How To Make Ọṣẹ Dúdú

Eèpẹ̀ ni a fi mọ ẹ̀dá ọmọ-ènìyàn (man was made out of clay), Ifá confirms this assertion, automatically what our body needs to flourish should come from clay. The weed (koríko), plants (ewé), animals (ẹranko), water (omi) e.t.c on planet earth (ilé-ayé) are made for man  for our well being (ìlera), survival (ìyè) and consumption (ìjẹ), why would some liars tell the world that few of these natural things created by Elédùmarè is of evil forces not fit for human consumption, the work of Aṣẹ̀dá is tagged "taboo", whereas that of man made is promoted. 

We were natural people until we were made artificial, everything about us is natural from what we eat, drink to body wash (kànrìnkàn àti ọṣẹ dúdú). This blog highlights the basic steps in black soap making. You can also check out the video on How To Make Ọṣẹ Dúdú.

                        Bí a ṣe ń ṣe Ọṣẹ Dúdú - How To Make Black Soup

Igi ọ̀pẹ̀ or ọ̀pẹ; palm tree, a very essential plant in Yorùbá land is a major raw material in making the natural ọṣẹ dúdú. 

When palm fruits (odi ẹyìn) is harvested, the prickly parts (ṣọṣọ ẹyìn) of the fruits are burnt, the ashes eérú is the major material needed for our ọṣẹ dúdú production. 


It comes either in dark colour (dúdú) or white (funfun), any of the two are used but in this how to make ọṣẹ dúdú post both colours are missed to produce our natural ọṣẹ dúdú. Let me hard here that the soap is called ọṣẹ dúdú because of its look (dark colour) and nothing more, i have heard all sort of lies about the soap.

Natural things needed for making ọṣẹ dúdú includes the black soap ashes; ìrosùn/osùn; and oyin. One may also add other herbs like ewé ejìrìn; a plant good for skin problems to the items, omi àgbọn (àdí àgbọn) - coconut oil or kernel oil can also be included. 

Now lets start our Yorùbá ọṣẹ dúdú (black soap) production process - 

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1. Mix the ọṣẹ dúdú ashes well

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2. Mix the ìyẹ̀rosùn/osùn (cam-wood) with water

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                        3. Mix the osùn with the ṣọṣọ ẹyìn ashes

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4. Mixture of the ìrosùn/osùn and eérú ṣọṣọ ẹyìn

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5. Pour some quantity of honey (oyin) and mix 

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Mix the items thoroughly so as to blend everything together, add a little lavender oil or perfume if you want to give the soap a scent and there you have your ọṣẹ dúdú. 

Usually, ọṣẹ dúdú is always black in colour, but because white ọṣẹ dúdú ashes is added to the combination, the colour becomes red is due to the addition of osùn.

Now you know how to make the Yorùbá black soap (ọṣẹ dúdú), try it out, do away with artificial chemical soaps, it damages your skin gradually, go natural like me ;).

Check out www.yobamoodua.org for more on Yorùbá education and information.

The real truth about taboo - Yorùbá perspective

Wọ́n ní kò sí èèwọ̀. Wọ́n ní irọ́ ni, síbẹ̀ ayé rí rúdurùdu, ohun gbogbo ò gún régé mọ́ bíi ti ìgbaànì. They say there is nothing like taboo. They say it is a lie, yet the earth is in menace, everything is not in order like centuries past. But the real truth is that taboo exists.

Kí ni èèwọ̀? Èèwọ̀ is taboo in Yorùbá.  It is regarded as "ohun tí kò wọ̀" (èyíkèyí tí kò wọ̀), that is, that which is not accepted. Ohunkóhin tí kò wọ̀ ni èèwọ̀. 

To create law and orderliness in the society, taboo was the panacea recognized everywhere around the globe, all faith; religious belief laid down various taboos to curb the behaviour, way of life of its members. Èèwọ̀ pé oríṣìíriṣìí, ṣàṣà ni orílẹ̀-èdè, ẹ̀sìn tí kò ní èèwọ̀, ibi gbogbo là ń kó ẹdìẹ alẹ́ ni èèwọ̀. Ìjọ Onígbàgbọ́ kan ò gbọdọ̀ láya méjì, èèwọ̀ ni (it is a taboo for The Anglican Church to marry more than a wife), food also has taboo, my people will say "o ti jẹ èèwọ̀" (you have eaten taboo), a Muslim follower must not eat pork meat or dog, it is a taboo to the religion - Mùsùlùmí ò gbọdọ̀ jẹ ẹran ẹlẹ́dẹ̀, kò sì gbọdọ̀ sin ajá tàbí jẹ ajá.

Ẹnikẹ́ni t'ó bá ṣe ohun tí kò tọ́ ni ó ṣe èèwọ̀. Ẹní bá ṣèṣì ṣ'ohun tí kò tọ́, ní láti rí ohun tí kò tọ́ (wọ̀). Punitive measures not from anyone but by the èèwọ̀ itself abound for one who goes against the èèwọ̀ (norm) one way or another. 

