THE HISTORY OF SHANGO

Who Is Shango?

Shango is seen in nature as the light of lightning crossing the sky, and heard in the rolling force of thunder. He is fire itself — in the forest, and atop the highest point of a house. He carries a destructive force, yet that same force also gives life: in the midst of his power, he annihilates all that is negative, leaving what remains fertile and pure. Many know Shango only as a consummate womanizer and lover of celebration — but fewer know that he is also the general of the heavens, an excellent strategist and executor of plans. He loves his children deeply, yet does not hesitate to discipline them when they break taboos or make grave errors. His fiery, impulsive energy is most often cooled by the steady coolness of Obatala.

Origins

Shango was Obatala's favorite son and closest confidant from childhood. He is the one who discovered his brother Oggún's incest, and it was Shango who took Oggún's wife, Oyá, for his own. He is also known as Addima Addima, and remains the most popular of all the Orishas.

As Alafí, King of Oyó and King of Kings, Shango — under the name Olúfina — dwells among the Ceiba trees, though his true home, his throne, and his lookout is the royal palm, where he manifests in his most fearsome aspect as Shango Obayé: King of the world, dressed in scarlet, dark and striking, a devourer of fire, the God of Fire himself, loosing his arrows to earth from the sharp, trembling crown of the palm as it rises toward the sky.

As Shango Eyeo, he fights breathing smoke and fire, hurling lightning bolts, wielding mace, axe, machete, and a crescent-shaped blade. He reigned as King of Kosso, Mobbá, Owó, Ebiní, Osó, Imá, Tulempé, and Adó — which is why he carries so many names and titles, and why he has more caminos than perhaps any other Orisha, having traveled the whole world. As Shango Lubbeo, legitimate universal heir to Obatala, he was given at birth to his elder sister — Dadá, Obañeñe, or Bayamí — to be raised. As Shango de Imá or de Izú, he governs thunderclaps and lightning bolts; in one of his caminos, he was Obbara.

Sign, Day, and Colors

His number is 4. In the Diloggún, he speaks through Obbara (6), through 4, 12, and 11, and through 8-6, 8-9, and 6-6. In the Obí, he speaks through Alafia, Otawá, Eyeife, and Oyekún. His days are Friday and every 4th of the month. His colors are red and white.

Character

Shango embodies the fullest range of human virtue and flaw — hardworking, courageous, a good friend, and a healer, yet also a liar, a womanizer, quarrelsome, boastful, and a gambler. He is a good father so long as his children obey, though he has no patience for cowardice. He is father of the Ibeyis. While his lovers are countless, his true wives are Oyá, Obba Yurú, and Oshún. He holds deep reverence for the Eggun (ancestral spirits).

Attributes and Tools

Shango's attributes include the petaloid axe, a cup, a sword, an acheré made from turtle shell, the Moorish horse, a tambourine, a double-bladed axe (bipene), a bright red flag, six otá stones, and the oché — a ceremonial scepter carved from palm and cedar wood, ending in sharp points or a double-axe form, worn atop the head as a symbol of his divinity. He also carries three axes, a mace, and a curved blade.

Necklaces and Clothing

Shango's necklace alternates red and white beads — red as the symbol of love and blood. He wears a loose shirt and trousers in vermillion red (ashó), sometimes cut short and pointed at the leg. His chest is often bare beneath a crossed sash of Obbá, though he sometimes wears a red jacket trimmed in white. His crown is sometimes shaped like a castle.

Traditional Offerings

Offerings to Shango include ram, red rooster, quail, turtle, guinea fowl, bull, turkey, and speckled roosters. The white horse, sheep, and lamb also belong to him. His foods include plantain, cornmeal and okra, and amalá — a dish made from cornmeal and ram meat.

Honor Shango

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