IFA OF THE YEAR 2021/2022 FROM OKE-ITASE, ILE-IFE, STATE OF OSUN, NIGERIA.
Eriwo ya!
We greet you all in the name of Olodumare, Orunmila and all other Orisa. We also extend the greetings of Araba Agbaye (the permanent Chairman of the Council of Araba/Oluwo, the pillar of the International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR)) to you all in this season of the World Ifa Festival. With combine efforts of Board of Ethics and Scripture and the Council of Elders of ICIR, we the members of Publication Committee of the Oke-Itase 2021/2022 Organising Committee set up by the International Council for Ifa Religion are hereby presenting verses of the Ifa of the year recited with inspiration by the priests on the mat in the early hour of Sunday, 6th June, 2021, which stands as the first day of the year in Ifa calendar system. The Odu Ifa that came out for this year is OSE-OKANRAN (OSE on the right, OKANRAN on the left). The Odu came with Ire Aiku (Longevity) and ebo is recommended. Ifa Priests from Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Republic of Togo, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany, United States of America, Venezuela, Cuba, Argentina, Panama, Britain, Switzerland, Ghana and Sweden were all there and made their contributions. The verses of OSEO-KANRAN recited with their narratives are below:
1.
Ifa said this is a year of blessings. Many people who are planning traveling abroad will be successful in their plans this year while people who stay at home will also receive blessings. We need to make ebo to always come across fortunes as we go out every day.
There will be a lot of rain especially in the night this year. Human activities especially blocking of waterways will cause flood disaster. Ifa says we should avoid that.
People should refrain from travelling at night for various dangers. Also, when it rains during the day, it is good for us to allow the rain to touch our body, but not to get soaked. Items of ebo include 8 pigeons, honey, gin, soap, money and Ifa leaves. After making the ebo, akose will be done with soap for the person to bath. On this Ifa says:
i.
Ose dudu awo won nile Alara
Olokanran pupa awo Oke Ijero
Kiku ma pa wa diwoyi amodun, Awo Owanigbajo nile Ido
Bi arugbo ba gbo toko
Inu a bi won bi won
Ojo ogogo eyi o ro lanaa, ee si eni o mo
A fi Olodooyo
A fi Sekelewe
A difa fun Orunmila
Baba n lo ree pade Ireloye ni kutukutu awuro
Kin lope n gbe mi ko?
Eni rere! Ni Ope n gbe mi ko. Eni rere!
Igba ti mo jade mo kore aje
Eni rere! Ni Ope n gbe mi ko. Eni rere!
Igba ti mo jade mo kore gbogbo
Eni rere! Ni Ope n gbe mi ko. Eni rere!
Ose, the black man, the priest in the city of Alara
Olokanran, the light complexioned man, the priest in Ijero
Lets us live to witness next festival, the priest of Owaringbajo in Ido
When an old woman is submissive to the husband
The young co-wives become angry
The amount of rain that fell yesterday night, nobody knows
Except Olodooyo
Except sekelewe
Ifa revelation to Orunmila
When he was going to meet with Ireloye, early in the morning
What is Ope taking me to meet with?
Good people! Are those Ope taking me to meet with. Good people!
When I went out, I met with wealth
Good people! Are those Ope taking me to meet with. Good people!
When I went out, I came across all good things
Good people! Are those Ope taking me to meet with. Good people!
ii.
Ose teere awo Olukaje
Olokanran lawo Olukode
Awo to ba rin to ba jinna
Ni kode kokun ko jingbinni wale
A difa fun Orunmila
Ifa ji, Ifa ni owo oun ko ba ire
Won ni lonii lojo ire baba
Jiji ti mo ji lonii, mo ko alaje
Eni rere
Ni Ope n gbe mi ko
Eni rere
Ose teere the priest of Olukaje
Olokanran the priest of Olukode
The priests that travels far
Will bring home fortunes
Ifa revelation to Orunmila
When he was longing for fortunes
He was told it was already his time to receive blessing
As I woke up today, I came across people with wealth
Good people
Are the ones that Ope has taken me to meet
Good people
2.
