ODU IFA ON SELF-EMPLOYMENT & FARMING

Introduction

Bí ọmọ́ bá tó ó lọ́kọ́

Ká fún un lọ́kọ́

Bí ọmọ́ bá tó ládàá

Ká fún un ládàá

Translation

If a child is due for hoe

Give him/her hoe

If a child is due for cutlass

Give him/her cutlass

In the ancient time, working for government (ọba) is voluntary and free of charge. Everyone, then, was engaging in self-employment. You start your life being trained in the profession of your parent. You learn and master the art and if you are talented, you transform it into a greater position. This means, by you, your parents are added more value.

However, when it is time for you to become an independent person, you are supported in all ramifications to have your own personal business established. That is when you are given your own ọkọ́. 

Infact, when a man is seen matured enough to become an ọkọ, he will be given ọkọ́. Women are also not left behind. One will now be seen lazy if he has completely attached himself to working for King. Because, working for kings is always paid with nothing other than regret and sorrow. Let us read the Odù.

Bí a kò bá bá Ọba gbé lé 

Abẹ Ọba kì Í pá Ni Lórí 

Bí a ò bá bá Ọba pààlà 

Ọkọ̀ Ọba ò kìí sá Ni lẹ́sẹ̀

Ìwọ náà súré lọ sí àárín Ìgbẹ́

O tó dá 'ko

A díá fún Olókun, Sẹ̀ní Adé 

Ajífìlùkì, Ọmọ Ọba labúlabú

Bí igbá epo

Rírú ẹbọ Ní í gbe Ni

Àìrú kìí gbèèyàn

Translation

If we don't share a house with a king

The blade of the king cannot cut your head

If we don't share a farm boundary with a king

The hoe of the king cannot cut your leg

And you, run quickly to the middle of the bush (untouched area)

You are now matured to start farming

So it happened to Olokun Seniade

Ajifiluki (who was always waken up with praising drum), the son of king labulabu (iyemoja)

Like calabash of palm oil

Performing the sacrifice favours one

Ignoring the prescribed sacrifice fails you as well

Meaning till the end.

This is telling you about self employment and farming.

That, even the Olokun sacrifice his time to start farming on earth by utilizing the soil, despite the fact that he was the son of Labulabu and could eat fish as he wanted and could be rich without working. Upon that, he became a farmer.

Be independent and go back to farm.

This is the last verses of ọ̀ràngún méjì in bàbá Wándé Abímbọ́lá Book.

Gura Masha 

By Oríadé Ìpọ̀sọ́lá Ajétẹ̀lú (S. A. FỌWẸ́WẸ́)

Edited: First published on Oct 19, 2017.