A chant from the xirê of Exu, with a translation transcribed by the community. Listen to the video above and follow the lyrics.
Egba rà bó ago mojuba rà
Egba Kose
E mó dé ko e ko
Lè gbálè èsù loná
Elégbára Rewá
Àwa se àwo
Iná iná e mojúbà e
Agô mojúbà
Esú Lò bi wa
So so Obé
Odara kolobi ebó
Laaròyé
The lyrics and meaning
The spelling is phonetic and the transcription included the translation: permission is requested to praise him (ago mojuba); Elégbára Rewá is greeted (Elegbara is beautiful); the fire of the candles (iná) serves to greet him; Èsù lò bi wa (Exu, come to us); Odara (he is just and teaches us to be reborn in the ebó). It ends with Laaróyé, the request for understanding.
Who is Exu
Exu is the orixá (orisha) of communication, of paths and of passages, the messenger between the material and the spiritual world. Therefore, he is always the first to be greeted in any ceremony. Greeting: Laroyê Exu! See the complete profile of Exu.
When this chant is sung
In Ketu Candomblé, every festival begins with Exu: before calling the other Orixás, the community greets him and sends him off with a ritual offering (despacho) so that he guards the door and carries forward the axé.
Frequently asked questions
Is Exu the devil?
No. It is a confusion created by syncretism and by prejudice. Exu is the orixá of paths and communication, a force linked to movement and choices, nothing to do with the Christian figure of the devil.
