THE COMMANDMENTS OR PROHIBITIONS IN AFRICA IFA SPIRITUALITY BY BABALAWO OBANIFA-Obanifa extreme documentaries

THE COMMANDMENTS OR PROHIBITIONS IN AFRICA IFA SPIRITUALITY BY BABALAWO OBANIFA-Obanifa extreme documentaries
                                       

Both Christianity and Judaism preach the Ten Commandments which were revealed to Moses and recorded in the Old Testament. Does Indigenous Africa Spirituality have any commandments, and are they the same or similar? Yes, Africa Indigenous spirituality have, and they are not similar in arrangement and diction buts still have some similarity in the area of applications.

Ifa commands its followers to avoid many things. Some of them are prohibited because they contradict some of the doctrines in which a practitioner is supposed to believe. Some of them are prohibited because they are immoral or unethical or unhealthy or because they represent disobedience to the devotional duties. These prohibitions may be regarded as commandments of Ifa, the violation of which may constitute a major sin. The issue is that these commandments or cannons of Ifa cannot be found in one single Odu Ifa, rather than, it is scattered in wide range of different Odu Ifa. It is the duty of Ifa devotees or competent Babalawo to gather it, adhere to the rules and as well encourage other human being to adhere to it. The  commandments  are based on duty of human to their creator (Olodumare) and their duty to their fellow human beings so that the society can be in peaceful co-existence. So, there are actual commandments to guide Ifa devotee and it is incumbent on Ifa devotee to adhere to them. An Ifa practitioners or devotees are expected to observe these: These are Ifa commandment has gathererd from different Odu Ifa by Babalawo Obanifa and document here for this generation and posterity.

1.

PLACE OLODUMARE (GOD) ABOVE ALL THINGS, ALWAYS INVOLVE HIS NAME BEFORE YOU DO ANY THING: The number one commandments of Ifa to human being and every Ifa and Orisa devotee is that OLODUMARE (God) should be place above all things. Nobody should believe in efficacy of anything above the creator wish is OLODUMARE. Homage should always be pay to OLODUMARE (God) by anybody whether Ifa or Orisa devotee before they do anything. That's no one should do anything on earth without first involving the name of Olodumare(God). One of the leading Ifa scriptural verses or authority on this number one commandment of Ifa is Odu Ifa  Iwori Abogbe also known as Iwori Ogbe, the verse goes thus:

Olodumare a  juba ree oo
Bi adiye ba fe mu mi ajuba OLODUMARE
Dia fun Adabasusu
Eyi ti re Abe aka onyagbe lo ree yee si
Omi oju lomu sunrahun omo
Riro niti eniyan
Sise n be lowo Olorun Oba
Dia fun onyagbe
Eyi ti n loo oko a lero odun
Bi a ba  n  soro  ki  a mu  ti  olorun Oba pelu
Difa fun oloba oka omo aroko fun feye je
Adabasusu nikan ni  be leyin ti n tu bo
Gbogbo isowo ope Eni gbo ebo nbe  e  pe  ko wa se ebo.
Translation:
I pay homage to you OLODUMARE (God)
If  a chicken want to drink water, he will first pay homage to OLODUMARE.
This was Ifa’s message  for Adabasusu (name of ancient bird, dove to be precise )
When she was going to lay eggs under the barn of a farmer
She was lamenting his inability to give birth to children
It is for the human beings to propose
Disposition belong to God (OLODUMARE)
This was Ifa’s message  for the farmers
When they are about to embark on their annual farming activities
Whenever we speak let us put God into consideration
This was Ifa’s message for the owner of a barn full of grain, who cultivate his grain farm only for birds to devour it
It is only the bird (Adabasusu)  that offer  ebo

