Orunmila (Eleri Ipin), the witness to the fate of human beings, while in need of a servant, he went to the market , and among the slaves that were for sale, he selected Osanyin , then asked him to clear the field to prepare the new plantations. However, to the despair of Orunmilá, Osanyin returned at night, without having fulfilled his order. Orunmila asked the peer why he did nothing. Osanyin answered him: ” All these plants, these leaves and these herbs have virtues. They cannot be destroyed. This leaf, for example, cures toothaches; this other one protects against the effects of evil works; also cures fever. Impossible indeed to uproot plants so necessary to health and happiness!”
Orunmilá, impressed, decided that Osanyin should, from then on, remain by his side during the divination sessions, to guide him in the choice of the medicines he should prescribe to his consultants. A silent rivalry is established, little by little, between these gods. Osanyin , suffering from being kept in submission, boasted of being more important than Orunmila, for he possessed the power of deadly magic and the medicines he prepared. Osanyin even declared to King Ajalayé that he had come into the world before Orunmila and, being older, he had the right to respect him. King Ajalayé sent a message to Orunmila. He wanted to know, between him and Osanyin , which is the more important of the two. Orunmila replied that he was older than Osanyin .
The king then decided to put them to a test. He summoned them, accompanied by their firstborn. Orunmila arrived with his son called Sacrifice. Osanyin introduced himself with his so called Medicine . The two were buried for seven days. That was just to know who would survive the ordeal and responds first with a clear and strong voice, to the call that will be given, at the end of the last day, will see his father declared the winner.
Two graves were dug. Sacrifice and Medicine were placed inside and the graves were closed. Orunmila, returning home, consulted Ifá. “Will my son still be alive after the seven days?” Ifá advised him to offer a lot of Ekuru – a tasty dish, bean cake, pepper, a rooster, a goat, a pigeon, a rabbit and sixteen whelks from the coast. Orunmila prepared the offering. They were placed in four places: on the road, at a crossroads, in front of Esu and in the market. Esu exerted his power over the sacrificed rabbit. This one resurrected and dug a hole that ended up in the pit of Sacrifice, the son of Orunmila. So the rabbit brought him food.
Medicine , Osanyin’s son, had nothing to eat. But he had some talismans, which acted upon the earth and thus enabled him to find Sacrifice at the bottom of his grave. Medicine asked for food. Sacrifice answers: ” Ah! How can I, son of Orunmila, give you food, when there is a dispute at stake? Don’t you see that you will cause Osanyin’s success, being alive to answer the call that will be made at the end of the seven days?” Medicine insisted and promised Sacrifice to remain silent when the appeal is made. Sacrifice, then, fed Medicine
And at the end of the test , the judges called Osanyin’s son: “Medicine, Medicine , Medicine ” They called in vain. Medicine does not respond. “Well! Medicine is dead,” they concluded . Then they called the son of Orunmila: “Sacrifice!” Immediately, they hear a strong yes. Sacrifice is safe and sound! Medicine came out then equally alive. Osanyin asked his son the reason for his silence, when his name was called , Medicine narrated the pact made with Sacrifice. ” Food against silence!”
This pact became a proverb: “Sacrifice does not let Medicine to speak.” Meaning that Sacrifice is more effective than Medicine. Which is why Orunmila has a higher position than Osanyin .
