Oggun

Ogun or Ogoun ( Yoruba: Ògún, Edo: Ògún, Portuguese: Ogum, Gu; also spelled Oggun or Ogou; known as Ogún or Ogum in Latin America) is a Yoruba Orisha that is adopted in several African religions. Ògún is a warrior and a powerful spirit of metal work, as well as of rum and rum-making. He is also known as the "god of iron" and is present in Yoruba religion, Santería, Haitian Vodou, West African Vodun, Candomblé, Umbanda and the folk religion of the Gbe people.
He attempted to seize the throne after the demise of Ọbàtálá, who reigned twice, before and after Oduduwa, but was ousted by Obalufon Ogbogbodirin and sent on an exile – an event that serves as the core of the Ọlọ́jọ́ Festival.

Yoruba religion

In Yoruba religion, Ogun is a primordial orisha in Yoruba Land. In some traditions, he is said to have cleared a path for the other orisha to enter Earth, using a metal axe and with the assistance of a dog. To commemorate this, one of his praise names, or ''oriki'', is ''Osin Imole'' or the "first of the primordial Orisha to come to Earth". He is the god of war and metals.

In his earthly life Ogun is said to be the first king of Ife. When some of his subjects failed to show respect, Ogun killed them and ultimately himself with his own sword. He disappeared into the earth at a place called Ire-Ekiti, with the promise to help those who call on his name. His followers believe him to have ''wo ile sun'', to have disappeared into the earth's surface instead of dying. Throughout his earthly life, he is thought to have fought for the people of Ire, thus is known also as Onire.

He is now celebrated in Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, and Ondo States.

Followers

Ogun is the traditional deity of warriors, hunters, blacksmiths, technologists, and drivers in the Yoruba region. Followers of traditional Yoruba religion can swear to tell the truth in court by "kissing a piece of iron in the name of Ogun." Drivers carry an amulet of Ogun to ward off traffic accidents.

Symbols

The primary symbols of Ogun are iron, the dog, and the palm frond. They symbolize Ogun's role in transformation, mediation, and function. Iron is the primary emblem of Ogun. Ogun altars and ceremonies display and use iron objects both in Yoruba areas and across the African diaspora. Followers of Ogun wear chains of iron implements; Ogun festivals feature the display of knives, guns, blacksmith implements, scissors, wrenches, and other iron implements from daily life.

Sacrifice

Meats are sacrifices for Ogun. Dogs are the traditional companions of hunters, but Ogun's personality is also seen as "doglike": aggressive, able to face danger, and straightforward. Other sacrificial animals associated with Ogun are the spitting cobra (blacksnake); its behavior is aggressive and fearless. Hunters and blacksmiths avoid eating or witnessing the mating of blacksnakes. Other important sacrificial offerings to Ogun are the '' Clarias submarginatus'' (a species of catfish), alligator pepper, kola nuts, palm wine and red palm oil, small rats, roosters, salt, snails, tortoise, water, and yams. Many of these sacrificial offerings were carried into New World traditions.

Oríkì is a Yoruba cultural phenomenon that comes in the form of praise poetry, praising either a person, òrìṣà (deity), or town based on their achievements. Ogun worshippers are known to sing Ogun's oríkì and this specific part insinuates that Ògún is in seven paths.

*Ògún méje logun mi,
*Ògún alára ni n gb’aja,
*Ògún onire a gb’àgbò,
*Ògún Ikọla a gb'agbín,
*Ògún gbengbena oje ìgí nìí mu,
*Ògún ila a gb’esun iṣu,
*Ògún akirin a gb’awo agbo,
*Ògún elémono ẹran ahùn ni jẹ,
*mákindé ti dogun lẹyin odi,
*Bi o ba gba Tapa a gb’Aboki,
*A gba Ukuuku a gba Kèmbèrí.

Translation:

*My Ògún manifest in seven different ways
*Ogun of the town of Ilara accepts a dog atonement
*Ogun of the town of Ire accepts a ram atonement
*Ogun of the town of Ikole accepts a snail atonement
*Ogun of woodcarvers drinks tree sap for atonement
*Ogun of the town of Ila accept roasted yam atonement
*Ogun of the Akirin people accepts ram for atonement
*Ogun of the Elemono people eats tortoise meat for atonement
*The brave that wages foreign wars
*He will consume either Nupe, or Hausa
*He consumes foreign people, He will consume the Kanuri too.

Dahomey religion

In Dahomey religion, Gu is the vodun of war and patron deity of smiths and craftsmen. He was sent to earth to make it a suitable place for men to live happily, and he has not yet finished this task.

Ewe religion

In Ewe religion, Gu, also pronounced Egu, is the god of war and craftsmen especially blacksmiths.

Worshippers of Gu are not supposed to keep dogs as pets. Menstruating women are forbidden to touch the tools of the blacksmith. Adherents periodically make offerings of palm nuts, food and pour libations to Gu. Metal objects are also often purchased for offering in shrines dedicated to Gu.

Candomblé

Ogun is known in the Afro-Brazilian tradition of Candomblé as ''Ogum'' (Ketu, Ijexa and Efon nations) or ''Gu'' ( Jeje nation). Ogum is syncretized with Saint George, notably in Rio de Janeiro and the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Candomblé tradition in Northeast Brazil, especially in Bahia, associates Ogum with Saint Sebastian or Saint Anthony.

Characteristics

*Consecrated day: Wednesday
*Metal: iron
*Element: earth
*Color: red, black, green (Rio de Janeiro), blue (Bahia), marine blue
*Food: feijoada