When you know that you was born to be a leader, but people keep making you the @$$….., because you refused to make sacrifice.
IROSUN OGBE (Irosun-Agbe)…
This Ifa says:
Idawo lọna, Idawo ni papa, a dia fun Gunugun eyi ti ṣọmọ olore. Idawo lọna, Idawo ni papa a dia fun Elulu eyi ti ṣọmọ olore.
[Idawo can show the way, or not at all. It’s value depends on the person who is using it. This helps us to understand the case of Vulture, the son of Olore. Idawo can show the way, or not at all. It’s value depends on the person who is using it. This helps us to understand the case of Elulu, the child of Olore.]
The two of them were told to offer a sacrifice. they were both the children of Olore. Elulu was the elder, Vulture the younger. Both of them were told to offer a sacrifice because of a coming day when their blessings would arrive, so that they might live a long time. They were told not to be greedy. If something does not belong to them, they should not say that they are the owners. If they want to take something that they should not have by force, that thing that doesn’t belong to them, this will result in disgrace. Ifa told them the very same day. Elulu rejected the advice, he didn’t offer the sacrifice. He understood, but didn’t offer the sacrifice, he didn’t prepare the offering. He called the Awo a liar, he called Eṣu a thief. He looked up at the sky as if it were never to become dark again [he was overly confident and sure of himself]. He said, hah, which sacrifice do I need to make. You are just trying to rip me off. Vulture, understood his role better. He offered the sacrifice. His sacrifice was acceptable.
Then the prescribed day came, and a blessing came to their house, to their neighborhood. A title had become available inside their father’s household. The people of the town said, the title that is in this neighborhood, come take it for us. When the people held a meeting they decided that Vulture and Elulu were the rightful holders of the title. Elulu was the eldest in the house. Elulu jumped on the opportunity and said the title belonged to him because he was the eldest. Vulture didn’t want to start a fight, so he let his brother have it. They took Elulu and made him the title-holder. When Elulu became the chief, the people took care of the palace for him. They gave him everything he wanted to eat or drink. Then one day, he saw a butterfly flying in the middle of some thorn bushes. He said, Ah! A fine meal is passing by there. His courtiers said, Chief, can’t you be happy with what you have before you? He said, That thing flying there is a great meal, come let’s catch it. Ah! They offered him good advice, but he didn’t take it. Then he flew out of the palace. He chased after the butterfly and his clothes got entangled in the thorns. That is where he died. Greed killed him. When he had the chance to offer the sacrifice before, if he had done it, he would have had a long life and kept the title for a long time. They said, alright the way things are now, when they finished announcing his death, when they finished burying him, his younger brother, the one who offered the sacrifice at the beginning, they unanimously decided, Ah! Let’s make the younger brother the chief. This is why we say, the person who will benefit from the inheritance won’t allow a dying person to get well again. They took Vulture and made him the new chief, and he was well-received. Everyone liked him. The town experienced peace and prosperity and everything worked as it should in the town. His rulings were just and accurate. He praised the Awos who did Ifa divination for him at the beginning. The Awos in turn praised Ifa. He said, This is what the Awo predicted for me. This is what the Awo said to me:
Idawo lọna, Idawo ni papa, a dia fun gunugun eyi ti ṣọmọ olore, abufun Elulu eyi ti ṣọmọ olore. Ẹbọ ni wọn ni ko ṣe, Igun nikan lo gbe ẹbọ nbẹ to rubọ. Ẹru Ẹpo, ẹru Ọffa, ẹyin a wa wofa awo ki bi ti n ṣẹ. Oun ṣe wa wofa awo ki bi ti n ṣẹ, ẹ wofa awo ki bi ti n ṣẹ. Ẹru Ẹpo, ẹru Ọffa, ẹ wa wofa awo ki bi ti n ṣẹ.
TRANSLATION:
[Idawo can show the way, or not at all. It’s value depends on the person who is using it. This helps us to understand the case of Vulture, the son of Olore. This helps us to understand the case of Elulu, the son of Olore. The sacrifice that was prescribed, Vulture was the only one who prepared it. People of Ẹpo, people of Ọffa (everyone) come see how what the priest said has come to pass. He said, come see how what the priest said has come to pass, come see how what the priest said has come to pass. People of Ẹpo, people of Ọffa (everyone) come see how what the priest said has come to pass.]
Ifa says this person should offer a sacrifice. Something in his/her house, (s)he will be considered for it, and (s)he will lead a full, long life. The same Odu Ifa also teaches us a lesson that for any person for whom Ifa gives this message, (s)he should not be greedy. If something doesn’t belong to that person, (s)he should not try to take it by force. If (s)he tries to take it by force, his/her life will be cut short. This is what Ifa says in Irosun-Agbe.
Photo by Sue D. Text by Harvard Online library