For our community, state or nation, Ebo is recommended for economic development. Ebo and akose are needed for all the markets in the town. Items of ebo include, eggs, banana, pigeons, gin, money and Ifa leaves. After the ebo, akose will be done and bury in the market. On this, Ifa says:
Ose onide la i maa peri
Okanran gude ma ni
A difa fun Orunmila
Baba n lo ree ba won na oja Ejigbomekun
Ero Ipo tofa
E wa bani ni arusegun
N la n bani lese Obarisa
Ose onide la i maa peri
Okanran gude ma ni
Cast Ifa for Orunmila
When goint to Ejigbomekun market
Travellers to Ipo and Ofa
Come and meet us in victory
In such condition we meet one at the feet of Obarisa
3.
Ifa said there is about to be war, but ebo is needed so that there won’t be war. Ifa warns us against looking for war. We should neither depend on arms nor charms but ebo. Items of ebo include eggs, chicken, wooden pegs, money and Ifa leaves. After the ebo, the akose will be buried at the four corners of the community. On this, Ifa says:
Orunmila wi ka se oran kan bole
Emi naa ni ki a se oran kan bole baba Agbonniregun
O ni ogun kan ti n ja won nile Alara
O ni ki won ru ebo ki won se oran bole
O ni ki ogun naa ma baa ja won mo
Orunmila wi ka se oran kan bole
Emi naa ni ki a se oran kan bole baba Agbonniregun
O ni ogun kan ti n ja won nile Ajero
O ni ki won ru ebo ki won se oran bole
O ni ki ogun naa ma baa ja won mo
Orunmila wi ka se oran kan bole
Emi naa ni ki a se oran kan bole baba Agbonniregun
O ni ogun kan ti n ja won nile Owarangun
O ni ki won ru ebo ki won se oran bole
O ni ki ogun naa ma baa ja won mo
Orunmila kin ni ohun ebo
O ni awa ni ki a ka ohun ebo
A mu eku wa
O ni kii se oro eku
A mu eja wa
O ni kii se oro eja
O ni ki won ni oromodie lebo
O ni ki won ni eyin adiye lebo
O ni ki won ni ekikan lebo
O ni ki a wa ewe Ifa
A ti wa a de
Eyin adiye ee ni doro
Oke-Igeti ko ju ni gigun fun ogun
Igba ekikan!
A kan yin mole, e le hu
Igba Ekikan!
Orunmila says we should bury a dangerous issue
I repeat that we should bury a dangerous issue
He said, there has been a war in the city of Ara
He said they should make ebo to bury the dangerous issue
So that they would not experience the war again
Orunmila says we should bury a dangerous issue
I repeat that we should bury a dangerous issue
He said, there has been a war in the city of Ijero
He said they should make ebo to bury the dangerous issue
So that they would not experience the war again
Orunmila says we should bury a dangerous issue
I repeat that we should bury a dangerous issue
He said, there has been a war in the city of Owarangun
He said they should make ebo to bury the dangerous issue
So that they would not experience the war again
We asked Orunmila for the items of Ebo
He said we should use our discretion
We brought rat
Ifa said it is not a matter of rat
We brought fish
Ifa said it is not a matter of fish
Orunmila said we should provide egg
We should provide chicken
We should provide wooden pegs
We should provide Ifa leaves
We have provided them
Eggs do not have rope
Oke-Igeti cannot be climbed by war
With two hundred wooden pegs!
We have pegged you down, you cannot rise up again
With two hundred wooden pegs!
4.
