post if you don’t read Yoruba.

***

O̧mọ a yọ orù bá wọn tójú (The child raised with Oru pot)

Kò tiẹ̀ kú mọ́ (Does not die)

Ẹkún arira lẹ̀ ń sun (You are weeping for the Arira tree)

O̧mọ a yọ orù bá wọn wò dàgbà (The child raised with Oru pot to adulthood)

Kò tiẹ̀ kú mọ́ (Doesn’t die)

Ẹkún arira lẹ̀ ń sun (You are weeping for the Arira tree)

***

Ìrẹtẹ̀ méjì.

Tí à n pe ni Èjì ẹlẹ́mẹ̀rẹ̀

Ó ní ká dijú dijú

Ká ṣe bí ẹni tó kú

5. Ká wẹni tí ó sunkún ẹni

Ká bùrìn, bùrìn, bùrìn

Ká fẹsẹ̀ kọ

Ká wẹni tí ó ṣe ni pẹ̀lẹ́

A dífá fún Ọ̀rúnmìlà

10. Níjọ́ tí baba ó fikú tan mọ̀lẹ́bí ẹ jẹ.

Ọ̀rúnmìlà òpìtàn, ó ní bí gbogbo ènìyàn ṣe ń jó lé òun lọtǔn

Tí wọ́n ń yọ̀ mọ́ òun lósì

Òun fẹ́ mọ àwọn tó fẹ́ òun dénu nínú wọn

Òun fẹ́ mọ bí wọ́n ṣe fẹ́ òun dénú sí

15. Ọ̀rúnmìlà bá gbéra lọ́jọ́ kan

Babá lọ sí inú igbó

Ni ó wá lọ gbé igi arira

Ó gbẹ́ ẹ ní ère

Gẹ́gẹ́ bí èèyàn

20. Ó wá gbé e sínú ilé

Ó wá da aṣọ funfun bò ó

Ọ̀rúnmìlà wá pe Amósùn

Tí í ṣe ọmọ rẹ̀

Ó ní kó lọ kéde pé

25. Babá mà ti papòdà o

Sí gbogbo àwọn mọ̀lẹ́bí òun

Ọ̀rúnmìlà wá gun òkè àjà lọ

Láti lè mọ gbogbo ohun tó ń ṣẹlẹ̀.

Ni Amósùn bá dé ọ̀dọ̀ Ògún

30. Ó ní baba òun ló sùn ní àná

Tí kò jí ní àárọ̀ yǐ o

Ó ní kí Ògún wá bá àwọn mú aṣọ kúrò ní ojú u rẹ̀

Àti bí àwọn yíò ṣe ṣe ètò ilẹ̀ gbígbẹ́

Nítorí ìwọ Ògún

35. Ìwọ ni o nirin.

Ògún ní “Á à; Ọrúnmìlà tí kú.”

Ó ní Ọlọ́run ló mú u.

Ògún ní kí òun tó lè jáde nínú ilé

Ó ní òun yíò gba igba ajá

40. Ni Amósùn bá gbéra lọ sí ọ̀dọ̀ Ṣàngó.

Ó kó ẹjọ́ ó rò;

Gbogbo ohun tí ojú òún rí.

Sàngó ní kí òun tó lè jáde rárá

Òun ní láti gba igba àgbò

45. Ni Amósùn bá kúrò níbẹ̀

Ó gba ọ̀dọ̀ Ọ̀ṣun Oníbú ọlà lọ.

Amósùn dé ọ̀dọ̀ Ọ̀ṣun

Ó ní ohun báyìí, báyìí, báyìí,

Ni ó mà ṣe baba òun

50. Àsùnmọ́jú òní ni babá mà papòdà o

Ó ku bí wọn ó ṣe wá palẹ̀ òkú mọ́.

Ọ̀ṣun ní igba àgbébọ̀ adìyẹ ni òún ó gbà

Bí wọ́n bá fẹ rí ẹsẹ̀ òun níta

Ó ní gàlè-gàlè Ọrúnmìla gan-an tịẹ̀ pọ̀

55. Yíò máa ṣe bí ẹni wípé

Òun nìkan ló wà nílé ayé.

Amósùn dọ́dọ̀ Ọ̀sanyìn

Ọ̀sanyìn ná à sọ tiẹ̀

Amósùn gbéra ó dọ̀dọ̀ Ọbàtálá,

60. Ọbataàsà, Ọba takun-takun lóde Ọ̀rànjé

Amósùn kẹ́jọ́ ó rò fún un.

