Why Olodumare is praised as Oba Awamaridi (Mysterious King)
Olodumare, the Supreme Being in Yoruba cosmology, is known for His inscrutable and miraculous ways. Throughout history, countless stories and Ifa verses reveal how the divine hand of Olodumare transforms lives in the most unexpected and extraordinary manners, which is why He is given the praise name “Oba Awamaridi” (Mysterious King).
Sometimes, people go to bed hungry and hopeless, only to wake up the next day enveloped in abundance and breakthrough beyond their wildest imagination. That’s the unfathomable power of Olodumare. One moment, the heat of life may feel unbearable, and the next, a cool breeze of relief may sweep through, bringing comfort, joy, and clarity. That’s the mysterious way in which Olodumare works. Ogunda-Borogbe (Ogbe) attests to this when it says:
Bi a ba da Ogunda b’orogbe sile
Omo Awo a feje
Omo Awo a fe’mu
Omo Awo a fidi orere bale
A difa fun Olodumare Agotun
Eyi to nse ohun gbogbo bi idan bi idan
Ko ma si ohun Olorun ko le se
Bo ba se ojo
A se oda
A se okan bi otutu
A se okan a mu bi oye
Ko ma si ohun t’Olorun o le see
Translation
If Ogunda Ogbe is revealed during consultation
The Ifa scholar will have enough to drink and eat
He would be able to establish himself
These were Ifa’s declarations to Olodumare Agotun,
The Oba who does all things in miraculous ways
There is nothing Olodumare cannot do
If He makes the rainfall
He will also make the dry season
He will equally bring forth the cold weather
And also the dryness of harmattan
There is nothing Olodumare cannot do
He brings rain and also withholds it; He brings both cold and the harsh harmattan. Olodumare hides His form, yet reveals His essence in all things. As Ifa says in Idin-Agada (Odi-Ogunda):
Dimu-dimu funda
Dimu-dimu gunda
Dia fun Olose-aiku
Olomo aforun-saso-bora
Oruko ti aape Olodumare
Igbati nraye re laiku
Ebo ni won ni ko waa se
O gbebo, o rubo
Arara-riri o!
Enikan kii gbo’ku Olodumare
Translation
Dimu-dimu ginda
Dimu-dimu ginda (Odi-Ogunda)
This was the message of Ifa for OlodumareWho made the heaven His coverlet
When going to live perpetually
He was advised to offer ebo
He complied
Arara-riri o! it is impossible
We can never hear of the demise of Olodumare
Olodumare uses the heavens to conceal Himself from our sight, yet in the vast skies rich with every color imaginable we see His splendor.
Though we cannot see Olodumare with our eyes, we constantly feel His presence in our lives. Moving from poverty to prosperity, from illness to vitality, from sorrow to joy—such shifts do not take Olodumare more than a second. His mysterious ways of doing things are further narrated through the below stories as embedded in Ifa.
The Story of Yalumo: From Mockery to Majesty
According to Iwori-Wotu (Iwori-Otura), Yalumo was a man ridiculed by his community. He was poor, heavily indebted, and written off by everyone—even his family. When he sought guidance through Ifa, he was told his situation would turn around. He was advised to offer ebo (spiritual sacrifice).
Despite warnings from loved ones to stop trying, Yalumo proceeded with the ebo. Miraculously, he paid off all his debts in one day and rose to become a respected figure in his town. His life changed overnight, a testament to the transformative power of Olodumare. The Odu thus:
Agbe o sun, agbe n gbin
Dia fun Yalumo
Tii yoo je gbese egbaa-ogun
Tii yoo je gbese ebaa’gbon
Tii yoo san’wo o re loojo
Ebo ni won ni ko se
O gbebo, o rubo
Nje ise Olorun o pe o
Yalumo joo, bo o jo o, yalumo
Eni to ri mi lanaa o tun mo mi mo
Yalumo jo, boo joo, Yalumo
Ise Olorun o pe oYalumo joo, boo joo, Yalumo
Translation
If Agbe, the Maroon tooraco sleeps, it will be groaning
If it is awake, it will still groan
This was the message of Ifa to Yalumo
Who incurred the debt of 40, 000 cowry shells
And another debt of 60,000 cowries
And he would pay everything in only one day
He was advised to offer ebo
He complied
Behold! The work of Olodumare does not take long
Yalumo, dance if you want to
Dance
Those who saw me yesterday could not recognize me anymore
Yalumo dance, if you want to
Dance
The work of Olodumare does not take long
Yalumo, dance if you want to, dance
Akinsanmi’s Divine Elevation: From Poverty to Nobility
Another remarkable story appears in Obara-Eguntan (Obara-Ogunda). Akinsanmi, the son of Ikori-Aga, was a struggling hunter who could not even provide for his pregnant wife. His misfortunes were so notorious that anyone facing hardship was said to be “like Akinsanmi.”
In despair, he consulted Ifa. Ifa revealed he would succeed beyond imagination, but he must offer an ebo. With no money, Akinsanmi sold one of his only two garments to afford the sacrifice.
Three days later, he checked his traps and found over 100 animals caught. As he gathered them, 16 snails dropped from a tree and honey flowed directly into his mouth. He returned home to find that his wife had delivered twins.
Overwhelmed with joy, he exclaimed that his life was now as blessed as that of the Alaafin, the king of Oyo. His jealous neighbors reported this to the Alaafin, accusing him of insult. Summoned to the palace, Akinsanmi narrated his story. Moved, the Alaafin honored him with a chieftaincy title and lavish gifts. All of this happened in just one day. Watch the story of Akinsanmi Here
These stories are not mere folklore. They embody deep spiritual truths about divine timing and grace. Olodumare’s blessings can manifest suddenly, defying logic and human expectation. In the blink of an eye, one’s story can change from ridicule to reverence, from obscurity to honor.
As Yoruba spirituality teaches us through Ifa:
"Olodumare does not delay. When He moves, the impossible becomes possible without warning.”
The mysteries of Olodumare remain beyond human comprehension. But His presence is undeniable. These stories encourage us to trust in divine timing, to honor spiritual guidance, and to never lose hope—no matter how bleak things may appear.
May we all experience the mysterious blessings of Olodumare. Ase.
Aboru Aboye.
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