Money or Offspring? : Ifa's view on which to prioritize (story of two friends)

For those of us that love to learn from Ifa, Let us all sit back and relax while i share this story with us in Sacred Odu Ifa Ogunda Meji. The story goes thus:

Two men went to consult Ifa on how they can have a meaningful life. Their names are Onírèsé Ile and Onírèsé oko.

The Odu that was revealed to them was Ogunda meji. The Babalawo explained the message of Ifa to them that they should not focus on money (this is not to say money is not important; priority is the keyword) , all they need to focus on is how they will give birth to lot of children because child bearing is their way to success.

Onírèsé Oko complied and he started giving birth to children while Onírèsé ile did not listen to Babalawo's advice and he kept working and making money

During their yearly festival, Onírèsé ile will dress gorgeously while Onírèsé oko that listened to the word of Ifa and his children will dress in rag to the yearly festival.

Onírèsé ilé will start singing to abuse Onírèsé oko that:

Onírèsé o Ire dé

Òkò Ìrèsé ò iré dé

Onírèsé Aso re da?

Òkò Ìrèsé Aso l'ewà eni

Onírèsé blessings has come

Oko Ìrèsé blessings has come

Onírèsé where are your cloth?

òkò Ìrèsé cloth is the beauty of life.

Onírèsé oko and his children will leave the party in shame and humiliation.

The disgrace went on for years, when Onírèsé oko children started growing up to be adults, the two men (Onírèsé ile and Onírèsé oko) were already growing old so Onírèsé Ile could not work like he used to work in the past, all his cloths were already turning to rags since he doesn't have the strength to work and no money to buy new cloths.

Onírèsé oko children had started working in different field of life and they started earning lot of money to take good care of their parents.

Another yearly festival was approaching, the children of Onírèsé oko were discussing on what to do for their father. Some suggested that they should buy a beautiful horse for their father to ride to the festival while some suggested they get a carrier to carry him to the festival.

As they were discussing on what to do, their oldest brother said they won't get a horse nor get a carrier, he said they will all carry their father in their palms to the festival because they want people to know that their father has responsible children. And they all decided to get lot of best of the best cloths for their father to wore to the festival while he will be changing his cloth every hour...

On the festival day, Onírèsé ile wore one of his old cloth to the festival since he could not afford to buy new cloth.

As the children of Onírèsé oko were carrying their father to the festival, people thought it was a king coming but to their surprise, it was Onírèsé oko. As they got to the festival, they dropped Onírèsé oko and he pleaded to everyone that he wish to sing. The song goes thus:

Onírèsé o iré dé

Òkò Ìrèsé o iré dé

Onírèsé omo re dà o

Òkò Ìrèsé omo l'ewà eni

Onírèsé blessings has come

Òkò Ìrèsé blessings has come

Onírèsé where are your children?

Oko Ìrèsé children is the beauty of life.

Onírèsé Ile left the festival in bigger shame while Onírèsé Oko live the rest of his life in joy, happiness and peace of mind.

For those who are buying cloths instead of taking care of children, remember cloth will surely fade away but our children will continue to carry on our legacy.

May we continue to live in joy and happiness for the rest of our lives.

Ase!!!

Credit: Popoola Owomide Ifagbenusola