What happened in that Odu Ifa is simple, because the bird offer sacrifice and place all her activities on the hand of Olodumare. She was able to overcome a farmer who think he can do things without OLODUMARE. In ancient time there is a bird name Adaba susu(a dove). This bird was barren, she cries to OLODUMARE, and OLODUMARE grant her request. She was able to lay two eggs and hatch it into two young dove on the barn of grain of a farmer. One day the bird overheard the farmer saying tomorrow I will kill these three doves, I will eat pounded yam with it. The bird again called on Olodumare. OLODUMARE then ask the bird, did the farmer involved my name when he is making the statements?  The bird say no. Then OLODUMARE assured the bird you have nothing to worry about since the farmer didn't involve my name he cannot succeed. On the second day the farmer took his cutlass and told his wife put yam on fire, let me quickly go to the farm and bring the doves behind my grain barn so we can prepare soup with them to eat pounded yam. But before he can step outside his house, a messenger came in and told him that his mother who is leaving in another city different from that of the farmer is terribly ill and is about to die, that the attention of the farmer is needed. The farmer said let me quickly go to my grain barn and bring doves there to eat this pound yam on fire, then we can go. The messenger insists if we wait more seconds here is likely that the farmers don't meet his mother alive. So, the farmer leaves everything and goes straight to meet his sick mother. On getting there he begins to take care of her mother for complete 3 month. He was unable to leave the place and for reasons unknown to anybody. The women survive after intensive care for three months. The farmer now decided to go back to his farm, but suddenly he becomes ill. He was bed ridden for a whole year.
Then he went for Ifa divination to know the source of his illness . Iwori Ogbe appear on the divination tray. Babalawo told him that he has always say he will do thing without first involving the name of Olodumare(God). He was advised to offer sacrifice and always involved the name of Olodumare in whatever he do. He pray to Olodumare and he get heal of his sickness that same day. When he got to his farm the second day, he said by grace of Olodumare I will eat pounded yam with this bird tomorrow. When the bird overheard this statement, she went to OLODUMARE and explain her plight, and OLODUMARE ask did he involved my name? The bird said yes. Then OLODUMARE told the bird run for safety to another place, for the farmer has involved my name this time. He will get you killed. The bird leaves the barn of grain of farmer.

So, it incumbent on every human being to put OLODUMARE first in everything they do and to always put OLODUMARE first.

2.

HONOR YOUR PARENTS, TEACHERS /MASTER, ELDERLY PEOPLE, ANCESTOR.

In Ifa and Orisa spirituality, after Olodumare the next person is your parents. Your parents are second to God. In fact, your parents is your small god. Don't disrespect your parents in whatever parents. Then next is your teacher or master who tutor you in your trade or profession. You should always respect them.
Follow by people that are above you in age, the elderly one should not be disrespect or dishonor them. Respect your fore father, your ancestors. One of the leading Ifa scriptural authority on these commandment  can be found in Odu Ifa Oyeku logbe.Ifa says :

Opa a  gila Awo ni
Opa gila na Awo ni
Opa gila gila naa igi aja ni se oo
Difa fun Oyeku
Ti you gba Ogbe loju
Ebo ni  won ni kose
Nitori alugbe ko
Alusan ni
Omo to lu iya re daran
NJe ti alugbe ko
Alusan ni
Omo to lu baba re daran
Talugbe ko
Ta Alusan ni
Omo  to  lu egbon re daran
Talugbe ko
Ti Alusan ni
Translation
The gila staff Is an  ifa preist
The gila staff is also an ifa preist
Both staff are good wood for making rafters.
Cast ifa divination for oyeku
When he was going to slap ogbe is elder siblings in face
He advise to offer sacrifice
Behold, an elder cannot be beaten without grave repercussions
It is usually follow by terrible consequences
A child who beat his or her  mother is already doom
An elder cannot be beaten without great repercussions
It is usually follow by terrible consequences
A child who beats his or her father is doom
An elder cannot be beaten without great repercussions
It is usually follow by terrible consequences.
A child beats his or her elder is doom
An elder cannot be beaten without great consequences
It is usually follow by terrible consequences.

From this Odu Ifa one can deduce that it is wrong to disrespect one parent or elder.

Even in Odu Ifa Okanran Irete Ifa make it clear that if youth respect their parents and elder, they will become more successful. Ifa said in Okanran Irete thus :

Afefe ni te ori oko ba
Efufule ni teri Eruwa odan bale ni aroku ojo
Bi omode ba teriba fun baba
Bi omode ba teriba fun iya
Ohun gbogbo ti o dawole a ma gun gege
Iwa re asi  tutu  pese
Bi aya ba teriba fun oko
A jere bo  oja
Orunmila  Awo  Ile Obatala  Oseremagbo
Difa fun Orisanla  Oseremagbo
Nijo ti awon omo leyin re ko isin re sile
woni kini o le se
won loti di arugbo
Translation
It is the breeze that bend the head of the farm tree
It is the gentle breeze that bend the head of the shrubs in the savannah after rainfall
If a young person respect his father if a young person respect his mother
All what he laid his hand upon shall become successful
His destiny will become cool and certain
If a wife respect her husband
She will make profit in her market transaction
Orunmila is resident Awo of households of Obatala Oseremagbo
He was the Ifa priest who cast Ifa divination for for Obatala Oseremagbo
On the day that all his devotee stop venerating him
They say there is nothing he can do about it.
They said he has become weak and old.

