Yoruba story of the defeat of death

We have in this verse from Oyeku Meji, an instance where one of the divinities Eshu, was asked to come to the aid of Olomo, an Ifa priest, when Ajogun were coming to kill him. Eshu put yam-flour in the mouths of the Ajogun, making their mouths sour and locking up their jaws. This is to serve as one example of a divinity or good supernatural power going to war against the Ajogun for a human being:

Atata-tain-tain

Ifa divination was performed for Olomo,

The tall and hefty one.

All Ajogun were moving around Olomo.

They wanted to kill him.

He was asked to perform sacrifice,

and he performed it.

One day,

Death, Disease and Loss stood up,

And set out to carry war to the house of Olomo.

They found Eshu outside the house

As they were trying to enter the house of Olomo.

Eshu repeatedly put yam-flour in their mouths,

Some of them died,

And some fell ill,

But none could enter Olomo's house

When Olomo became happy,

He started to sing the song of the Ifa priests,

He said 'Atata-tain-tain'

Ifa divination was performed for Olomo,

The tall and hefty one.

Death who wanted to kill Ifa priest,

Can no longer kill him.

Death has moved away from the head of the Ifa priest.

Death does not eat yam-flour.

If Death attempts to eat yam-flour,

His mouth becomes stiff,

His jaws are locked up.

Disease who wants to afflict Ifa priest

Can no longer afflict him.

Death does not eat yam-flour,

His mouth becomes stiff,

His jaws are locked up.

All Ajogun who wanted to attack Ifa priest

Can no longer attack him.

Death does not eat yam-flour,

His mouth becomes stiff,

His jaws become locked.

Taken from: The Yoruba World of Good and Evil, Conrad E. Mauge Ph.D