25982: Walton (Shango) )RE: 25977: Simidor (Reply) Re: 25962: Craig ( ask) re: 25954: Simidor re: 25935: Pierre re: 25907: Simidor re: Reuters Revisited/ Lavalas the devil (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: "Walton, Robert" <robert.walton3@us.army.mil>

http://lists.village.virginia.edu/uvamesl/best_practices/grd3m/shango.html
Shango is the deity, orisha whose power is imaged by thunder and lightning.
As the legendary fourth king of the ancient kingdom of Oyo, Shango's rule
was marked by capricious use of power. One account asserts that Shango was
fascinated with magical powers. He inadvertently caused a thunderstorm and
lightning struck his own palace killing many of his wives and children. In
repentence he left his kingdom and travelled to Koso where he hung himself.
When his enemies cast scorn upon his name, a rash of storms destroyed parts
of Oyo. Shango's followers proclaimed him a god and that the storms were
Shago's wrath, avenging his enemies.


Shango by Micha F. Lindemans -
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/s/shango.html
The god of thunder and the ancestor of the Yoruba people of Nigeria. He is
the son of Yemaja the mother goddess and protector of birth. Shango (Xango)
has three wives: Oya, who stole Shango's secrets of magic; Oschun, the river
goddess who is Shango's favorite because of her culinary abilities; and Oba,
who tried to win his love by offering her ear for him to eat. He sent her
away in anger and she became the river Oba, which is very turbulent where it
meets the river Oschun.