Why you have to pray to Oluó Popó / El porque de rogarle a Oluó Popó

Porque hay que rogarle a San Lázaro cuando se va a trasladar de un lugar a otro.

Patakin

San Lázaro viva en la tierra Lucumi, pero la gente lo detestaba por la pestilencia de sus llagas y por el temor al contagio, y por ese motivo lo botaron de esa tierra. Cuando Oluó Popó iba por el camino se encontró con su hermano pequeño Shangó; quién lo saludó y le preguntó que cosa le sucedía, pues lo veía muy serio y preocupado; Oluó Popó le contó lo que la gente de su tierra le había hecho y Shangó entonces le dijo: “mira yo acabo de ganar una guerra y tengo un lugar para que reines y ese lugar es la tierra arará, que es una tierra pequeña y está dividida por un río de la tierra Lucumí.”

Oluó Popó aceptó y fueron para allá. Cuando llegaron Shangó le dijo a la gente: este hombre es quien los va a gobernar, quiéranlo mucho. Shangó antes de marcharse de allí le dijo a Oluó Popó, “esa gente que te botó, te van a necesitar, pero antes de ir hazte de rogar bastante.” Tiempo después se desató una gran epidemia en la tierra Lucumí y se estaba muriendo mucha gente y como no sabían que cosa hacer, estaban desesperados; pero en eso pasó Shangó y les dijo, “el único que los puede salvar es ese hombre leproso que ustedes botaron, tienen que buscarlo.” Enseguida fueron a la tierra Arará y le pidieron a Oluó Popó que los salvara, pero este se negó. Entonces todos se arrodillaron y empezaron a dar palmadas en el suelo rogándole a Oluó Popó que los salvara y le decían que no se levantarían de allí hasta que no los perdonara y fuera con ellos. Después de muchos ruegos y suplicas Oluó Popó se decidió a ir y curo a todos los enfermos; y así fue como Oluó Popó salvo de la epidemia a su tierra.

Why you have to pray (sing) to San Lázaro when you are going to move him from one place to another.

Patakin

San Lázaro lives in the Lucumí country but the people detested him because of the pestilence of his body sores and because of their fear of contagion they kicked him out of their territory. When Oluó Popó went on the road he met his younger brother Shangó, who greeted him and asked him what had happened, because Shangó saw him very grave and worried. Oluó Popó related what the people of his country had done to him and Shangó replied, “look, a just won a war and I have a place where you can reign and this place is the Arará country. It’s a small territory and it’s separated from the Lucumí country by a river.

Oluó Popó accepted and went on his way there. When he arrived Shangó told the people, “this man is going to govern you. You must love him.” Before leaving, Shangó told Oluó Popó, “the people who kicked you out are going to need you, but before going back there make sure you pray well. A while later a great epidemic spread through the Lucumí country and many people were dying, and as they didn’t know what to do they were desperate. While they were in this state Shangó passed through and told them, “the only one who can save you is that leper who you threw out. You have to call him back.” Immediately they went to the Arará country and begged Oluó Popó to save them, but he denied their pleas. Therefore they got on their knees and began to pound the ground with their palms, praying to Oluó Popó that he save them, and that they would not get up until he forgave them and went with them. After so much supplication and prayer Oluó Popó decided to go and cure all of the sick; and thusly it was that Oluó saved them from the epidemic in their country.