I dedicate this compilation of prayers to the Irunmole, which make all things possible in Olodumare.
Homage
IBA BABA IBA YEYE IBA OLUWO IBA OJUGBONA IBA ATIYO OJO IBA ATIWO OORUN IBA OLODUMARE OBA A TERERE KAYE IBA ORUNMILA ELERI IPIN IBA IRUNMOLE OJUKOTUN IBA IBAMOLE OJUKOSI IBA AKODA IBA ASEDA IBA GBOGBO AWO
IBA ASE O
Acknowledgments I will start by thanking my Mother and my Father, without you I would not be here. Also I will also thank my Ancestors for leading me and protecting me. I would like to thank my Oluwo, Oloye Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, and my Ojugbona, Apena Faseye Fakayode, for initiating, supporting, and teaching me. Thank you to all of the elders, both in Nigeria and in the west, who have raised me and nourished my mind and soul. There are far too many to name here, but I will name a few: Otunba Kehinde Fagbohun, Babalawo Fagbanjokoo Fagbohun, Iyalorisa Osundara, Babalawo Onifade Sangodare, Oloye Fama, Babalawo Oyepolu Fawemida, Oloye Fayomi Falade Obafemi, and Babalawo Obafemi Origunwa, among many others. Your support and good example of Iwa Pele is what inspires me. A dupe o. I thank all my family for always supporting me
and being there for me. Most of all I thank my loving wife, Apetebi Oyaseye Fakayode, for all her love and support. You are a blessing to me. Lastly, I thank everyone for all the love and support. I can feel your support even from long distances and even when we do not speak for long periods of time.
Table of Contents 2. Homage 3. Acknowledgements 6. Prayer To Orunmila 8. Morning Greeting To Ifa (From Oyeku Meji) 9. Another Morning Prayer (From Oyeku Meji) 12. Prayer For Protection (From Ogunda Meji) 17. Prayer For Wealth (From Iwori Osa) 20. For Long Life (From Oturupon Otura) 26. Prayer For Peaceful Life (From Iwori Meji) 28. Prayer For A Safe Journey (From Okanran Oyeku) 30. On Respecting Our Elders (From Okanran Irete) 32. Prayer for Children (From Oyeku Ofun)
34. Prayer For Odun Ifa (From Oyeku Ofun) 37. Prayer For Stability (From Otura Ofun) 39. Prayer For A Sweet Life (From Otura Ofun) 41. Following Our Ancestors’ Footsteps (From Ose Irete) 44. Prayer To Ori
Prayer To Orunmila Orunmila, eliri ipin Ibi keji Olodumare A to'ogun Obriti, a p'ijo iku da Oluwa mi, a to iba ja'ye Oro abiku j'igbo Oluwa mi, ajiki Ogege agbaye gun Odud tindub ori emere A tun ori ti ko sun won se A mo I ku Oluwa aiyere Agiri ile logbon Oluwa mi amo imotan
A ko mo o tan kose A ba mo tan iba se ke Ase o
Translation: Orunmila, witness to fate Second only to Olodumare Sufficient as medicine All-encompassing one that averts death's date My lord, savior of the world Mysterious one that throws off death To you, morning salutation is due The one who restores balance to the world Your works reshape the heads of the ill-fated One who repairs misfortune
To know you is to live endlessly Lord of the world's blessings Magnificent in the home of greatness My lord, the one of vast knowledge Without your knowledge, we are lost To have your knowledge makes us honorable Ase o
Photo: Ikin Ifa
Morning Greeting To Ifa (From Oyeku Meji) Iwo oye Emi oyn Oye sese n la loke Omo araye se bojumo lo mo A difa fun oloye igale Omo ori rere ti n ru bi ose Kin lori oloye n ru Ofule lori oloye n ru Ola wa a ru gale
Translation: You are the light I am the light When the light is first appearing in the sky Cast Ifa for Oloye Igale The one with the good Ori that foams like soap How does the head of a chief foam? Upward with happiness!