We can see from that odu ifa that children who respect their parents will become successful. It even extended to wife who respect their husband. Even in Odu Ifa Owonrin Sogbe Ifa says:

A kii da gogolootoo ki yeye Eni
A ki da gogolootoo ki baba Eni
Translation:
One should not too big and be pompous to greet one's parents properly.
The verse is saying no matter status you attain in the society.  you must not dishonor your parents.

3.

YOU MUST NOT KILL OR SHED INNOCENT BLOOD,YOU MUST NOT ENGAGE IN KILLING OF FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS FOR RITUAL PURPOSE OR EAT HUMAN FLESH

the third sacred rules of Ifa is prohibition of  any human beings or ifa or any orisa devotee to engage in killing of  innocent fellow human being, or engage in humans sacrifice or eating of human flesh.
The leading Ifa scriptural authority on prohibition of human sacrifice, shedding innocent blood is in Odu Ifa Irete Meji, you can read Babalawo Obanifa work titled 'Ifa forbid human sacrifice by Babalawo Obanifa'  the article gives great detail about this number three rule.

4.

ALWAYS STAND FOR TRUTH, SPEAK TRUTH ALWAYS.

The number four commandments  of Ifa is that every human and all Ifa and Orisa devotee should always stand for truth. They should always speak truth at any time. There are myriad of Ifa scriptural authority on this commandments of Ifa, let me quickly examine some. In Odu Ifa Ofun Eko (Ofun ogunda) Ifa said:

Eni ba puro
Iro ni ro
Eni ba se eke
Eke ni ke
Emi o tete mon
N ba ma sotito
Ki ba won na Oja eko dale gberegede.
Difa fun sotitosotito Ile Ife
Ti yi o o bi eriwo osin fun ajala
Ebo ni won ni kose
ogbo ebo n be  o rubo
O se otito Nile alara
Alara we omo  fun
Ose otito  Nile ajero
Ajero we omo fun
O se  otito Nile owarangun Aga
Owarangun we omo fun
Eriwo osin omo ire ni
Eyin o  mo  pe sotitosotito Ile Ife lo bi eriwo osin fun Ajala
Translation:
He who tell lies
I it is the lie will destroy him
He who engage in falsehood
It is the false hood that will cut him down
If I have known in advance
I will have stand by the the truth speaker
So I can transact business in Eko market till late in the night
Cast ifa divination for the truth speaker of Ile Ife city
Who will beget Eriwo osin for Ajala
She was instructed to offer sacrifice
She complied
She speak truth in house hold of Alara
Alara gave her baby
She spoke truth in Ajero household
Ajero gave her a baby
she did same in owarangun Aga household
He also give her a baby
Eriwo is a well behave child
Don't you know the truth speakers of Ile Ife
She is the one who beget Eriwo osin for Ajala.

It is clear from the Odu Ifa above that liar will have inglorious and self-destructive end. Also in Odu Ifa Osa Otura (Osa Alawo)Ifa says:

Osa alawo ni kini je otito
Mo ni kini je otito
Otito ni Oluwo Orun ti n da abo bo aye
Ohun ni ogbon ti olodumare n lo
Osa alawo niki kini je otito
Monitor kini je otito?
Orunmila ni otito ni  iwa OLODUMARE
Otito ni oro ti ki ye
Ifa ni otito
Otito ni oro ti ki dibaje
Otito ni agbara ti o just gbogbo agbara lo
Ire ayeraye
Difa fun Ile aye
Won ni ko ma se otito
Sotito sododo
Eni ba Sotito  ni irumonle  n gbe.
Translation:
Osa alawo ask, what is truth?
I demand also what is truth?
Truth is the chief priest in heaven that protects the world
Orunmila said truth is an unseen force that protects the world
Truth is the wisdom of Olodumare (God) that he use to govern the universe
Osa alawo ask what is truth?
I also ask what is truth?
I also ask what is truth?
Orunmila said truth is the characters of Olodumare (God)
Truth is unchanging word
Ifa is the truth
Truth is indestructible words
Truth is power of all power
Cast ifa divination for the inhabitants of the world
They were advised to be truthful at all times
Trying and be truthful, be honest
It is the truthful person that deities will supports.