In Yorùbá land anyone who does not keep to order, norm is a bastard because èèwọ̀ is a measure to make one live long once the law (taboo) is kept intact as one. Ẹnikẹ́ni tí kò bá ka ti èèwọ̀ sí kì í ṣe ọmọlúàbí, nítorí bíi òfin ni èèwọ̀ rí; má ṣe é ni.  Kí ẹ̀mí lè gùn ni. Gbogbo wa la ní èèwọ̀, ó kàn dun ni, a ò kà á sí mọ́ torí ọ̀làjú, ó sì ń kó bá wa. We all have èèwọ̀, it's a sad thing civilization makes it difficult to abide by it. 

Bí a bá wò ó, à á rí pé ó ní ìdí tí a fi ka èèwọ̀ yìí lákọ̀ọ́kọ́ (if we check it, there is a reason we have taboo in place). Our gene, as well as DNA is unique, twins seldom have same DNA, mine is not same as yours, we are healthy than ourselves, why? Because our "Orí" is not the same, we weren't born on same day, month or year. Ara yàtọ̀ s'ára, ìlera wa ò jọ'ra, ohun tí Táíyé jẹ lè gbòdì lára Kẹ́hìndé. 

Èèwọ̀ pọ̀ suu. (taboo is in it's abundance), you would have heard a few.

Èèwọ̀ 

The elders say "téèyàn kò bá gbọ́ tẹnu ẹ̀gà á ní ẹ̀gà ń pàáṣó, bẹ́ẹ̀ ohun ẹyẹ rí lẹyẹ ń sọ". -  When one hears the speech from the palm bird one will say the palm bird is blabbing, meanwhile what the bird sees is what its saying (there is always an element of truth behind any rumour). My folks don't just create èèwọ̀, no, there is always a reason behind it.  

Olóyè Adégbóyèga Ṣóbáńdé on èèwọ̀ confirms that in 1929 òyìnbó affirms that the human arm (apá)  has vein and muscle (iṣan) than any other part of the human body, and the arm is electrified by Èlédùmarè so if one puts the hand in rain (òjò) it might cause a thunder (ara) strike. 
Before 1929, our forefathers knows that it is èèwọ̀ to collect rain with the hand "a kì í fi ọwọ́ gbe òjò".

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"Oníkọ́ ò gbọdọ̀ jẹ àgbọn, èèwọ̀ ni bí bẹ́ẹ̀ kọ́, ikọ́ yó fín-in"
Coconut when chewed triggers cough in one who has cough.

"Akúwárápá ò gbọdọ̀ jẹ àkàrà" 

An epileptic person must not eat bean fries.

"Ìran Ìkòyí ò gbọdọ̀ jẹ òkété"
The Ìkòyí tribe forbids pouch rats (why?)

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"Ìran Ìṣẹri ò gbọdọ̀ jẹ erè"

The Ìṣẹri tribe forbids eating of boa constrictor (why?).

  "Ìgbín ò gbọdọ̀ fẹnu kan iyọ̀" 

Snail will never touch salt (else it is dead)

"Ọmọ ò gbọdọ̀ já lẹ́hìn ìyá ẹ̀"

A baby should not fall off the back of it's mother (the child may be harmed or die if that happens)

 "Iná kì í lépa omi" 

(Fire shall never attempts harming water, else it dies)

On the other hand, something without "àṣẹ" that can not be/happen  is also known as èèwọ̀. In Yorùbá films you hear Abìjà or Fàdèyí Olóró say "èèwọ̀, kò le è wọlé" or simply "èèwọ̀".

Let us make findings to ascertain why our fathers call somethings taboo for things to work out perfect and well for us.  Ẹ jẹ́ kí a pa èèwọ̀ mọ́, k'ó ba júṣe fún wa, k'á gbà pé èèwọ̀ ni ohunkóhun tí a pè léèwọ̀ èèwọ̀ ní í ṣe. 

We perish for lack of knowledge, further inquiries into certain Afrikan Yorùbá phenomenon is key to our emancipation and development, your fathers are not fools as you were made to belief by the "masters". Re-think.

Èèwọ̀ is categorized, which of its categories do you know? And do you belief in èèwọ̀?

Check out www.yobamoodua.org for more on Yorùbá education and information.

Láyée Ọyẹ́

Ní kété tí a bá ti wọ ìkẹwàá ọdún ni afẹ́fẹ́ ọyẹ́ á ti máa fẹ́ lu 'ni lára díẹ̀ díẹ̀. 

Láyée ọyẹ́, ààjìn ni ọyẹ́ ti ń jáde, fẹ̀ẹ̀rẹ̀ ò kí ń ṣe é kó, òtútù ọyẹ́ a máa mú kí oorun rọ 'ni lọ́rùn gidi gan-an ni. Àgbàlagbà yóò ká rúgúrúgú, ọmọdé náà a sùn á kásẹ̀ worobo bíi ọmọ ìkókó. 

