Orunmila

My thanks to Dele A Sonubi for this translation into English of another poem from the verses of the Yorùbá religious corpus, Odù Ifá.

The 16 Major Odù of Ifá record the dialogues of Òrúnmìlà with each of his 16 disciples. In the following verses we hear the boastful self-praises of one of these disciples.

“I, a man with the strength of three men,
The wall that stands erect amidst raging fire…

My thanks to Dele A Sonubi for this translation into English of a poem from the verses of the Yorùbá religious corpus, Odù Ifá.

Although frequently mythologised as a deity, Òrúnmìlà appears to have been a historical figure. Some histories claim that he was born in the town of Òkè Igèti within Ilé-Ifẹ̀, the ancient Yorùbá city in south-western Nigeria, around 500 B.C. As an adult, Òrúnmìlà became known as an exceptionally wise sage who took on sixteen apprentices. The names of these sixteen disciples became the titles of the 16 Major Odù of Ifá, with each Odù recording the teachings of Òrúnmìlà as expressed through discussion with his students. 

Later generations contributed their own interpretations of the 16 Major Odù, expanding the teachings into a vast corpus of classical Yorùbá philosophy containing over 400,000 verses.

The poem that follows is a translation of one of these verses. Òrúnmìlà advises that individuals should always follow their own true nature, but points out that acting with kindness to others is in itself inherently rewarding.

Those who are kind should be ceaseless in kindness,
Those who are unkind should be ceaseless in their unkindness,
It is kindness and not unkindness that is inherently rewarding…