To win the wars against our land, ebo is recommended as well as appeasement of Ogun and Ile, the mother earth. Items of ebo include 3 roosters, kola nuts, bitter kola, alligator pepper, snail, tortoise, duck, a goat, pigeon, gin, money, roasted yam, palm wine, beans and palm oil. After the ebo, the dog will be used for Ogun and Ile, the mother earth will be appeased with snail and other necessary things. On this, Ifa says:
Osekanran jikanjikan
Olokanran naa kanran jikanjikan
A difa fun Ogun Onire
Nigba ti n be lagbatemo omo araye
Ogun tintin niwaju
Ogun bababa leyin
Ogun wininwinin legbe otun
Ogunwarawara legbe osi
Ogun yin-inyin-in laarin ilu
Won ni ko rara nile ebo ni ko se
Eyin la a wo
Orita meta la a duro si
A difa fun Ile atepe
Ti yoo joye agbani lowo ogun
N je ogun yoda ogun n wa
Atepe o kare o lanu
O wa lanu o gbe won mi
O wa lanu o gbe won je
Ogun to yo lapa mi otun n ko
Atepe o kare o lanu
O wa lanu o gbe won mi
O wa lanu o gbe won je
Ogun to yo lapa mi osi n ko
Atepe o kare o lanu
O wa lanu o gbe won mi
O wa lanu o gbe won je
Osekanran jikanjikan
Olokanran naa kanran jikanjikan
Cast Ifa for Ogun Onire
When he was amidst wars
War in front
Greater war at the back
Many wars on the right side
Sudden war at the left side
Many wars in the city
He was advised to make ebo
One needs to look back
One needs to stay at the crossroad
Ifa revelation to Ile atepe, the Mother Earth
Who will be rescuing one from war
War is coming with swords
The mother earth I hail, you open your mouth
You open your mouth, you swallow them
You open your mouth you consume them
The war from my right side
The mother earth I hail, you open your mouth
You open your mouth, you swallow them
You open your mouth you consume them
The war from my left side
The mother earth I hail, you open your mouth
You open your mouth, you swallow them
You open your mouth you consume them
5.
We should be careful of strangers. People should not accommodate unknown persons. Landlords/Indigenes are warned to be very vigilant before accepting tenants so that tenants would not bring hardships and dangers to the hosts. They will come with hidden agenda. Ifa says tenants with bad intentions will be exposed and expelled. The landlords must however be security conscious. Items of ebo include, a cutlass, giant rat, palm oil, money and corn meal. On this Ifa says:
Agba orogun la n ri
A kii ri agba iyako
A difa fun Alaka
To n lo ree digba mo Iroko
People do mention senior co-wife
Nobody mentions senior mother-in-law
Ifa revelation to Alaka
Who was going to live with Iroko
6.
We should be our brother’s keeper. When there is problem with anybody, the whole community must be fast at aiding the person or combating the problem so that the problem will not degenerate into affecting the whole community.
Ifa says we should not look away from sickness, death or problem of a single person or community lest it degenerate into mass death. Items of ebo include 3 rosters, palm oil, money and corn meal. On this Ifa says:
Seranseran leni ti n jewo fun
A difa fun Etu belenje
Ti se omoye Olu-Igbo
Lojo to n sogboogbo arun
To n nara kaka alailedide
To n yi gbiiri loju ina
Oro kanle kan baale
Bi oro ba di agadangba tan, yoo kan jeje ni mo jokoo mi
A difa fun Erinlojo eranko
Won ni ki won rubo fun etu ki iju eleranko ma baa se tu
Won ko, won ko ru
Ofa a ni “tie kan o gbon-on”
Person who denies committing a crime have at least a confidant he/she confesses to
Cast Ifa for Etu beleje, the slender antelope
Who was a prince of Olu-Igbo
When he was sick
It was unable to stand up
It was always feeling cold and warming itself beside fire
When issues erupt, it affects the family head most
When an issue turns abnormal, it will affect even the person who knows nothing about it
Ifa revelation to 164 animals
They were advised to make ebo to avert death for Etu, the antelope so that they would not all die
They refused to make ebo
The arrow then said “Your own has caught you”
Note: The verse above tells story of Etu, the antelope, who was sick. All animals were told to take care of him and made ebo for him. They all refused. When hunters came to kill them, they all ran away except Etu, the antelope, who was too weak to run. It was killed. Then, the hunter flayed it and later used its hide to make arrow which the hunter later used to kill the other animals
7.
People, especially kings, religious leaders and politicians should refrain from fraudulent activities; Ifa said scammers are too many among religious leaders (Ifa/Orisa priests inclusive), Kings and politicians. Many people are too greedy that they want treasures that are meant for the whole community or nation to be theirs alone, many people after receiving their own shares still go extra mile to claim what belong to others while many in the spiritual/religious vocation claim to be what they are not. Ifa is warning people concerned to refrain from this act to escape the wrath of Olodumare and for the community or nation to be better for it. On this, Ifa says:
Ti ose nijo
Ti olokanran layo
A difa fun Olufidan Okoko
Ti won bi loje
To n jeun oloro kiri
Ose’s lot is dance
Okanran’s lot is joy
Cast Ifa for Olufidan okoko
Who was a priest of Egungun by birth
But was greedily eating through Oro deity
8.
