Invocation Of The Spirit Of Wisdom – Orunmila

Ẹyẹ kan fò lórí omi, lórí omi, ó f’apá ọ̀tún ba’lẹ̀, ó ró gbọ́ngbọ́ngbọ́n bí ọkọ́

A bird twirls all over the water, landing with her right wing, and sounding as does the hoe when struck.

Ẹyẹ kan bà lórí omi, lórí omi, ó f’apá ọ̀tún ba’lẹ̀, ó ró gbọ̀ngbọ̀ngbọ̀n bi àdá.

The bird then perches on water, tapping the surface with her right wing, and sounding with the strength of a cutlass.

Bí aláwòrò-Òrìsà bá jí, a f’àdá Òrìsà nan’lẹ̀, a ní “Òrìsà, ẹ jí tàbẹ́ ò jí!”

When the chanter-priestess rises at dawn, she taps the earth with Obatala’s cutlass saying. “Spirits, I want to know if you are awake and attentive on this day!”

Baba ló sùn ni kò jí.

With no evidence that his attention is here, Father maintains a sleep state.

Jíjí ni kí o jí o, Mòkùn-Ọ̀tàn l’Eri.

So we must plead with you to grant us your attention, Father, you who is known as Mokun-Otan at Ileri.

Jíjí ni kí o jí, Mòsùn nílé Ìlawẹ̀.

We plead that you give us your attention, you who is called Mosun at Ilawe Town.

Jíjí ni kí o jí o, òjìjí àlà ó nini.

We ask that you lend us your attention, you electric fish with an everlasting calm complexion.

Baba ní “bí òun kò bá jí ńkọ́?”

“Suppose I show you no sign of wakefulness?” says Father

Mo ní: “bí isékúsé bá sẹ́ gbogbo ẹyẹ oko níí jí.”

I say; “Once Isekuse crows the birds at the forest are aroused.”

Bí Òjìjí bá paradà lódò.

The same thing happens to the electric fish once it swirls in the sea.

Gbogbo ẹja omi níí jí.

All the fishes are electrified into action.

Baba ní “bí òun bá jí bí òun kò bá kọjú ńkọ́?”

Father said; “Suppose wakefulness is shown but without keen attention?

Mo ní: “asuigbó kìí kọjú sí’gbó.”

I say; “When excreting in the bush, a person does not face towards the bush.

Asuọ̀dàn kìí kọ̀yìn s’ọnà.

When excreting in the bush one does not turn his back against the path.

Bí ewé Òtìtí ba tú, ojú Olódùmarè ní ńkọjú sí

And it is known that when the Otiti plant explodes into bloom, it turns to the Creator, does it not?

Baba ní “bí òun bá kọjú bí òun kò rẹ́rìn ńkọ́?”

Father says; “Suppose I grant you my attention but without a grin, which indicates that I am not giving it with delight?”

Mo ní: “rẹ́rìn, mo ní ẹ̀rín là rín fọn’ná ọtí”

I say; “You must give it with delight. For one thing, we are all cheers and delight when preparing the hearth brew.”

È̩rín làgbàrá ńrín k’Olódò lọnà.

For another, delight is what the water torrent exudes, racing to discharge into the river.

Baba ní; “bí òun bá rẹ́rìn, bí kò tán nínú òun ńkọ́?”

Father says; “Now suppose I am all smiles, while at the same time, I feel displeasure?”

Mo ní: “Bí asẹ́ bá mu omi, a tán ńnú asẹ́.”

I say; “But it should be recalled that whenever the filter is given water, it retains no part of it whatsoever.”

Bí Ìgèrè bá mu omi, a tán ńnú ìgèrè.

The same applies to the Igere trap, dipped in and then lifted from water, it retains not a drop.

B’áláwòrò – Òòṣa bá máa sorò lọ́dún.

The praise chanter of the Spirits expresses the same idea on the eve of the annual festival.

Bí ó bá ránṣẹ́ p’Onígbàjámọ̀, a fá irun orí rẹ̀ tán porogodo.

