--Messages From InternationalCouncil for Ifa Religion

IFA OF THE YEAR 2009/2010 CAST AT OKE ITASE ON JUNE 6^TH/7^TH,  2009.

The Odu of the year revealed for the whole world as it affects all and sundry in the year 2009/2010 is OTURA-ELEFUN-UNDERE (OTURA-OFUN).

In this Odu, Ifa foresees the ire of long life and prosperity for all Ifa devotees all over the world.

Ifa calls on all those born by this Odu either during Ikosedaye or Itelodu to feed their respective Ifa with 16 land snails and two kolanuts with four lobes.  If this is done, long life and prosperity is guaranteed.

Ifa however states that the feeding of Ifa must NOT be done by the individual, he/she must invite his/her Awo to come and do the feeding for him/her.  It is by so doing that the feeding materials will be accepted by the divinities.

For all other Ifa devotees, there is the need for each and everyone to feed Ifa with two land snails and two kolanuts.  Again, Awo must be invited to do this.  If an individual or group feeds his/her or the group's Ifa without inviting a competent Awo to do so for any reason, the offering will not be accepted.

THE MAIN MESSAGES

1.   Ifa enjoins all its devotees to ensure that every morning, they prostrate and lie flat for Ifa.  While they were in the prostrate positions, they will demand for everything they need from Ifa and their request shall be granted.  Ifa  equally advises each individual or group to offer ebo with 2 rats, 2 fish, 2 pigeons, 2 hens, 2 guineafowls, 2 roosters and money.  If this is done, all encompassing ire is assured.

Ope ja suuru kanle

Dia fun Orunmila

To ji l'owuro kutukutu

Ti nsunkun oju oun o kan're

Ebo ni won ni ko waa se

O gb'ebo, O ru'bo

Nje aje lo wu mi mo wole Ifa

Mariwo Ope ja suuru kanle

Iwo l'Awo ojumo ire o

Aya/Oko ire lo wu mi mo wole Ifa

Mariwo Ope ja suuru kanle

Iwo l'Awo ojumo ire o

Omo ire lo wu mi mo wole Ifa

Mariwo Ope ja suuru kanle

Iwo l'Awo ojumo ire o

Ire gbogbo lo wu mi mo wole Ifa

Mariwo Ope ja suuru kanle

Iwo l'Awo ojumo ire o

Translation:

The palm-frond broke and dived straight to the ground

This was Ifa's message for Orunmila

When he woke up early in the morning

And was weeping his inability to sight any ire of life

He was advised to offer ebo

He complied

I want wealth and I prostrate myself for Ifa

Mariwo Ope ja suuru kanle

You are the Awo of a marvelous dawn

I need a good spouse and I prostrate myself for Ifa

Mariwo Ope ja suuru kanle

You are the Awo of a marvelous dawn

I crave for good children and I prostrate myself for Ifa

Mariwo Ope ja suuru kanle

You are the Awo of a marvelous dawn

I pray for all ire of life and I lie flat for Ifa

Mariwo Ope ja suuru kanle

You are the Awo of a marvelous dawn

2.   Ifa assures all its children that in this year, they shall occupy very important and highly strategic positions.  They shall also be elegant and successful.

Each devotee needs to offer ebo with a bundle of white clothe, 8 white pigeons and money.  Each person also needs to feed his/her Ori with one white pigeon and honey.

        Otura funfun Sese

Dia fun Lekeleke

Ti nraye awure

Ebo ni won ni ko waa se

O gb'ebo, o ru'bo

Nje, Lekeleke gba mi leeekan o

Labalaba gba mi leeekan o

Translation:

Otura funfun Sese, the white immaculate Otura

He cast Ifa for Lekeleke, the cattle Egret

When going on a journey of good luck

He was advised to offer ebo

He complied

Please, Lekeleke infect my fingernails with your whiteness of good luck

Labalaba, please infect my fingernails with your whiteness of good luck.

3.   Ifa says that most Ifa devotees have not yet attained their rightful positions in life.  Ifa assures them that this year will be the year that they will all take a giant step closer to their rightful positions.

Ifa advises each person to offer ebo with 3 white pigeons, 3 guinea fowls and money.  They also need to feed their individual Ori with one catfish, honey and money.

        Oturara funfun, Awo Ori

Dia 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.

4.   Ifa says that even though most Ifa devotees shall be placed in strategic positions this year; they also need to offer ebo so that they will not have eyesight problem, (both literally and figuratively speaking.

Ifa advises each person or group to offer ebo with 3 pigeons, 3 guineafowls, 3 roosters and money.  On this, Ifa says;

        Otura funfunfun

Awo Oju lo dia f'Oju

Oju nlo ree je Oloja lawujo ara

Ebo ni won ni ko waa se

O gb'ebo, o ru'bo

Oju wa je Oloja nigbayi Ifa

E je n maa rin

E je n maa yan o

Translation:

Otura funfunfun, the white Otura

The Awo of Oju, the Eye, cast Ifa for the Eye

When going to become the ruler of the body

He was advised to offer ebo

He complied

Oju, the Eye has become the ruler of the body this time around

Let me walk gallantly

Let me match majestically

5.   Ifa says that this year is a year of plenty and piety.  Ifa enjoins its devotees to put on white dresses more regularly.  Ifa also urges all devotees to think, speak and act with piety, truthfulness and honesty.  All devotees are warned never to do anything that will cast stain and blemish on their whiteness.

Ifa says that after doing this, if anyone or group still deems it fit to castigate them, Ifa and Olodumare will turn it to blessings.

Each person needs to offer ebo with one matured he-goat, 3 white pigeons and money.  He/she also needs to feed Elders of the Night with palm-oil.

