Oh my Gods! Deity spotlight: Ogun
- spoiled bean dip
- Jun 2
- 6 min read
Amongst all the Orishas in this series that I've been writing on none have captured my attention and interest more than Ogun himself. Despite how the media portrays them, gods and various deities found across different pantheons are not one dimensional figures who are in charge of a singular aspect or function. As their practitioners would demonstrate they control various elements and fill numerous roles based on the societies that worship them, with a good example being this Orisha. Ogun is not just simply the god or embodiment of war and violence, but also the one who brings liberation and justice when it is absent. Not to mention it was African civilizations who were among the first people to utilized iron and this is apparent with Ogun who is said to be the figure who introduced its usage and production to their ancestors. So today we're going to explore this complex figure and how he can aid the working man, the hustler, and the creator.
Just a disclaimer before we go into this article, I myself (the writer) am not an initiate of any ATR religions (Santeria, Palo myombe, Ifa, etc.) and so therefore I am simply using the information that is present online and in public books written about the practice. These religions are extremely diverse and to summarize how thousands of active practitioners view their deities/ beliefs is a severe understatement in the complexity that is these religions. My intention is not to expose the mysteries of these religions but rather to educate active seekers who are interested in the hopes that they receive the proper indoctrination of these given paths.
Ogun: A deep dive and origins
As I've mentioned before, Ogun is the Orisha of war but he also closely associated with hunting. justice, civilizations, machines, and most importantly- iron. It was from this element that he tamed from its raw form into refined metal that allowed for early humans to populate the earth. There exists an old legend of Ogun descending down towards the earth into a dense patch of wilderness, upon looking around and seeing the people roaming aimlessly in the forest he used his machete to clear open the dense flora to allow for the people to build villages and roads to connect them between their destinations. Though other stories will also recount that this was done to clear out some space for the coming Orisha, regardless of the reason this divine intercession was so profound that many of his worshippers believe he was the first Orisha to arrive on the earth. This is highlighted in his epithet Ogun Osin Imole, which translates to "Ogun, first of the primordial Orishas to come to Earth." Within the pantheon Ogun is most affiliated with Ochosi and Elegua, with the three being known as the Guerreros (warriors). Together Elegua clears and opens paths, Ochosi provides guidance and direction, and Ogun clears the brush to make these paths walkable.
Ogun devotion dates back to thousands of years yet can be fundamentally connected to early iron age cilvalizations in West Africa. The earliest evidence of iron smelting in the region (specifically the Nsukka region of Nigeria) can be dated back between 2,000 BCE and 750 BCE, so it is likely it began here but as of now there is not exact date of when his worship began. Regardless at some point during these early periods his cult became popular and soon widespread in the region, in some folktales he is said to have lived as the first earthly king of Ire where after some of his subjects failed to show him respect he was said to have slayed both them and himself with his sword. Afterwards it was believed that instead of befalling into the dirt of the land that he disappeared into the Earth towards a place known as Ire-Ekiti. Today this place holds a special position in the Yoruba religion and the people of the region view it as the final resting place of Ogun where it also holds the Ogun Onire festival.
In various traditions Ogun may be called different names; in Haitian & Louisiana voodoo he is often referred to as Ogou, in Candomblé he is Ogum, but for this article I am sticking with the Santeria spelling of his name, Ogun. According to the youtube channel 'Yorùbá Lessons with Adérónké' his name comes from the two Yorubic words 'Ò' and 'Gún.' The first word "Ò" simply means "the one who-" whilst the second word "Gún" can mean either two things depending on the context- either it could mean to align, improve, or perfect yet it could also mean to stab, thrust, or pierce. Together it creates a name which translates into something among the lines of "the one who aligns/perfects or stabs/pounds." This name perfectly captures his reactive nature as a warrior who does not hesitate to take action when provoked, and will show no mercy to the opposing side. Not to mention that it also describes the role and duty of a blacksmith or alágbède, one who pounds and refines raw material into an ideal or improved item. Iron is so closely tied to this Orisha that many followers of modern and diasporic African religions will kiss a piece of metal and swear to him when telling the truth.
Some other unique roles Ogun takes on besides being the warrior is also that of the critical thinker among the Orisha. Ogun is stategic and not only thinks about working hard, but also how to make the proper instruments to make the work less toilsome- here we enter his creative side as a maker of tools. Your typical items that are associated with Ogun are going to iron tools, but within the past couple of centuries have now included steel tools as well. These tools stretch across different social classes and are not just limited to items solely created by blacksmiths but to technology as a whole- you will see his worshipers associate him with common tools of the countryside from machetes, axes, hoes, chains, cauldrons, and keys to more modern items like wrenches, screwdrivers, guns, phones, machinery, and all sorts of modern electronics. A special item followers like to give to the Orisha is known as Ogun's Cauldron or Caldero, a sacred iron vessel that holds different tools that embodies his many abilities. The cauldron is meant to function as a type of altar for Ogun- invoking his protection, strength, and blockbusting powers whilst still being a conduit between this realm and that of the Orishas. The amount and types of items that go inside the cauldron varies across different traditions so I'm going to leave a list of typical items usually found inside of them:
Hammer
Pickaxe
Machete
Anvil
Hoe
Rake
Shovel
Bow & arrow
Iron poker
Chains
Less common tools to be added to the cauldron are listed here:
Horseshoe
Ball & chain
Ladder
Railroad spikes
Sickles
Scythe
Knife
Guns
Scissors
Tongs
Crowbar
Saw
Flat iron
Keys
Cannonball
Bellows
Flat iron
Lastly I would like to mention Ogun's role as a protector of the marginalized and those who work with their hands. Working daily to make ends meet is a struggle in itself but when your security (whether it be financially, physically, etc.) becomes uncertain Ogun is here to help make the journey not necessarily easier, but he will provide the right tools and wits to overcome it but only if you are ready to pick them. Ogun does not tolerate stagnation nor procrastination because if something needs to be done he will either start it or end it.
Here is a list of symbols and associations of Ogun and some ways to appease this mighty orisha:
Colors: Green, black, red, and blue in some regions
Numbers: 3, 7
Beasts: Roosters, male goats, oxen, red snakes, dogs, hyenas, crocodiles, and game animals (deer, boar, turkey, etc.)
Plants & herbs: Eucalyptus, tobacco, alfalfa, hawthorn, bloodroot, parsley, motherwort, garlic, frankincense, dragon's blood
Symbols: Machetes, all metal objects, statues of hunters & warriors, blacksmiths, vehicles made of metal, railroads, forges, woods (some would argue he even lives in an otherworldly land with other wild nature spirits)
Offerings: Yams, palm wine, rum, palm oil, pineapple, roasted corn, tobacco, cigars strong black coffee, enforcing justice, honing your skills, engaging in crafts, developing yourself
Sources:
The handbook of Yoruba religious concepts: by Baba Ifa Karade
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