Ese Oyeku-Meji

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Orunmila says he will father something big;
I say that Ifa will father something big,
and Ifa fathered Farm.
Orunmila says he will father something big;
I say that Ifa will father something big,
and Ifa fathered Market.
Orunmila says he will father something big;
I say that Ifa will father something big,
and Ifa fathered War.
Orunmila says he will father something big;
I say that Ifa will father something big,
and Ifa fathered Road.
Orunmila says he will father something big;
I say that Ifa will father something big,
and Ifa fathered House,
the last one Ifa fathered was House.
After having done all this, Orunmila departed
for the house of Olokun, to read Ifa there,
where he remained for a full sixteen years.
On his return voyage home, the first son he visited
was War, who received his father with food and drink.
Thereupon Orunmila wished to relieve his bowels,
but War said that no one could relieve his bowels
in the house of War.
The second son Orunmila visited was Market,
who received his father with food and drink.
Thereupon Orunmila wished to relieve his bowels,
but Market said that no one could relieve his bowels
in the house of Market.
The third son Orunmila visited was Farm,
who received his father with food and drink.
Thereupon Orunmila wished to relieve his bowels,
but Farm said that no one could relieve his bowels
in the house of Farm.
The fourth son Orunmila visited was Road,
who received his father with food and drink.
Thereupon Orunmila wished to relieve his bowels,
but Road said that no one could relieve his bowels
in the house of Road.
The last son Orunmila visited
was his youngest child House who,
as soon as he saw his father, slaughtered
a goat, cooked large heaps of food, mashed
delicious yams, and invited his friends, all
to entertain his returning father.
When Orunmila had eaten and drunk to satisfaction,
he wished to relieve his bowels, and House opened
a room and said: "My house is yours.
My father may relieve his bowels
anywhere he wants in this room."
After Orunmila had relieved his bowels
he closed the door of the room behind him.
Not very much later Ifa again
wished to relieve his bowels, and House opened
another room which Orunmila, after
having relieved his bowels, also closed again.
Thereupon Orunmila told House to open
and clean the first room, and when House went in
he found the room full of money.
Thereupon House opened the second room,
finding it packed with valuable beads.
Then Orunmila spoke that henceforward all profits
made by Farm, Road, Market and War,
would be to the benefit of House.
Ifa says a visitor will come to see us;
we should take care of this visitor well,
so his goodness and favor will not pass us by,
for this visitor brings us abundance.




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