OGUN YE MO YE

by Chief Oyeniyi Sango

Ogun, Osoosi, and Ijaa are brothers and their mothers name is Ire (goodness). Osoosi and Ijaa can be identified as a male or female but typically they are male. There was a time that Ire was stuck in the seventh heaven so her sons went to rescue her but failed. So they decided to consult and make Ebo which advised them to use a chameleon so that it could camouflage and rescue their mother. This is the reason why the holy Odu of Ofun-Meji speaks about “who that rescues the mother of Ogun is Edu”. So no matter any time you are feeding Ogun you must put a sacrifice to the left Osoosi and to the right for Ijaa. The icons that are normally used are:

Ogun

• Gun

• Machete

Osoosi

• Cutlass

• Machete

Ijaa

• Bow and Arrow

• Machete

OGUN

Ogun is a primordial energy, a warrior and a powerful spirit of metal work which includes iron-making, in addition to rum. He loved hunting and was referred to as “Osin-Imole”, the Chief among the Divinities. He cleared the thick impenetrable way with his iron implements for all the other divinities, when he was coming from heaven to possess the earth. Being a ruthless deity, he lived in seclusion at the top of the hill where he went about hunting. When he became tired of secluded life, he decided to go for a settled life. A life which he had rejected in the past. He came down from the hilltop in a garment of fire and blood but could not find an abode in any community. So he borrowed fronds from the palm-tree and headed for Ire where he was made king. Hence, the name Ogun Onire (Ogun is the Lord of Ire - blessings) which was given to him by the creator.

Ogun is the God of Iron, Steel and War. Ogun is ruler over these elements within nature, it is this realm where Ogun is found and so are his children (people who possess his archetypes.) As to the referred title of God of War, it is the implements that are made out of the natural resources of nature for which Ogun represents. It is with these elements that weapons are made, the Gun, the cutlass, the knife, and so on. In war, soldiers arm themselves for battle with Ogun (weapons made from him, by him, from iron and steel).

Ogun`s job here on earth is Agbede (Ag-beh-deh) the Black smith, one who forges Iron. Ogun works without rest, he is constantly working. Ogun is a primordial Orisa who first appeared as a hunter named To be Ode. He was also the husband of Oya. He is the first Orisa to descend to the realm of Ile Aiye Earth to find a suitable place for future human life. He is the Orisa of technology and without Ogun houses could not be built. Also without Ogun no one could defend themselves or their country in war. Even if a slingshot is used by Ogun because the stone (OTA) used for the shot is Ogun. At times, he is considered a terrible Orisa to some people. He presided over the whole cycle of birth and death. This is why, in the chant Praise, he is described in a series of apparent contradictions. He kills indiscriminately, yet gives all his dresses out to the people, he is overprotective of all his children, he will never allow his child to be punished. The only suitable prayer for Ogun is (OGUN MA JE KIN RI SO SOO) Ogun don't allow any evil to happen to me, (Baba Ogun wa se olowo fun mi) Ogun come and protect my path.

He was the one that cleared the path for other gods to enter Earth using a metal ax and with the assistance of a dog. To commemorate, one of his praise names or oriki is Osin Imole or the “first of the primordial Orisa to come to Earth”. He is the God of War and Metals. In his earthly life Ogun is the first king of Ife. When some of his subjects failed to show him respect, Ogun killed them and ultimately himself with his own sword. He disappeared into the earth at a place called Ire-Ekiti with the promise to help those who call on his name.

Ogun “wo ile sun” which means he has disappeared into the earth’s surface instead of dying. Throughout his earthly life, he fought for the people of Ire, thus is known also as Onire. He is now celebrated in Nigeria. His followers wear green shirts, pants, and scarves in ritual, and make offerings of white rum and spicy food in hopes that he will honor them with possession; those who are blessed with this gift enter into a frenzied trancelike state. Ogun is a warrior who likes meat—the traditional meat sacrificed to him is that of the dog, but he will gladly accept a rat, rooster, or black snake. Ogun is the symbol of excellence, of the superior, conquering society. One of Ogun’s primary symbols is the knife (Obe). It is because of this that a major contradiction arises. Ogun eats first because the knife is the first thing to taste blood in any sacrifice. It is said that Esu must eat first, and in ritual feasts and bloodless offerings, he is presented his food first. However, in blood offerings it is Ogun, the only one allowed to take a life, who eats first, and it is because of him that the other Orisa can be fed blood.

TOOLS of OGUN

Signifies the earth’s ability to transform man.

1. The shovel: which is used for digging into one’s potential; the machete, which is used to clear path’s and to protect.

