The following verses from the Odù Ifá were rendered by Chief Priest Ifáyẹmi Ọ̀ṣúndàgbonù Elebuibon as part of an interview conducted for Tani Olohun’s YouTube channel.
The Yorùbá sage Òrúnmìlà proposed that the Òrìṣà (deities) worshiped as gods and goddesses, were once men and women of exceptional talent who became venerated as heroic ancestors after their deaths. Gradually, the veneration of the virtous qualities of these ancestors evolved and expanded until their human origins became mostly overlooked.
My thanks to Dele A Sonubi for the transcription and translation into English that follows.
One Selected By Destiny
Òrúnmìlà says, it is humans who live and ascend to become deities
I say, it is the humans who live and ascend to become deities
The Father of Words garnished with unqualifiable wisdom.
Òrúnmìlà says that Òsun, who you worship as a goddess, was once human.
It was when she had gained sufficient wisdom and had become so powerful, that she ascended to become a deity.
Òrúnmìlà says, it is the humans who ascend to become deities
I say, it is human who ascend to become deities.
Òrúnmìlà says that Sàngó, who you worship as the god of thunder, was once human.
It was when he had gained sufficient wisdom and had become so powerful that he ascended to become a deity.
Òrúnmìlà says, it is the humans that ascend to become deities
I say, it is the humans that ascend to become deities.
Òrúnmìlà says, that Ògún, who you worship as the god of Iron, was once human.
It was when he had gained sufficient wisdom and had become powerful that he ascended to become a deity.
Òrúnmìlà says, it is the humans that ascend to become deities
I say, it is the humans that ascend to become deities.
Òrúnmìlà says that Obàtálá, who you worship as the god of creation, was once human.
It was when he had gained sufficient wisdom and had become so powerful that he ascended to become a deity.
Òrúnmìlà says, it is human beings who ascend to become deities
I say, it is human beings who ascend to become deities.
To be honest, there are no extraterrestrial beings inside the masquerade costumes; it is humans who dress up as Egúngún.
Only the wise and selected ones are worshipped; humans are the ones who ascent to become deities.
Eni Orí Shà
Òrúnmìlà wí, ènìyàn ní d’Òrìshà
Èmi ná wìí, ènìyàn ní d’Òrìshà.
Baba àgbonmìrègún.
Òrúnmìlà wí, Òsun Òshogbo- Yèyé olómo yo-yo tí e rí yen, ènìyàn ni
Ní‘gbà tó gbón tán, t’ó lágbára tán ni wón fi n bó
Òrúnmìlà wí, ènìyàn ní d’Òrìshà
Èmi ná wìí, ènìyàn ní d’Òrìshà.
Òrúnmìlà wi, Sàngó-Oba koso-ti e ri yen, ènìyàn ni
Ní’gbà tó gbón tán, t’ó lágbára tán ni wón fi n bó
Òrúnmìlà wí, ènìyàn ní d’Òrìshà
Èmi ná wìí, ènìyàn ní d’Òrìshà.
Òrúnmìlà wí, Ògún Onírè tí e rí yen, ènìyàn ni
Nígbà tó gbón tán, t’ó lágbára tán ni wón fi n bó
Òrúnmìlà wí, ènìyàn ní d’Òrìshà
Èmi ná wìí, ènìyàn ní d’Òrìshà.
Òrúnmìlà ni, Obàtálá ti e ri yen, ènìyàn ni
Ní’gbà tó gbón tán, t’ó lágbára tán ni wón fi n bó
Òrúnmìlà wí, ènìyàn ní d’Òrìshà
Èmi ná wìí, ènìyàn ní d’Òrìshà.
Ènìyàn ní gbé egúngún, ará òrun ò wáyé rí, Ejé ká so Òtító òrò
Eni t’ó gbón ni wón nbo, ènìyàn ní d’Òrìshà.
Rendition by Chief Priest Ifáyẹmi Ọ̀ṣúndàgbonù Elebuibon,
Transcribed and translated by Dele A Sonubi.
