About the Best Dress
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The Iyawo must know that his/her Best Dress is the clothing the newly initiated wears during the introduction to the Bata drum on the Middle Day ceremony and on the Ituto Day (when he/she passes away). This special dress must be kept in a safe place and the Iyawo must not see it again for any reason. In some Osha families this cloth remains at the godfather’s house. But this is not compulsory since both the godfather and the godchild may live in different countries.
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The best dress is worn three times in life: during the Middle Day; during the introduction to the Bata Drum performance if the family branch keeps this tradition and when the priest ceases to exist(on the Ituto Day).
About the Day of Itá
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The Oba priest; the Afeisita; Babalosha and Iyalosha participating in the consecration ceremonies, close relatives and the Iyawo must stay in the Igbodun. In some cases, some Babalawo and Oluo are requested during the Osha Ita according to the prophecies of the entrance consultation and the Entrance Ebbo.
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The Ita notebook is written by the Afeisita who witnesses and testifies that the document is faithful to the Oba’s conversation and interpretation of the oracle. This special notebook must be kept and preserved for life because it is a life guidance and is used during the Ituto ceremonies. No one is allowed to change the Oba’s pronouncements as they are the result of interpreting the letters and signs of the oracle. The Iyawo receives the original Ita notebook and the godfather keeps a copy.
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The godfather/godmother should know that the Afeisita priest oversees, inspects and controls what the Oba does on the wicker mat. This priest must be alert on each cast of the Dilogun and the resulting letters; on the requested hands, on the Oba’s talk and is responsible for writing down the interpretation of the letters and, at the same time, can include some notes of his own analysis of each cast. Such analysis must be strictly associated to the letters through which each the Osha spoke. For this reason, the Afeisita must be an Olosha who really masters the Dilogun oracle. This priest must also be a respected person chosen by the godfather for his knowledge and wisdom.
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The Iyawo must know that only his/her godfather; the Oyugbona and, in some cases, the Awofakan/Ikofafun ni Orunmila godfather can have access to the Ita Notebook. It is plain to see that this document must be kept away from outsiders even if they are priests, too.
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The godfather/godmother must keep either the original or the copy of the Itá notebook of each godchild.
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The Iyawó must have the Ita Notebook of his Initiation; the Dilogun and the Ota representing his/her Osha after the seven days in the Igbodun throne. However, there are some Ile Osha where the Iyawo receives the Ita Notebook, the Dilogun shells and the Ota after Ebbo Oshumeta or even after the first year. They also introduce more requirements. That is why it is very important that the godfather and the Iyawo should come to an agreement on this matter.
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The Iyawo must study and learn by heart the whole contents of his/her Ita notebook and should interpret it together with his/her godfather/godmother who is an experienced priest or priestess.
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The Iyawo has to obey and observe the advices contained in the Ita Notebook to be able to start a new life and reach balance and harmony in his/her existence on this earth.
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Any negligence committed by the Iyawo in relation to his/her fulfilment of the Osha Ifa Rules for Santeros and his/her Ita predictions are not only his/her responsibility but that of the godfather/godmother as well, for accepting a careless person as a godchild. It must be taken into account that the godfather godmother is always connected to the morality and ethics of his her godchildren.
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The Iyawo must know that all Yoko Osha ceremonies and the Ita Notebook are religious secrets that he/she should not let others know.
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If during Yoko Osha the shell cast form three pairs of equal signs (or letters) as in the case of Iroso tonti Iroso; Ojuani tonti Ojuani or Odi tonti Odi which are wrongly named Meyi, it is necessary to ask the Guiding Osha whether the Iyawo must be initiated in Ifa or not.
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If during the Day of Ita the Guiding Osha talks to the Iyawo through Odi tonti Eyeunle (7 8), the Iyawo should call drum players to give a Bata drumming to his/her Guiding Osha. This must be done as soon as possible to finish the Wicker Mat Ebbo.
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If on the Day of Ita, the godfather’s Guiding Osha talks to the Iyawo through Odi tonti Eyeunle, then the Iyawo must give a Bata drum playing section to his/her godfather’s Guiding Osha to be able to finish the Ebbo of the Wicker Mat.
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If on the Day of Ita, any other Osha or Orisha talks to the Iyawo through Odi tonti Eyeunle (7 8), then the Iyawo must be presented to the Bata Drum during a drum performance given to that Osha or Orisha to finish the Ebbo of the Wicker Mat.
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If on the Day of Ita none of the Osha or Orisha talks to the Iyawo through Odi tonti Odi (7 8) then the Iyawo must give a Bata performance to his/her godfather’s Guiding Osha. That is also the best religious moment to present the Iyawo to the Bata Drum. After this, the Iyawo must do the same to the Oyugbona and finally to his/her own Guiding Osha.
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If the godfather and the Iyawo have the same Guiding Osha and if on the Day of Ita this Orisha or Osha talks to the Iyawo through Odi tonti Eyeunle (7 8) then the Oba must ask whose Guiding Osha must be praised first with a Bata performance. This step is essential to finish the Ebbo of the Wicker Mat.
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In case that Odi tonti Eyeunle (7 8) does not talk to the Iyawo in the Ita ceremony; then the most sacred religious moments to play the Bata drums and introduce the Iyawó to the drums are: on the seventh day when the Bata Drum performance is given to the godfather’s Guiding Osha; during the Oshumeta Ebbo when the drums are played for the Oyugbona’s Guiding Osha and the Yoko Osha First Year celebration when the drums are played for the Iyawo’s Guiding Osha.
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The Iyawo must make an effort to be introduced to the Bata Drums right after the Day of Ita or on the seventh day. If that is not the case, then the Iyawo must wear his/her Best Dress for the occasion when he/she is introduced to the sacred drums if this is customary in his/her Osha Ifa family branch.