This Odu Ifa let use know that truth is God, and the dieties will only supports honest people.

5.

NEVER BE AN UNGRATEFUL HUMAN BEING :you are expected to show appreciation to OLODUMARE and your fellow human beings for any good done for you, so you can beget greater one.The leading ifa scriptural verses for this commandment  can be found in Odu Ifa Ogunda Ogbe. Ifa says:

Ifa ni kasope, kasope
Orunmila ni eyin omo eku e wa moo dupe
Won nitori kini
Ifa ni nitori omiran ni
Omo eku ko
Omo eku o dupe
Omo eja ko
Omo eja o sope
Omo eran ko
Omo Eni nikan
Ni n be  leyin  ti  n  tubo
Translation:
Let us always show appreciation, Ifa advised
Orunmila advised the children of rat to come and show their appreciation
They, demand why will they need to show appreciation?
It is because of another future fortune that will come
The children of rather refuse
They did not show appreciation
The children of fish refuse
They did not show appreciation
The children of animals refuse
The did not show appreciation
It was only the children of man that shows appreciation.

This is how man was able to get more blessings that other animals as an higher animals.alway give thanks to OLODUMARE God and your fellow human beings so you can get further blessings.

6.

NEVER BE GREEDY OR BE COVETOUS OF OTHER'S POSSESSION: You should not try to gain favor and materials resources at the detriment of your fellow human beings. Or try to convert what belong to others to your own. There are many Ifa scriptural authority on this number six law of Ifa. Ifa make it clear in Odu Ifa  Okanran Ogunda that greed is a morally  reprehensible behavior. It brings disgrace to anybody who engage in it when society got wind of his or her greed. Okanran Ogunda says :

Oju o ti won
Ara o fa won
Irin Ese won ko  pada
Oju o ti egbon
O n jogun aburo
Oju Oti  baba
O on  jogun  omo
Adie ko ni ku ki a da Eyin re sita
Difa fun olokanran ti yi o jogun ogunda
Olokanran lojogun ogunda  aye  di  rudurudu
Translation:
They are bereft of shame
They are less worry
Their movement remain static
When an elder brother have no shame
He inherit his younger brother property's
When a  father too is shameless
He inherit his son's properties
We will not because of death of an hen
And throw away it eggs
Cast ifa divination for Olokanran
Who will took over Ogunda's properties
It was Olokanran who inherit Ogunda properties
The world is in state of anarchy.

From the Odu Ifa above we can deduce it is wrong to be covetous of people property. Ifa even make stern warning against the leader in every sphere of the society not to be greedy, so that they don't lose their leadership role to others. this position was elucidated in Odu Ifa Ofun meji thus:

Onpa obi ni je meji
Agba okanjua a je eta
To ba da je tan
A gbe eru e ru
Aya malo
Lo dia fun eni isiwaju
Ti yio di eni ikehin
Ebo ni won ni kose
O kojale ko rubo
Aimon iwa wu won ni
A mon ede pe won ni
Ara iwaju lo deni ikehin

 Aimonwa wu won ni.
Translation:
A person who break kola nut is expected to consume two lobes alone
A greedy elder will consume three
After eating three lobes of kola, he will carry his load and move away
This was Ifa’s message   for leader
Who is going to become follower
He was instructed to offer ebo
He refuse to comply
It was due to their improper conduct
And their failure of using appropriate words
These is what turn leader into a follower.

Ifa says human being should avoid greediness. That greediness and death goes hand in hand. The leading ifa scriptural authority on this can be found in Odu Ifa Ogbe Ofun (Ogbe fohun folohun) it goes thus:

Alepo ni koolo
Kekeeke ni a n gbe odu
Difa fun okanjua  ti se akapo iku
Ebo ni won ni  ko  se
O  gbo ebo n  be  orubo
Eros ipo, ero ofa
Ase okanjua  ni  pa eniyan
Iku ko
Translation
He who has palm oil in a small size container
He should carry a big pot with great caution
This was Ifa’s message  for a greedy person
Who is a bag carrier for death
He was instructed to offer ebo
He did
Travelers to Ipo and Ofa city
Don't you observe that it is greed that killed people it is not death.

