Shango

Shango
Thunder, lightning, justice, dance, virility
Member of Orisha

Representation of Shango, National Museum of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
Other names Ṣàngó, Changó, Xangô, Jakuta, Siete Rayos
Venerated in Yoruba religion, Dahomey mythology, Vodun, Santería, Candomblé, Haitian Vodou, Louisiana Voodoo, Folk Catholicism
Day fourth day of the week
Color red and white
Region Nigeria, Benin, Latin America
Ethnic group Yoruba people, Fon people

Shango (Yoruba language: Ṣàngó, also known as Changó or Xangô in Latin America; and also known as Jakuta) (from '=shan, 'to strike') is an Orisha. He is syncretized with either Saint Barbara or Saint Jerome. Historically, Shango is a royal ancestor of the Yoruba as he was the third Alafin (king) of the Oyo Kingdom prior to his posthumous deification. Shango has numerous manifestations including Airá, Agodo, Afonja, Aganju, Lubé, and Obomin.[1][2]

Historical figure

Jakuta was the third Alafin of Oyo, following Oranmiyan and Ajaka.[2] Jakuta brought prosperity to the Oyo Empire.[3] According to Professor Mason's Mythological Account of Heroes and Kings, unlike his peaceful brother Ajaka, Jakuta (meaning: someone who fought with stones) was a powerful and violent ruler. He reigned for seven years which were marked by his continuous campaigns and many battles. His reign ended due his inadvertent destruction of his palace by lightning. He had three wives, namely Oshun, Oba, and Oya. The Oyo Empire declined in the 19th century which led to the enslavement of Fulani and Fon people. Among them were many followers of Ṣàngó, and worship of the deity thrived in the New World. Strong devotion to Ṣàngó led to Yoruba religions in Trinidad and Recife, Brazil to be named after the god.[4]

In Yorubaland, Sango is worshiped on the fifth day of the week in which is named Ojo Jakuta. Ritual worship foods include guguru, bitter cola, àmàlà, and gbegiri soup. Also, it is worshiped with Bata drum. One significant thing about this deity is that it is worshiped using red clothing, just as he is said to have admired red attire during his lifetime.[5]

Veneration of Sango

Nigeria

Ṣàngó worshippers in Yorubaland in Nigeria do not eat cowpea because they believe that the wrath of the god of iron would descend on them. The Ṣàngó god necklaces are composed in varying patterns of red and white beads; usually in groupings of four or six which are his "sacred numbers". Ṣàngó is called on during coronation ceremonies in Nigeria to the present day.[6][4]

The Americas

Shango is venerated in Santería and Haitian Vodou as "Chango". In Haïti, he is from the "Nago" Nation, as Ogou. Palo recognizes him as "Siete Rayos".

Candomblé

Shango is known as Xangô in the Candomblé pantheon. Xangô took on strong importance among slaves in Brazil for his qualities of strength, resistance, and aggression. He became the patron orixa of plantations and many Candomblé terreiros. In contrast Oko, the orixá of agriculture, found little favor among slaves in Brazil and has few followers in the Americas. The main bacarrão of Ilê Axé Iyá Nassô Oká, or the terreiro Casa Branca, is dedicated to Xangô.[7][4]

Characteristics:

Amalá, also known as amalá de Xangô, is the ritual dish offered to the orixá. It is a stew made of chopped okra, onion, dried shrimp, and palm oil. Amalá is served on Wednesday at the pegi, or altar, on a large tray, traditionally decorated with 12 upright uncooked okra. Due to ritual prohibitions, the dish may not be offered on a wooden tray or accompanied by bitter kola. Amalá de Xangô may also be prepared with the addition of beef, specifically an ox tail. Amalá de Xangô is different than àmàlà, a dish common to Yoruba areas of Nigeria.[7]

Xangô is depicted with an oxê, also known as the oxê de Xangô. The oxê is a double axe similar to a labrys and originally made of wood.[7]

The song "Mama Loi, Papa Loi" by Bahamian musician Exuma includes the lines "Come on Shango, Satan come to me/Let me speak what I can't see".[9][10]

Shango is also a large theme in the Mighty Sparrow song, "Shango Man".

It is possible that he is the father of Jimmy (Olujime) in Rick Riordan's series Trials of Apollo. The riordan wiki lists him as such, but it is not known for certain.

References

  1. ↑ Adeoye, C. L. (1989). Ìgbàgbọ́ àti ẹ̀sìn Yorùba (in Yoruba). Ibadan: Evans Bros. Nigeria Publishers. pp. 285–302. ISBN 9781675098.
  2. 1 2 Bascom, William Russell (1980). Sixteen Cowries: Yoruba Divination from Africa to the New World. Indiana University Press. p. 44. ISBN 0-253-20847-5.
  3. ↑ Lum, Kenneth Anthony (2000). Praising His Name in the Dance. Routledge. p. 231. ISBN 90-5702-610-4.
  4. 1 2 3 Voeks, Robert (1997). Sacred leaves of Candomblé: African magic, medicine, and religion in Brazil. Austin: University of Texas Press. p. 55. ISBN 9780292787315.
  5. ↑ Johnson, History of the Yorubas, 149-152.
  6. ↑ Onifade, Olasunkanmi Adeoye (2006). ". Perception of Health educator about the effects of food taboos and fallacies on the health of Nigerians." (PDF). Educational Research and Development (JOERD): 44–50. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Lody, Raul (2003). Dicionário de arte sacra & técnicas afro-brasileiras. Rio de Janeiro: Pallas. pp. 38, 195–197. ISBN 9788534701877.
  8. ↑ Magalhães, Elyette Guimarães de (2003). Orixás da Bahia (8a ed.). Salvador, Bahia: Secretaria da Cultura e Turismo. pp. 155–156.
  9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkj1DDKSDUg
  10. ↑ http://www.lyricsfreak.com/e/exuma/mama+loi+papa+loi_21017880.html

Bibliography

Further reading

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