The god of Thunder
In Yoruba mythology, Sango also referred to as Jakuta is
probably the foremost popular Orisha; he's god of thunder and lightning and also
one among the foremost worshipped gods everywhere the planet .
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| Sango display at Alafin Oyo Palace |
Sango was a royal ancestor of the Yoruba as he was the third king of the Oyo
Kingdom. He succeeded Ajaka, son of Oranmiyan. His symbol may be a double-headed
axe, which represents swift and balanced justice.
Mythologically, he (and 14 others) burst forth from the goddess Yemaja’s body
after her son, Orungan, attempted to rape her for the second time. In another
set of stories, Sango is that the son of Aganju and Obatala. because the story
goes, Obatala, the king of the white cloth was travelling and had to cross a
river. Aganju, the ferryman and god of fireside , refused him passage so
Obatala retreated and became a lady and traded his/her body for passage (this
would later become a conspiracy theory about homosexuality existing even within
the days of old). This tension between reason represented by Obatala and Aganju
would form the inspiration of Sango’s particular character and nature. Sango
was said to possess went in search of Aganju on which he had to throw himself
into a lake of burning fire to prove his lineage.
During the reign of Alaafin Ajaka, Oyo Empire was under a daily treat of war
from Olowu, Ajaka’s cousin; who rules Owu Kingdom. Olowu later sent his
warriors to capture Alaafin Ajaka and convey him to Owu. In their bid to rescue
Alaafin Ajaka, the Oyomesi sent for Sango.
Sango, after the rescue of Ajaka was crowned King while Alaafin Ajaka was sent
into exile. During his reign, he had two generals: Timi Agbale Olofa-ina who
could shoot arrows of fireside and Gbonka who was equally powerful. Seeing how
powerful these two generals grew, Sango followed Oya’s advice to urge obviate them
and sent them to control the border towns. Timi left for Ede but Gbonka stayed
back in Oyo to pose further treat and in his quest to destroy them both, Sango
sent Gbonka to capture Timi.
Sango who believed that the fight between Timi and Gbonka in Ede was staged
asked for a re-match in Oyo and Gbonka defeated Timi. Seeing as he couldn’t
finish his two threats directly , Sango ordered that Gbonka should be burnt to
ashes. this is able to be in fear of Gbonka checking out that Sango only wanted
him dead. Mysteriously, Gbonka appeared after three days giving Sango ultimatum
to vacate the throne.
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| The god of thunder |
Sango, angered requested for his Edun-Ara from Oya that has being within the possession
of it but found it stained with menorrhea . He was said to possess left the
palace to a high rock facing the palace in anger to re-affirm the potency of
his thunderbolt and therefore the thunder he created that day was said to
possess struck the palace and burnt it right down to ashes. Heartbroken, he
left the town followed by the chiefs and members of his royal cult referred to
as Baba-Mogba persuading him to not leave. After an extended persuasion, a
number of the chiefs went back as they approached an Ayan tree during a place
called Koso with news that the king has hanged but that's stated to be a lie.
Only a couple of of the Baba-Mogba who didn't return knew the reality which is
that Sango was attacked by Gbonka. Sango unwilling to fight varnished into nothingness
only to later appear within the sky with wrath and flaming fire to destroy
Gbonka. The town peddling the rumor about him hanging himself also got a share
of his wrath.
Myths have it that he didn’t stop till he was appeased. Hence the favored saying
OBAKOSO or OLUKOSO meaning the king didn't hang. As created by the Baba-Mogba
who knew the reality . Another faction said the name OBAKOSO or OLUKOSO springs
from the name of the place he won Gbonka to reign supreme.
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