People should refrain from adultery for it will be leading to fights and untimely death. We should also refrain from making jest of people. One needs to control one’s tongue lest he/she brings misfortunes to him/herself through utterances. Ifa says some men are so adulterous and bold that they are having secret affairs with the wives of the fellow landlords in the community, even women in the opposite houses. On this, Ifa says:
i.
Seranseran leni ti jewo fun
A difa fun Okere
To n lo ree gba Sesere obirin Oka
Person who denies committing a crime have at least a confidant he/she confesses to
Ifa revelation to Okere, the Squirrel
When going to snatch Sesere, the wife of Oka, the Cobra
Note:
According to the verse, Okere, the Squirrel snatched a wife of Oka, the Cobra. It did not stop at that; it was making jest of Oka, the Cobra, any where the wife snatcher saw the ex-husband. Oka, the Cobra later killed Okere, the squirrel.
ii.
Seranseran leni ti won jewo fun
A difa fun onile ikoko
Eyi ti yoo maa yo obinrin okankan fe
Person who denies committing a crime have at least a confidant he/she confesses to
Ifa revelation for the hidden landlord
Who was secretly dating a woman in the opposite house
9.
Married women should also refrain from unnecessary familiarity or play with people so that their husbands will not be suspicious of them. Men should also give necessary respect to married women so that their unhealthy play with them will not send them out of their matrimonial home. Adultery issues will be rampant this year. Both men and women should refrain from any kind of immoral sexual activities to guide against diseases and disgrace. All godchildren must be faithful to their godfathers or godmothers. On this, Ifa says:
Odooro lebe Akuo
Adifa fun Ide ti n se obinrin Orisa
Asin awo oludoro
Ikamudu awo oluseka
Eta abiru gbagia awo abe ogan
Awon meteeta ni won petepero
Ni won ko ohun rirun ba Ide
A le Ide nifon
A lede lojo
A ko mo ohun Ide ma fi se Orisa.
Odooro lebe Akuo
Cast Ifa for Ide, the Brass, who was a wife of Orisa
Asin, a bad person
Ikamudu, a wicked one
Eta, one with big tail who lived near termite hill
They were the ones who conspired together
And inflicted Ide, the Brass, with unpleasant odour
Ide, the Brass was sent parking from Ifon
Ide, the Brass was expelled from Ojo
Nobody knows what Ide, the Brass did to Orisa
Note:
The verse above is about Ide, the Brass who was a wife of Obatala. One day, Obatala perceived the odour of Asin, Ikamudu and Eta on Ide, his wife’s body. The wife claimed she was just playing with them while Obatala claimed she has committed adultery with them. He sent Ide (the brass) ,the wife away and Osun later accommodated her.
10.
Polygyny is encouraged against going for divorce or having extra marital affairs. Also, any monogamous man who is experiencing blockage of fortunes should marry more wife(s) and this will destroy the blockage. Also, for the couples who are barren, marrying another wife will lead to fertility for the first wife. In other words, the senior wife will also have child once the junior wife has child. Items of ebo include 8 pigeons, gin, banana, egg and money. On this, Ifa says:
Ti Ose nijo
Ti Olokanran layo
A difa fun oniyawo agbele
Won ni ko fe aya le aya ko le baa ni ire
Igba ti a gbe oge lori oge ni ire wa n de
To dance is the lot of Ose
To rejoice is the lot of Okanran
If revelation to a man who would marry many wives
He was advised to marry many wives for him to be successful
It is when we married more wives that we received blessings of all nature
11.
