Ogun orisha: Powerful deity of iron, war who clears path for people with force

The ancestral gods of the Yoruba culture are very highly revered both within Africa and in the diaspora. The orisha pantheon establishes the number of gods dispatched by Olodumare (God), their powers and their purposes. The Ogun Orisha is one of the most popular and prominent of these deities.

Today, there are still thousands of worshipers of Ogun Orisha who still perform their celebratory occasions from time to time. The worship of Ogun Orisha is also practised in several countries across the world. Asides from Nigeria, there are adherents of this deity in Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago and the Benin Republic.

So, why is Ogun Orisha highly revered and always called the “god of iron” and “god of war”?

Table of Content hide 1Who is Ogun orisha? 2Origin of Ogun orisha 3Ogun as the ‘god of iron’ 4Ogun orisha characteristics 5Ogun orisha colours 6Ogun orisha’s wife 7Ogun orisha’s offerings 8Ogun orisha number

Who is Ogun orisha?

Ogun orisha is the “god of iron,” “hunting,” “war” and “rum,” according to the orisha pantheon of the Yoruba people. Yoruba mythology attributes the invention of modern technology to Ogun orisha, a warrior god and the ancestor of all blacksmiths. He is the orisha associated with using a machete to clear a path and assist people in getting over challenges.

According to legend, he was the very first blacksmith. Ogun orisha discovered the foundry, created every metal tool that is used today and is regarded as a highly skilled warrior with intelligence when it comes to creating new tools out of iron. The Yoruba consider the god Ogun to be one of the most significant orishas.

In the ancestral Yoruba justice system, believers promise to tell the truth by kissing a machete or iron (metal) in the name of Ogun as he presides over bargains and contracts. The Yoruba believe that if someone breaks a deal established in Ogun’s name, rapid punishment will ensue, as they view him as terrifying and dreadful in his retaliation.

Hunters, blacksmiths, warriors and everyone who works with metal offer praises or sacrifices to Ogun for blessings and favour, before and after they begin their professional tasks. There are several worshippers of Ogun in other countries of the world, asides from Nigeria. In these countries, practices and methods of offerings may vary, but they all recognize and follow the teachings of Ogun in general

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Origin of Ogun orisha

Ogun was regarded as a strong warrior who took part in numerous encounters against adversaries who hunted his people and his father, according to Yoruba Pataki (traditional teachings or fables). Legend states that when he descended from heaven to take possession of the world, he used his iron implements and the aid of a dog to clear the dense, impenetrable path for other divinities. He was a vicious god and lived alone at the top of the hill where he went about his hunting. He chose to pursue the established life he had earlier spurned since he was tired of living alone. 

He is said to have descended from the mountaintop wearing clothing made of fire and blood, yet he was unable to settle in any settlement. To travel to the land of Ire, where he was crowned king, he took fronds off a palm tree. As a result, he was given the moniker Ogun Onire, which means “Ogun, the Lord of Ire”.

According to myth; one day when Ogun returned to Ire after a gruelling fight, he was shocked to see that no one had greeted him. Instead, they were all assembled in Ajo Oriji, an assembly where greetings were not permitted. He then reached out with his machete and touched the barrels of palm wine in the middle of the gathering, but they were empty. After being offended, he became extremely furious and attacked his subjects.

Subsequently dismayed by the catastrophic results of his actions, he buried his sword in the ground, sat on it, and vanished, vowing to always respond to his people’s cries whenever they seek his help. Although some other narratives state that after Ogun wiped off his subjects, he used the same sword in killing himself. However, according to the pantheon of the orisha, gods are immortal and rather than die, they disappear.

Ogun as the ‘god of iron’

In another narrative as to how Ogun emerged as the orisha of iron, it is said that in an era unknown to man, the gods (orishas) and humans once coexisted in a land established by Obatala, according to Yoruba Patakí. Together, the orishas and humans cleared the land of trees and weeds and levelled the terrain so that they could cultivate the soil while they cohabit.

