A chant from the xirê of Ossain, owner of the secret of the leaves. Listen in the video above and follow the lyrics.
Abebe ni bo wa
Abebe ni bo
E abebe
Ata koro oju ewe
Ata koro oju obo gun
Peregun a laso titun o
Baba peregun a lawa mere
Monja ewe pe moso arawo
Sawo orepepe
Ope li ope Sango
The lyrics and meaning
The spelling is phonetic. Central words of Ossain appear: ewé (leaf), peregun (the dracena, symbol plant of the Orixá) and ata (the pepper). Peregun a laso titun praises the plant that wears new clothes, always green. It is a chant to the power of the leaves, without which no Orixá manifests.
Who is Ossain
Ossain (Ossanyin) is the Orixá of the leaves and sacred herbs, owner of the secret of the plants and the axé that makes all healing and all ritual work function. Without the leaves of Ossain, no Orixá manifests: that is why it is said ‘Kò sí ewé, kò sí Òrìsà’ without leaf, there is no Orixá. His greeting is Ewé ó! (Hail the leaves!).
When this chant is sung
The chants of Ossain enter the xirê and praise the power of the leaves. As he is the lord of the axé of the plants, his presence crosses all the worship.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Orixá Ossain?
Ossain is the Orixá of the leaves and sacred herbs, owner of the knowledge of the plants and the axé that makes all healing and all ritual work possible. His greeting is ‘Ewé ó!’.
What does ‘Kò sí ewé, kò sí Òrìsà’ mean?
It is a Yoruba saying that means ‘without leaf, there is no Orixá’. It summarizes the power of Ossain: without the herbs he rules, no ritual or manifestation of the Orixás happens.
