Shango

Third generation. Third Alaafin of Oyo. Apotheosed at his death (or self-hanging) into the orisha of thunder and lightning. The Oba ko so liturgical cry — "the king did not hang" — is the foundational liturgical formula of the Shango cult and a core piece of Yoruba political theology.

Parentage

• paternal: Oranmiyan
• maternal: Torosi

Children

• Ibeji

Powers

• thunder call
• lightning strike
• fire breathing
• kingship yoruba foundation
• Spew fire from the mouth
• Generate thunder and lightning
• Hurl thunderstones at offenders
• Work charms/magic to draw down lightning

Epithets

• Ọba Kòso latin · Oba Koso · praise-nameThe king did not hang; the cult-cry affirming Sàngó’s apotheosis at KosoE. B. Idowu, Olódùmarè: God in Yoruba Belief; J. O. Awolalu, Yoruba Beliefs and Sacrificial Rites (secondary)
• Jàkúta latin · Jakuta · praise-nameHurler of stones; the older thunder-deity of the hurled thunderstone, merged with SàngóE. B. Idowu, Olódùmarè: God in Yoruba Belief (secondary)
• Aláàfin latin · Alaafin · praise-nameThe deified fourth Aláàfin (king) of Ọ̀yọ́, from whom the thunder-orisha derivesJ. O. Awolalu, Yoruba Beliefs and Sacrificial Rites (secondary)

Relations

• sibling: AjakaFull sibling; shares the same complete attested parentage.
• equated with: Thunder God of the StormThe same West African deity under its Gbe/Yoruba reflex (So/Sogbo/Shango).West African vodun/òrìṣà cognates: the same deity across the Gbe (Ewe, Fon) and Yoruba traditions (M. Herskovits, Dahomey, 1938; G. Parrinder, West African Religion, 1961; P. Verger, Notes sur le culte des Orisa et Vodun, 1957) (secondary)
• equated with: SogboThe same West African deity under its Gbe/Yoruba reflex (So/Sogbo/Shango).West African vodun/òrìṣà cognates: the same deity across the Gbe (Ewe, Fon) and Yoruba traditions (M. Herskovits, Dahomey, 1938; G. Parrinder, West African Religion, 1961; P. Verger, Notes sur le culte des Orisa et Vodun, 1957) (secondary)

Sources

• existence: Johnson, History of the Yorubas (1921) (secondary); Verger, Notes sur le culte des orisa et vodun (1957) (secondary); Yoruba oral tradition (primary)
• apotheosis: Idowu, Olódùmarè (1962) (secondary); Verger (1957) (secondary)