Ose Meji: The Journey to Ibadan

[Omowale]

Ọ̀sẹ́ Méjì is the Odù that founded the city of Ìbàdàn. @Atipo made his journey to Ojaba to see Ọ̀sẹ́ Méjì, the first temple established there. This is what made me think of any Odù I studied from Ọ̀sẹ́ Méjì. So I decided to post an Odù from it. I do not have the resource to write the exact verse about the founding of the city. I will save that for another post, or for someone else to post that. But here is an Odù I did study regarding the Olubadan-The king of Ibadan:

Ọ̀sẹ́ Méjì

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Asẹ́gẹ́ sẹ́gẹ́ mọ̀sun
Asẹ̀gẹ̀ sẹ́gẹ́ mọ̀sun
Ọ̀ṣun lọ́tùn ùn
Ìbàdàn lósì
Àdífá fún Ológosẹ́ who was going to
Ìbàdàn town for divination.

Ológosẹ́  told his priests he would journey to Ìbàdàn for divination. He consulted the priests to know if he would make it there. The Ifa priests told him he would definitely make it, but he has to sacrifice two rats, two fish, two hens and 1,100 cowries. He also warned against arrogance and that he should listen to the advice from others in order to succeed there.

Ológosẹ́  came to Ìbàdàn and stayed with Olubadan (Lagelu, the Ibadan king). He divined for the king every five days and at times during the five days, he would not receive a single client. One day, he divined for the king every five days and at times during the five days, he would not receive a single client.

One day, he divined for the Olubadan. He told the Olubadan to sacrifice four rats, four fishes, four hens, and 40,000 cowries. He made the sacrifice and sent many slaves to cultivate the farm. They cultivated a large farm. From the farm, one year later they reaped so much harvest that, the house was filled with food. Olubadan did not even go to war the next year because he still had a lot of food and money at home.

Olubadan sent for the priest. He asked him what he did on the day when neither he (the king) nor any other person consulted him. The priest said he usually stayed at home hoping a client would come. Olubadan told him to also cultivate a farm, for the Ifa he divined for him the last time brought him a lot of profit. Whenever he was in the farm and clients come calling , his wives and children would come to call him.

Ologose took to the advice. Olubadan gave him land and slaves. By the end of the year, Ologose also became rich. They both danced and rejoiced.

Araba of Ibadan, Chief Ifalere Odegbemi Adegbola says that when the priest recites Ifa for the cleint, the client may also recite for the priests. According to him, the client is traveling to a foreign town. Ifa says that the journey will be good but he must make the sacrifice that Ológosẹ́ made. He also says we should not reject advice from our employer cause had Ologose rejected Olubadan's advice he would not have become successful. For the seeker who has consulted Ifa because of small income, the seeker should make the sacrifice that Olubadan made. Ifa says to take up farming and the work will be aided by your dependents.

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When we are traveling, it is good practice to consult Ifa so we may learn how to be prepared for our journey. We can be assured to make it in any town, city, and country we go, as long as we follow Ifa's directives and make the necessary sacrifices. Ifa may also advise us to travel somewhere else to make it. This will be up to the seeker to interpret where exactly to travel too that matches Ifa's directives. It is important to note that Ifa is tailored to the individual's life and reasons for consultation. Though even without divination, we can still make use of the lessons learnt from Ifa. The advice that was good for someone else may also be good for you.

May Ifa align our destinies. Àṣẹ Olódùmaré.