In
Yoruba religion, Ogun is an
Irunmọlẹ (primordial
orisha) in
Yorubaland. In some traditions, he is said to have cleared a path for the other orisha to enter Earth, using a metal machete and with the assistance of a dog. To commemorate this, one of his
oriki, or epithets, 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 have been the first king of
Ire. According to some stories, when some of his subjects failed to show respect, Ogun killed them and ultimately himself with his own sword. His followers believe him to have
wọ ilẹ sun, to have disappeared into the earth's surface instead of dying. He disappeared into the earth at a place called Ire-Ekiti, with the promise to help those who call on his name. 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 religion. 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 ,
Osogbo, Nigeria 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 manifests 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==