Funfun niyi aja

Gbogboro niyi orun

Ka rogun ka ma saa niyi okunrin

Dia fun Laseeni

Eyi ti ara aye n bu ku

Ti ara orun n bu kun

Ebo ni won ni ko waa se

O gb'ebo, o ru'bo

Translation:

Whiteness is the value in a dog's teeth

To be well shaped is the value in a neck

To face uprising head-on is the value of a courageous man

These were Ifa's declarations to Laseeni

Who was being discredited by human beings

But who was being complemented by heavenly beings

He was advised to offer ebo

He complied

6.   Ifa says that as this year is the year of purity and whiteness for all devotees, so also is it a year of honey of sweetness.  Ifa enjoins all devotees to place a jar of honey by their Ifa.  They also need to taste out of it on a regular interval.

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

7.   Ifa says that it is time for us to exhibit our uniqueness.  We must never imitate anyone.  We must do our things in original and unique ways.  This is because imitating others is fraught with disappointments and dangers.

In order to escape the problem associated with imitating others, there is the need to offer ebo with 3 guinea fowls, 3 roosters and money.  For our Ori to pick the right choice at all times, we need to offer ebo with 3 white pigeons each.  We also need to feed our Ori with one big smoked catfish each.  On these aspects, Ifa says;

        Kokorogun-un mi Osemusemu

Dia fun Meeeye

Ti nba won lo s'oko eburo

Ebo ni won ni ko waa se

O gb'ebo, o ru'bo

Ologun n he ogun

Ologbon n he ogbon

Alaaadota n he aadota o

Okan soso pere ni Meeeye he o

Translation

My Kokorogun shrub, with sharp thorns

Ifa's message for Meeeye

When going to the farm to pick eburo seeds

She was advised to offer ebo

She complied

Some picked 20 eburo seeds

Some picked 30 seeds

Some picked 50 seeds

Meeeye was able to pick only one seed

Meeeye and her colleagues went to the farm in search of Eburo seeds.  Some of her colleagues found and picked 20, some picked 30, others picked 50, but Meeeye found and picked only one.  They were making jest of her that she would not be able to sell only one in the market, and if she did, the money she would make from it would be nothing compared to what they would make.

When they were about to cross the makeshift bridge on their way back home, Meeeye fell into the stream and the eburo seed was washed off her hand.  She pursued it, until she found herself in a big city.  They pulled her out of the stream and inquired from her what her mission was.  She explained her ordeal.  She was given three small gourds and asked to return to her home.  She was asked to hit the gourd on the floor of her home.room when she got home.  She did.  In the first gourd was expensive beads, in the second gourd was gold and diamond and in the third gourd was expensive clothing materials - Meeeye became an instant success.

She shared part of her success with her bosom friend.  This friend was not satisfied.  She asked Meeeye to explain to her exactly how she made her success, Meeeye told her.  The friend quietly returned all what Meeeye gave her to Meeeye.

The next time that they went in search of the Eburo seeds, this friend went with them.  She saw many seeds but picked only one.  On their way back home, she threw her eburo seed into the stream and jumped into the stream to pursue it.  She followed the seed until she got to the big city that Meeeye saw the last time.  They pulled her out of the stream.  She told them that she had come for them to make her as successful as Meeeye. They gave her three gourds and asked her to hit them on the floors of her room when she got home.  She could not wait to reach home.  She threw one of the gourds on the ground on the way home and bees flew out and stung her mercilessly, she ran.  She threw the second and third down at the same time in her room and emmets and snakes came out and bit her to death.

That is why people say that "Enikan kii fori w'ori Meeeye lo oko eburo" meaning "nobody can compare his luck to that of Meeeye when going in search of eburo seeds in the farm".

8.   Ifa foresees victory over enemies for all Ifa devotees this year.  Sango will ensure victory for all devotees.

Ifa advises us to offer ebo with 4 roosters, 4 hens, 200 pebbles and money.  There is also the need to feed Sango with one rooster, amala and gbegiri, bean soup.  On this, Ifa says;

        Okiti seki-seki-seki Awo eba ona

Dia fun Olukoso lalu

Jenrola omo arigba ota segun

Igbati nbe laarin ota

Ebo ni won ni ko waa se

O gb'ebo, o ru'bo

Ta lo wa nperi Oba o?

Too, emi o peri I re Alado

Translation:

Small heaps, the Awo of the roadside

They cast Ifa for Sango

He who has 200 pebbles to ensure victory

When he was in the midst of enemies

He was advised to offer ebo

He complied

Who is speaking ill of the Oba?

No! I will not speak evil of you, Alado!

AFFLIATED ORISA/IRUNMOLE OF OTURA-OFUN

-         Ifa

-         Odu

-         Ori

-         Sango

-         Egbe

-         Obatala
Aje

-         Olokun

-         Esu Odara

TABOOS OF OTURA - OFUN

-         Must not ignore the advice of youths.  The youths are the ones blessed with foresight and knowledge to lead and advise this year.

-         Must not reveal business secrets to others -m to avoid envious people from spoiling your business

-         Must avoid excessive farm work

-         Those born by this Odu must not take any inheritance from their mothers' side, clan or lineage in order to avoid unconsummated fortune

-         Must never kill bees or destroy honey combs, beehives or any part of bees family - to avoid being sad and unsuccessful in life

-         Must never use egret for anything - to avoid unconsummated fortune

-         Must never imitate anyone - to avoid calamity and disaster

-         Must avoid okra and garden-egg consumption - to avoid threat to life leading to untimely death.

ABORU ABOYE

S. SOLAGBADE POPOOLA

CHAIRMAN

ETHICS AND SCRIPTURE

International Council for Ifa Religion.