Esu

"Èsù, Bàbá Alàsé,

Ki nnkan má se omo mi"

Protect my children from evil forces

"Ki nnkan má se aya mi"

Protect my wife from evil forces

"Àti èmi nàá"

And protect me too

"Má se mi lu éniyàn, má se énìyàn lu mi"

Èsù, do not tempt me against people; do not tempt people against me

"Lànà owó, lànà omo kàn mi o"

Let me have money and children

"Èsù má se mí, omo elòmíràn ni o se"

Èsù, do not tempt me or others to commit crimes

"Asóro lògo akétèpe lògbó"

The one who has strong cudgels, the one who has heavy clubs

"Òlòrùn máà jé ki arì ìjà Èsù o"

God, protect me from the anger of Èsu

Èsù is a very important divinity in the "Irunmole" order. Esù  is the brain behind all things in ones life. It was this Deity that was given the Ase of Manifestation, nothing can happen in your life without the consent of Èsù.

This is one of the reasons that all sacrifices are given to Esu first. Èsù is not just the guardian of vital life force, He is It.

Èsù's emblem is sometimes made of clay or can be a rock which is called yangi. The story goes that Orúnmìlà borrowed Ori from Èsù and this helped Orúnmìlà to become famous. When Èsù asked that Ori be returned, Orúnmìlà gave him yangi. Esu then made Orunmila put it outside to be worshipped.

Esu will be found in many confrontations with other Irunmole and Òrìsà. Sango for example once stated that he could defeat any Irunmole or Òrìsà  in battle. Èsù confronted Sango about this and so they fought, but everytime Sango hit Esu, Èsù broke apart into more pieces and eventually overcame the blows. Èsù allowed the Irunmole and Orisas to become aware of the choices in their lives as he continues to do for us.

  Èsù has been working in conjunction with Orúnmìlà since the beginning, (Orunmila) who as we understand is witness to creation. Èsù is responsible for "Ase" or the ability to make things happen. He was one of the forces at creation that gave Existence or Being. 

Many today feel that this is the energy that creates confusion and stumbling blocks in our efforts.  This is not so! Èsù has many manifestations and we are all accountable for our choices through another divinity that walks with us, called Ori. Ori gives us the free will/ability to choose what to do in life. Èsù is the essence of "choice". Esu comes into our lives to present us with choices so that we can choose the way to achieve our destinies.

BARA SÚWÀ YO, OMO YÀLÀWÁ(Ò)NÀ

Vital force who far and wide appears;

Child that separates splits and divides the road

KÓ MÁMÀ KÉNÍ IRAWO E

Do not cut the initiated mat of goodensss

O BARA WÁ YO EKE E ÈSÙ ÒDÀRÀ OMO YÀLÀWÉNA

Vital force who comes to deliever us, Forked sticks

Esu, performer of wonders, child tht separates

KÓ MÁMÀ KÉNÍ IRAWO E

Dont cut the initiates mat of goodness

ÀGO ELEGBÁ BUKÉNKÉ

Make way for the owner of the vital force. The hunchbck server.

ÀGO LÁROYÉ BUKÉNKÉ

Make way for the owner of talkativeness.

As mentioned earlier, Èsù works with Orúnmìlà and is known to Awos in the Odu Ose-tura, the wonder-maker. When sacrifices are given to Orúnmìlà , Èsù must be given Its share. Esu is the first to watch those who give sacrifice and the first to witness those who don't. Many people recognize Èsù by the dialectics of the colors within red and black.

There is a story/Oriki that tells of two friends who became enemies due to their perspective of Esu's character. Eventually, they came to understand that it was within each' understanding to recognize Èsù's role. Both individuals were right.

Èsù is "Olopa Orun" or the policeman of the heavens and reports all to Orúnmìlà, everything. Esu views Orunmila as his father so he respects him very much but sometimes he does cause his father trouble. Èsù is a force to be reckoned with and respected by all the Irunmole and Òrìsàs . Èsù is Onisegun, Baba Elenini, the captain of the Ajòóguns/Obstacles in this world. These entities make one choose ones' direction in life. Ajòóguns are placed in the universe to strengthen the character of all that come into this world and in order to achieve ones destiny, sacrifice has to be made to appease Èsù, that which makes things happen.  Again these Ajòóguns, also misunderstood, are satisfied with sacrifices.

"Èsù, do not tempt me or others to do evil"

"It was you who tempted an Oba who later was deposed of"

"It was you who tempted a wife who divorced her husband and later hanged herself in the bush"

"It was you who tempted the tree in the jungle who later was destroyed by fire"

"It was you who tempted a human being who later had others using charms against him that turned him mad"

"Èsù, please do not tempt me or others"

"You tempted a human being and he committed suicide by hanging himself"

"You tempted a human being and he committed suicide by drowning himself"

"You tempted a human being and he committed suicide by slashing his stomach"

"Èsù, do not tempt me"

There are many places and ways to give sacrifices to Èsù and I would like to share a few.

1. IDI ESU: That which is given directly to the shrine of Èsù.

2.ORITA META: The crossroads, consumed by Oro or the spirit of Èsù.

3.EGBA ONA: The side of roads, taken by the spirit of the roads (Esu).

4.INU OKE: On a farm, again taken by Oro.

5.ETI ODE: At the riverbank.

6.EHINKUNLE: In the backyard.

7.ETTINBODE: Outside, at the main entrance of a town by the gate.

