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Pride, the Tide, and the Listening Ear

All hail Elegua Aye, Aye the Listening Ear, the lowly seashell, which though tiny carries the ocean waves.

Listen my children to the lesson of the pride of the Orishas, its fall, and its solution.

And the day came when Oya's sorrow was almost fulfilled, the ocean waves, filled with spirits who needed bodies and cried out in pain had all been drained into the creatures of Obatala. Only one remained, drifting in the water, a strange creature, Olokun, who seemed restless, wandering, alone.

After consulting with Orunla, Oya sought out Obatala for one last work, to make the creature called Human. This was to be one for whom the oceans were his realm, but who would never be comfortable there, who would feel in exile from his house and live in sorrow, as Oya had lived in sorrow. What could this creature be?

Obatala began to carve, and made a creature dark as night, with coral for eyes, the sea for blood, the drifting sands for nails, the floating kelp for hair. He was careful in his work, remaining sober, for once, remembering what had happened when he had drunk too much wine before. While he was finishing the last touches, Elegba came by, inquisitive as ever. "Tell me about your creature, my friend."

"Well, I remembered this time, and have set aside all wine. This creature must be perfect. My friend Oya has said his spirit is great and has a weird destiny. She has chosen me to make his body that his spirit may live on land. The shells said that he would rule the ocean, but never be at home there, so we have put the sea in his blood, so he may rule the ocean within, and not have to live there."

"Ah, have you consulted the shells yourself?"

"No, but it seems straightforward. She told me he is to be powerful, so I have given him coral for bones. She says he is to see far, so he has pearls for eyes. She says he is to have the earth as his destiny, but she doesn't wish him to forget his mother, so his blood is the sea. I have decided to give him immortality, so that he will never have to live in the depths again!"

"Immortality, but, but...." and even Legba was speechless.

"I know, I know, but it seems the only way to keep him on the land. If he were mortal, he would return to the sea, like a turtle, and not ever be at home on land."

So Obatala, satisfied with his work, made the Human Olokun and breathed into him life and immortality.

And Olokun grew strong and walked the earth with pride. All seemed well until he began to boast of his strength, which nothing could stop, his eyes, which nothing could hide from, even his hair, which kept the sheen of the sea. He began to ignore the sacrifices for he was immortal.

And Obatala despaired of this King of the World and asked Orunla what to do. Olokun was prideful, willful, and was immortal, so he could think of nothing. Orunla smiled when he was consulted. "Did you never think to ask me? Oya knew he would be strange and wished to be rid of him. She misled you into making an immortal, thinking that would keep him in control, but now he is beyond you and me, and only Creator can help. Let us cast the shells together. And he cast the shells, hoping for a way out. The reading was strange, a sacrifice without death? an exile with hope? An ear which contained the ocean? What could this be?

And they despaired together.

Olokun began to boast and wander the earth belittling the creatures and all of the Orishas began to cry out. "He pays no sacrifice, we cannot touch him, what did we do to deserve him?" And they plotted to destroy him. But the more they fought, the more they realized he was immortal.

But at last they found chains of many links, which could weigh him down, and returned him to the sea, putting him at the bottom of the deepest chasm. And he cried out, "what have I done?" I will take the land which you have thought so beautiful and destroy it. And he shook the ocean depth and the ocean began to encroach on the land.

And even Oya despaired.

Yemaya was the only Orisha who looked upon him with pity, he the child of all the sea, who did not wish to live there, and she cradled him in her arms, for he, though huge, was still but a child. And the rampaging waves began to recede. She loved him for his own self, and he began to mature, and she knew he had found a home in her arms, closer than even his own blood.

But the other Orishas were afraid. How can we know that you will keep him in control, Yemaya? You are but one, and he is immortal."

"Think that these chains you made to weigh him down will keep him. No, only chains of love will do that. But to satisfy you, I will give you a sentinel, Legba who is always talking -- but never listening -- will be my messenger. Legba, you owe me something. Since you did not stop Obatala from making this lonely creature, you must repay me in kind, for once you must listen. Pick up a shell, one of my own cowries. Put it to your ear."

And he did so. And it stuck.

"Pick up another!" And he did so. And on and on, until he was covered with shells.

"Legba, these are now your ears to hear my child when he is in pain and warn the world. I cannot always keep him under control, and he will lash out as the moon grows full. His waves will surge and swell. But you will always hear. Be a listener, not a talker only."

And so, Elegba Iye was born, covered with ears to hear the cries of an exile in pain, living beneath the seas with a hunger which was never far away, but waxed and waned like the moon.

All hail Papa Legba, Yemaya and her lover Olokun, Orunla, and Obatala. All hail the Orishas.

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Orisha Story copyright © 1998
Charles Butler

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