Ní ìdájí, bí ilẹ̀ bá mọ́, kùrukùru funfun á bo ojúu sánmọ̀ mọ́lẹ̀ gùdù, a lè má fẹ́ẹ̀ rí ẹni ńbọ̀ níwá, a ó ti kò ó tán kí a tóó kó fìríi rẹ̀. 

Láyée ọyẹ́, a kì í pẹ́ kan lọ títí ní balùwẹ̀, kíá mọ́sá ni à ń rọ́ omi sára, wàrà seṣà à ń bóóde nílé-ìwẹ̀. Gbígbọ̀n ni ẹní bá rẹ̀pẹ̀tẹ̀ sí ibalùwẹ̀ yó máa gbọ̀n nígbàtí atẹ́gùn tútù bá rọ́ síi lára. Oótù ní kínkankíkan ojúmọ́, láyée má f'omi wẹ̀ kan 'ra. Àwọn ọ̀bùn a máa fi omi b'ọ́jú ni, wọ́n sì lè ṣan'pá ṣan'sẹ̀ kí wọ́n bọ́ sí'gboro. 

Àfi bíi ẹni pé ilé iṣẹ́ẹ elùbọ́ làwọn ọmọ elòmíràn ti ń ṣíṣe ni, ara wọn á funfun. Irú ẹni bẹ́ẹ̀ tí ara rẹ̀ funfun ni a máa ń sọ fún wípé ọyẹ́ ti gbé lọ nítorí àwọ̀ọ ti di ti ọlọ́yẹ́.

Òrí ni ìyáà mi fi tọ́ mi. Láyée ọyẹ́, ni a ma fi ń pa ara, t'ára yóò máa dán gbinrin, ara ò jẹ́ mọ ọyẹ́. 

Láyée ọyẹ́, tí ètèe elétè yóò máa bẹ́, títa ńkọ́? Ní ayée ọyẹ́ tí àtẹ́lẹ́-ọwọ́ pẹ̀lú ti ẹsẹ̀ yóò máa sun omi jáde. 

Láyée ọyẹ́, tí èfúùfù ọ̀gìnìtìn yó máa fẹ́ yìì, yàà, á máa fẹ́ yòò, oòrùn  gbígbóná yẹn náà a máa jó 'ni lára fofofo ní kíjankíjan. 

Àkókò tí ereku á gba'lé gba oko. Ekuru lóríi bíi ewú, nínú ihò-imú, ihò-etí, pàntí nínú ojú. Àkókò ikọ́, ọ̀fìnkìn ni ìgbà ọyẹ́ jẹ́ fẹ́lòmíì láyée ọyẹ́. 

Láyée ọyẹ́, tí igi oko gan-an alára mọ̀ pé ọyẹ́ ń mú, ewé á wọ́n lóríi igi, kí ni ìràwé? Pápá oko a máa dùn ún jó nínúu ọyẹẹ́ pọ̀, bẹ́ẹ̀ gẹ́lẹ́ ni ewu inúu ọyẹ́ pọ̀ jọjọ. Ọ̀gbẹlẹ̀ ni àsìkòo ọyẹ́, iná a máa ràn fòò nínúu ọyẹ́, òwe kan ní "... ó ràn bíi (ináa) pápá inú ọyẹ́. 

Láyée ọyẹ́, ẹní bá kó sí aṣọ t'ó nípọn láàárọ̀ ni ooru baba ooru yóó bá fín 'ra lọ́ọ̀sán ganrínganrín. Wéré lọ́wọ́ kan ni ohun a bá sá (aṣọ, oúnjẹ, àti bẹ́ẹ̀ bẹ́ẹ̀ lọ) ń gbẹ hánhán láyée ọyẹ́. 

Láyée ọyẹ́ tí ooru á máa bá ẹnu yọ bí a bá ń s'ọ́rọ̀. Òjò ọyẹ́ la mọ òjò t'ó bá rọ̀ lóṣù kankànlá ọdún sí, tí ọyẹ́ á sọ̀kalẹ̀, t'áfẹ́fẹ́ ọyẹ́ yóò máa ya lu teranko t'ènìyàn. 

Lógún ọdún sẹ́yìn, ìyẹn láyée ọyẹ́ ni mò ń ròhìn, láyée ọyẹ́ nígbàtí ọyẹ́ ń mú, láyée ijọ́hun t'ọ́yẹ́ wà. Láyée ọyẹ́, inú á máa dùn pé ọdún ti parí, titun fẹ́ẹ́ bẹ̀rẹ̀. 

Ọyẹ́ wáá dà báyìí o? 

Àbí torí pé igbó Èkó ayée ọyẹ́ ti di ìgboro ni? 

Ní ìgbèríko alára, ọyẹ́ tí à ń wí yìí ò fi bẹ́ẹ̀ sìí,  kò dàbíi ti ayée ìgbà kan. Ọyẹ́ẹ̀ mi ọ̀wọ́n, è é ṣe? È é ti rí? Níbo lo wà a?

Check out www.yobamoodua.org for more on Yorùbá education and information.