Ogun is a spirit that appears in several African religions. He is a warrior and a powerful spirit in metalworking as well as rum and rum production. He is also known as the "god of iron" and is present in the Yoruba religion, Haitian voodoo and West African vodun.
Other Names[]
Ogum (in Yoruba: Ògún) has several Yoruba names in Candomblé, including: Ogulê, Ogundelê, Ogundilê (Ògundélé), Ogundilei, Ogum-de-lei, Ogundemenê (Ògúndemonlé). Among the fons, he is called Gu. In Haitian voodoo, he was divided into a family of loás who have Ogum as their first name: Blacksmith (in French: Ferraille; lit. "ironmongery"), Balinjô (Balindjo), Badagris, Panamá, Olixá (in Yoruba: Olis̩a), Ossanguê (in French: Ossangoué; in Yoruba: Ossangwé) Axadê (in Yoruba: Aṣade), Trovão (in French: Tonnerre), Xangô (in Yoruba: S̩ango), Batalá (Bhathalah), Guerriê, Chatarrá, Chal. In Umbanda, as a series of entities, he appears as Beira-Mar/Marinho, Malê, Dilê (Oggun Nile from Santería), Nagô, Iara (in Yoruba: yára; lit. "fast", "active"), Matinada, Metá, Naruê, Oiá, Rompe-Mato, Xoroquê, Mejê or Mejejê (Ògún méjeje). In the batuque, as the orisha Avagã.
Pungo Dibudi in regla kimbisa by Santo Cristo da Boa Viagem, Sarabanda, Vento Mal (Viento Malo) and Cabo em Guerra (Cabo en Guerra) in palo, Acutorio Orgulê (Acutorio Orgullé ararás, Noi (Noy), Nou e Ajuagum (Ajuaggún) in cabildo gangá, Iboru and Bocú in ijexá rituals. Abo Ichokún, Alagwede, Soude, Corona Apanada and Oguedai (Cuba); Aganju (Linguessou or Linguesú) (Haiti and Dominican Republic), Jiyán Petró and Pier Basicó (Dominican Republic), Onsú, Neguê and Belié Belcánascido. In Trinidad and Tobago, the Oguns are Olobá (Ologba), Olopelofonte (Olopelophon), Oromelai (Oromelay), Olomené, and Oloremai (Oloremay).
Mythology[]
He attempted to seize the throne after the demise of Obatala, who reigned twice, before and after Oduduwa, but was ousted by Obamakin (Obalufon Ogbogbodirin) and sent on an exile – an event that serves as the core of the Olojo Festival.
Yoruba religion[]
In the Yoruba religion, he is cited as the first orixá to descend to the kingdom of Ilê-Aiê ("Earth"), using a metal axe and with the assistance of a dog, hoping to find a suitable dwelling for future human life and, consequently, receives the name Oriki or Osin Imole, which means the "first orisha to come to Earth." He was probably the first deity worshiped by the Yoruba.
Considered lord of iron, war, agriculture and technology, Ogun was Odudua's eldest son. The latter was the founding king of the city of Ifé, and Ogun assumes the title of regent king of the city when his father momentarily loses his sight.
Candomblé[]
Ogum is known in the Afro-Brazilian tradition of Candomblé as Ogum (Ketu, Ijexa and Efon nations) or Gu (Jeje nation). He is the brother of Exu, with whom he is considered the owner of all paths and crossroads, and identified in the merindilogum game by the odus etaogundá, odi and obeogundá, represented materially and immaterially through the sacred settlement called Ibá de Ogum. Ogum is syncretized with São Jorge, mainly in Rio de Janeiro and the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The tradition of Candomblé in Northeast Brazil, especially in Bahia, associates Ogum with São Sebastião or Santo Antônio.