The city of Oyo was ruled by the orisha Shango, praised with the name Oba Jakuta: the Stone Thrower Oba. He owned the thunderbolt, and the people feared his displeasure. Shango's symbol was a double-bladed axe, and he often remarked "My strength cuts both ways": No man lived outside his authority, and no man was beyond his reach.

Yet this was not enough for Shango; he wanted men to fear him even more. So he called many medicine makers to him, and ordered them to increase his powers. But he was not satisfied with their jujus, and so he sent a messenger to the orisha Eshu.

"Yes, I can make a medicine which will instill terror in the hearts of men," Eshu said to the messenger. "What kind of power does Shango most desire?"

"My master said that you alone know how to make this medicine," replied the messenger, "and so you also know what he most needs. He will accept whatever you prepare for him."

"Very well," Eshu said. "In seven days, have Shango's wife Oya bring me a goat as a sacrifice, and I will give the medicine to her."

And so on the seventh day, Oya went to where Eshu lived and greeted him. Eshu had wrapped the medicine in a leaf, and solemnly handed it to her.

"Be very careful; this is powerful medicine," Eshu said. "Make certain that Shango receives it all."

Oya was a curious woman, as Eshu well knew, and wondered what sort of medicine Eshu had made. She unwrapped the leaf, as Eshu had expected she might. Surely, she thought, there is no harm in looking.

The leaf contained a red powder; a lovely color, but not especially interesting or intimidating. Surely, Oya thought, one little taste will not hurt anything. So she placed some of the powder on her tongue, and was disappointed that the medicine was tasteless.

Oya rewrapped the medicine and returned to Oyo, where Shango asked her how to use the medicine.

"Eshu gave me no instructions," she said--or began to say. But as soon as she opened her mouth, fire shot forth. And then Shango knew that she had tasted the medicine intended only for him.

Oya fled her husband's anger, and he pursued her. She ran from the house, and into fields where sheep grazed. She hoped to loose herself among the sheep, and then Shango began hurling thunderstones. Sheep fell dead, and Oya hid herself under their bodies, where Shango could not see her. And, because of the sacrifice of these sheep, the worshippers of Oya vowed never again to eat mutton.

When Shango returned to his house, he saw that the people of Oyo had gathered there. They begged him to spare Oya, and Shango agreed.

There was still the matter of the remaining medicine, which Shango did not know how to use. That night, he went off alone, to a hill overlooking the city, and placed some of Eshu's medicine on his tongue. With each breath that left his lungs, fire shot from his mouth. The roof of Shango's palace caught fire, and then the granaries, and soon the entire city was engulfed in flames.

A new city was built upon the ashes of the old, and Shango ruled there. Whenever he was displeased he hurled a thunderstone, and this was accompanied by a bright flash of fire from his mouth, so that all men knew his wrath.

About the Author.

Back to the top of this page.