Shango

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Infobox deity Template:Yoruba people Shango (Yoruba language: Ṣàngó, also known as Changó or Xangô in Latin America; as Jakuta or Badé; and as Ṣangó in Trinidad Orisha<ref name=":03">Template:Cite book</ref>) is an Orisha (or spirit) in Yoruba religion. Genealogically speaking, Shango is a royal ancestor of the Yoruba as he was the third Alaafin of the Oyo Kingdom prior to his posthumous deification. Shango has numerous manifestations, including Airá, Agodo, Afonja, Lubé, and Obomin.<ref name="a"/><ref name="William"/> He is known for his powerful double axe (Oṣè). He is considered to be one of the most powerful rulers that Yorubaland has ever produced.

In the New World, he is syncretized with either Saint Barbara or Saint Jerome.

Historical figureEdit

Ṣàngó was the third Alaafin of Oyo, following Oranmiyan and Ajaka.<ref name="William" /> He brought prosperity to the Oyo Empire.<ref name="Anthony" /> According to Professor Mason's Mythological Account of Heroes and Kings, unlike his peaceful brother Ajaka, he was a powerful and violent ruler. He reigned for seven years which were marked by his continuous campaigns and many battles. His reign ended due to the inadvertent destruction of his palace by lightning. He had three wives, namely Queen Oshun, Queen Obba, and Queen Oya.

Some of the slaves brought to the Americas were Yoruba, one of the various ethnic groups drawn into the Atlantic slave trade, and they brought the worship of Ṣàngó to the New World as a result. Strong devotion to Ṣàngó led to Yoruba religions in Trinidad and Recife, Brazil being named after the deity.<ref name="v" />

Veneration of ṢàngóEdit

NigeriaEdit

Ṣàngó is viewed as the most powerful of the orisha pantheon and is often described in two differing narratives.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> In the first narrative, Ṣàngó casts a "thunderstone" to earth, which creates thunder and lightning, to anyone who offends him. Worshippers in Yorubaland in Nigeria do not eat cowpea because they believe that the wrath of the god of thunder and lightning would descend on them.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> In the second narrative, Ṣàngó is gifted with the ability to breathe fire and smoke through his nostrils and is known for being angered by his quarrelsome wives. These narratives also encapsulate the virility, bravery, and governance of Ṣàngó.<ref name=":0" /> While he was feared for tyranny and destructive powers, he was also highly revered for his bravery, fairness, and tremendous powers.<ref name=":0" />

The Ṣàngó god necklaces are composed of varying patterns of red and white beads, usually in groupings of four or six, which are his sacred numbers. Rocks created by lightning strikes are venerated by Ṣàngó worshipers; these stones, if found, are maintained at sacred sites and used in rituals. Ṣàngó is called on during coronation ceremonies in Nigeria to the present day.<ref name="mu" /><ref name="Onifade" /><ref name="v" />

In Yorubaland, Ṣàngó is worshipped on the fifth day of the week, which is named Ojo Jakuta. Ritual worship foods include guguru, bitter cola, àmàlà, and gbegiri soup. Also, he is worshipped with the Bata drum. One significant thing about this deity is that he is worshipped using red clothing, just as he is said to have admired red attire during his lifetime.<ref name="j"/>

The AmericasEdit

Ṣàngó is venerated in Santería as "Changó". As in the Yoruba religion, Changó is one of the most feared gods in Santería.<ref name="mu"/>

In Haïti, he is from the "Nago" Nation, and is known as Ogou Chango. Palo recognizes him as "Siete Rayos".

CandombléEdit

Ṣàngó is known as Xangô in the Candomblé pantheon. He is said to be the son of Oranyan, and his wives include Oya, Oshun, and Oba, as in the Yoruba tradition. Xangô took on strong importance among slaves in Brazil for his qualities of strength, resistance, and aggression. He is noted as the god of lightning and thunder. He became the patron orixa of plantations and many Candomblé terreiros. In contrast Oko, the orixá of agriculture, found little favor among slaves in Brazil and has few followers in the Americas. The main barracão of Ilê Axé Iyá Nassô Oká, or the terreiro Casa Branca, is dedicated to Xangô. Xangô is depicted with an oxê, or double-sided ax similar to a labrys; and a brass crown.<ref name="l"/><ref name="v"/><ref name="abril"/>

CharacteristicsEdit

Consecrated day: Friday
Colors: white and red
Elements: thunder, lightning, fire
Sacred food: amalá (a swallow food made of yam, cassava flour, or unripe plantain flour called èlùbọ́)
Instruments: oxê, a double ax; bangles; brass crown; Thunder Stones, or objects struck by lightning
Garment: red cloth with printed white squares or cowrie shells
Necklace or Elekes: white and red beads
Archetype: power, dominance
Sacred dance: alujá, the roda de Xangô. It speaks of his achievements, deeds, consorts, power, and dominion
Sacrificial animals: fresh water turtle, male goat, sheep<ref name="abril"/><ref name="l"/><ref name="m"/>

Amalá, also known as amalá de Xangô, is the ritual dish offered to the orixá. It is a stew made of chopped okra, onion, dried shrimp, and palm oil. Amalá is served on Wednesday at the pegi, or altar, on a large tray, traditionally decorated with 12 upright uncooked okra. Due to ritual prohibitions, the dish may not be offered on a wooden tray or accompanied by bitter kola. Amalá de Xangô may also be prepared with the addition of beef, specifically an ox tail. Amalá de Xangô is different than àmàlà, a dish common to Yoruba areas of Nigeria.<ref name="l"/>

Popular cultureEdit

"Shango (Chant to the God of Thunder)" is a track from Drums of Passion, an album released by Nigerian percussionist Babatunde Olatunji in 1960.
"Shango" is the title of a Hugh Masekela track on his 2016 album No Borders.
Shango is the name of the Europa Mission vessel in season 2 of Star Trek: Picard.
The song "Que Viva Chango" by Celina y Reutilio refers both to Chango and to Santa Barbara.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Shango is a large theme in the Mighty Sparrow song "Congo Man".
Caliban invokes Shango in Aimé Césaire's play Une Tempête (A Tempest).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Shango appears as a minor character in The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne.
In episode 28 of the telenovela Celia, loosely based on the life of Celia Cruz and produced by Telemundo, the cultural ancestors of Celia's African heritage visit her in her dreams, chanting and invoking the presence of Chango.
"Shango" is a bonus track on Guadalcanal Diary's album 2x4.
Chango is portrayed by Wale in season 3 of American Gods.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

FC Shango is an American men's recreational football club based in Minnesota and was formed in 1992. Competing in the highest division in amateur soccer in Minnesota, FC Shango won the state amateur soccer tournament in 2017, and currently has three teams: MASL D2, MSSL O40, and O50. They are the 2023 over 50 Masters League champions of the Minnesota Senior Soccer League MSSL. [1].
Shango is the fifth album released by the multi-genre trance group Juno Reactor. The tracks "Pistolero" and "Masters of the Universe" were released as singles.

ReferencesEdit

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BibliographyEdit

Johnson, Samuel, History of the Yorubas, London 1921 (pp. 149–152).
Law, Robin: The Oyo Empire c. 1600 – c. 1836, Oxford 1977.
Seux, M.-J., Épithètes royales akkadiennes et sumériennes, Paris 1967.
Tishken,Joel E., Tóyìn Fálọlá, and Akíntúndéí Akínyẹmí (eds), Sàngó in Africa and the African Diaspora, Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2009.

External linksEdit

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