Ejiogbe AKA Ogbe Meji

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 said 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.

"Daylight never shines past evening into the night,
night never lasts after day breaks and the sun shines,
nor does darkness ever continue beyond its predestined time"
was the one who cast Ifa for Unexpected Guest, on the day
that he suddenly came from Heaven to Earth.
If us humans have any problem, we should take it to our ancestors.
He will protect us: our male ancestor will never desert us.
She will protect us: our female ancestor will never neglect us.
They will protect us: our Ifa teachings will never forsake us.
It too shall protect us: our Ori will never abandon us."
This client should make sacrifice to his Egun, to Ifa
and to his own Ori. And while we're at it: don't forget Eshu!

Ogbe Meji (Ejiogbe)

In Nigerian Dafa, the Odu Ejiogbe is often greeted by the Awo with "Oba ni!" ("It's the King"), Ejiogbe being considered the King of all Odu's. Every now and then an idiot client of diasporian extraction concludes that he is pronounced Oba or King by the oracle, being immediately taken for a ride by all elated Nigerians present who smell dollars (wide and wicked grin)! Remember that every diasporian, whether White or Black, is seen as a "rich American" in most of Africa!