Ochosi was a very skilled hunter and proud of his skill with the bow and arrow. But, he was very frustrated in his attempts to kill a deer because every time he tried to shoot arrows at the deer, they fell short of the target. The forest was very dense and so many trees and bushes separated Ochosi from his prey, he could never get close enough to the deer to bring him down with his arrows. The people of the town depended on Ochosi to provide them with meat, so they were all suffering from great hunger. Every day, he returned without a deer, and people were starting to become desperate.
“If only I could get closer to the deer,” he thought, “I’m sure my arrow would bring him down.” But, alas, Ochosi had no tools he could use to clear the forest.
“If only I could get closer to the deer,” he thought, “I’m sure my arrow would bring him down.” But, alas, Ochosi had no tools he could use to clear the forest.
Ogun, his brother, was also trying to capture a deer by digging holes and covering them up with bushes, hoping the deer would fall in. Ogun had a great talent for mechanics and engineering. He was skilled at making iron tools, but he wasn’t quick and stealthy like his brother. He couldn’t stalk the animals silently. They always heard him coming, so they stayed away from his traps. Every day, he returned home empty handed as well.
“What’s wrong with my traps?” he thought. “I’m sure I’ve used my tools correctly to build a good trap. If only the animals would fall in!”
“What’s wrong with my traps?” he thought. “I’m sure I’ve used my tools correctly to build a good trap. If only the animals would fall in!”
There was a lot of rivalry between Ogun and Ochosi, especially in terms of who would be able to kill the deer to provide food for the people. They both tried their best, but neither of them was ever successful. Each one asked himself constantly, “how can I kill the deer?” They couldn’t imagine what they were doing wrong.
Finally, they decided to go see Orúnmila, the great diviner, to see if he could help them understand the problem. Orúnmila told them that it was the fault of Elegua, who was envious of them. Elegua felt left out. He didn't want Ogun and Ochosi to do things without him, so he was causing them to have problems whenever they went hunting. Orúnmila advised them to offer ebbo to Elegua in the forest, and ask Elegua to help them accomplish their goal.
Finally, they decided to go see Orúnmila, the great diviner, to see if he could help them understand the problem. Orúnmila told them that it was the fault of Elegua, who was envious of them. Elegua felt left out. He didn't want Ogun and Ochosi to do things without him, so he was causing them to have problems whenever they went hunting. Orúnmila advised them to offer ebbo to Elegua in the forest, and ask Elegua to help them accomplish their goal.
When Ogun and Ochosi reached the place in the forest where they were going to leave their offering, they saw a large deer there. Ogun froze in his tracks and didn’t move, afraid he would chase the deer away. Ochosi quietly advanced, took aim and let the arrow fly. It hit the deer, and the animal fell down dead.
“Hurray!” shouted Ogun. “Now the people of the town will have food. Everyone will be able to eat deer meat tonight.”
Ochosi looked doubtful. He saw that the undergrowth was very thick and there was no way for him to reach the deer carcass to retrieve it. He had killed the deer, but the meat would be left to spoil if he couldn’t reach the spot where the deer lay.
“What can I do?” he asked Ochosi. “My arrow flew through that space, but I can’t. I have to go on foot, and there’s no place for me to walk.”
“Hurray!” shouted Ogun. “Now the people of the town will have food. Everyone will be able to eat deer meat tonight.”
Ochosi looked doubtful. He saw that the undergrowth was very thick and there was no way for him to reach the deer carcass to retrieve it. He had killed the deer, but the meat would be left to spoil if he couldn’t reach the spot where the deer lay.
“What can I do?” he asked Ochosi. “My arrow flew through that space, but I can’t. I have to go on foot, and there’s no place for me to walk.”
Ogun realized at that moment that he could help his brother by using his machete to clear a path. As he swung his strong arm to cut through the brush, he encouraged Ochosi to follow in his steps so together they could get to the deer, take it home, and feed the people of the town with the meat. Thanks to Elegua, the brothers understood that they need to work together. Each one recognized his strengths and limitations. They saw that together they could do more than either one could do alone.
That day, they made a pact to always work together. This pataki explains why Ogun, Ochosi and Elegua always live together as inseparable friends and brothers. Together, we know them as “the warriors.” The moral of the story is that cooperation and collaboration accomplish more than rivalry and envy. When strong forces join together, they are invincible.
That day, they made a pact to always work together. This pataki explains why Ogun, Ochosi and Elegua always live together as inseparable friends and brothers. Together, we know them as “the warriors.” The moral of the story is that cooperation and collaboration accomplish more than rivalry and envy. When strong forces join together, they are invincible.
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