What happened in that Odu Ifa is  that Iku (death) and Okanjua (greed)  were working together. It is Okanjua (greed) that was a bag carrier of Iku. Greed was not satisfying with the share he do get at the end of the day. Hence, they separate the business, at end of the day they both realize that greed kill majority of human beings than natural death. Many people die prematurely by engaging in money rituals, arm robbery, fraud, prostitution etc. And it is greed that lead them to all these.

7.

YOU SHOULD NOT STEAL: You should not steal . the leading Odu Ifa scripture for this can be found in Odu Ifa Irosun Oso (irosun ose). On this Ifa says:

E ma jila Ejio ka
E mon  ji  osun Aloran
E mon  pa adiye iya egbe je
Eni jila ejio iku ara ni wa
Eni fe osun Aloran ara lo fi sofo, ete ara re lo n wa
Eni pa adiye iya egbe fun ara re lo fi emi re le aye lowo.
Translation:
Do not steal okra from chief Ejio farm
Do not steal vegetables from chief Aloran farm
Do not steal the chicken from women leader
Anyone who steal okra from Ejio farm is looking for his own untimely death
Anybody who still vegetables from Chief Aloran farm is looking for his own disgrace and waste of life
Anyone who steal women leader chicken have create spiritual problems for himself.

It is clear from the verse that untimely death, disgrace and host of other problem is punishment for stealing.

8.

DONT OPPRESS THE LESS PRIVILEGE (THE ORPHAN, THE WIDOW, DIVORCEE AND THE WEAK, THE POOR):The leading Ifa scriptural authority on this number eight rules of Ifa is Odu Ifa Owonrin meji ,Ifa says:

Atelewo ni o hu irun  heuheu
Dia fun mofeeni
Ti n be larin osiri
Ti n be larin iponju
To  n  wa  loree  kowo lodo kiifeani
Won ni ko rubo
O rubo  nbe
Ko pe ko jina ire gbogbo wole de yanturu
Nje aronipin ko mon ola
Bi ao  ku, ise ko tan
Aronipin ko mon ola.
Translation:
The palm of the hand doesn't grow hair
This was Ifa’s message for Mofeeni
Who was in the midst of poverty
He was in great suffering
He went to borrow money in the household of kiifeani
He was advised to offer sacrifice
He does
Before long
All good things of life come in abundance to him
Those who write other off, you don't know tomorrow
When there is life, there is hope
Those who underrate and write other off, you don't know tomorrow.

The Odu Ifa stated it clearly that no one should use his privileged position to cheat the less privileged, because nobody know tomorrow.

9.

YOU SHOULD  NOT BE WICKED TO ANY BODY WETHER DEAD OR ALIFE, DON'T BETRAY YOUR FELLOW HUMAN BEING :THE LEADING IFA SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY ON THIS IS IN ODU IFA  ODI - OTURA :Ifa says:

E mo fee fere si  mobi
E mon  huwa ika si iboji
E  mon seke imunle nitori atisun eni.
Translation:
Don't cause disaffection within human
Don't behave wickedly to the dead
Don't be a betrayer of trust because of the day of your death.

10.

DON'T MISUSE OR TAKE OVER THE INHERITANCE OF THE BREAVED AND ORPHAN UNJUSTIFIABLY :IF YOU ABUSE AN ORPHAN OR THE BREAVED AND YOU TAKE OVER THE PROPERTY THAT BELONG TO THEM, OR YOU MISUSE THEIR TRUST PROPERTY UNDER YOUR DISPOSAL IS AGAINST THE WILL OF OLODUMARE :The Ifa scriptural authority on this is in Odu Ifa Ika Ogunda. Ifa says :

Ika ogunda
Ika ogun ya
Ika ogun faya peere peere bi aso
Dia fun latale
Ti oni ohun o ko aso oku ro sile
Ti Alogbo ko
Alaso n  bo wa gba aso
Translation
Ika ogun is broken
Ika ogun is torn
Ika ogun torn lengthwise like an old clothes
This was Ifa’s message  for Latale
Who will keep the clothes that belongs to death person in his house
Because of your stubbornness
Who knows, the owner is coming back to re-claim his cloth.
11.