That is the way the head of a chief foams Our prosperity will foam up high
Another Morning Prayer To Ifa (From Oyeku Meji) Opele lo yo tan To da ikun dele Adifa fun Perengede Ti se yeye ojumomo Ojumo to mo wa lo ni Ojumo ire ni Perengede iwo ni yeye ojumomo Ojumo to mo wa loni oju mo aje ni Perengede iwo ni yeye ojumomo Ojumo to mo wa loni oju mo aya ni Perengede iwo ni yeye ojumomo
Ojumo to mo wa loni oju mo omo ni Perengede iwo ni yeye ojumomo Ojumo to mo wa loni oju mo ojumo ire Gbogbo ni Perengede iwo ni yeye ojumomo
Translation: Opele fed well And covered the floor with his belly Ifa divination was performed for perengede Who was the mother of the new day? The new day that comes is the new day of wealth Perengede you are the mother of the new day The new day that comes is new day for wife/husband Perengede you are the mother of the new day
The new day that comes is the new day of children Perengede you are the mother of the new day The newday that comes is the new day of all IRE Perengede you are the mother of the new day.
Photo: Sunrise
Prayer For Protection
(From Ogunda Meji) Ifa lo loni Ifa lo lola Ifa lo lotunla pelu e Orunmila lo nijo mereerin Oosa da sile aye A difa fun Orunmila Nijo ti ajogun gbogbo N kan ilee re lakanyun Iku arun ofo agba ese Gbogbo won ni n yo Orunmila a wo Won n wi pe Ojo kan ni awon o pa a Ni Orunmila bag be Oke Ipori araa re kale O da Ogunda Meji
Won ni ebo ni o waa ru O si ru u Igba to rubo tan Ni Oke Ipori re ba rata bo o mole Ni iku o ba le e pa a mo bee ni arun o le e se e mo Ijo ni n jo Ayo ni n yo. O n yin awo awoo re. Awon aawoo re n yin Ifa. O ya enu koto Orin awo lo bo si I lenu Ese ti o na Ijo fa a O ni bee gege
Ni awon awo oun n senu rere e pe Ifa: Ifa lo loni Ifa lo lola Ifa lo lotunla pelu e Orunmila lo nijo mereerin Oosa da sile aye A difa fun Orunmila Nijo ti ajogun gbogbo N kan ilee re lakanyun. Ojo tiku ba n wa mi I bo wa Ifa iwo ni o rata bo mi. Bewe nla ti rata a boori Beri nla ti I rata a bo yanrin lodo. Etiponola ni I rata a bole Ifa iwo ni o rata bo mi. Bewe nla ti rata a boori
Beri nla ti I rata a bo yanrin lodo
Translation: Ifa is the master of today Ifa is the master of tomorrow Ifa is the master of the day after tomorrow as well Orunmila is the master of all the four days Established here on earth by the divinities Cast Ifa for Orunmila On the day that all the malevolent supernatural powers Were repeatedly haunting his household Death disease loss paralysis affliction Were all glancing at Orunmila They were saying that One day they would be successful at killing him
Orunmila then consulted his Ori. Ogunda Meji was divined He was advised to offer sacrifice He offered the sacrifice After he had completed the sacrifice His Ori provided protective shielding for him. Death could no longer kill him Nor could diseases affect him He was dancing he was rejoicing He was singing the praises of his Ifa priests His Ifa priests were singing the praises of Ifa He opened his mouth Joyous Ifa songs came out He stretched his legs and found himself dancing he said it is exactly how his priests predicted:
Ifa is the master of today Ifa is the master of tomorrow Ifa is the master of the day after tomorrow as well Orunmila is the master of all the four days Established here on earth by the divinities Cast Ifa for Orunmila On the day that all the malevolent supernatural powers Were repeatedly haunting his household The day death comes looking for me Ifa spread out and provide protection for me Just as ewe nla spreads out to shield oori Just as a big river spreads out to shield the sands of its bed The day all the malevolent supernatural forces come looking for me Ifa spread out and provide protection for me