If he sends for the barber, he makes sure his head is cleared of all hair and shaved clean.

Ògún kò jẹran mímí.

Certainly the Spirit of Iron will not accept a rotten meat offering.

Ìja kò jẹran ìkàsè.

Just as the Spirit of the Path-Finder cannot be served unclean flesh.

Ò torí Ọlálẹ́kun, Òmìnìkun, Àtàtàbíàkun, Erin-kò-se é-yípadà-kun

Now, may I invoke tranquility with Olalekun, Ominikun, Atatabiakun, and Erin-ko-se e-yipada-kun

Àbàtà kúnkúnkún kò tán lẹ́hìn òkun.

Abata kunkunkun underscore the other side of the sea.

Amọ̀nàátọ̀, amọ̀nàáṣegààrà-dé’Fẹ̀, Gbùrù àgbá.

You who straightens our path, you who put a curve in our path, you who ensures that the highway is kept unobstructed all the way to Ife.

Ìlù méjì gèdegèdé.

Respect to the open-ended drum.

Ìlù gèdegèdé ló tégún- ń’lù

Respect to the two untranslatable drum beats.

Ọba ló téyín erin ńfọn

Only a King can use the trumpet made of an elephant tusk.

A díá f’Òrúnmìlà, Baba ńsawo r’òde Òmìnìkun, ní ibi tí gbogbo wọn ń gbé sẹ’fá.

Ifa divination was cast for the Spirit of Destiny, when Father was going to the city that was famed for tranquility, where all were working on the Ifa tray associated with offending Ifa.

Ifá bí mo bá sẹ̀ ẹ́, kí o má ṣe fì’bínú gb’eku.

So if I have offended you, please do not demand mouse for a sacrifice.

Ifá fi fẹ̀rẹ̀jì ni o fẹ̀rẹ̀jì, bí ará òde Òmìnìkun.

Instead, Ifa grant me unconditional remission, as you did for the people of the town of tranquility.

Ifá bí mo bá ṣẹ̀ ẹ́, kí o máṣe fì’bínú gb’ẹja.

Ifa if I have offended you, please do not demand fish for a sacrifice.

Fifẹ̀rẹ̀jì ni o fẹ̀rẹ̀jì, bí ará òde Òmìnìkun.

Instead, grant me complete remission, as you did for the people of the town of tranquility.

Ifá bí mo bá ṣẹ̀ ọ́, kí o máṣe fì’bínú gb’ẹyẹ.

Ifa if I have offended you, please do not demand a bird offering.

Fifẹ̀rẹ̀jì ni o fẹ̀rẹ̀jì, bí ará òde Òmìnìkun.

Instead, grant me absolution, as you did for the people of the town of tranquility.

Ifá bí mo bá ṣẹ̀ ẹ́, kí o máṣe fì’ràn gb’ẹran.

Ifa if I have offended you, please do not demand meat as a punishment.

Fifẹ̀rẹ̀jì ni o fẹ̀rẹ̀jì, bí ará òde Òmìnìkun.

Instead grant me total remission, as you did for the people of the town of tranquility.

Ifá bí mo bá ṣẹ̀ ẹ́, kí o máṣe fi ìràn gba ọ̀tọ̀tọ̀ ohun.

Ifa if I have offended you, please do not demand material things.

Fifẹ̀rẹ̀jì ni o fẹ̀rẹ̀jì, bí ará òde Òmìnìkun.

Instead, grant me forgiveness, as you did for the people of the town of tranquility.

Bí a bá jẹ̀kọ à dárí j’ewé.

When we eat the eko porridge, we forgive the leaf wrappers.

Fẹ̀rẹ̀jìn mí o, bí ará òde Òmìnìkun.

Grant me forgiveness, as you did for the people of the town of tranquility.

Ọba Aládé Fẹ̀rẹ̀jìn mí, Ọba Aláfẹ̀rẹ̀jìn. Àṣẹ.

Forgive me great King, the forgiving King. May it be so.