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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 #249 · Omo Odu (Odu Combinado)
Ofun Ogunda
"Ofun and Ogunda: cut in two, the spirit of Ifá remains immortal."
Numerology
25 (synthesis of 16 with 9)
Elements
All elements - Integration | Iron - Strength | Synthesis — Integration of forces
Sacred Colors
Pure white (totality) and Dark green (forest, wild nature) (a combination of the energies of both Odus)
Symbolic reading — interpretation, not attributed to the Treatise.
Also known as: Ofun Gunda · Ofun Oguda · Òfún Ogunda · Òfún Oguda · Ofun Funda
Naming by tradition
- Yoruba / Brazil
- Ofun Ogunda
- Cuba (Lucumí)
- Ofun Ogunda · Ofun Funda
Lucumí name per Tratado Enciclopédico de Ifá, p. 1110.
What is the Odu Ofun Ogunda
Ofun Ogunda (Ofun Funda) is the Odu in which Xangô, blind with envy, cut in two the spirit of Ifá, which was before a shadow called Afafá. Afafá answered that, even cut, it was immortal by the will of Olodumare, and it went to live in the trees, in the hide of the crocodile and in the shell of the turtle. Here were born the mask of Olokun and the plough.
Meaning
In the Tratado, it was where Olofin wrote the sixteen Meji upon a white and mysterious stone, and where Ifá was first learned. It marks the work of conscience: the soul of the benefactor rests in peace, while that of the wrongdoer suffers remorse. Ogum made the iron plough for Orixá Okô, and Iemanjá says that all have spoken, but she not yet, and she will be the last to speak. One suffers in the kidneys, and it is necessary to receive Olokun.
Sacred Profile
Symbolic reading — interpretation, not attributed to the Treatise.
Numerology: 25 (synthesis of 16 with 9). This number resonates in the energy of this Odu, guiding the seeker in understanding the cycles and vibrations that govern this path.
Elements: All elements - Integration | Iron - Strength | Synthesis — Integration of forces. The sacred elements establish the bridge between the material and spiritual worlds, offering tools of balance and transformation.
Sacred Colors: Pure white (totality) and Dark green (forest, wild nature) (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: Wisdom, Strength, 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
Keep a turtle at home, like Orunmilá, who through it married the daughter of Olokun. Prepare the inshe of Ossaim from the mouth of the river at the sea, for your whole life, and receive Olokun. Give a drum feast and make ebó with a valuable pledge. Care for the kidneys with baths of soursop leaf and give a ram to Iemanjá, of whom one must be very careful.
⚠ Cautions
Watch over envy, which here goes so far as to blind and to cut, as Xangô did with the spirit of Ifá. Weigh your actions on the scale of conscience, for remorse pursues the wrongdoer. Care for the health of the kidneys and the belly. Guard yourself from the one who tries to undermine the ground beneath you so that you fall, as they did to Orunmilá.
This Odu describes tendencies and possible paths to work on — not a fixed destiny or a guaranteed prediction.
Ire
The immortality of the spirit of Ifá, which not even cut in two is lost, and the wisdom of the sixteen Meji that were written here; the peace of the benefactor's soul and the shelter of Olokun and of Iemanjá.
Osogbo
The envy that blinds and cuts, the remorse that pursues the wrongdoer, the disease of the kidneys and the trap of the one who wants to undermine the ground so that the person falls.
Context and study of the 256 Odus
Ofun Ogunda 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 Ofun Ogunda 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 Ofun Ogunda
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 Ofun Ogunda 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 Ofun Ogunda mean?+
What is the central message of Ofun Ogunda?+
What are the Irê and Osogbo of Ofun Ogunda?+
Sources consulted
- Tratado Enciclopédico de Ifá, section Ofun Funda (Ofun Ogunda)
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.