Oko (orisha)
Orisha of agriculture in Yoruba religion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Òrìṣà Oko, also known as Ocô in Brazil,[1][2][3] is an Orisha[4] worshipped in the Yoruba religion. According to tradition, before his death and deification, he was a strong hunter and farming deity, as well as a fighter against sorcery. He is associated with the annual new harvest of the white African yam. Among the deities, he is considered a close friend of Ooṣa Ogiyan and Shango, as well as a one-time husband of Ọya and Yemọja. Bees are said to be the messengers of Òrìṣà Oko.[5]
| Oko | |
|---|---|
Hunting, Agriculture, Farming, Fertility | |
| Member of Orisha | |
 | |
| Other names | Oco, Òrìṣà Oko |
| Venerated in | Yoruba religion, Dahomey mythology, Vodun, Santería, Candomblé |
| Day | ọ̀sẹ̀ Ògún, ọ̀sẹ̀ Jàkúta, ọ̀sẹ̀ Ifá |
| Color | Red and white; black and white beads; white beads with blue stripes |
| Region | Nigeria, Benin, Latin America |
| Ethnic group | Yoruba people, Fon people |
In Brazilian Candomblé, he represents one of the Orishas of agriculture, together with Ogum.[6] According to Prandi, Oko songs and myths are remembered, but their presence in celebrations is rare.[7] In his representation, he had a wooden staff, played a flute of bones, and wore white.[8] Oko is syncretized with Saint Isidore among Cuban orisha practitioners of Santería (Lucumí) and Regla de Ocha.[9][10]
