Two sides of the same coin, Elegua and Saint Anthony.
- spoiled bean dip
- May 30
- 5 min read
Although we usually release a monthly blog post about different saints and deities, today we will instead be covering a being who is both separated yet synchronized with the christian saints in branches of African Traditional Religions (ATR). Some people say their convergence was peaceful, others believe it to be forced to avoid religious prosecution, but have nonetheless intertwined the two to fill a similar role; this being in question is Elegua, and later on we'll be exploring his connection with Saint Anthony.
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.
So without a further ado let's explore the trickster himself, Elegua!
Although I have been referring to him as Elegua it should also be known that just as with other deities, he too holds different names and titles depending on the tradition you follow in ATR. In Santeria he is simply referred to as Elegua, in Vodun he is called Papa Legba, and in Yoruba spirituality he alternatively known as Eshu or Eshu-Elegbara. As with his names there also exists multiple images of Elegua, with common depictions either showing him as a young mischievous child or an elderly man. During my reseach I also found an image of him that mirrors the duality of life and death, which also alludes to his role as the one between it all; light and dark, joy and sorrow, above and below, etc. It should also be mentioned that he was one of the first deities to be created, therefore he was also able to witness it all.
To further explore this concept in many ATR paths Elegua is typically regarded as the divine messenger between the orishas (deities) and humans, serving as a meditator of sorts. In Santeria, Elegua is said to have acquired the keys to the past, present, and future by the higher deity known as Olorun,; thus allowing him to travel between the liminal spaces of time and fate. He is also seen as the owner of all roads and paths (caminos), which effectively make him the gatekeeper of all aspects in everyday life. For this reason in many ATR rites Elegua is typically one of the first deities to be invoked during them, so that when he speaks amongst the other orishas he will talk kindly of the practitioners and the offerings they had given during the ceremony.
Another important function of Elegua is his role as a 'divine trickster;' an archetype found across different cultures and religions who processes a high intellect or secret knowledge and often uses this advantage to play tricks and defy social norms. There exist numerous humorous tales of Elegua using his cunningness for his benefit or to test mortals by teaching valuable lessons; with another notable feature of his is being unpredictable in his methods.
One such story used to explain this concept further mentions how there were two friends who had an unbreakable bond, so great was this bond that they didn't see a reason for either of them to honor Elegua. This lack of worship was noticed by the orisha himself so he decided to descend down to meet the two friends while wearing his iconic multicolored hat. When he appeared before the two he stood between them, only allowing each one to view one side of him, and when he asked the two friends what color was his hat they gave two different answers with one saying black and another red. Chaos ensues and then the two friends murder each other, proving that without honoring Elegua even the best of friends can turn on one other. Some practitioners such as Baba Ifa Karade even go as far as to say that:
"Eshu holds a conflictual position among humans and orisha alike, for he is the one who "tries their souls." Eshu tempts, thwarts, and disrupts." - In his book The Handbook of Yoruba Religious Concepts.
Although Elegua may be chaotic in his teachings at some points, he often does it for the benefit for the person in order for them to not only test their devotion towards him but also to help elevate themself from these experiences. He breaks stagnation and challenges our old ways to help us move forward and develop ourselves on a higher level; whether it be on a physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional level. Before we look into Saint Anthony I'll leave small list of different offerings and various associations linked with Elegua so may invite his energy if you seek to work with him.
Colors: Red, black, sometimes white.
Beasts: Roosters, male goats, turtles, mice, monkeys, and possums.
Plants and herbs: Abre Camino, mint, rosemary, coconut, with some books even saying he accepts all fruits and herbs.
Symbols: Keys, laterite stones, elegua/eshu heads (a cement head statue decorated with cowrie shells), an item commonly depicted with him is a "garabato de guayaba" (A guava hooked stick).
Offerings: Candy, cigars, rum, palm oil, roasted corn, yams, popcorn, playing tricks, enforcing justice, and removing what is unneeded within and around yourself.
Finding his holy alter ego: Saint Anthony
In syncretic religions such as Santeria, many orishas have Catholic saint counterparts due to the blending of Yoruba religions with Christianity during the colonial era; with Elegua frequently being associated with Saint Anthony of Padua.
Now this may seem counterintuitive at first, as Saint Anthony is known primarily as a peaceful, miracle-working friar and the patron saint of lost things, while Elegua is a mischievous trickster and powerful gatekeeper; but this pairing is far from random:
Saint Anthony is often portrayed holding a child (the Christ Child), symbolizing care, guidance, and the innocence of new beginnings. Similarly, Elegua is sometimes depicted as a child, representing the start of life and the opening of paths.
Both figures are invoked to find lost things or open up difficult paths. Saint Anthony is petitioned to help find lost items or bring resolution to confusion, while Elegua governs roads, fate, and clarity—especially in complex or conflicting situations.
In iconography and ritual, Elegua’s role as a liminal figure (between the material and spiritual, chaos and order) mirrors Saint Anthony’s ability to mediate between the human and divine realms, especially in matters of divine intervention and miracle-seeking.
And lastly Saint Anthony is sometimes depicted with keys, mirroring Elegua’s symbolic control over the “doors” of destiny.
Conclusion:
Overall we could see a unique blend of these traditions manifesting from these two beings, with both providing the opportunity to aid you in finding your way and opening new paths in your life. But how do you interpret the syncretism between Elegua and Saint Anthony in your own spiritual or cultural context? If you already follow an ATR path then how does this affect rites that include Elegua if they already include catholic elements? And lastly do you see this as a symbolic bridge to preserve ancestral beliefs under colonial pressure, or as a genuine fusion of the two beings?
Alright folks that all we got for this month, we'll see you next time for another possible deity/saint power hour in the near future!
The Handbook of Yoruba Religious concepts by Baba Ifa Karade