Men should be responsible at home. They should be responsible financially and in other ways. Women are also advised to refrain from working against or starving their husbands. Also, in the polygamous house, co-wives should not gang up or conspire against the husband. Women should be submissive to their husbands. Any woman who has conspired against her husband needs to appease Ifa with a goat. The breast of the goat will be put on the Ikin. On this, Ifa says:
Amure ji o wewo iteni iteni
Amure ji o wese kasikasi awuro
Para aboju ganhun
A difa fun Ose
To ni oun ko nina oko da
Ariro abaya koto
A difa fun Olokanran
To ni oun ko ni se ase owuro
Orita meta abaya gbaa
A difa fun Esenidewure, ti se omo Onilawo
Iku pa Ose
Iku pa Olokanran
Alade gba amu eran je
Ki o ma pa Esenideure
Amure ji o wewo iteni iteni
Amure ji o wese kasikasi awuro
Para aboju ganhun
Cast Ifa for Ose
Who said she would not cook for her husband
Ariro abaya koto
Cast Ifa for Olokanran
Who said she would not make breakfast for the husband
Orita meta abaya gbaa
Cast Ifa for Esenideure, the daughter of Onilaawo
Death killed Ose
Death killed Olokanran
Alade, take goat’s breast and eat
So that death will not kill Esenideure
Note:
The verse above tells the story of three women of the same husband,who ganged up to punish their husband. They left all their responsibilities. Later, two of them died one after the other, when the third one fell sick, he immediately confessed. She made ebo and appeased Ifa with a goat. They put the breast of the goat on Ifa. She started taking care of her husband and she recovered in a moment.
12.
We should not play with fire. Ebo is needed so that there will not be any kind of inferno. Also, individuals should be careful at home or in the place of work to guide against outbreak of fire. On this, Ifa says:
Ile raninrain Babalawo Oyin
Oun lo difa fun Oyin
Ero ipo tofa
E ko rifa awo ki bo ti n se?
Ile raninrain the Ifa priest of Oyin
Cast Ifa for Oyin, the Bee
All and sundry
Don’t you see how Ifa pronouncement is coming to pass?
13.
There are three leaders of Yoruba race who are fighting with each other. They should make ebo so that the fight would not consume them. If the ebo is not made, two of them will be consumed; only one of them will survive the storm. Items of ebo include giant rats and snails with palm oil, money and cutlass. On this, Ifa says:
Ose onide la i maa peri
Okanran gude ma ni
A difa fun Asin to n se awo ilu Idoro
A bu fun Ikamudu ti se awo Ilu Isika
A difa fun Eta ti n se awo Ijegben
Ebo ni won ni ki won se
Eta nikan lo n be leyin to n sebo
Ose onide la i maa peri
Okanran gude ma ni
Cast Ifa for Asin, the priest in the city of Idoro
Cast Ifa for Ikamudu, the priest in the city of Isika
Cast Ifa for eta, the priest in the city of Ijegbon
They were advised to make ebo
Eta was the only one who made the recommended ebo
14.
Appeasement of Ifa with a goat is recommended for economic development of individuals. On this, Ifa says:
Ose ni ose onide
Olokanran ni olokanran ajero
A difa fun Ka-roju-ka-sinfa
A difa fun Ka-gbiyanju-ka-sinfa
A difa fun O-koni-kola-dede-Ire-ku-Omo-Agbonniregun
E je ka roju ka sinfa ooo
Orisa to le gbeni ni
E je ka gbiyanju ka sinfa ooo
Orisa to le gbeni ni
Bi a ba roju bi a ba sinfa
Oro itan nib o dola
Bi a ba gbiyanju bi a ba sinfa
Oro itan ni bo dola
Ose ni ose onide
Olokanran ni olokanran ajero
Cast Ifa for Ka-roju-ka-sinfa
Cast Ifa for Ka-gbiyanju-ka-sinfa
Cast Ifa for O-koni-kola-dede-Ire-ku-Omo-Agbonniregun
Let us persevere to serve Ifa
Ifa is an Orisa that can support one
Let us try to serve Ifa
Ifa is an Orisa that can bless one
If we persevere to serve Ifa
It will not be forgotten by posterity
If we try to serve Ifa
It will never be forgotten by posterity
15.
The barrens should make ebo and appease Ifa. With recommended ebo, Ifa said many barrens will become parents this year. Items of ebo include 4 rats, 4 fish, 4 hens, 4 bats, 4 kola nuts and money. On this, Ifa says:
Orunmila wi ase kan
Ifa mi ase kan baba Agbonniregun
O ni ase kan wa ni idi omo eku
O ni oyun lo maa fi ni
Omo lo maa fi bi
Orunmila wi ase kan
Ifa mi ase kan baba Agbonniregun
O ni ase kan wa ni idi omo eran
O ni oyun lo maa fi ni
Omo lo maa fi bi
Nje Orunmila, bob a wa se ti omo eni nko?