Ọbàtálá ní òun gan-an ni òún pa á!

Ó ní àkú-tún-kú ù rẹ lọ́nà ọrun.

Ó ní òun ti mọ̀ pé kò ní sàìkú láìpẹ́:

65. Ẹ̀dá ò lè má a ṣe gàlè-gàlè bẹ́ẹ̀yẹn kó jayé pẹ́

Ó ní òun á gba igba ìgbín láì dín ẹyọ kan.

Ká mọ́ déènà penu

Amosùn tọ ọ̀dọ̀ gbogbo àwọn mọ̀lẹ́bí Ọ̀rúnmìlà lọ.

Gbogbo ohun tí kálukú sì ń sọ pátápátá

70. Gbogbo rẹ̀ ni Ọ̀rúnmìlà ń gbọ́ lókè àjà

Gbogbo ọ̀rọ̀ tí wọ́n sọ lókè odò

Letí ọmọ ẹyẹ ń gbọ́

Òhun ni Ọ̀rúnmila fi ọ̀rọ̀ náà ṣe.

Nígbàtí Amósùn wá fẹ́ má a bọ̀ padà wálé

75. Amós̀un wá ránti pé

Ó mà sì ku ẹnìkan tí wọ́n ń pè ní Èṣù u!

Àmọ́, ṣé ó yẹ kí òun tiẹ̀ yọjú sí Èṣù rárá?

Ẹni tí ó jẹ́ wípé ọ̀dájú ni.

Tí ó jẹ́ wípé ojú aláìda ni wọ́n fi ń wo Èṣù;

80. Ẹni tí gbogbo arayé kà sí ìkà.

Ó bá ni kí òun tiẹ̀ gbéra kí òun dé ọ̀dọ̀ Èṣù

Kí wọn má wípé òun ò ka Èṣù kún ǹkankan

Ìgbà tí yíò dé ọ̀dọ̀ Èṣù ńkọ́?

Iwájú ìta ló bá Èṣù

85. Bí ó ti rí Amósùn tí Amósùn ń bọ̀

Tí ó rí i wípé ojú Amósùn kọ́rẹ́ lọ́wọ́

Ó ní, “Amósùn ṣe kò sí ǹkan?

Kí ló ha dé?”

Mímú ẹnu tí Amósùn mú ẹnu lé ọ̀rọ̀

90. Wípé “Ọ̀rúnmìla ni….”

Èṣù ní kí ni ó ṣe é?

Amósùn ní “Baba ni ó sùn lánǎ

Tí kò jí, tó papòdà.”

Kí Amósùn tó sọ ọ̀rọ̀ délẹ̀

95. Ni Èṣù ti gbé ara sókè bí ẹ̀ẹ̀mẹfà, bí ẹ̀ẹ̀meje

Tí Èṣù ti na ara rẹ̀ mọ́lẹ̀.

Bí Èsù ti ń fi ojú ọ̀tún sunkún

Ni ó ń fi ti òsì sun ẹ̀jẹ̀

Kí á tó wí, kí á tó fọ̀

100. Kí Amósùn ó tó o délė

Èṣù ti ṣáájú Amósùn délé Ọ̀rúnmìlà.

Dídé tí Èṣù dé inú ilé Ọrúnmìlà

Ní gbàgede ni ó ti rí aṣọ funfun

Tí wọ́n dà bo ère mọ́lẹ̀

105. Èṣù rò pe òkú Ọ̀rúnmìlà ló wà níbẹ̀

Ó kérora, ó ní “Háà, ìwọ Ọ̀rúnmìlà tó ń tún ilé ayé ṣe

O ò gbọdọ̀ kú báyìí rárá

Bí ó ṣe gbé ara lẹ̀ sókè

Pé kó na ara rẹ̀ mọ́lẹ̀

110. Ni Ọ̀rúnmìlà bá sọ̀kálẹ̀ lókè àjà

Ni Èṣù bá ta kìjí

Ni Ọrúnmìlà bá gbá a mú

Ó ní kí ó fi ọkàn balẹ̀

Ọrúnmìlà ní òun ò kú.

115. Ó ní èése mọ̀ ó se

Ó ní ká dijú dijú

Ká ṣe bí ẹni tó kú

Ká wẹni tí ó sunkún ẹni

Ká bùrìn, bùrìn, bùrìn

120. Ká fẹsẹ̀ kọ

Ká wẹni tí ó ṣe ni pẹ̀lẹ́

A dífá fún Ọ̀rúnmìlà

Níjọ́ tí baba ó fikú tan mọ̀lẹ́bí ẹ jẹ.

