Orisa Iroko - pdf-1

Ejila -Asebora (Twelfth energy of spirits ) and Abode of Spirits.
An Odu within the Merindinlogun Divination system.
In Egbado areas and their related people's, spread from Yewa, in Ogun state to the
Republic of Benin .
The iroko tree is regarded as the abode of the spirits, hence iroko is held to be a sacred
Orisa ( divinity ), though Iroko worship in these areas are of two systems -
1. Alaragbo -which is egbe ( spirit mates ),who are linked to iroko in various ways .
2. The Orisa-Iroko itself ,Identified as male ,but in more deeper mythology of the
Egbados, Ohoris and others that reside within those areas, Iroko also has a female
manifestation
Having said this, in the Odu of Ejila-Asebora, the Iroko tree is known as the king of trees
and abode of all spirits .
In one of the stories, we learnt that once, when the Iyamis (Mother's of the Night ), were
descending from the Orita meta Aragbansala ( intersection within the heavens and the
earth ) their force of descent was so powerful that, if they landed on the earth. It could
lead to untold destruction and so all the orisas were asked who will shelter them,
(Obatala, Osun, Obaluaye, Sango, Esu, etc ), but none gave a positive response, until
Iroko agreed and so they landed on top of the Iroko tree, when they descended there, it
was all very dark until Iroko gave a lamp to them. This light is still seen once in a while,
on top of a mature Iroko.
Also of note in Ejila-Asebora, is the fact that other spirits such as Egbe (Alaragbo,
abikus), Iwins ( elemental spirits ), and others like Esi, Egbere ( spirits that cry often )
have their abode under the Iroko tree, no wonder it's called the abode of spirits.
In some of the stories of Iroko, we were made to know that Iroko was a man, who once
had an earthly incarnation, and he was called Adigun-Osi. So these means there are two
types of iroko,
-One is the primordial Iroko ( which descended with the other orisas such as (Sango,
Oya, Orunmila, Obatala, etc. )
-And the second type, that took a human form as Adigun-Osi Iroko Oluwere.
In Ancient times till now ,since the people know Iroko as being sacred, they always tie a
white cloth around it, showing that, here is a sacred spot, Ebos, ipese etc are often
placed at the foot of the Iroko, votaries belief that any Ebo ( sacrifice ) placed at the foot
of Iroko gets speedily responded to by the spirits.
Usually there are taboos observed by those who worship Iroko known as Oniroko, such
as not taking a black cloth near it, not defecating or urinating near an Iroko, because it is
believed to be an abode of spirits. Iroko also has a special place in the worship of Edan
(Onile), the divinity of Ogboni that represents mother Earth, certain stories also say that
Iya-Aye ( Mother of the Earth ), which is Arch-divinity of Ogboni lives in the Iroko tree.
Priests of Iroko called Oniroko says that Iroko does not like unfulfilled vows, and that
once a vow is made. One should keep it.
They also say that Iroko grants prayers of wealth, Children, protection and wellbeing.
To get something from Iroko:
To gain Iroko’s favor, 16 hard boiled eggs, removing the shells from each, palm oil and
16 pennies to be offered on the Eastern side of the Iroko tree, an equilateral cross is
drawn with the palm oil, the 16 coins is placed from top to bottom and from left to right,
the eggs shall now be placed on each coin and on placing egg say aloud your petition
16 times in repetition with each egg. At the end say “Iroko Iroko Iroko grant me this
boon in twenty-one days, Amen/Ase”
A Verse from Ejila Asebora.
Ejila Asebora
Asebora iroko
Iroko oluwere ,
Ajangboro jigi.
Igi laye
Eniyan lorun ,
Igi dodo do ,
Tin so , Owo.
Translation.
The twelfth fiery spirits.
Fiery spirits of Iroko,
Iroko Oluwere ,
The great powerful one ,
A tree on Earth ,
Human in heaven.
The great tree that bears fruits of money.
The greetings of an Oniroko is “to - to - ooo”
or “to to ooo Iroko”.
Iroko sacred orisa of trees ,to to ooo iroko .
Oriki Iroko:
Osa Iggi
Orìsa of the tree
Iggi Olorun
sky lord tree
hello great
brandy owner
Osa Iwin
Órìsà from the family of Obatalà
Hello Iggi
king of trees
Attatu ni ti Iroko
Iroko can never be taken down
Iroko temi Baba l'o ní ki mi s e oríire
My father Iroko said I will have good luck
Orí rere ni temi
good luck is mine
Iroko yíó gba t'èmi wí
Iroko will speak in my favor
Iroko j é ki ò r ò temi ó se
Iroko allow my words to come true
Baba Iroko p' è r ò si mi nlé p' è r ò si mi l' ó nà
My father Iroko bring me peace at home, bring me peace on the way
Má j é ki w o nó dan mí
Never let them attack me
Ásùn gives ragbada lá à ba igi Iroko
Deep sleep is what we find in the Iroko tree
Iroko ki í gives tir è k'ó má se
Iroko never predicts a thing without it coming true.
Iroko ki n ri s e, ki n bimo,
Iroko that I can progress, that I can have children
Iroko ki n lówó, ki nk ó lé
Iroko that I can have money, that I can build houses
Iroko k'o tún ìpín mi s e
Iroko make my behavior good
T e ire m ó mi ló wó
Put good luck in my hands
O j ó ikú, O jó àrùn kóo gbè mí o
On the day of death, on the day of illness, you must save me
E s o mí di oyin e má rojú si mi
Consider me like honey, don't despise me
Iroko gba mi o
Iroko support me
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Ejila -Asebora (Twelfth energy of spirits ) and Abode of Spirits.

An Odu within the Merindinlogun Divination system.

To get something from Iroko:

A Verse from Ejila Asebora.

The twelfth fiery spirits.

Fiery spirits of Iroko,

The great powerful one ,

The great tree that bears fruits of money.

The greetings of an Oniroko is “to - to - ooo”

or “to to ooo Iroko”.

Iroko sacred orisa of trees ,to to ooo iroko .

Orìsa of the tree

sky lord tree

Órìsà from the family of Obatalà

Iroko temi Baba l'o ní ki mi s e oríire

My father Iroko said I will have good luck

Orí rere ni temi

good luck is mine

Iroko yíó gba t'èmi wí

Iroko will speak in my favor

Iroko allow my words to come true

Baba Iroko p' è r ò si mi nlé p' è r ò si mi l' ó nà

My father Iroko bring me peace at home, bring me peace on the way

Never let them attack me

Ásùn gives ragbada lá à ba igi Iroko

Deep sleep is what we find in the Iroko tree

Iroko ki í gives tir è k'ó má se

Iroko never predicts a thing without it coming true.

Iroko that I can progress, that I can have children

Iroko k'o tún ìpín mi s e

Iroko make my behavior good

Put good luck in my hands

O j ó ikú, O jó àrùn kóo gbè mí o

On the day of death, on the day of illness, you must save me

Consider me like honey, don't despise me

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