O ni afi ki a ni agbebo adiye
Ki a ni eku eda
Ki a ni eye adan
A ti wa a
A ti ri i
Bi oyele ba ti n se koko
Omo ni oyele n sunkun pe
Abimolemo ni teku eda
Atoletole ni ti adan
Orunmila said menstruation
Ifa, I repeat by saying menstruation, bara Agbonniregun
He said “a rat is menstruating at present”
He said it will become pregnant
It will give birth to child
……….
Orunmila said menstruation
Ifa, I repeat by saying menstruation, bara Agbonniregun
He said “an animal is menstruating at present”
He said it will become pregnant
It will give birth to child
Orunmila, what of if it is a human?
He said we should provide a hen
We should provide eda rat
We should provide a bat
We have looked for it
We have provided it
Whenever a hen is sounding “kooko”
It is the chicks that the hen is calling
Eda rat always have children after children
Adan, the bat, is always with foetus
16.
Some leaders and kings are agents of foreigners who are working towards destruction of Yoruba tradition and culture. Ifa said such kings will be destroyed instead. Ifa said practitioners of Yoruba Indigenous Religion should not be afraid for nobody can destroy the religion. Ifa said this religion will continue to survive and grow and those agents of destruction will surely be put to shame. Those leaders and kings are advised to turn a new leaf for them not to witness the wrath of Olodumare. On this, Ifa says:
Ti Ose nijo
Ayo ni ti Okanran
A difa fun Orunmila
Lojo ti won ni aye Ifa yoo parun
Iro ni won n pa
Ifa o le parun
Eke ni won n se
Ifa o le parun
Atelewo la ba ila
A ko mo eni to ko o
Iro ni won n pa
Ifa o le parun
To Ose belongs dance
To Olokanran belongs joy
Ifa revelation to Orunmila
When enemies said they would annihilate his life
Haters are just lying
Ifa cannot be destroyed
Enemies are just deceiving themselves
Ifa can never be destroyed
We met the marks on the palm
Nobody knows who made it
Despisers are only lying
Ifa can never be destroyed
17.
We should see everybody as our friends and not enemies. Ifa said, when we are generous to everybody in the community, the enemies will be overpowered. There are enemies who are seriously against Ifa/Orisa priests in our communities. Ifa said all Ifa and Orisa priests and priestesses should be nice and generous in their various communities. They must be generous to everybody. Ifa said, by being generous to people, the enemies will harm themselves. Ifa advises that we should always have kola nuts, wine and other edible items at home for entertainment of visitors. On this, Ifa says:
Odidere bale
O fese bale tegetegetege
A difa fun Onaaledi
Lojo to n ba Orunmila sota
E je a kobi fun Osika
Ko wa fenu ara re wure
Osika wa rele ree ku more
The parrot perched on the ground
He walked gently
Cast Ifa for Onailedi
When he was fighting with Orunmila
Let us be generous to the enemy
So that he/she uses his/her mouth to pray
The wicked has gone home to die
ORISA/ADIMU
Ogun
Obatala
Ile/Edan
Ifa
Osun
Aje
TABOOS
We should not make jest of people
Both men and women should refrain from adultery
Spiritual leaders should not be stingy
We should refrain from travelling at night
We should not play with fire
Wives should not leave their responsibility out of anger against the husbands
Verses recorded, transcribed and translated by:
Oluwo (Dr.) Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode (Chairman, Publication Committee)
Chief (Dr.) Abiodun Fafolarin Agboola (Secretary, International Council for Ifa Religion, ICIR)
Chief Fakayode Olanipekun
Òtúnba Ifá Kéhìndé Ìdòwú-Fágbohùn
Chief Fatunbi Adeniji
Oluwo Fasola Faniyi Babatunde
Mrs. Ifakemi Onifade-Owolabi
Awogbile Kehinde Aloyinlohun
Aboru, Aboye, Abosise.