Some words of Ifa in Oyeku-Oshe

 

"Let us not die as the friend
of the house of strangers,
may we not die
in the house of mourning";
"When Death comes, let us praise
those friends of brave character";
"A shrewd man will never die inside";
"Feathers improve
the beauty of the bird";
"Friend of Afinjumaku,
don't die, don't do evil":
these were the ones who cast
for human beings, on the day
they called the Awo's
when the town realized that no one
can withstand Death.
This Odu speaks of the death
of this person, or of the death
of someone very close to him.
We shall be at peace with Death,
whether he is close or far away.

K'amateteku, the awo of the house of joy,
Aiteteku-ise, the awo of the house of sorrow,
Bi-iku-ba-de-ka-yin-Oluwa-logo, the awo of
Igboya ewa Alogbon-on-maku-ninu,
Masimale ninmeyeniyi, the awo of
Afinju-maku-mase'baje Oyekeseniyi,
they cast for the wise ones,
who asked the awo's for guidance
regarding the problem of Death, saying:
"Why must Death kill people, and why
has nobody yet conquered Death?"
The awo's told them: "Ifa has said
that Amuniwaye created Death
for the well-being of humans.
A stagnant water becomes a puddle:
a puddle of spoilt water, a puddle
of water that can cause disease.
Water easily takes people with it,
and equally easily brings them back.
Let the sick return home for treatment
and renewal of the body, and the wicked
for renewal of their character.
The insane man is cared for by his family".
Then the awo's asked: "What, pray,
is so unpleasant about it?"
The wise men bowed for Ifa, saying:
"Orunmila! A buru, a boye, a boshishe!"
Then they dispersed, and never again
saw Death as a problem. Orisanla is the one
we call Amuniwaye.