Ogun

Ogun is a major West African divinity whose history covers several centuries and whose worship stretches onto many continents. Some scholars have suggested that Ogun may be worshipped by as many as 70 million individuals around the world, and the number of Ogun worshippers may well be increasing constantly.

Although it may not be possible to date with precision the emergence of the deity Ogun, it is likely that it goes back to the beginning of the Iron Age and attendant ironwork in Africa. Indeed, in its original persona, Ogun is first and foremost the divinity of iron and, by extension, the divinity of war and hunting. Although the earliest iron smelting sites emerged in Central Nigeria, thus making Ogun a preeminent Yoruba deity (Orisha), the worship of Ogun has been attested throughout the Guinea Coast, where it had spread since ancient times, with shrines to Ogun found in virtually every forge. In the Kingdom of Dahomey (now the [Page 481]Republic of Benin), for example, Ogun appeared as Gu, the god of iron and war, and ranked third in the Vodu pantheon, right after Mawu and Lisa. A common emblem of Ogu was and still is a ceremonial sword. Other common emblems have included small iron implements, such as miniature hoes, knives, daggers, shovels, and spears attached onto necklaces, bracelets, clothing, or crowns.

This high and widespread reverence for Ogun, god of iron, can only be understood within a context that defines iron and ironwork as the most sacred. The blacksmith surrenders to God while doing his work, and the latter, therefore, bears the mark of the divine. Most compelling, however, the blacksmith in his forge replicates, in a symbolic and metaphorical way, God's act of creation of the world. Indeed, the melting of iron in a furnace, a pervasive symbol of the female womb, has been frequently associated, in many African societies, with fertility, vitality, and creative power. The reenact-ment of the creation of the world, and of life itself, through the melting and forging of iron largely explains the lasting prestige of blacksmiths and, above all, of Ogun, the divinity of iron. In addition, given the civilizing power of iron, Ogun is also considered the deity of civilization and technology. All those whose occupation is related to metal, from farmers to surgeons, from barbers, haircutters, mechanics, butchers, and taxi drivers to soldiers and hunters, pay tribute to Ogun as their patron.

Many festivals are held in Ogun's honor, such as Odun Ogun, in Yorubaland, where Ogun is appealed to to maintain peace in society. Likewise, Ijala songs are Yoruba poetic chants devoted to salute and praise Ogun. In Africa, Ogun's per-sonae include Ogun Akirim, Ogun Alagbede, Ogun Alara, Ogun Elemona, Ogun Ikole, Ogun Meji, Ogun Oloola, Ogun Onigbajamo, and Ogun Onire. His favorite foods and drinks are dogs, pigeons, snails, cocks, eggs, chalk, kola nuts, plantain, yams, palm wine, palm oil, and black and white thread.

Ogun crossed the Atlantic Ocean along with the millions of Africans who were forcibly removed from their homeland during the days of the European slave trade and concurrent enslavement of African women, men, and children in the Americas. Understandably, the focus on Ogun as god of iron, while subsisting, became nonetheless less marked, whereas greater emphasis was placed on Ogu as god of war. In an environment where Africans were subjected to cruelties and tortures of all kinds, on a constant basis, a divinity like Ogun became quite necessary and significant. In fact, Ogun is intimately associated with the Revolutionary War in Haiti, which took place in the 19th century. It is said that Dessalines and Toussaint L'Ouverture, two major players in the war, both served Ogun and were in turn protected and guided by him.

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