Meaning of the Okana odun saying "Dead king, crowned prince"

Proverbs are words full of wisdom that came with our ancestors in another language and that today are part of everyday life and the daily teachings of life.

And there are many who brought slaves from different regions of Africa, and as a result of syncretism and transculturation, has been added to the Cuban identity.

In the religion of the Yorubas that was inherited from us, specifically in the Rule of the Ocha, the Oracles are expressed through an odun or letter whose combinations correspond to proverbs.

These wise guidelines are about:

Respect for family, elders, duties, devotion to deities, etc., and show the religious the best way to follow the path of life.

The Yoruba proverb It is extremely broad, composed of old African proverbs and sayings of multiethnic and multicultural origin, belonging to the Osha-Ifá religion.

All frame the wisdom and conduct that practitioners of the Rule of the Ocha must follow.

In the Rule of Santeria It is unlikely that there is a consultation without a divinatory saying allegorical to the Letters of the Odun, depending on whether the oracle of the Dilogún or the Ifá oracular sub-system is used.

In this article we will talk specifically about the meaning of one of the sayings of the Dilogún in the Okana sign, which says: Dead king, crowned prince.

Okana advises: Don't leave your place, because someone else can take it

The first letter of the Dilogún corresponds to Okana, whose first saying goes like this: "Dead king crowned prince".

As we can see, this short phrase is used to call for reflection and give a lesson on monarchical systems, because when a king dies, his son, the prince, immediately succeeds him to the crown.

This is a process that is usually done quickly, so even if the crown prince is not present, another son of the king could take away the right to the throne.

The implied meaning of this saying indicates that:

No one is essential and that when he leaves his place, there is always another person who can take it.

Patakí Yoruba who gives us great advice

A Yoruba patakí associated with this odun recounts that one day the Creator, OIofin, sent for the dog to give him an important position, but the animal did not arrive, despite the fact that he got up very early to go to the place.

The fact is that when the dog was on the road, he found a bone and decided to eat it.

In this process it took so long that the tiñosa arrived at Olofin's house first, despite having gotten up later.

Thus, Olofin granted the important position to the tiñosa and when the dog arrived he was left with nothing. That is why it is said that the tiñosa is the messenger of Olofin.

He who trusts his fate and believes he is important or essential can lose everything, let us remember that humility and awareness will make us wiser.