Shango

Shango
Thunder, lightning, justice, dance, virility
Member of Orisha
Representation of Shango, National Museum of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
Day	fourth day of the week
Color	red and white
Region	Nigeria, Benin, Latin America
Ethnic group	Yoruba people, Fon people

Shango (Yoruba language: Ṣàngó, also known as Changó or Xangô in Latin America; and also known as Jakuta) (from '=shan, 'to strike') is an Orisha. He is syncretized with either Saint Barbara or Saint Jerome. Shango is historically a royal ancestor of the Yoruba as he was the third Alafin (king) of the Oyo Kingdom prior to his posthumous deification. Shango has numerous manifestations, among them Airá, Agodo, Afonja, Aganju, Lubé, and Obomin.

Following Oranmiyan, and Ajaka, Jakuta was the third Alafin of Oyo. Jakuta brought prosperity to the Oyo Empire during his reign. In Professor Mason's Mythological Account of Heroes and Kings, contrary to his peaceful brother Ajaka, Jakuta (meaning: someone that fought with stones) was a powerful and even violent ruler. He reigned for seven years the whole of which period was marked by his continuous campaigns and his many battles. The end of his reign resulted from his own inadvertent destruction of his palace by lightning. During his lifetime, he was married to three wives namely Oshun, Oba, and Oya. The Oyo Empire declined in the 19th century and resulted in the enslavement of Fulani and Fon people. Among them were many followers of Ṣàngó, and worship of the deity thrived in the New World. Strong devotion to Ṣàngó led to Yoruba religions in Trinidad and Recife, Brazil to be named after the god.

The worshiping of the Sango deity in Yorubaland is actually the fifth day of the week in which is named Ojo Jakuta. Ritual foods used in the worship of Sango include guguru, bitter cola, àmàlà, and gbegiri soup. Also, it is worshiped with Bata drum. One significant thing about this deity is that it is worshiped using red clothing, just as he is said to have admired red attire during his lifetime.