A history of Ogun, the Alákoro

 


During the festivals we hold here in our African-Brazilian State of Bahia, we sing and we pray in Ànàgó (Yoruba language).

Among the chants we sing to praise Ogun, we sing:

 

Ògún pa!

Ó le pa,

Alákoro pa

Ó járe

 

The translation of these to English means

Ogun kills

He can kill

The Owner of the Helmet Kills

(but) He is held not guilty

 

Ogun is the God of War. He is an Orisa that everyone knows in connection with iron. He works healings and reigns over everything made of iron. Ogun believers are sure that He is as a zealous caretaking Father as a mother would be to her children and family. He is the one they call to swear upon in courthouses or to ask for protection when they do have to travel. Ogun is a God who does not rest, and who washes with blood as if it were water. However, whoever is bleeding in his or her body should not come close to Him.

In his earthly life Ogun is said to be the first king of Ile Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba civilization. But it is also known that He rejected the privileges of a throne and insisted on His hunting activities, and His free life at large. As a matter of fact, history tells us that He rejected His due crown (Ade) in exchange for a Helmet (or “Akoro”, that is the cause behind his title of “Alákoro”, literally meaning “the Owner of the Helmet”).

Ogun worked out with his privileged intelligence and knowledge to save Ile-Ife kingdom. So He would deserve the due respect from the part of the kingdom' s subjects.

History tells us that one day Ogun had just come down from the mountain where He had exiled Himself for a long and lonely period. He was very dirty and was facing the problems that are natural to those who have spent long time in the solitude of wilderness.

This same oral history passed on among generations tells us that an episode happened due to a mistaken interpretation by Ogun. He saw people drinking wine and not offering it to Him, as if they were also mocking on Him what would be a serious sign of “disrespectfulness”. It sparked in Him a killer fury. Ogun killed them all on the spot. 

But, in fact, there were no more emu (wine) in the agbè (goads) that were standing, so, people had no more wine to offer Him. Too late. 

Since that day Yoruba people do not leave empity wine bottles to stand up.  After empiting them, they (the bottles) are put to lay down flat on the floor as a sign of Rembrance and Respect for Ogun.

Ogun did not die a regular death. His followers believe Him to have "wọ ilẹ̀" (entered the earth, immortalized Himself), at a place called Ire-Ekiti, with the promise to help those who call on His name. 

Throughout His earthly life, He is thought to have fought for the people of Ire, too. That is the cause behind his title "OniIre", meaning literally “the owner of Ire” (that is how people call the king over there).

Mo dupe gidi ni fún omo iya mi Félix Ayoh-Omidire ti salaye itan Ògún yii fún mi.

I am grateful to my brother Félix Ayoh-Omidire for explaining this story of Ogun to me.

 

Reference:

1.         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogun (Accesed on February 10, 2023);

2.          Cover image: A Sword photographed By Pierre Verger in Abomey, Republic of Benin;

 

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