The Life of Irete Odi
The continuous biography of this odù's own spiritual evolution — celestial works, then earthly works — told as one unfolding life. Click any title to read it.
Odu Title, Sign, and Supplement Link
ENCYCLOPEDIC TREATISE OF IFÁ
IRETE ODI
IRETE TEDI
IRETE GARA
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I I
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Translator's note: All ritual, medical, and sacrificial statements below are reproduced as the source presents them; they are attributed source material, not advice.
Supplement: New source guide and supplementary stories. Story 2 has been clarified from this additional witness.
The Patakín Corpus — 1 to 31
Presented in strict numerical order as in the source Tratado. Click any title to read it.
01Irete Untedi Is a Diviner by Birth
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Ebó: Akuko adie; two geese are not killed; the plate is given to Yemeya or to Oshun as well; the ebó includes ilu.
Translator's note: Akuko adie is left as printed; the source does not gloss the pair. Ilu is left as printed; the source does not gloss it. In el plato se le da a Yemeya o a Oshun también, the scope of “as well” is not specified.
Patakín:
In a palace there was a king who had lost a ring, and he offered money to whoever found it. The news spread from mouth to mouth. But there was a man in very bad circumstances, going hungry, and he began to say that he was a diviner, that he knew where the king's ring was. What this man wanted was to eat, and after he had eaten he did not care if they killed him. So he went to the king's palace and told him that he knew where the ring was. The king said to him, “Come in and tell me, and I will reward you,” and he invited him to breakfast. When the king finished and got up, he also ate what the king left. Then the servant set about clearing the table, and our character said: “By Saint Mark, Saint Joseph, and Saint Bruno, of the three I have seen one.” Then the servant was frightened. The character began to walk around the palace until the hour of lunch came. The king came, had lunch, and got up, leaving him seated at the table, and he again ate what the king left. When the servant was clearing the table he said: “Thanks to Saint John, Rita, and Margot; of the three I have seen two.” The man kept walking around the palace, passing the time until the hour of the meal came. They ate, the king got up, and he ate what the king left. When the third servant came to clear the table, the character made his exclamation: “By Olofin, Saint Diego, and Saint Joseph, now of the three I have seen all three.” Then the servant exclaimed: “For your mother's sake, sir, do not tell the king; we will give the ring to you and you make it appear.”
The character made so many exclamations not because he knew that the servants had stolen the ring, but because he was giving thanks to the saints for having eaten. Then he said: “Well, I will not denounce you.” He went out to the courtyard and saw a pond where the king kept a brood of swans, but there was a very beautiful black one. He caught it and put the ring through its crop, and he kept walking around the palace. After some days the king said to him: “Let us go, so that you tell me who took the ring.” The character said to him: “Look, do you see that swan there? That is the one that has the ring.” “You are crazy; look, that is my favorite swan, and if you are wrong you will pay with your head.” The king ordered the swan killed, and indeed it had the ring in its entrails. The king made him his counselor and assured him of house and food for life. That is how Irete Untedi is a diviner by birth.
Translator's note: The source prints COSEJERO for consejero (“counselor”); it is translated by the evident sense.
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