This is one of the chants with which Candomblé Ketu opens the xirê: the greeting to Exu, the owner of the paths, without whom no word reaches the other Orixás. Listen in the video above and follow the lyrics below.
Exú ajuô mamã kê ôô
odará, laroê
exú, ajuô mamã que ô ô
odará, laroê exú egó
The lyrics and meaning
The spelling above is phonetic as it is sung in the terreiro, and not the formal spelling of Yoruba. Even so, two terms stand out to those who attend the circle:
- Laroyê (laroê) is the traditional greeting to Exu. It is equivalent to a "hail!", a call of respect to the messenger before any ritual work.
- Odara (odará) means "good", "beautiful", "that which is well-done". It is also one of the names/qualities of Exu Exu Odara, who does things well.
In the set, the chant is a praise that asks for the presence and good will of Exu so that he opens the paths of the party. Therefore, it comes at the beginning, at the moment called padê, when Exu is given his ritual offering so that everything flows.
Who is Exu, the owner of the paths
Exu is the first Orixá created by Olodumare and the only one who moves freely between the Orum (spiritual world) and the Aiê (material world). He is the messenger: he takes the requests of humans to the Orixás and brings back the answers. Without him, communication between the two worlds simply does not happen, which is why he is always the first to be greeted.
- Greeting: Laroyê Exu!
- Domain: communication, paths, passages, the beginning of all ritual work
- Colors: black and red
- Day: Monday
Exu is dynamic, astute, and playful, the lord of movement and of crossroads, where all choices cross. His children tend to be communicative, clever, and good at finding exits where others only see dead ends.
When this chant is sung
In Ketu Candomblé, every ceremony begins with Exu. Before calling any other Orixá, the community greets Exu and makes a ritual offering to him with chants like this, so that he guards the door and carries forward the axé of the festival. Singing to Exu first is recognizing that no path opens without his consent.
Frequently asked questions
What does "Laroyê" mean?
"Laroyê" is the ritual greeting to Exu in Afro-Brazilian religions. It works as a "Hail!" of respect to the Orixá of communication, used to call him and revere him.
Why is Exu always the first to be sung?
Because Exu is the messenger between the material and the spiritual world. Without him, the requests do not reach the other Orixás. Greeting him first ensures that the communication and the party happen.
Is Exu the devil?
No. This is a confusion created by syncretism and religious prejudice. Exu is the Orixá of paths and communication, a force of nature linked to movement and choices, nothing to do with the Christian figure of the devil.
