Oshé

Axe of the deity Ṣango in the Yoruba religion From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oshé (Yoruba alphabet: Oṣé)[1][a] is the double-headed battle axe of the thunder deity Ṣango in Yoruba religion, representing bolts of lightning hurled by the deity from Ọrun. Carvings of the axe are used as dance wands during rituals or worn as pendants for protection.

A wooden Oshé, made circa 1960 in Nigeria.

Etymology

The Yoruba word Oṣé comes from o- (a prefix) and ṣé (a word meaning "to do", "to make" or "to affect").

Beliefs

A Yorùbá (Igbomina subgroup) dance wand (Oshé Ṣango), late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, pigment, 19 1/2 x 7 x 3 1/4 in. (49.5 x 17.8 x 8.3 cm). ( Photo: Brooklyn Museum)[2]

According to traditional stories of the Yoruba people, the Oshé was made by the deity Ṣango from the wood of the Ayan tree. When he was the Alaafin of Oyo, he wielded the Oshé as a weapon in battle.[3][4] Ṣango eventually committed suicide[b] by hanging from an Ayan tree.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Also called Oxé or Oxê in Portuguese.
  2. [b]
    In some versions of the story, Ṣango didn't commit suicide but rather ascended to the heavens and became a deity.

References

External links

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