Demand Respect

The person who taught with words of advice
Wants one to be wise
The farmer who gives one farmland
Does not want one to die
The person who gave one his own daughter in marriage
Does not want us to leave this world without a trace
- Holy Odu IreteOdi

Ijimere, the ape and Ekun, the leopard, were friends. Ijimere brought his daughter to Ekun for marriage. Ijimere's daughter was advised to never disrespect her husband. One day, Ekun sent his wife on a series of errands. The third time, however, she did not comply. Instead, she began to complain incessantly. One day, Ekun called his wife to bring him something for his bath. When she arrived, she laughed out loud. "I thought you were much bigger than this!" Ekun laughed along with her and replied, "You're right! I am nothing more than this... But, as small as I am, not even your father can disregard me. Once I have taken my bath, I will show you what a small one can do." 

Ekun later returned to the home of Ijimere, where he found his wife's junior sister. He pounced upon her and ripped her body to shreds, then carried her remains home. Ekun placed the remains in the bathroom and then called his wife to bring him something else for his bath. When she arrived, the sight of her sister's remains sent Ekun's wife into a fit of horrid screaming. Ekun then said to her, "Now I have showed you how small and powerless I really am." 

This is what prompts the elders to say: If we do not kill ijimere and show other ijimere, ijimere will not know fear. It means, If we fail to punish our own members, outsiders will never respect us.* 


*Bogunmbe, Awogbemiga, Fashina. Awon Idi Abajo Lati Inu Odu Ifa. pg 62

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