RESPEC THE PEOPLE THAT OLODUMARE PLACE IN POSITION OF AUTHORITY, EXPECPECT IT IS  GLARE THEY ABUSE THEIR POSITION: The leading Ifa scriptural authority on this number eleven commandments  of Ifa is in Odu Ifa Ogbe Ofun, Ifa says :

Ogbe fohun folohun
N o fohun folohun
Babalawo oba lo difa fun Oba
Eni ba je iru
Enu re aru
Eni ba je iyo
Enu re ayo
Eni ba je epo
Enu re a po
Eyin o mon pe Eni ba je iru ni won pe ni Eru
gbogbo eniyan to ba je iru ni di Eru Oba
Translation:
Ogbe give back the items to it owner
He insisted he will not give back the item to owner
This was Ifa’s message  for a king
He that eat tail will has his mouth become  a tail
He that eat salt
Will have his mouth salty
He that eat palm oil
Will have his mouth become like palm oil
Don't you all know that he that eat snail is the person call a slave of the king
All people who eat tail become the slave of a king

12

All SACRED SHRINE MUST NOT BE DESCRATED: All sacred shrine must be protected at all cost and must not be desecrated. uninitiated person must not be allowed in sacred shrine or touch sacred items. The leading Ifa  scriptural authority for this can be found in Odu Ifa Irosun Oyeku :On this Ifa says:

E ma je ka ro igbo ogun loko
E mon so akitan di Oja
E ma so Ile Ife di ahoro
Translation:
Don't use land fill with Ogun stones for farming activities
Don't turn refuse dump to market place
Don't desolate the sacred city of Ile Ife

13.

BOTH MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD NOT EMBARK ON IMMORAL AND ILLICIT SEXUAL ACTIVITIES. :Ifa state it clearly in Odu Ifa Ika Obara that illicit sexual act can not produce good children, wealth, or marriage for people who engage in it. Ifa says :

Ke mi ni bara
Ki ke o  ni bobo ajile
Bi a ba ji
Ka jo ma  ke  ara wa
Dia  fun Orunmila
Won ni ki o ma  fi owo Eru fe ale
O  ni  nitori kini?
Won ni  ki o le  ni  aje
Ki won o le laya
Ki won  o le bimon
Ki won o ba le kole rere nile aye
E dakun
E  mon  fi owo Eru  fe ale
Translation:
If you cover me up in your blanket
I will cover you up in return
Whenever we wake up at down we should be caring for each other
This was Ifa’s message for Orunmila
He was advise not to use his Ifa money to keep mistresses and concubine
He demanded why?
They told him so that he can make wealth so he can have good wives
And he can beget good children
And also build a good home
I implore you earnings from Ifa don't give it to concubine

14.

DONT UTTER NEGATIVE WORDS AGAINST YOUR SELF AND PEOPLE  AROUND YOU.  Ifa says

Pu ogulutu
Isu oro bale ko monde monde
A difa fun Adaba ku
Adabaku ni se omo olofin
A bun fun Adabala gbotita oye Ile baba e
Ohun na omo olofin ni se
Adabaku da tie o ku
Adabala da tie o la
Adaba gbe otita oye Ile baba e da tie ogbe otita oye Ile baba e.
Otita loye
Ori mi Simi de ibi won gbe joba
Translation:
Pu ogulutu
Isu oro bale ko monde monde
This was Ifa’s message  for who propose to die
He is the child of Olofin
The same  message was reveal for who propose to become wealthy
He is also child of Olofin
Also divine for who will  carry sitting box to ascend his father throne.
The one proposed to die, actually die
The one who propose to become wealthy actually become wealthy
The one who propose to ascend the throne actually ascend the throne
my destiny should lead me to where I will be made a king.

You can see from the Odu Ifa above that it is good to use your tongue to say good things because they can actually happened

15.

