THE MYSTERY BEHIND RIVER OBA AND OSUN IN YORUBA KINGDOM

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The Yorubas considered Sango as the god of thunder and fire. He had so much power that his people thought he was a magician but actually inherited the powers from his mother’s family in Nupe. During the reign of the second Alaafin of Oyo – Alaafin Ajaka, Sango defended the Oyo kingdom so well that he was named the defender of the kingdom. The king threw a feast to celebrate him, it was attended by all the citizens of the kingdom. When it comes to dancing, Sango was very good.

When the men were asked to dance in a fun competition, Sango beat the other guys to the delight of the Alaafin and his people. During the ladies competition, a beautiful and elegant lady stood out. She was flexible and danced like the wind. Sango’s eyes popped out and fell in love immediately. He moved closer to the King and knelt down.

”Your Highness, I think I have found my wife here.” He told the King.

”Where is she? I want to know her.” Alaafin Ajaka inquired. He was so happy. He had put pressure on him to find a wife. ”A powerful man without a woman will die of loneliness even if swords can’t kill him.”

With a big grin across his face, Sango pointed to the beautiful dancer among her peers. His heart found joy after many years of being lonely. If he had his way, he would marry her immediately and take her home with him. The King looked and was happy too because she was beautiful and would complement Sango.

After the ladies contest, the King stood up and declared the beautiful lady the winner. ”My daughter, what is your name and what will you like to say for winning this competition?”

She shyly moved out of her peers and spoke:

”My name is Oba, the daughter of Ajase. I am happy to be the winner. Thank you your highness.” She knelt down and quickly stepped back to meet her peer.

After the feast, the King called Oba to his palace and told her about the intention of Sango. She eventually agreed and after months of courting, they got married like a royal prince. It was one of the biggest weddings in the history of the Yoruba Empire.

Oba couldn’t conceive for Sango despite all the sacrifices they have done. He wanted an heir and it was not forthcoming. One afternoon, he went out with his friends to drink palm wine. When he was coming back, he was too drunk and wanted to pass the shortest way home. As he passed one particular hut, the aroma of the food from there struck him. He was so hungry and didn’t care who was cooking. He knocked and a lady came to answer the door. She was shocked to see the great Sango in her house.

”Good evening great Sango……..” She stuttered. His presence made her speechless.

He told her he was hungry and she gave him out of the meal. That was how Sango met Osun. That was the beginning of the relationship between them. When Oba heard of her husband illicit affair, she was angry and challenged her husband. He was very angry and swore to marry her for having the gut to challenge him. He eventually married Osun and brought her home. It was the beginning of the rivalry between the wives.

Sango instructed Osun to be in charge of cooking while Oba should be in charge of keeping the house in order but peace never reigned between them. Sango was tired of his wives, all they do is fight and no children to show. He later on met Oya and brought her home as his third wife. Oya was married to a wicked war lord in Nupe and when Sango and his army defeated the village, he coveted her. It is known in Yoruba Kingdom that Sango never paid Oya’s bride price.

When the third wife came in, Oba knew she had lost her place in Sango’s life. He hardly have time for her and they rarely see. She wanted her first love back, she approached Osun despite their issues.

”My wife, I need your help despite our quarrels. Please, help me.” She knelt down. Osun lifted her up.

”Please, don’t kneel for me. What can I do for you?”

”I know our husband still love you despite Oya’s presence. I want to know the secret. I want him to love me again Osun. Please help me.” She was so sad and desperate.

Osun was so happy but she didn’t let it show. She had waited for long to do evil to her.

”Well, a long time ago, an old man told me to cut a part of my ear to make food for my husband and I did. Since then, he has fallen in love with me.”

Oba was happy, she greeted her and left. Osun smirked and mocked her as she left her presence. Meanwhile, the same day, Sango visited the Chief Herbalist concerning his wives not conceiving. He gave him some herbs and told him to be careful of what he ate that period. When he got home, Oba approached him and begged him to allow her cook lunch for him. He was too occupied with his thoughts and allowed her.

While she was making the food, she picked up the knife to cut a piece of her ear then a thought came to her: ”If Osun cut a piece of her ear and he still love her like this, she should cut her whole ear so the love will be greater.” She cut off her whole ear and made soup with it.

She carried the food to her husband with so much joy and left. As he was about to eat, he saw a thing floating on the soup. It looked like mushroom which is poisonous. He remembered baba’s warning and got angry. Thunder struck everywhere, he poured away the food with so much anger and called on Oba.

”You want to poison me? Before I open my eye, leave my house now or I will burn you with thunder and fire.”

Oba was so scared, she knew how powerful he was and ran away. She kept on running till she got to a stump of tree and sat on it. She screamed her mother’s name and fell on the ground. She became a river called River Oba till now. She is now known as the river of matrimony. It flows through Osun and Oyo.

Sango angrily went to Baba’s house to inform him what happened. He consulted Ifa and told him what really happened. He advised him to be calm but it fell on his deaf ears. Immediately he got home, he summoned Osun and angrily banned her from his house. She ran away too and fell to become a river called River Osun today. It is known as the River of fertility.

Both rivers have worshippers till today and they are considered deities in Yoruba kingdom. Osun Osogbo festival is one of the most popular festivals in Nigeria where worshippers from all over the world come together to pay homage and worship River Osun.