2. The rake: which is used to gather and smooth rough areas of the self.

3. The hoe: which is used to cultivate one’s potential.

4. The hammer: which is used to bend or shape one’s faculties; and the pick, which is used to pierce or penetrate the hardened areas of the self.

The unique function of Ogun within the realm of Orisa Awo is to remove all obstacles that stand in the way of spiritual evolution, which includes the evolution of all there is. In order to do this, Ogun must sacrifice all that stands in the way of spiritual evolution because of this sacred responsibility, Ogun is considered the Guardian of Truth. Ogun does not protect the truth as what we would like it to be; he guards the truth of what is. It is the process of making this distinction that lies at the core of Ogun’s mystery. First he is a violent warrior, fully armed with weapons and charms, and ready for battle. The other is as the ideal man, virile, courageous, brave man who protects and nurtures his children, who pursues truth and justice relentlessly, and creates civilization.

Ogun kills your enemy; this is good for you, but an act of evil to your enemies’ wife and children. He helps the poor and the powerless by taking from the rich and powerful. Ogun is Destruction And Creation. In Ogun, rather than illogical opposites, we have the unity of destruction and creation. Through Ogun, this polarity is brought into balance. All Orisa represent polarities and all Orisa provide a theory of how the world works; how balance is achieved both at the universal level, at the societal level, and at the human level,

THE HISTORY OF OGUN in IRE

Why do we call him onire

STORY

OGUN was born in IRE Land, The OGUN we are talking about here is not the one that was descended from heaven as a diety.

As we can tell the story of SANGO of OYO KINGDOM.

SANGO OF OYO KINGDOM is not one that descended as a diety but the SANGO that was born by man and his history can be traced to Tapa(NUPE LAND) is the SANGO that was enthroned as a king in OYO KINGDOM.But all his characters and attitudes look like that of SANGO who descended as a diety.

Likewise the OGUN ONIRE that we are talking about.

He was born in IRE

but fear of war as IFA has already told them that a child will be born and his a warrior and they must of sacrifices but they ignore IFA words and said they don't want war and they won't offer the sacrifice and they did didnot.They said the child that will be born as a warrior and allow war to come into our land we do not want him.

OGUN was given birth to IRE people took him to ODE IBESE, and IFA has been consulted in IBESE that they should offer sacrifice because of war, also a mysterious child will be brought to their land and he will be a great warrior they must take very good care of him.

They took good care of him and he grew in strength and power. He became a great warrior who always conquer whenever he goes to war.

A day came and he went to battle and fought down to ODE IRE and IRE people came out and told OGUN we gave birth to you and you belong to us here, he then turned back to ODE IBESE to wage war against them ODE IBESE people also told him we are you guardian we took care of you from childhood you must to repay us with evil.

ODU IFA:OGUNDA OSE

Ogunda OSE/OGUNDASE

o mo se oyun ni ni,

Ese sika sika o se mo lona,

A se ba ba nba Ika rin a se bi o ni nu re ni

On lo difa fun OGUN ti won bi lode IRE,

Ti won lo re ja sode IBESE,

Ebo ogun ni won ni ki won o se

A se se ni lore ko tun dibi

Adifa fun won lode IBESE

Won ni ka won na o ka ra nle eebo ni ki won o se nitori Ogun

ENGLISH

Ogundase don't know the work of pregnancy,

The footprints of evil one can be know on the path,

When we are walking with evil one we thought is a good fellow,

Cast divination for OGUN that was born in Ode IRE,

And was taken to Ode IBESE,

They were told to offer sacrifice for war,

How can we do good to someone and later turn evil,

Cast divination for them in IBESE,

They were also told to hastily offer sacrifice because of war.

ODU IFA IN YORUBA

La ti ojo alaye ti daye Awo ko dese ri,

Ore le se Awo

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

From ages Awo don't sin, Goodness is the sin of Awo

OGUN that we are talking about in IRE was born but all his characters and attitudes looks like that of OGUN GOD OF Iron the diety.

As was established in ODU IFA OGUNDASE

A se nse ni lore ko tun dibi,

Adifa fun won lo de IBESE,

Won ni ki won ru bo nitori ogun,

Won gbe bo ni be won si rubo,

Nje ore le se Awo,

N jo alaye ti daye Awo o de se ri ore lese Awo

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

How can we do good to someone and later turn evil,

Cast divination for them in IBESE,

They were told to offer sacrifice because of war,

They offered the sacrifice,

Goodness is the sin of Awo,

From ages Awo don't sin goodness is the sin of Awo.

Ogun ye mo ye oooooo

OSOGUN ARO oooooooo

Omo eranko a ku

omo eniyan a ye.......

Oluwo oyeniyisango