ASK FOR FORGIVENESS OF SIN OFTEN, FOR YOU ARE HUMAN: You can always make mistakes either intentionally or unintentionally. Asking for forgiveness always is necessary for prayers to be answer. In Odu Ifa Osa Irete. Ifa says :

Orunmila lodi ebe
Ifa MO lodi era jeje
Oni bi Aworo ogun ba Jim ni owuro kutu kutu bi o se, bi ko se
Ko Kunle
Ko ma rawo ebe
Oni ogun yio gbo ebe re
Yoo da lohun ire ti ohun Toro
Eure de Awo olugbebe
Ti aba ri Awore a gbo ebe ni
Translation:
Orunmila say it is pleading
Ifa I say it is absolute pleading he say when an Ogun devotee wakes up in the morning
Whether he has committed any sin or not
He must kneel down
He must be supplicating
He must be pleading
He said his sin will be pardon
His prayer will be answered
Here come Ebure vegetables
The priest who know how to plead convincingly
It is a must to show mercy.

16

ALWAYS EXPRESS GRATITUDE, AND ALWAYS ABIDE BY IFA INSTRUCTION. Whenever instruction or professional advise is given to you either by people who know more than you do.Such as your teacher,lecturer,tutor,parent, financial advisor, your Awo inclusive . Warning and instruction must be taking serious ,not because of the messenger who deliver it, but for the benefit and safety of the hearer. Odu Ifa Iwori Irete says:

Aja ti a wi loran ti ko gbo

A di aja Elegbara

Agbo monmon ti a lo loran ti ogba

A di agbo Imule

Ototo eniyan ti a wi loran to ko ba fe

E jowo e si , bo ti wu ni ko ma se

Dia fun Orunmila ti yo fi Okun ko Iwe ni wiwe

Translation

The dog that will teach the trick of survival but refuse to listen

Such dog end up been sacrifice to Elegbara

The Agbomomon (The ram) the we teach the tricks to suvive but refuse to listen

Such ram ends up been sacrifice to Imule

A fully grown up human beein that we teach the trick of survival but refuse to listen

Let leaves such person to do as he pleases

He be the one to bite his finger in regrets

This was Ifa’s message for Orunmila

When he said he want start his won swimming lesson in the ocean.

MICELLANEOUS RULES IN IFA PRACTICE THAT IS BASE ON NORMS AND VALUE OF PRACTICE BUT NOT FROM ODU IFA

There are some rules that is not derive from Odu Ifa but it is base on convention that practitioner must observe them in practice as matter of ethic. The most pronounce among them are

1.   Elders must look after their followers with full dedication and commitment to their protection and advancement.—

2.   They must not refer Suru( certain beads) as Esuru(certain yam).  That is, do not do rites if you do not have basic knowledge  of it and do not know how to differentiate. 

3. You should not  call Odideré (the African parrot) oode (bat). That is, do not mislead the person or take them on a false path.

4. Don’t refer to Ewuro(bitter leaves ) as  Oriro tree.  That is, never deceive people

5. Don’t  do anything when you know you  don't know That is, not to pretend to be wise when you are not

6. Be  humble and never self-centered

7  Don’t enter the house of an Oba (king) with bad intentions – Don’t dethrone a king unjustifiably

8. Don’t use the sacred feathers to clean your butts, that is, dont break  taboo and not to use the sacred texts in vain

9.  You should not  defecate where there is epo or in the food dedicated to the Orisa. Maintain hygiene of sacred places

10. Don’t  urinate within Eku/Afo (place where palm oil is made ). That is, you should  not  adulterate food

11. Don’t killed snail with Gun, In other words, always respect those who are weaker and respect others. 

12. Don’t remove the cane from an old man.  That is, to respect the elderly within religion and in life and to respect the hierarchy. 

13. Don’t sleep with the wife of others

14. Don’t sleep with the wife of a friend (not to betray a friend)

15. Don’t allow your mouth to be a basket, don’t be a gossip .  I mean, never reveal the secrets reveal to you in confidence. 

16. Don’t disrespect or sleep with the wife of an Awo

   

Culled from Babalawo Obanifa unpublished  work "Africa Ifa Theology"

Copyright: Babalawo Pele Obasa Obanifa, phone and whatsapp contact :+2348166343145, location Ile Ife osun state Nigeria.

IMPORTANT NOTICE : As regards the article above, all rights reserved, no part of this article may be reproduced or duplicated in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying and recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission From the copyright holder and the author Babalawo Obanifa, doing so is considered unlawful and will attract legal consequences