Just as ewe nla spreads out to shield oori Just as a big river spreads out to shield the sands of its bed It is etiponola that spreads out and shields the soil Ifa spread out and provide protection for me Just as ewe nla spreads out to shield oori Just as a big river spreads out to shield the sands Of its bed Photo: Ewe Etiponola
Prayer For Protection
(From Ose Otura) Ose Metu Odun wonranwonran Orunmila koo ma se fa mi le ku lowo Iku ki pa Otutu nile Ikin Orunmila ko ma se fa mi le ku lowo Ela won ki ba igi oko o wowe Orunmila ko ma se fa mi leku lowo Olu erokero ki ba won ku iku ajoku Orunmila ko ma se fa mi leku lowo Aran ti alakan ba ko sita K i un ko o sile mo Orunmila ko ma se fa mi leku lowo Ataare o ni binu
Ko taari omo re sita Orunmila ko ma se fa mi leku lowo Benu ba n kun ose Ara ni n fi san Orunmila ko ma se fa mi leku lowo Gbogbo aye ni pe Osetura o Orunmila ko ma se fa mi leku lowo
Translation: Ose caught an antelope The coarse Odun cloth Orunmila, please do not hand me over to death Death never kills Otutu (Ide Ifa, Ifa Beads) in the home of Ikin Orunmila, please do not hand me over to death Ela plants do not drop their leaves like other plants Orunmila, please do not hand me over to death When a crab digs out sand from its hole It never has any need to dig it again Orunmila, please do not hand me over to death Ataare will not be so angry To the extent of casting out its children Orunmila, please do not hand me over to death When people are uttering curses against me
Let me use it to put on weight Orunmila, please do not hand me over to death When Ose tree is being grumbled against It will grow fatter and bigger Orunmila, please do not hand me over to death The whole world is shouting the name Osetura He will never die because of anyone Orunmila, please do not hand me over to death
Prayer For Wealth (From Iwori Osa) Gbabila Gbabila A difa fun Iwori Eyi ti n rele Osa re kaje wale Won ni ko rubo Won ni ko mo baayan ja Ko si mo benikan Nigba ti aje o bere Ile Osa lo ti bere Iwori raje ko wale Inu e dun N ni wa njo ni wa nyo Ni n yin awon Babalawo
Awon Babalawo nyin Ifa O ni be lawon Babalawo toun wi Gbabila Gbabila A difa fun Iwori Eyi ti n rele Osa re kaje wale Gbagbila omo olowo eyo Iwori lo loole Osa loo kaje wale Gbagbila omo olowo eyo
Translation:
Gbabila Gbabila Divined Ifa for Iwori That was going to the house of Osa to bring home wealth He was asked to perform sacrifice He was asked not to keep malice or fight with anyone And should not be provoked to be angry with anyone Then the wealth started to blossom It started in the house of Osa Iwori got a lot of wealth to cart home He was very happy He started dancing and rejoicing He praised his Babalawo Who praised IFA He said it was exactly as his Babalawo had said it would be Gbabila Gbabila
Divined Ifa for Iwori That was going to the house of Osa to bring home wealth Gbabila is the child that is full of cowries It is Iwori sent to the house of Osa to bring home the wealth Gbabila, the child that is full of cowries
Photo: Eyo Owo (Cowrie Shell Currency)
For Long Life
(From Oturupon Otura)
Boo tuu puke O tu puke Boo na gbaja O na gbaja Otu ni o lee tu puke Ko na gbaja Ko fi ba Eji-Ogbe je ooko Igbo nla nii mu omo ni mu ori Okunkun moni morun eni o Awogbo ifohun nii ma eye oko su sia ni la ori A difa fun Aikulola Tii sa omo Elesemawe
