THE WAYS OF THE AWO

Tani o mo ona awo?

Who can know the paths thqat are tred by the white clad initiates.
Who, with the gift of the odu, can fully decipher the right footprints among any distorted mess.

Can you tell what invincible features they see when they correctly pick out a grief-striken woman from a marketplace of insane 'bugi-je' women.

Ona awo soro di e.
(Their ways are a bit difficult)
As they do not become awo (wise) by accident.

With an iron rod, the master called 'experience' made their ways straight.

With a goblet filled with gall, discipline welcomed them to his home.

With a thin thread of books, placed on the wet grass in the maze, acting as a guide, they charted the course towards discovering treasure chest of knowledge.

With the keys of patience, they unlocked the 'tokoz-like' padlocks of the chest to uncover its contents.

With the life jacket of humility, they avoided drowning in the lake of pride.

And with the flare of counsel, they escaped being stranded on the island of unwise decisions.

Suu re tete wa papo pelu wa.
(Come quick to join us)

The initiates shout to the young.

Ready your hide for the whippings of setback and ready your mind to glide through short victories without stopping to revel long in them.
For the way of the awo is not like a child's.

Incline your ears to recognize the siren of rebuke and firmly fix your eyes on the teacher's ways.
Take heed to take your reasoning and conscience everytime you go in search of treasure.
For money is a means to an end and not the end itself.

Edumare is the ultimate end, little ones.
The great One every Awo (wise) and Opele (novince) will give an account of their lives to.
#BASHORUN

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A kpara akwụ kpara akwụ, Ewere nkata jee, ọ bụrụ
oshi.
– It is okay to help ones self with a few palm nuts, but
when you go gathering with a basket, it becomes
stealing.