Síbẹ̀ síbẹ̀, Èṣù ò gbàgbọ́ ná à

125. Ọ̀rúnmìlà wá á gbá a mú

Ó ní kí Èṣù sí aṣọ kúrò lóju ǹkan tí ḿ bẹ nílẹ̀.

Ṣíṣí tí Èṣù ṣí aṣọ

Ni ó rí i pé igi ni ó wà ḿbẹ̀

Ni Èṣù bá jókǒ kalẹ̀

130. Ọ̀rúnmìlà bá ṣàlàyé wípé òun ni òún dá ọgbọ́n bẹ́ ẹ̀

Pé bí gbogbo ayé ṣe ń yẹ́ òun sí lọ́tǔn

Tí wọ́n ń yẹ́ òun sí lósì

Òun fẹ́ mọ ẹni tó fé òun dénú

Ni òun ṣe wípé kí wọn lọ kéde òkú òun

135. Ìwọ Èṣù tí a kà sí ẹni ibi tẹ́lẹ̀

Àṣé o kì í ṣẹni ibi

Àṣe ìwọ gan an ni o fẹ́ òun dénú dénú

Ọ̀rúnmìlà wá ní láti òní lọ

Ó ní òkèlè àkọ́bù omo awo

140. Ni wọ́n gbọ́dọ̀ kọ́kọ́ fún ìwọ Èṣù

Ó ní ẹlẹẹ̀kejì

Ibi tí òun Ọ̀rúnmìlà bá ti wà nínú ilé

Kí ìwọ Èṣù má a wà ní ẹ̀hìnkùnlé

Kí o má jìnnà sí òun.

145. Òkèlè àkọ́bù awo

Kí wọn ó mȧ a fi ti Èṣù fún Èṣù

Kí ó tó di pé awo tó lè ṣe ǹkankan o

Kí wọn ó má a fi ìbà fún Èṣù

Kí ìwọ Èṣù kọ́kọ́ má a jẹun.

150. Kí o kọ́kọ́ má a yó

Kí ó tó di pé òún jẹun

Kí ó tó di pé òun mu

Ni Èṣù bá bẹ̀rẹ̀ sí ní dúpẹ́

Ni Ọ̀rúnmìlà bá ṣí aṣọ kúrò lórí ère

155. Ni wọ́n rí i wípé igi arira ni

Ijó ní ń jo

Ayọ̀ ní ń yọ̀.

Ó fohùn sókè ó fi dígbe

Ó ń kọrin bí ẹní kIfá

160. Ó ń kIfá bí ẹni ń kọrin

Ó ń ṣe:

“Ẹkún igi arira lẹ̀ ń sun ò

Ẹkún igi arira lè ń sun;

Ọ̀rúnmìlà òpìtàn tẹ́ ló kú

165. Kò mà tiẹ̀ kú mọ́

Ẹkún igi arira lẹ̀ ń sun

Ọmọ a yọ orù bá wọn tọ́jú ò tiè kú mọ́

Ẹkún igi arira lẹ̀ ń sun.

***

Irete Meji

Also known as Eji elemere

It says we should close our eyes

And pretend to be dead

To see who will mourn our death

We should keep walking

And dash our toes against a rock

To see who cares we got hurt

They cast Ifa for Orunmila

When the patriarch pretended to his relatives that he was dead

Orunmile, storyteller, noticed that multitudes of people celebrated him on the right

And numerous others hailed him on the left

Yet he wanted to know those who truly loved him among them

He wanted to know the depth of their love for him.

Orunmila got up one day

And headed for deep in the forest

Located the arira tree

And sculpted it

Into a human form

And placed it in his house

Then covered it with a white cloth.

Orunmila then called Amosun

Who was his son

And asked him to announced publicly

That he was dead

Ensuring all his friends heard the message.

Orunmila then climbed up the rafters

To see how people would react to the announcement.

Amosun went to Ogun

Told him that his father went to bed last night

But didn’t wake up the following morning.

He asked Ogun to help them to uncover the decease’s face

And assist with the burial processes

Especially because it was Ogun’s prerogative

As the divinity who handles metals for digging.

Ogun exclaimed, “Orunmila is dead.”

He said it was divine retribution.

Ogun said before he could as much as step out of his house

He would take an offering of two hundred dogs.

Amosun then went to see Sango

And narrated the entire story

Detailing what he was going through.

