KIKI IFÁ (Chanting in Praise of the Wisdom of Nature)

Eye kan an fo lere mi, lere mi, o f'apa otun ba'le, O re gbongbongbon bi oko.
A bird twirls all over me, touching the ground with her right wing, and sounding as does the hoe when struck.
Eye kan an ba lere mi, lere mi, o f'apa otun ba'le, o re gbongbongbon bi ada.
The bird then perches on me, tapping the ground with her right wing, and sounding with the strength of a cutlass.
Bi alaworo - Òrìsà ba ji, a f'ada Òrìsà no'le, a ni "Òrìsà, e ji tabe o ji!"
When the chanter - priestess rises at dawn, she taps the earth with the Spirits cutlass saying. "Spirits, I want to know if you are awake and attentive on this day!"
Baba lo sun ni ko ji.
With no evidence that his attention is here, Father maintains a sleep state.
Jiji ni ki o ji o, mo - Kun - Otan l'Eri.
So we must beg you to grant us your attention, Father, you who are known as Mokun - Otan at Eri.
Jiji ni ki o ji, Mosun nile Ilawe.
We plead that you give us your attention, you who are called Mosun at Ilawe Town.
Jiji ni ki o ji o, ojiji alaoo nini.
We ask that you lend us your attention, you electric fish with everlasting calm complexion.
Baba ni "bi oun ko ba ji nke?"
"Suppose I show you no sign of wakefulness?" says Father
Mo: "bi isekuse ba se gbogbo eye oko ni ji."
I say; "That once Isekuse crows the birds at the farm are aroused."
Bi Ojiji ba parada lodo.
The same thing happens to the electric fish once it swirls in the sea.
Gbogbo eja omi ni ji.
All the fishes are electrified into action.
Baba ni "bi oun ba ji bi oun ko ba koju nko?"
Father said; "Suppose wakefulness is shown but without keen attention?
Mo ni: "asuigbo ki koju si'ibo."
I say; "When when shitting in the bush a person faces not towards the bush.
Asuodan ki koyin s'ona.
When shitting in the bush one faces the path.
Bi ewe otiti ba tu, oju Olodumare ni nkojusi?
And it is known that when the otiti plant explodes into bloom, it turns to the Creator, does it not?
Baba ni "bi oun ba ji bi oun ko rerin nko?"
Father says; "Suppose I grant you my attention but without a grin that indicates I am giving with delight?"
Mo ni: "rerin, mo ni erin la rin fonna oti."
I say; "You must give with delight. For one thing, we are all cheers and delight when preparing the hearth brew."
Erin lagbara nrin k'Olodo lona.
For another delight is what the water torrent exudes, racing to discharge into the river.
Baba ni; "bi oun ba rerin, bi ko tan ninu oun nko?"
Father says; "Now suppose I am all smiles, while at the same time I feel displeasure?"
Mo ni: "Bi ase ba mu omi, a tan nnu ase."
I say; "But it should be recalled that whenever spiritual power, the filter is given water, it retains no part of it whatsoever."
Bi igere ba mu omi, a tan nnu igere.
The same applies to the igere trap, dipped in and then lifted from water, it retains not a drop.
B'alaworo - Osa ba maa soro lodun.
The praise chanter of the Spirits expresses the same idea on the eve of the annual festival.
Bi o ba ranse p'Onigbajamo, a fa irun ori re tan porogodo.
He talks to the barber he makes sure his head is cleared of all hair and shaved clean.
Odun ko jeran mimi.
Certainly the Spirit of Iron will not accept a rotten meat offering.
Ija ko jeran ikase.
Just as the Spirit of the Warrior cannot be served unclean flesh.
O tori Olalekun, Ominikun, Atatabiakun, Erin - ko - yipada - kun?
Now, may I invoke tranquility with Olalekun,Ominikun,
Atatabiakun,and Erin - ko - seeyipada - kun?Abata kunkunkun ko tan lehin okun.
Forever jun, hun and kun underscore the other side of the sea.
Amonato, amonasegaara - de - Fe, Gburu agba.
You who straightens our path, you who put a curve in our path, you who ensures that the highway is kept unobstructed all the way to Ife.
Ilu meji gedegede.
Respect to the open - ended drum.
Ilu gedegede lo tegun - n'lu
Respect to the two untranslatable drum beats.
Oba lo teyin erin nfon
Only a King can use the trumpet made of an elephant tusk.
A daa f'Òrúnmìlà, Baba nsawo r'ode Ominikun, ni ibi ti gbogbo won ngbe se'fa.
Ifa divination was cast for the Spirit of Destiny,when Father was going to the city that was famed for tranquility, where all were working on the Ifa tray associated with offending Ifa.
Ifá bi mo ba se e, ki o mase fi'binu gb'eku.
So if I have offended you, please do not demand mouse for a sacrifice.
Ifá fi fereji ni o fereji, bi ara ode Ominikun.
Instead, Ifa grant me unconditional remission, as you did for the people of the town of tranquility.
Ifá bi mo ba se e, ki o mase fi'binu gb'eja.
Ifa if I have offended you, please do not demand fish for a sacrifice.
Fifereji ni o fereji, bi ara ode Ominikun.
Instead, grant me complete remission, as you did for the people of the town of tranquility.
Ifá bi mo ba se o, ki o mase fi'binu gb'eye.
Ifa if I have offended you, please do not demand a bird offering.
Fifereji ni o fereji, bi ara ode Ominikun.
Instead, grant me absolution, as you did the people of the town of tranquility.
Ifá bi mo ba se e, ki o mase fi'ran gb'eran.
Ifa if I have offended you, please do not demand meat as a punishment.
Fifereji ni o fereji, bi ara ode Ominikun.
Instead grant me total remission, as you did the people of the town of tranquility.
Ifá bi mo ba se e, ki o mase fi iran gba ototo ohun.
Ifa if I have offended you, please do not demand material things.
Fifereji ni o fereji, bi ara ode Ominikun.
Instead, grant me forgiveness, as you did the people of the town of tranquility.
Bi a ba jeko a darij'ewe.
When we eat the eko porridge, we forgive the leaf wrapper.
Ferejin mi o, bi ara ode Ominikun.
Grant me forgiveness, as you did the people of the town of tranquility.
Oba Alade Feejin mi, Oba Alaferejin. Ase.
Forgive me great King, the forgiving King. May it be so.