Èṣù
Èṣù is one of the Òrìṣà in Ifá Religion. The Christians and the Muslims are trying to blackmail Èṣù by equating him with their own Satan, Devil, Semon, Lusiva and other evil doers in their religions respectively. Èṣù is a very good Òrìṣà like others. The devotees of Èṣù bear names like Èṣùyẹmí, Èṣùkáyọ̀dé, Èṣùbùnmi, Èṣùkóredé, Èṣùyọmí, Èṣùfúnmikẹ́, Èṣùfúnmiládé, Èṣùwẹ̀mímọ́, Èṣùtọ́lá, Èṣùjídé, Èṣùtúndé, Èṣùrìndé, Èṣùfúnmiláyọ̀ and so on. Èṣù festival is celebrated every year. And Èṣù should always be in the house of every Bàbáláwo/Ifá Priest. In those days in Yoruba land, Èṣù was always at the entrance of the cities/towns and at every junction within the community. Besides those places, Èṣù must be at the centre of all the markets and at every important spots in the town including the entrance to the palace of the King. That was done then to ward off or repel evil. Èṣù is eulogized among other praise words as:
Èṣù láàlú
Ògiri òkò
Bákeré ọ̀dádá
Arẹ́yinjú légun lọ
Àyígbìn
Ọba nílé Kétu
Ègbè lẹ́yìn ẹlẹ́bọ
Ènìní lẹ́yìn ẹni ó kọ̀rọ̀ Òdùmàrè
Èṣù má ṣe mi
Ọ̀tá mi ní kí o ṣe.
Èṣù, the honour of the city.
The big and strong stone.
Bákeré, the instigator,
He who possesses eyes that are capable of chasing away bad forces.
Àyígbìn!
King in the city of Kétu
The support behind those who make sacrifice.
The police chasing whoever goes against the injunctions of Olodumare.
Èṣù, please, do not turn against me,
It is my enemy you should turn against.