8.ESU IGBO: Various trees:Ide Ireye, Iroko, Oriro,Apa,Ope,Ahun,etc.

9.ETI OKUN: At the ocean, taken by Oro Okun.

10.INU OKUN: In the ocean, taken by Oro Okun Inu.

11.OKE: The top of hills, taken by Ajalaiye

Oriki Èsù

OSE-TURA is recognized by Babalawos as the force of existence, the wonder maker.

ESU EBITA, the force of creation, that which was at creation.

ESU ODARA, the wonder worker, that which manifests wealth and corrective choice. Irunmoles' blessing, that all things give fruition in the universe.

ESU ELEGBA, the so-called mischievous one.

ABIMO-TUNMOBE, one who pushes and pushes man.

ESU BELEKE,Gatherer of a great multitude who sets one up for joy or sorrow.

SONSO ABE-The pointed knife

O BU KENKE-Owner of the vital force

ALAGBANA-Respected elder of the road.

ALAROYE-Owner of chieftancy titles

LATOPA-Provoker who joins things together.

OLONA-Owner of the roads

AYANDA-The one chosen to be created.

ONIBODE-The gatekeeper

All praises to Olódùmarè for the wisdom and counsel of the ancestors!                                                 

Esu's sacrifices are: fowls, pigeons, fish, rats, sometimes pig, and male goats.

Groundnuts, sugarcane and honey are also offered to Èsù.

Asking for protection from evil forces and to not be tempted to do evil are prominent themes in the ceremonies for Èsù.

Those possessed by Èsù do not shake and tremble, but become stronger than usual and may have to be held down by other worshippers. As such, the mounted person, may suck the blood of a cock and then foretell the future for those in the ceremony. Bata is the main drum used in ceremonies along with the talking drum (Dun Dun) and the gangan. The sekere is also used sometimes. Divination to Èsù can be done with the Orugbo or yam cut into 2 pieces. We use the Agbon or coconut to communicate with Him through the Egun.

     IFA CHANT TO GREET AND TO APPEASE ESU

"OGUNDA L'AWO ALAGBA"

OGUNDA IS THE DIVINER FOR AGBA (BARREL) DRUMMER

"IWORI L'AWO ALUPESE"

IWORI IS THE DIVINER FOR IPESE DRUMMER

"OGUN TI A L'AGBA LU'PESE SI"

AN IMMINENT WAR THAT IS ANNOUNCED WITH A BARREL AND IPESE DRUMMING

"OGUN KURO NI OGUN AYODA"

IT'S NO LONGER A SECRET WAR

"OGUN D'OGUN L'OWO OBA"

THE WAR HAS BECOME THE KING'S WAR

"A D'IFA FUN OMOKUNRIN DUDU ITA"

DIVINE FOR THE BLACK-MAN OF THE OUTSIDE 

"E DURO E KI ESU"

STOP AND GREET ESU{PAY RESPECT TO ESU)

"ENI DURO KI ESU"

THEY THAT STOP TO GREET ESU

"ESU NI YO TUN TIWON SE"

ESU WILL REWARD THEM

"E DURO, E KI ESU"

STOP AND GREET ESU

                                  OGUNDA IWORI

          Songs to the Irunmole

Elegba:

Leader:

(1)Iba Orisa iba la de o, ase mojuba

I give praise to the crowning of the Orisa, Ase I  give praise

(repeat)

(2)Iba Orisa iba la de o, ase mojuba

I give praise to the crowning of the Orisa, Ase I  give praise

(repeat)

(1)Ibarago mojuba, Ibarago ago mojuba,

Homage to the relative  of the club. Give way I pay homage.

Omode ko nikosi bara ago, ago mojuba, Elegba Esulona

Child that teachs the way of paying homage,

Make way, I pay homage to the Owner of the Vital force

(repeat)

(1)Esu O Elegbara E

Esu is the onwer of the vital force

(1) Esu O Elegbara E

Esu is the onwer of the vital force

Elegba ni moforibale, Elegba Ago

Owner of the force I touch my head to the ground, Owner of the force come forth.

(repeat)

(1) Ago Elegba, bukenke

Make way for the owner of the force. Who is abusive and small.

Ago Laroye bukenke

Make way for the owner of talkitiveness. Who is abusive and small.

(repeat)

(2)Ago Elegba, bukenke

Make way for the owner of the force. The hunchback severer

Ago Laroye bukenke

Make way for the owner of talkitiveness.

(repeat)

(1)Iba Orisa iba la de o, ase mojuba

I give praise to the crowning of the Orisa, Ase I  give praise

(repeat)

(2)Iba Orisa iba la de o, ase mojuba

I give praise to the crowning of the Orisa, Ase I  give praise

(repeat)

(3)Iba Orisa iba la de o, ase mojuba

I give praise to the crowning of the Orisa, Ase I  give praise

(repeat)

stop new song.

Eeehh-means to call attention to the next song

(1)Elegba o, Elegba nso nyanga

Owner if the vital force, Talking boastfully

Elegba o, Elegba nso nyanga

Owner if the vital force, Talking boastfully

Alaroye mo da ki o

Owner of communications, I alone am saluting you

(r)Elegba nso nyanga

Owner of the vital forces, boasting

Esu lawana mo da ki o

Owner of  talkativeness, I alone am saluting you

(r)Elegba nso nyanga

Alaroye mo da ki o

Owner of communications, I alone am saluting you

(r)Elegba nso nyanga

Owner of the vital forces, boasting

Ire O, Fasina Falade