Editing Ogun (section)

==Yoruba religion==
[[File:Statue of Ogun shrine at the Sacred Grove Of Oshun.jpg|left|thumb|Statue of Ogun, [[Osun-Osogbo|Sacred Grove Of Oshun]], [[Osogbo]], [[Nigeria]]]]
In [[Yoruba religion]], Ogun is a primordial [[orisha]] in Yoruba Land. In some traditions, he is said to have cleared a path for the other orisha to enter Earth, using a metal axe and with the assistance of a dog. To commemorate this, one of his [[Oriki|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.<ref name="b"/><ref name="ad"/><ref name="e"/>

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|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.<ref name="ad"/><ref name="b"/><ref name="e"/>

He is now celebrated in [[Ogun state|Ogun]], [[Ekiti State|Ekiti]], [[Oyo State|Oyo]], and [[Ondo State|Ondo]] States.

===Followers===

Ogun is the traditional deity of warriors, hunters, [[blacksmith]]s, technologists, and drivers in the Yoruba region. Followers of traditional Yoruba religion can swear to tell the truth in court by "kissing a piece of iron in the name of Ogun."<ref name="e"/> Drivers carry an [[amulet]] of Ogun to ward off traffic accidents.<ref name="ad"/><ref name="b"/>

===Symbols===

The primary symbols of Ogun are iron, the dog, and the [[palm branch|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 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.{{fact|date=September 2020}}

===Sacrifice===
Meats are sacrifices 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 nut]]s, [[palm wine]] and red palm oil, small rats, roosters, salt, snails, tortoise, water, and yams.{{sfn|Clyne|1998}} Many of these sacrificial offerings were carried into New World traditions.

[[Oríkì]] is a Yoruba cultural phenomenon that comes in the form of praise poetry, praising either a person, òrìṣà (deity), or town based on their achievements. Ogun worshippers are known to sing Ogun's oríkì and this specific part insinuates that Ògún is in seven paths. 

*Ògún méje logun mi,
*Ògún alára ni n gb’aja,
*Ògún onire a gb’àgbò,
*Ògún Ikọla a gb'agbín,
*Ògún gbengbena oje ìgí nìí mu,
*Ògún ila a gb’esun iṣu,
*Ògún akirin a gb’awo agbo,
*Ògún elémono ẹran ahùn ni jẹ,
*mákindé ti dogun lẹyin odi,
*Bi o ba gba Tapa a gb’Aboki,
*A gba Ukuuku a gba Kèmbèrí.

Translation:

*My Ògún manifest in seven different ways
*Ogun of the town of Ilara accepts a dog atonement
*Ogun of the town of Ire accepts a ram atonement
*Ogun of the town of Ikole accepts a snail atonement
*Ogun of woodcarvers drinks tree sap for atonement
*Ogun of the town of Ila accept roasted yam atonement
*Ogun of the Akirin people accepts ram for atonement
*Ogun of the Elemono people eats tortoise meat for atonement
*The brave that wages foreign wars
*He will consume either [[Nupe people|Nupe]], or [[Hausa people|Hausa]]
*He consumes foreign people, He will consume the [[Kanuri people|Kanuri]] too.