Awa Tẹ Ẹ Nifa (We Have Initiated You)
Verse urging that sacred knowledge received at initiation must be internalized through ongoing self-renewal.
Philosophical Summary
Abimbola renders this verse as a meta-commentary on initiation itself. The outer rite can be performed upon a person, but the real work — the re-initiation of the self — must be chosen continuously. The image of Eji Ogbe climbing the palm tree and refusing to come down at someone else's call is read as the supreme sign's refusal to abandon its depth for superficial engagement.
Liturgical Verses
English: We have initiated you into the secrets of Ifa. You should re-initiate yourself. This was how Eji Ogbe was initiated But he plunged himself into the forest. We have initiated you into the secrets of Ifa. You should re-initiate yourself. If you get to the top of the palm tree, Do not come down at another's request.
Yoruba: Awa tẹ ẹ nifa o, K'ó o tunra ẹ tẹ; Titẹ la t'iẹji Ogre T'ó fi m'óri wọ'gbó. Awa tẹ ẹ nifa o, K'ó o tunra ẹ tẹ, B'ó o d'órl ọpẹ, Ma ṣe jọwọ sí.
Sacred Verses
Yorùbá
Awa tẹ ẹ nifa o, K'ó o tunra ẹ tẹ; Titẹ la t'iẹji Ogre T'ó fi m'óri wọ'gbó. Awa tẹ ẹ nifa o, K'ó o tunra ẹ tẹ, B'ó o d'órl ọpẹ, Ma ṣe jọwọ sí.
English
We have initiated you into the secrets of Ifa. You should re-initiate yourself. This was how Eji Ogbe was initiated But he plunged himself into the forest. We have initiated you into the secrets of Ifa. You should re-initiate yourself. If you get to the top of the palm tree, Do not come down at another's request.