Sango said if they wanted him to leave his abode

He wanted an offering of two hundred rams.

Amosun left the place

And proceed to Osun Onibu-ola’s home.

When Amosun reached Osun’s place

He said this tragedy happened

To his father

Overnight, his father died

And they now needed to plan for the funeral ceremony.

Osun demanded an offering of two hundred large hens

If they wanted her to lift a finger to assits them.

She added that Orunmila was such an arrogant person

Who loved to lord it over everybody.

Amosun then proceeded to Osanyin

Osanyin offered excuses and pretenses.

Amosun moved on to Obatala

Obatala, the great one with a mansion at the source.

Amosun fully explained the situation to him.

Obatala explained that he was in fact the one who murdered Orunmila

And wished Orunmila even greater misfortunes than death.

Obatala said he knew Orunmila’s death was imminent

Because nobody as arrogant as Orunmila was could live long.

He demanded an offering of nothing less than two hundred giant snails.

To cut a long story short

Amosun visited all of Orunmila’s relatives

But Orunmila heard the excuses of every one of them

From the rafters where he hid himself.

Every word that people utter upstream of the river

Is audible to the bird

Just as Orunmila heard what was going on around him.

When Amosun turned back to return home

He suddenly remembered that

There was still one fellow called Esu he had not called upon.

But should he even bother telling Esu?

This was a fellow notorious for being heartless.

A fellow well known as a callous character

Someone considered as pitiless.

He decided to visit Esu for the sake of it

Otherwise, it might appear he didn’t accord Esu any respect.

What happened when he got to Esu’s house?

Esu was outside his house.

As soon as he saw Amosun approaching him,

And noticed that Amosun wore a frown

He asked, “Amosun, what is the matter?

Hope there is no problem?”

Amosun opened his mouth

And said, “Orunmila is the matter….”

Esu asked what the matter was with Orunmila.

Amosun said, “My father went to bed last night

But failed to wake up this morning, totally dead.”

Before Amosun even completed his words

Esu jumped up high into the air six or seven times

Dashing his body on the ground viciously.

Esu wept tears in the right eye

And blood in the left.

In a matter of moments

Before Amosun go home

Esu was already in Orunmila’s house.

As soon as Esu entered the house

He saw the white pall in the corridor,

The shroud placed on the wooden sculpture.

Ese instantly assumed Orunmila’s body was under the shroud

And cried out in agony, “Woe! You Orunmila who repairs the world

You cannot perish like this!”

He jumped up again

To dash his body against the floor

But Orunmila came down from the rafters.

Esu was startled.

But Orunmila held him

And assured him that all was well.

Orunmila told Esu that he Orunmila did not die

He said he was just pretending to be dead.

He said we should close our eyes

And pretend to be dead

To see who will mourn our death

We should keep walking

And dash our toes against a rock

To see who cares we got hurt

They cast Ifa divination for Orunmila

When the patriarch pretended to his relatives that he was dead.

But Esu was still not convinced it was just acting.

Orunmila held Esu again

And asked him to remove the shroud from the object on the floor.

Once Esu removed the shroud

And saw that it was just a carving under the pall

Esu immediately sat down on the floor, relieved.

Orunmila explained that it was all his ploy

As people were hailing him on the right

And greeting him on the left

He wanted to find out who truly loved him

Leading him to ask them to announce his obituary.

And you, Esu, who everybody assumed was a bad person,

It turns out you are not bad in any way.

You were the only person who truly loved him.

Orunmila then said that as from that moment

The first morsel of food of all Ifa devotees

Must first be offered to Esu.

Secondly, he said,

In any house in which he Orunmila is present within the house

You Esu must be placed at the back of the house

So you are never far from him.

The first morsel of all diviners when they eat

Should be given as offering to Esu.

And before diviners make any pronouncement

They must first pay homage to Esu.

You Esu must always be well fed

You Esu must always be fed to satisfaction

Before he Orunmila even touches any meal

Or touches any drink.

Esu began to offer thanks

As Orunmila fully removes the shroud from the carving

To reveal that it was sculpted from the Arira tree.

Esu began to dance

And began to celebrate.

He raised his voice lyrically

And began to sing like they chant Ifa verses,

Chanting Ifa verses, like they croon songs,

He began to sing:

“It is for the Arira tree that you are crying

It is the Arira tree you are mourning

Orunmila, the storyteller, whose obituary you announced

Is far from deceased

It is for the Arira tree that you are crying.

The child you brought out the oru pot to raise does not die

It is for the Arira that you are crying.