Eyi ti nbe laarin osiiri, Ti nbe laarin ota Aikulola o nii ku la ewe Kangere Ma dagba, ma da arugbo Kangere
Translation:
If you want to unfold You should do so If you want to stretch You should do so Otu is it that cannot unfold or stretch And still be in the same league like Eji-ogbe It is the thick forest that engulfs a child completely Darkness is it that enshrouds one and even protects Entering the forest without uttering a sound makes a bird defecate on one’s head These were Ifa’s messages for Aikulola The offspring of Elesemawe The one who was experiencing hardship And he was in the midst of adversaries Aikulola will not die prematurely Kangere
I will live long to old age Kangere
Photo: Ile Ori
Photo: Awo Fagbemijo Amosun Fakayode with his Ojugbona, Apena Faseyi Fakayode
Photo: Awo Faboyede Olaifa with Awo Fagbemijo Amosun Fakayode, offering Eja Aro (catfish) to Ogun
Photo: The new Iyawo Ifa (Initiate to Ifa), Fagbemijo Amosun Fakayode (center), with his Oluwo Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode (right) and his elder Otunba Kehinde Fagbohun (left)
Prayer For Peaceful Life
(From Iwori Meji) Iroke idi abidi sangele sangele A difa fun Eleji Iwori Ti yoo se keta Odu wale aye Ebo ni won ni ko wa se O gbebo, O rubo Mo keta Odu mo sinmi o Eyin O r’Eleji Iwori bo ti keta odu wale aye Mo keta Odu mo sinmi
Translation: The Ifá tapper made with brimstone wood with spherical base (alias of a Babaláwo) He was the Awo who cast Ifá for Iwori-Méjì
Who shall occupy the third position from heaven to earth He was advised to ebo He complied Behold, I occupy the third position and have a peace of mind Can’t you see Éjì Iwori who had occupied the third position from heaven I occupy the third position and I am blessed with comfort
Photo: Iroke Ifa, c. 17th-18th century. Yorubaland, Nigeria
Prayer For A Safe Journey
(From Okanran Oyeku)
Bale ba le Won a lo dowo finnafinna Boorun o ran mo Won a lo dowoo Olodumare Difa fun Alarinnaka Ti ngbeboo lo Ilu-mogbo Won ni aayan o yan-an Won ni eera o raa Orunmila ni to base biti Alarinnaka Omo toun ba ni o Aayan kan kii yan omo ikin Eera ka kii ra omo Orunmila
N o lo, n o bo sinu ilee baba mi o Toorun bay o lowuro Bo ba dale A pada sinu ile baba re
Translation: When it is night time People lie on those who make fire And when the sun is no longer shining People place their hopes on Olodumare Ifa’s message for Alarinnaka, the Wonderer When carrying his ebo to Ilumogbo land They declared that the cockroach will sting him
And that ants will bite him Orunmila declares that if it were to be for Alarinnaka his child No cockroach will sting the child of Ikin And no ant will bite the child of Orunmila I will go And I will return safely to my father’s home If the sun appears in the morning When it is night time It will return to it father home
Photo: Igbin (Snail) on a journey
On Respecting Our Elders
(From Okanran Irete)
Afefe ni teri oko ba efufu lele ni teri eruba odan bale ni arokuro ojo bi omode ba teriba fun baba bi omode ba teriba fun yeye ohun gbogbo to ba dawo le a maa gun gege iwa a re a si tutu pese...
Translation: The gentle breeze is it that makes the farm leaves bend The wind is it that makes the savanna grasses bend
At the end of the rainfall If a child respects his father If a child respects his mother All he plans to do Will be fruitful His destiny will be cool and peaceful...
