OLUROMBI AND IROKO OLUWERE

A mighty tree in the forest at a certain ancient village in Yorubaland (Ajangbe) where people would go to implore the spirit of the tree for different favours is called IROKO OLUWERE.

The Iroko was kind, granted people their wishes and they must reciprocate with gifts.

In the history of Ajangbe, there were many barren women. They desperately wanted children and decided to ask the Iroko tree for help.

They went to the tree to beg the Iroko spirit for help. The Iroko tree asked each woman who showed up what she would give in return for bearing a child. Woman after woman promised the Iroko tree spirit goats, yams, handwoven cloth or whatever it was she sold for a living as many of these women were traders who sold their wares at a weekly market in an open field.

One of the women who was named Oluronbi also approached the Iroko tree for help.

When Olurombi got to lroko, she pleaded with the tree spirit to give her a child. In her desperate need for a child she pledged to return the child back to the powerful tree if her request was granted. Iroko was pleased with the pledge made by Olurombi because of all the other people that have been coming before her, no one had ever made that kind of vow.

Some months later Olurombi became pregnant and had a baby girl. She was so happy and she named the child Aponbepore meaning “the most beautiful and as red as palm oil”. Aponbepore began to grow up but the mother did not remember to fulfill the vow she made with lroko. 

When lroko had waited for a long time without Olurombi fulfilling her promise, the spirit- tree decided to go to her house and take Aponbepore. On getting to the house, the spirit-tree gripped Aponbeore’s hand and began to drag her away. Olurombi offered the Iroko tree everything and anything else but not her child. The tree spirit would not be swayed and took the child despite Oluronbi’s cries and pleas.

Whether the Oluronbi versus Oluwere story was a myth or a true story is not the issue here.

What I’m concerned about is the import and lessons there from.

Who do we blame here?

Iroko Oluwere or Olurombi?

The woman in her moment of desperation wanted a child at all cost. In order to outdo the other women, she made an outrageous pledge. A vow she would later on find difficult to fulfill.

She got what she wanted but the euphoria was short-lived as the time to keep her part of the bargain came. 

Would one then blame a desperate woman eager to erase the shame and opprobrium that goes with barrenness?

Iroko on his part gave her the desires of her heart. He deserves to redeem the object of the mutual contract between them. Do we blame Oluwere?

In life, in business, in Politics and International Diplomacy, many are faced with the plight of Olurombi. Promises are made in the moment of desperation. When the holly-bolly is over and the time to redeem those pledges comes the problem starts. The beneficiary now finds it difficult to “Pay back” the benefactor. Maybe if Oluronbi had offered sacrifices to the Iroko earlier, Oluwere would have softened up. But that is conjecture.

Maybe if Oluronbi had pledged, like other women, what was affordable she would still have had the child. That is also conjecture.

But the bottom line for me is NEVER,  IN YOUR MOMENT OF DESPERATION, MAKE AN INCREDIBLE PLEDGE YOU WILL FIND DIFFICULT TO REDEEM IN THE FUTURE.

Olurmnbis and Oluweres abound in our society today. In Politics, in Business and in all facets of life.

Campaigns and elections are round the corner. Many aspirants and candidates will be faced with many demands. Like Olurombi they may be tempted to make promises and pledges they will find difficult if not impossible to keep.

NEVER MAKE AN INCREDIBLE PLEDGE YOU WILL FIND DIFFICULT TO REDEEM IN