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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 #87 · Omo Odu (Odu Combinado)
Owonrin Obara
Ojuani Bara (lucumí)
"Brothers must live united to become great; take care, you have bought a rope for your own neck."
Numerology
13 (synthesis of 6 with 7)
Elements
Wind - Unpredictability | Fire - Courage | Synthesis — Integration of forces
Sacred Colors
Multicoloured (diversity) and Gold (royalty) (a combination of the energies of both Odus)
Symbolic reading — interpretation, not attributed to the Treatise.
Also known as: Owonrin Bara · Owonrin Òbàrà · Ohuani Obara · Ohuani Òbàrà · Ojuani Bara · Ojuani Lozure
Naming by tradition
- Yoruba / Brazil
- Owonrin Obara
- Cuba (Lucumí)
- Ojuani Bara · Ojuani Lozure
Lucumí name per Tratado Enciclopédico de Ifá, p. 3093.
What is the Odu Owonrin Obara
Ojuani Bara is the Ifá in which eviction and the houses of confinement were born, and whose axé lies in the eure (she-goat). It marks delay in everything and teaches that brothers must live united in order to become great and strong — like the three brothers of the patakín, whom only unity made wise.
Meaning
In the Tratado, Ojuani Bara commands making rogación and washing the leri with ewe to clear the mind, for things slip from the person's memory, and eating well so as not to weaken the brain nor lose the memory. The person lives poor and adrift, and those around them do not regard them; they must feed gbogbo Egun so that they help them move forward. It is the only Odu of Ifá that authorises the awo to receive or mount a prenda after being consecrated, and it warns: beware of eviction, that you not be thrown out of where you live or work.
Sacred Profile
Symbolic reading — interpretation, not attributed to the Treatise.
Numerology: 13 (synthesis of 6 with 7). This number resonates in the energy of this Odu, guiding the seeker in understanding the cycles and vibrations that govern this path.
Elements: Wind - Unpredictability | Fire - Courage | Synthesis — Integration of forces. The sacred elements establish the bridge between the material and spiritual worlds, offering tools of balance and transformation.
Sacred Colors: Multicoloured (diversity) and Gold (royalty) (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: Adaptability, Leadership, 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
Live united with your brothers, so that the patrimony and the axé may be greater. Make rogación and wash the leri with ewe to clear the mind, and eat well so as not to lose your memory. Feed gbogbo Egun so that they help you move forward. Give thanks to Obatalá, Exu, Ogum, Orunmilá and Egun. Care for the child you will have by Orunmilá, who will be your happiness.
⚠ Cautions
You have bought a rope for your own neck. Beware of eviction, that you not be thrown out of where you live, work or frequent, and that you not find yourself confined against your will. Illness pursues the person. Do not quarrel so much with your wife, with whom you will always be at odds. Take care of your brain, that it not weaken, and so as not to go mad.
This Odu describes tendencies and possible paths to work on — not a fixed destiny or a guaranteed prediction.
Ire
The child of Orunmilá who will be your happiness, the axé that lies in the eure and the firmness of the prenda this Odu authorises you to receive; the greatness that comes from the union of brothers and the help of gbogbo Egun to the one who feeds them.
Osogbo
The eviction and the houses of confinement, the delay in everything and the poverty of the one whom those around do not regard; the weakening of the mind and the loss of memory, and the constant quarrel with the wife.
Context and study of the 256 Odus
Owonrin Obara 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 Owonrin Obara 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 Owonrin Obara
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 Owonrin Obara 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 Owonrin Obara mean?+
What is the central message of Owonrin Obara?+
What is Owonrin Obara called in the Lucumí (Cuban) tradition?+
What are the Irê and Osogbo of Owonrin Obara?+
Sources consulted
- Tratado Enciclopédico de Ifá, section Ojuani Bara (Ojuani Lozure)
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.