Yoruba God

Ṣhango

Figure of Shango on Horseback by Toibo of Erin (1920s-1930s).

A carved votive figure of Shango on horseback, by Toibo of Erin (1920s-1930s).

Brooklyn MuseumCC BY 3.0

Overview

Shango is a popular yet malevolent oriṣa (god) of the Yoruba pantheon.[1] He is closely associated with nature and has power over natural elements. Shango’s servants include the wind, Afefe, and the rainbow, Oshumare, while his three wives are the river goddesses Obba, Osun, and Oya.[2] It is believed that Shango was originally the fourth king of Oyo, later ascending to heaven on a golden chain.[3]

Shango is the Yoruba god of thunder, lightning, fire, virility, dance, and justice. He is also regarded as the patron god of twins, or Ibeji, who are sometimes referred to as “thunder children.”[4] As the god of thunder, he is often portrayed with an oshe (battle-ax), the symbol of the thunderbolt. The oshe also represents the god’s prowess in battle.

In addition to his other roles, Shango is also the god of dance; during religious ceremonies, his priests hold an oshe while beating a bata drum. This instrument is another sacred symbol of the god, as Shango is said to play the drums in order to summon thunder.

According to legend, Shango creates lightning and thunder by hurling “thunderstones” at the earth. His priests rush to where the lightning has struck to look for these stones, as they are thought to possess magical properties.[5]

Pronunciation

  • English
    Yoruba
    ShangoṢàngó
  • Phonetic
    IPA
    sha-gohʃã̀.ɡó

Shango as King of Oyo

Ose Sango or Sango Dance Staff by Workshop of Abogunde of Ede (c. late 19th century).

This Ose Sango or Sango Dance Staff is an example of what Shango's worshippers would use in ceremonies, by Workshop of Abogunde of Ede (c. late 19th century).

Art Institute of ChicagoCC0

According to myth, Shango was once a tyrannical king of Oyo. He possessed a powerful talisman, which he used to call down lightning. One day, Shango climbed a hill to test his new charm and successfully summoned lightning from the skies. But he unknowingly destroyed his own palace with the lightning, killing his wives and children. Grief-stricken, Shango hanged himself from an ayan tree.[6]

Another myth states that King Shango was able to summon fire and smoke from his mouth, which he used to vanquish his enemies. This ability terrified his own subjects.[7] Fearing Shango was too powerful, two of his advisors, Timi and Gbonka, plotted against him. In response, Ṣango set them up to fight one another, hoping they would kill each other.

Gbonka survived the battle, so Shango threw him into a fire, but he once again emerged unharmed. Gbonka then ordered Shango to leave Oyo. Shango acquiesced at last, abdicating his throne and exiling himself. Upon learning that his own family had conspired against him, Shango hanged himself from an ayan tree.

Later, during a storm in Oyo, Shango’s voice boomed from the sky. He declared that he had not died but had instead returned to his place among the oriṣas.[8]

References

Notes

  1. Jonathan Olumide Lucas, The Religion of the Yorubas: Being an Account of the Religious Beliefs and Practices of the Yoruba Peoples of Southern Nigeria, Especially in Relation to the Religion of Ancient Egypt (Lagos: C.M.S. Bookshop, 1948), 114. 

  2. Obba was goddess of the Obba River, Ọṣun was goddess of the Ọṣun River, and Oya was goddess of the Niger River. See Patricia Ann Lynch and Jeremy Roberts, African Mythology, A to Z (New York: Infobase, 2010), 89.

  3. Jan Knappert, African Mythology: An Encyclopedia of Myth and Legend (London: Diamond Books, 1995), 216.

  4. Lynch and Roberts, African Mythology, A to Z, 49.

  5. Lynch and Roberts, African Mythology, A to Z, 99.

  6. Because of this myth, Yoruba battle-axes are carved from ayan wood. See Lynch and Roberts, African Mythology, A to Z, 99.

  7. J. Ọmọṣade Awolalu, Yorùbá Beliefs and Sacrificial Rites (London: Longman, 1996), 33.

  8. Lynch and Roberts, African Mythology, A to Z, 99.

Secondary Sources

Awolalu, J. Ọmọṣade. Yorùbá Beliefs and Sacrificial Rites. London: Longman, 1996. 

Knappert, Jan. African Mythology: An Encyclopedia of Myth and Legend. London: Diamond Books, 1995.

Lucas, Jonathan Olumide. The Religion of the Yorubas: Being an Account of the Religious Beliefs and Practices of the Yoruba Peoples of Southern Nigeria, Especially in Relation to the Religion of Ancient Egypt. Lagos: C.M.S. Bookshop, 1948.

Lynch, Patricia Ann, and Jeremy Roberts. African Mythology, A to Z. New York: Infobase, 2010.

Scheub, Harold. A Dictionary of African Mythology: The Mythmaker as Storyteller. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

Citation

Mackay, Danielle. “Ṣhango.” Mythopedia, April 26, 2023. https://mythopedia.com/topics/ango.

Mackay, Danielle. “Ṣhango.” Mythopedia, 26 Apr. 2023. https://mythopedia.com/topics/ango. Accessed on 13 Dec. 2023.

Mackay, D. (2023, April 26). Ṣhango. Mythopedia. https://mythopedia.com/topics/ango

Authors

  • Danielle Mackay

    Danielle Mackay is a writer and scholar who received her MA in Classical Studies from Rhodes University in South Africa

    Danielle Mackay Profile Picture