In Yoruba religion, Ogun is a primordial orisha who first appeared as a hunter named Tobe Ode.

He
was the husband of Oya. He is said to have been the first Orisha to descend to the realm of Ile Aiye
("Earth"), to find suitable place for future human life. In some traditions he is said to have cleared
a path for the other gods to enter Earth, using a metal ax and with the assistance of a dog. To
commemorate this, one of his praise names, or oriki, is Osin Imole or the "first of the primordial
Orisha to come to Earth". He is the god of war and metals.[2][1][3]

In his earthly life Ogun is said to be the first king of Ife. When some of his subjects failed to show
respect, Ogun killed them and ultimately himself with his own sword. He disappeared into the
earth at a place called Ire-Ekiti, with the promise to help those who call on his name. His followers
believe him to have wo ile sun, to have disappeared into the earth's surface instead of dying.
Throughout his earthly life, he is thought to have fought for the people of Ire, thus is known also
as Onire.[1][2][3]

He is now celebrated in Ekiti, Oyo, and Ondo States.

Followers

Ogun is the traditional deity of warriors, hunters, blacksmiths, technologists, and drivers in the
Yoruba religion. Followers of traditional Yoruba religion can swear to tell the truth in court by
"kissing a piece of iron in the name of Ogun."[3] Drivers carry an amulet of Ogun to ward off traffic
accidents.[1][2]

Symbols

The primary symbols of Ogun are iron, the dog, and the palm frond. They symbolize Ogun's role in
transformation, mediation, and function. Iron is the primary emblem of Ogun. Ogun altars and
ceremonies display and use iron objects both in Yoruba areas and the across the African diaspora.
Followers of Ogun wear chains of iron implements; Ogun festivals feature the display of knives,
guns, blacksmith implements, scissors, wrenches, and other iron implements from daily life.

Sacrifice

Meats are a sacrifice for Ogun. Dogs are the traditional companions of hunters, but Ogun's
personality is also seen as "doglike": aggressive, able to face danger, and straightforward. Other
sacrificial animals associated with Ogun are the spitting cobra (blacksnake); its behavior is
aggressive and fearless. Hunters and blacksmiths avoid eating or witnessing the mating of
blacksnakes. Other important sacrificial offerings to Ogun are the Clarias submarginatus (a species
of catfish), alligator pepper, kola nuts, palm wine and red palm oil, small rats, roosters, salt, snails,
tortoise, water, yams. (Clyne: 1997). Many of these sacrificial offerings were carried into New
World traditions.

Ogun worshipers are known to sing a song that insinuates that Ogun is in seven paths.

Ogun Alaara ni gba aja - Ogun of the Alaara people collects dog. Ogun Ajeero ni gbaagbo - Ogun of
the Ajeero people collects ram. Ogun Ikole a gba'igbin - Ogun of the Ikole people will collect snail.
Ogun Elemono ni gbe'sun isu - Ogun of the Elemono will collect roasted yam. Ogun Gbena Gbena
eran ahun ni je - Ogun of the Road repairers collects the stingy's meat. Biko gba Tapa, a gba aboki,
a gba kemberi a bilala lenu Meje logun, meje nire. Ogun onire oko mi.