HAVE YOU HEARD THE BEAUTIFUL STORY OF ORUNMILA THE TEACHER, AND OPELE, THE TREACHEROUS STUDENT?
The best teachers are those who tell you where to look – but don’t tell you what to see.”
– Alexandra K.Trenfor
Once upon a time, Orunmila,a sage and divine god of the Yoruba race had a bosom partner/friend named Opele whom he loves and adore so much.
Because of the love he had for Opele, he taught him all the chants and panegyrics of the Yoruba divine world.
He rendered almost everything he gets divinely from Olodumare to Opele to show his love and affection for him.
Opele, typical of a prodigal son started seeking ways to outsmart his sage partner, Orunmila.
He visited the three prominent kings then in Yoruba land namely Alara, Ajero and Owarangun-aga and asked them why they always seek for Orunmiyan’s counsel whenever they have problems in their kingdom.
In disbelief, the Kings replied that they did that because Orunmila was a sage whom the gods have sent to help them solve their problems. Opele retorted, “what is it that he does that I can’t do?”
One day, Orunmila and Opele were summoned by the three kings to proffer a solution to their problems.
Orunmila typically rendered panegyrics and told his partner,Opele to interpret to the three wise kings.
In his bid to scheme his way into the three powerful kings hearts, he started a long journey of sooth saying and IFA interpretation.
In all honesty, Opele started the interpretation well and everyone seated loved it.
However, things took a different turn when he didn’t stop. In fact, Opele continued to display his knowledge of IFA and interpreted for 24 hours straight!
Despite his mastery of IFA, the wise kings didn't understand a thing Opele chanted for a day.
All these while, Orunmila was signalling Opele to stop but he didn't answer.
When the Kings complained to Orunmila that time is far spent and it seems there’s no solutions to their problem yet, opele had to take a breather.
Later, Orunmila used little time to chant and interprete his own IFA and asked the wise kings if he has provided answers to their problems, which they nodded in agreement.
The kings later called Orunmila privately and told him how Opele wanted to betray him to them earlier.
It destabilize Orunmila a lot because he loved Opele with everything he had.
Like how a hero would do, Orunmila confronted Opele and asked him why he did what he did.
Opele in his defense said he had an agreement with Orunmila that he would teach him everything he knows as friends.
Also, he opened up that the reason why he agreed to learn under Orunmila was because he wanted to know what he was doing differently that is not bringing more fame like Orunmila gets.
Orunmila disappointedly told Opele that "no matter how good or effective a farmer is, he would always leave out a leaf" (means no matter how great and good you are, you shouldn't teach everything to your student or follower. The rest is what you will use to standout).
A fight then ensued between Orunmila and Opele. Orunmila got too angry and cursed Opele in a bad way.
Before then, he turned Opele into sixteen different beads, took out eight in his hands and put the other eight in his sack.
He started using the beads of Opele to consult IFA and offer solutions to different problems.
However, the legend of the curse stated that Orunmila said Opele will continue to work for him, get adulation and money for him BUT will never share from it.
Till date, progenitors and scholars of IFA and Orunmila make use of beads known as Opele to interpret IFA, get accolade but never share these benefits with the Opele bead.
There are a lot of lessons to learn from this short story. I will leave you to take out yours.
It's not bad to seek for knowledge but never try to outmanoeuvre your master. If you must, seek his blessings.
As a teacher, no matter how much you love your disciple, don't open up fully. The little information you hold is what will always stand you out.
