Beware of Who Makes You King

He who wets the ground only to later march on muddy ground
Cast Ifa for Ina, the fire
When he was going to receive the title of Malete, the vantage position
He was advised to offer sacrifice
He heard the advice with his right ear
And threw the advice with his left ear
Travelers to Ipo and Ofa
Just imagine the consequence of the advice
Ina, who was given the title Malete, the vantage position
Those who installed you
Were the same people who blew you out of existence
- Holy Odu Okanran Meji

Ina - fire - is the son of Ogun. Once, the gentle breeze, the air, the storm, the whirlwind and tornado all approached Ina, telling him that the elders of the whole world had convened and decided to install Ina as the Malete of the world. This would mean he would enjoy the most advantaged position on earth. His wife advised him to consult Ifa. He complied, but had already made up his minds to take the position. 

Ifa advised Ina to reject the position on account of the fact that those who were proposing to install him were also planning to destroy him once he had satisfied their needs. Ina was advised to offer a red cap, which he found particularly offensive and unacceptable. He warned the awo that he refused to make the sacrifice and that if anybody ever tried to stop him from becoming the Malete, he would destroy them all. 

On the chosen day, Ina was indeed installed as the Malete. Since then, he has constant work. Day and night, Ina is working all over the world. Yet and still, he has nothing to show for it, accept that he can be recognized by his bright red cap. But once they had used Ina to accomplish their needs, the gentle breeze, the air, the storm, the whirlwind and tornado teamed up with the rainfall to produce a strong wind to remove Ina's red cap and pour water on his head. That was how Ina died in the hands of those who installed him as the Malete of the world. 

Ifa says that we must not allow flatterers to seduce us into things that contradict the ultimate reality of our destinies.*


Popoola, Solagbade. Ifa Dida v I. 

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