Ika Ofun in Yoruba + Translation

[Olùkọ́ Ọbádélé]

¿ni dá ilë, á bá ilë læ

Ìká funfun
Ìká Òfún
A dífá fún àgbààgbà mêrindínlógún
Wôn ñ relé Ifë wôn ñ læ rèé tæræ ogbó
Àwæn lè gbó, àwæn lè tô bí Olódùmarè ti rán wæn dá Ifá sí
Wôn ni wôn á gbó, wôn á tô «ùgbôn kí wôn pa ìkìlö mô
Wôn ní kí wôn má fi esúrú pe esúrú
Wôn ní kí wôn má fi esùrù pe esùrù
Wôn ní kí wôn má fi odíd÷ pe ood÷
Wôn ní kí wôn má fi ewé ìrókò pe ewé oriro
Wôn ní kí wôn má fi àìmöwë bá wôn dé odò
Wôn ní kí wôn má fi àìlókò bá wôn ké hàín-hàín
Wôn ní kí wôn má gba èbùrú wælé Akálá
Wôn ní kí wôn má fi ìkoód÷ nu ìdí
Wôn ní kí wôn má «u sí epo
Wôn ní kí wôn má tö sí àfö
Wôn ní kí wôn má gba öpá l’ôwô afôjú
Wôn ní kí wôn má gba öpá l’ôwô ogbó
Wôn ní kí wôn má gba obìnrin ògbóni
Wôn ní kí wôn má gba obìnrin örê
Wôn ní kí wôn má sörö ìmúlë l’êhìn
Wôn ní kí wôn má sànán ìbàntê awo
Wôn délé ayé tán ohun tí wôn ní kí wôn má «e ni wôn ñ «e
Wôn wá bërë síí kú
Wôn fi igbe ta, wôn ní Örúnmìlà ñ pa wôn
Örúnmìlà ní òun kô l’òun ñ pa wôn
Örúnmìlà ní àìpa ìkìlö mô wæn l’ó ñ pa wôn
Àgbà r÷ dæwô r÷
Àgbà mi dæwô mi
Àgbà kìí wí fún ni têlë kí ó tó kan ni


Ika Ofun

ENI DA ILE A BA ILE LO.
Those who break the trust shall suffer.

1. They (16 elders) walked to Ile Ife in order to request long life. Will we live as long as Olodumare (God) was their question to Ifa. They (the Babalawos) warned, do not call esuru ( a type of yam) esuru (Which means do not say what you do not know).
2. They warned the elders, do not call esuru (the sacred stories) Esuru. (Which means do not do rites of which you do not have the basic knowledge).
3. They warned them that odide (the parakeet) should not be called oode (murcielago). (Which means, never mislead the people. Do not send a person on a false road).
4. They warned them not to say that the leaves of the Ceiba are leaves of the Oriro tree. (Which means never deceive the people).
5. They warned them not to try to swim when they do not know how to swim. (Which means do not pretend to be wise when you are not).
6. They warned them to be humble and never be egocentric.
7. They warned them not to enter the house of AKALA (title of a chief in Ifa) with bad intentions. (Which means not to be false).
8. They warned them not to use the feathers of Ikoode (sacred parrot's feathers) to clean their bottoms. (Which means not to break Taboo/Prohibitions).
9. They warned them not to defecate in Epo (food for Ifa/Orisha). (Which means always keep the sacred instruments clean).
10. They warned them that they should not urinate in Afo (the place where palm oil is made in Yorubaland). (Which means keep the Temple clean).
11. They warned them not to take the blind man's cane. (Which means they should always respect those who are weaker and treat people well and with due respect).
12. They warned them not to take an old man's cane. (Which means to respect the Elders and treat them well).
13. They warned them not to go to bed with the wife of an Ogboni (title of a Politician/Judge). (Which means respect the moral laws).
14. They warned them never to go to bed with the wife of a friend. (Which means not to betray a friend).
15. They warned them not to be gossipers. (Which means never reveal secrets).
16. They warned them not to disrespect, or ever go to bed with the wife of a Babalawo. (Which means respect those who occupy important positions).

When the Elders arrived upon the Earth, they did exactly the things that they were forbidden to do. They began to die one after another. They screamed and accused Orunmila of assassinating them. Orunmila said that it was not him who was killing them. Orunmila said that the Elders were dying because they did not follow the Commandments Of Ifa. Your Eldership is your responsibility. My Eldership is my responsibility. Eldership does not tell a person ahead of time before it touches one.