But as the population grew, they ran into a dilemma because they required additional land for them to live on and construct homes on. The tools used by the gods in their attempts to grow were ineffective since they were fashioned of soft metal, stone or wood. The orishas gathered and resolved to clear the area one by one, using their respective implements.

Olokun was the only god who disagreed, claiming that she had nothing to do with the land as she was a sea goddess. The god of medicine, Osanyin Orisha, decided to first clear the area. However, because his knife was constructed of brittle metal, it bent. Others such as Eshu and Oko followed suit but were also unsuccessful. After witnessing the orishas’ failure, Ogun reached for his machete, made of durable iron, and started to clean the land and fields by himself. When he returned, he held out his unharmed knife. He refused to divulge the iron secret to the other orishas.

In exchange for his secret, the orishas promised to make him their ruler; he accepted and gave them the secret of his unbreakable metal. However, one day, he was banished because he appeared filthy, muddy, and draped in blood. Even though the orishas rejected him,  humans have continued to remember and honour him as the “god of iron” to this day.

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Ogun orisha characteristics

One of the main characters of Ogun in Nigeria is the double-edged sword, with which he fights all of his battles and creates the passageways between the spiritual and material realms.  All types of iron implements, including chains, spoons, nails, horse bridles, picks, shovels, metal masses, and all kinds of weaponry are considered qualities of Ogun Orisha.

Red rooster feathers, which stand in for their authority, along with a sledgehammer, a line rail, and a foundry furnace, are placed atop shrines of Ogun orisha In Yoruba land. These weapons are also filled with sexual symbolism because they stand for his enormous virility, power and masculinity.

There are certain things Ogun orisha is said to despise and his worshipers are expected not to indulge in such practices. They include:  

• He is not given black butter and does not consume female animals
• The olorishas must not bow down to him unless they are his offspring at ceremonies or when receiving coconuts
• People shouldn’t make promises to Ogun and then break them because this could lead to serious consequences
• His worshipers can’t be liars because dad doesn’t tolerate lying.  Ogun does not betray, always obeys, and does not desert his followers, thus he does not pardon people who violate oaths, especially if they are performed in his name or his sight
• When offering kolá, it should be tossed with one hand at face height

Ogun orisha colours

Ogun’s distinctive colours are red, green and black.

A sackcloth is what the deity is represented with regarding his clothing. He was also known to wear a belt called a Mariwo, made of strips of dried palm leaves hanging around his waist.

Ogun orisha’s wife

Ogun was married to Ọya, the orisha of winds, lightning and violent storms. They were married against Oya’s wishes, but Ogun was truly in love with her. However, she was in love with Sango, who wanted to engage in conflict with Ogun to enable him to take her as his wife. Obatala believed that if they got married, Ogun’s desire for war would lessen.

Since when Ọya reached adulthood, Ogun has desired her, but she has always been drawn to Sango because she believes he possesses all the attributes she seeks in a partner. Ogun’s love for wine caused Ọya to suffer while they were married. He spent his days drunk in a stupor. Ọya was unaware of Sango’s plans for her, which included using her as a pawn to subjugate her husband, Ogun.

Ogun orisha’s offerings 

In Ondo State, it is widely believed that Ogun enjoys eating dogs as meat. Male dogs are typically cruelly burned to death during the Ogun festival. The Ondo people do not in any way consider dogs to be pets like people. Although Ondo people rarely eat dog meat, they frequently sacrifice dogs to please Ogun. The blood spills into the shrine after the dogs are sacrificed

Catfish, alligator pepper, kola nuts, palm wine, red palm oil, little rodents, roosters, salt, snails, tortoises, water, and yams are additional significant sacrifices to Ogun.

Ogun orisha number

The sum of Ogun orisha’s numbers is 7 and its multiples. The numbers 2 and 3 are often used to identify them. The number seven has long held great significance in ancient spirituality and is associated with wisdom, perfection, and the proportions, shapes, and dimensions of natural objects. Ogun has a strong link with all of these components.

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