Photo: Odo Osun (Osun River)
Photo: Elede Ati Omo (Pig With Children)
Prayer For Children
(From Oyeku Ofun) Isu ni fibi gbigbo keke sodun Kooko lo gbohun arira lale Akere lo gbo kuku ojo lo dahun rere porun re A difa fun kutunla ti n moju ekun sogbere omo Ebo ni won ni ko se O gbebo o rubo Omo to niwaju Omo a to leyin Omo yooyoo ni todo
Translation: Yam is good for festivity when it is mature
Coco yam spreads when it hears the thunder A frog happily calls upon its Creator when it hears the sound of rain Ifa’s revelation to Kutunla, who was longing for children He was advised to make sacrifice He complied Behold! There are children in front Behold! There are children at the back A pig always has many children surrounding it
Prayer For Odun Ifa
(From Oyeku Ofun) Isu ni fibi gbigbo keke sodun Kooko lo gbohun arira lale Akere lo gbo kuku ojo lo fohun rere fohun rere A difa fun Oyeku ti n rele Ofun ree sodun Nijo Oyeku rele Ofun ree sodun A oo jo jo jo A oo yo yo yo Ta lo sodun odunniin nire? Oye! Lo sodun odunniin nire Ta fi laje ta nire gbogbo Oye! Lo sodun odunniin nire
Translation:
Yam is good for festivity when it is mature Coco yam spreads when it hears the thunder A frog happily sounds when it hears the sound of rain Ifa revelation to Oyeku when going to Ofun’s house for festival On the day Oyeku went to Ofun’s house for festival We danced a lot We rejoiced greatly Who make this year’s festival a success? Oye! He is the one who makes this year’s festival a success That we have affluence and other good things Oye! He is the one who makes this year’s festival a success
Photos: Odun Ifa (Ifa Festival), January 2011 Alade Near Moniya, Oyo State, Nigeria
Prayer For Stability
(From Otura Ofun) Oturara funfun Awo Ori Difa fun Ori Ori nsunkun alainibudo Ebo ni won ni ko waa se O gb’ebo, o ru’bo Ori je n nibudo Ori je n nibudo gbayi o Translation: Otura funfun, the white Otura, the Awo of Ori He cast Ifa for Ori When weeping that he had no stability in life He was advised to offer ebo He complied
Ori, please let me have stability My destiny, let me have stability this time around
Photo: Awo Fagbemijo Amosun Fakayode with his Ifa during itefa, Ifa initiation
Photo: Awo Fagbemijo Amosun Fakayode during itefa, Ifa initiation
Prayer For A Sweet Life
(From Otura Ofun)
Otura funfunfun Awo Oyin lo dia f’Oyin Otura funfunfun Awo Ado lo dia f’Ado Otura funfunfun Awo Ifunfun lo dia fun Ifunnfun Aye awon le dun ni won ndafa si Ebo ni won ni ki won waa se Won gb’ebo, won ru’bo Ile Oyin ma n ho o Ti Ado n yo Ifunnfun naa o tile gbele
Translation: Otura funfunfun, the white Otura He cast Ifa for Oyin, the Honey Otura funfunfun He cast Ifa for Ado, Sugar-honey Otura funfunfun He cast Ifa for Ifunnfun, (another type of honey) When willing to know if their lives will be sweet or not They were advised to offer ebo They complied The home of honey is filled with sweetness That of Ado is also sweet There is no bitterness in the home of Ifunnfun
Photo: Oyin (Honey)
Following Our Ancestors’ Footsteps (From Ose Irete) Pepe lawo Ile Igbalero lawo ode Ogunna ni o wo ruruuru ko goke odo Alapandede lo kole tan Lo yojuu re sodoodo Difa fun oyepolu, omo isoro n'Ife Baba ree fi sile ku ni kekere lenje-lenje Won ni o wa ko maa wa soro ilee Baba re O loun Oyepolu o mokan Oun o mo dida owo Oun o mo o nte ale
Won ni o maa tee basu Won ni o maa tee basu Won ni o maa tee basu-basu Won ni akoda o maa gba fun o Aseda o maa gba fun-un Oyeepolu o mokan o Isoro Olorun E wa ba ni toro yii se Isoro Olorun
Translation: Pepe is the awo of the house Igbalero is the awo of the frontage Cold amber cannot roll across to the other side of the river A bat is it that after constructing its nest
And suspended it on the wall without touching the ceiling This was the Ifa cast for Oyepolu, the child of tradition in ife His father died when he was at a tender age His mother too died when he was a little child He was called upon to come and officiate the traditional rites of his paternal lineage He responded that he knew nothing about it He did not know how to cast Ifa Neither did he know the analysis of Ifa symbols He was then asked to do it anyhow he understood it It was declared that Akoda shall endorse the ritual And Aseda will equally endorse the ritual Oyepolu is a novice!
Prayer To Ori
(From Ose Obara) Ose bula lago Dia fu Ina Tii s’akogun Olodumare Ebo ni won ni ko se O gbebo, o rubo Bi ipori ina ba gbepo je Iwa a re a si goke
Translation: Ose bula lago He cast Ifa for Ina, fire The head warrior of Olodumare He was advised to offer ebo
He complied If palm oil is added to fire His destiny will rise up more prominently
Notes:
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