IWURE - the Structure of Traditional Yorùbá Prayer, part 2: ORÍKÍ
ORÍKÍ literally means “chanting praise to the head” The “head” in this sense is the inner spirit of a person, lineage, Òrìṣà, Ancestor or anyone.
The ancient Yorùbá taught us that the head is the container for the spirit. Particularly that part of the spirit that works to express the traits that allows one to fulfill their destiny in the world.
Using IWURE as an appeal to a spirit, after calling or invoking them, we chant praise and homage to all the spirits, ancestors, people and forces that assist us in IJUBÀ/IBÀ.
Now we chant to celebrate the special qualities, characteristics and powers of the spirit we are appealing to in Oríkí.
IWURE
Invocation
Ijubà / Ibà - homage and praise
Oríkí - eulogizing the special nature, abilities and character of a spirit.
ORÍKÍ are sources of the disposition of the Òrìṣà and the other spiritual forces the indigenous Yorùbá work with. Maybe even before Ifá verses they are important to learn and collect.
Here is an example:
Oríkí Àjẹ́
Ìyá mi òṣòròngà
My mother òṣòròngà
Afín ‘júẹyẹ
The immaculate bird
A pa má wà á igún
She who slaughters without looking for Vulture to consume the carcass (because she eats everything, flesh bones, intestines, etc.)
Oníwọ̀wọ́ àdó
Owner of plenty of medicinal gourds
Ò ru’mọ l’óògùn dànù
She who renders charms and spells impotent
Ológbò dúdú òru
Black cat of the night
Olókìkí òru
The famous dweller of the night
A jẹ̀’dọ̀ tútù má bì
She who does not suffer nausea from eating raw liver
Obìnrin dúdú rẹ́gí rẹ́gí, èyí tí í lọ nígbà ọjà bá tú
The beautiful Black Woman who is always the last person to leave the market
Dà’ṣẹ d’èpè nù tí í gbé’ni mì bí kàlòkàlò
She who renders aṣẹ and curses impotent while she swallows people like a casino machine
Òjìji fìrí
Twinkling shadow
A fẹ́ gẹ́gẹ́ ní’ yẹ̀ẹ́
The light feathered bird
A ró igba aṣọ má ba‘lẹ̀
200 pieces of wrap-around cloth are never enough for her
Ẹlẹ́yin‘jú ẹgẹ́, ẹyẹ ní Mọrẹ́
The beautiful bird in Mọrẹ̀ (Mọrẹ̀ is in Ilé Ifẹ̀)
A-jẹ-apá-jẹ-orí, a j’ẹ̀dọ̀-j’ohùn, a ti inú òroòro jẹ̀’fun
She who eats the head via the arm; the liver via the voice box; the intestines via the gall bladder
Ò wẹ̀ nínú omi ṣàló ṣàló
She bathes [in blood] like a fish
Ọdẹ t’apó y’oró, àrọ̀nìmòjà t’àpò y’oògùn
Like a hunter, she draws poison from the charm bag; powerful medicine person who draws charms from her pocket
Ẹ̀yin ẹ̀bìtì ká’wọ́ s’ẹ́yìn ṣ’oro
Cold havoc wreckers
A bà ‘órí igi ìrókò má yẹ̀
She who perches comfortably on the ìrókó tree
Òró gogoro l’óko olóko
The fearsome mystic positions herself conspicuously on someone’s farm
Oníbàntẹ́ pèlèjà tí í bá ni jà láì f’ọwọ́ kan ni
The fighter who fights one invisibly
Ológbò dúdú etí ọjà
Black cat on the edge of the marketplace
Èse, a b’ìrù gìlọ̀ gìlọ̀
The cat with a long tail
Ají ká ìgboro, a rìn ká ìgboro
The town prowler
Òjí ní kùtù f’omi ìgboro bọ́’ jú
She who starts prowling the streets from early morning
Tí a bá pe’rí akọi, àá fi idà na lẹ̀
It is with great awe that the brave is summoned
Ìbà tó tó tó
My humble respect.
From Fundamentals of the Yoruba Religion (Orisa Worship) 2002
by Chief FAMA
