Ese Ogbe-Meji

I I
I I
I I
I I

We will sacrifice now first,
for a long life, and when no offering is made
we will not go on, we are
unable to go on unless we now
determine exactly what has to be offered.
Do you see why Ifa follows this strange road?
Make sacrifice for a long life.
"King of a good journey,
be blessed, may we live
another fine year, and when
yet another year comes,
let's celebrate, saying:
King of the good journey, blessings!
Let us call him now.
Call whom?
Call this thin tree
that will live long enough
to grow many leaves, oh yes,
narrow path that will become a highway"
were the ones who cast for
"He who cleared the path first,
that's Ejiogbe".
They say it is his time do die,
but he says: "That bad news
I haven't received yet, call Oyeku-Meji!"
Oyeku-Meji says, it is not my turn yet, rather Iwori-Meji.
Iwori-Meji says Odi-Meji's time is up, try him.
Odi-Meji says I'll make gladly room for Irosun-Meji.
Irosun-Meji says no not me, you mean Owonrin-Meji.
Owonrin-Meji says I'm sorry, wrong number, dial Obara-Meji.
Obara-Meji says the line is engaged, try Okanran-Meji.
Okanran-Meji says good heavens no, you need Ogunda-Meji.
Ogunda-Meji says no way, call Osa-Meji.
Osa-Meji says I'm busy, but Ika-Meji is free.
Ika-Meji says get my neighbour: Oturupon-Meji.
Oturupon-Meji says I can't come, Otura-Meji will come instead.
Otura-Meji says not me. I go away, try the next.
Irete-Meji says it's Ose-Meji you want.
Ose-Meji says I am not home, try next door.
Ofun-Meji says right house but wrong person, Ose'Tura
will go before me to carry my stuff.
However, Ose'Tura has two thousand Awo's
to write the signs of the road in front of him,
and one to make the sacrifice,
two thousands chances to avoid death,
and one to make medicine, which means
that he must gain access to the animal kingdom.
I am the one on whose shoulders rests the task
to find the one who can release me from this heavy death:
goat, please go and take my place,
let me free so all of you will see me
next year again, and we will celebrate this,
and say: "Blessings be with you,
King of the good journey!"
Make sacrifice for immortality,
that's what the Awo does.