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The right leg is the principal one and is read first; the left is the secondary (witness). — Bascom, Ifá Divination; Encyclopedic Treatise of Ifá.
Odu #110 · Omo Odu (Odu Combinado)
Obara Irete
Obara Kete (lucumí)
"When truth arrives, falsehood is ashamed and departs."
Numerology
21 (synthesis of 7 with 14)
Elements
Fire - Courage | Wind - Storm | Synthesis — Integration of forces
Sacred Colors
Gold (royalty) and Storm blue (transformation) (a combination of the energies of both Odus)
Symbolic reading — interpretation, not attributed to the Treatise.
Also known as: Obara Rete · Obara Ate · Òbàrà Irete · Òbàrà Ate · Obara Kete
Naming by tradition
- Yoruba / Brazil
- Obara Irete
- Cuba (Lucumí)
- Obara Kete
Lucumí name per Tratado Enciclopédico de Ifá, p. 2975.
What is the Odu Obara Irete
Obara Kete is the Ifá in which the ceremony of the Ikofá, drinking water and the mutual respect that must exist between the children of Oxum and of Shango were born. It is the Ifá of the fan, with which coolness is given to Oxum, and it teaches that, when truth arrives, falsehood is ashamed and departs.
Meaning
In the Tratado, Obara Rete is maferefun Yalorde (Oxum) and Obatalá and marks adultery. The owner of this Ifá must have Ozain complete and Odudua, must not shred or breathe herbs — for Ozain would sicken their children — and here Ogum loses neither the awo's step nor footfall, becoming their protecting or destroying shadow according as they live the ire or the osobo. The person is a braggart, tells everything about women and may have bloodshed for it; they are not content with one alone and have their own woman abandoned, who may be unfaithful to them. If the man is omo of Shango, by sentence of Olofin he can only be a friend to the daughters of Oxum.
Sacred Profile
Symbolic reading — interpretation, not attributed to the Treatise.
Numerology: 21 (synthesis of 7 with 14). This number resonates in the energy of this Odu, guiding the seeker in understanding the cycles and vibrations that govern this path.
Elements: Fire - Courage | Wind - Storm | Synthesis — Integration of forces. The sacred elements establish the bridge between the material and spiritual worlds, offering tools of balance and transformation.
Sacred Colors: Gold (royalty) and Storm blue (transformation) (a combination of the energies of both Odus). The colors of this Odu carry specific vibrations that can be used in rituals, clothing, and environments to harmonize with its energy.
Qualities: Leadership, Purification, Integration, Synthesis, Dynamic balance. These qualities represent the inner forces that the seeker can cultivate to walk in alignment with the wisdom of this Odu.
✦ Recommendations
Have Ozain complete and Odudua, and from time to time drink omiero and bathe with it. Give coolness to Oxum with the fan, and if your wife is a daughter of Oxum, take great care of her, for Oxum gave her over so that you might make her happy. Do not listen to gossip, to avoid griefs, and guard against the doctor's knife.
⚠ Cautions
When truth arrives, falsehood is ashamed and departs: do not be a braggart nor tell what concerns women, for you may have bloodshed on that account. Do not shred or breathe herbs, for Ozain sickens. Do not confine yourself to mere complaints: you have your wife abandoned, and she may be unfaithful to you. If you are omo of Shango, with the daughters of Oxum you can only be a friend.
This Odu describes tendencies and possible paths to work on — not a fixed destiny or a guaranteed prediction.
Ire
The ceremony of the Ikofá and the drinking water that were born here, and the mutual respect between the children of Oxum and of Shango; Ogum as the protecting shadow of the awo who lives the ire, and the shelter of Yalorde and Obatalá for the one who gives coolness to Oxum.
Osogbo
The adultery and the bloodshed of the one who is a braggart and tells what concerns women; the abandoned wife who becomes unfaithful, the herbs by which Ozain sickens, and Ogum as the destroying shadow of the one who lives the osobo.
Context and study of the 256 Odus
Obara Irete belongs to the full corpus of the 256 Odus of Ifá, a body of oral and written wisdom spanning centuries across the African diaspora and the Americas. Understanding this Odu means placing energies, archetypes, and sacred narratives in relation to the opele, divination, and a life practice guided by balance. The philosophical reading offered on this page does not replace initiation with a Babalawo or Iyanifa, but it deepens respect for the tradition and supports structured study for those who learn with humility.
In Ifá texts, the name Obara Irete appears in prayers, ebo, and songs; its energy is tied to cycles of transformation and to relationship with the land, the Orishas, and community. Comparing this Odu with its root Meji and related Odus helps you recognize patterns of Irê and Osogbo that recur through life and everyday choices.
The Ifá Wisdom digital library brings together all 256 paths with epithets, essence, synthesis, and practical guidance. By exploring this page and the full library, you build a foundation for meditation, spiritual journaling, and ethical follow-up—with explicit gratitude to Yoruba culture and its guardians.
Irê, Osogbo, and reading Obara Irete
In any Odù, Irê points to blessings and positive affinities; Osogbo highlights challenges and adjustments. Reading this Odu invites integrated reflection on relationships, work, emotional health, and purpose. Ifá asks for patience, right speech, and—when prescribed by an initiated priest—ebo and disciplines of conduct.
When you use the Ifá oracle with artificial intelligence on this platform, you receive a philosophical and educational interpretation: a learning bridge, not a priestly ritual. Keep that distinction to honour the tradition and the role of Babalawos and Iyanifas.
Ethics, respect, and continuing study
Ifá Wisdom is a multilingual educational service. We combine careful documentation of the Odus with the awareness that the living oracle belongs to the communities that preserve it. We do not promise cures, material guarantees, or a substitute for initiatory counsel.
To explore Obara Irete in depth, browse the library of 256 Odus, the Odu of the day, and—if you wish—a contextual consultation in the oracle—always respecting your autonomy and the culture of origin.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Odu Obara Irete mean?+
What is the central message of Obara Irete?+
What is Obara Irete called in the Lucumí (Cuban) tradition?+
What are the Irê and Osogbo of Obara Irete?+
Sources consulted
- Tratado Enciclopédico de Ifá, section Obara Irete (Obara Kete)
Written by
- Pablo de Lima (Awofakan)
- Thaiana de Lima (Ikofá)
A couple initiated in Ifá in the Cuban lineage — Regla de Ocha / Ifá.
Meet the authors →Notice: This platform is an educational and cultural tool. Consultations are intended for reflection and contemplation, drawing on ancestral Yoruba wisdom. They do not replace professional medical, psychological, legal or financial advice, nor an in-person consultation with an initiated priest.