The so-called children of Shangó are those followers of this important deity belonging to the Yoruba pantheon , known as the god of lightning and fire, a god with great strength and autonomy, characteristics that all his children have, whether they are men or women.
Children of Shango
The so-called children of Shangó are a prominent element within the practice of Santería and other cults that are part of the Yoruba religion. For a person to be considered a child of this god, they must fulfill a series of steps under the guidance of a priest known in the religion as a Babalawo.
These Santería cults or ceremonies have their origins in Afro-Cuban rites and traditions , which were practiced in ancient times. Today, this culture has spread throughout the world, and more and more devout followers wish to become part of the Yoruba family , registered as one of the children of Shangó.
If you are fortunate enough to have been born on December 4th, like this orisha , you can consider yourself one of his children, although this is not a strict requirement. Likewise, you must possess certain characteristics and other attributes similar to those of Shangó to be worthy of being called his children, and follow some of the recommendations and advice given by your holy Father.
There is some confusion among followers of the Yoruba religion who believe that simply offering pleasing gifts to this deity is enough to call themselves children of Shango , and this is not true. Much more is required.
Not everyone has this privilege, as they must fulfill certain requirements and steps, one of which is attending a Santería house and appearing before the priest or babalawo , where they are registered to receive "the hand of Orula," the name given to the type of initiation ceremonies or rites for anyone who wishes to be part of Santería. Find more information at Eleguá.
According to this tradition, it is through this activity that the practitioner is revealed to the deity of whom they are a child. Each of the children of the Yoruba saints or gods possesses various attributes that serve as a distinguishing element between them within the vast array of deities in the mythology.
Therefore, the children of Shangó are no exception to this statement. They can be distinguished from the children of other deities in several aspects, for example, in their love of dancing. They enjoy celebrations with dance music, preferring the melody of drumming and displaying great skill in playing this popular musical instrument.
There is a ceremony in honor of Shangó , which consists of a captivating dance where some of his children place him on their shoulders and begin to spin him around, until they are facing the group playing the drums. He is one of the gods who represents virility and strength, and many identify with him.
Another characteristic of this special dance is that the participants are often very expressive with their eyes, adopting a threatening gaze, the sole purpose of which is to assert their dominance. For their part, the daughters of the saint Shangó have a somewhat masculine appearance, lacking any femininity; that is, they do not like to wear jewelry or makeup.
They are also classified as gossipy women, who interfere in matters that are not within their competence and when they obtain information, they generally distort it, disclosing something totally contrary to the real information, modifying it at their convenience, so They are not considered trustworthy people.
A positive aspect is that they are strictly faithful; they are incapable of committing infidelity or adultery, and for this same reason, they expect the same from their partner, since they are not capable of forgiving infidelity.
Likewise, they are very hardworking and detest idleness, raised with ethical principles and ideals. The children of Shangó feel a great attraction to fire and its derivatives, such as the color red. Like the saint Shangó , his children are tall and possess great strength, which makes them stand out as leaders, with a positive attitude towards life.
They have a good taste for food, which helps them when preparing good dishes. They are very organized and also serve to put things or situations in order, among which we can mention: celebrations, a business, houses, among others. They are quite generous people with good humor.
Who is Shango?
Before delving further into the topic of the children of Shangó , we must first give a brief explanation of who this important god of the Yoruba pantheon is and what his main characteristics and attributes are, as these are the same ones that should be reflected in the behavior and activities of those who call themselves his children.
Shangó is a principal deity in the Santería religion, possessing qualities of determination, strength, and courage. He was the god of lightning and fire, two elements that, on their own, demonstrate great power. If you wish to learn about his power, you can invoke him through a prayer to Shangó.
Shango 's popularity is quite high, placing him among the most popular gods in mythology. He is the master of the elements of lightning and thunder, as well as fire. This saint possesses great energy, which he transmits to all his children. He has had many lovers and women due to his outstanding virility.
Regarding his attributes, he is said to be very fair and places great value on justice, often acting as the judge of the Yoruba gods . He has a great fondness for dance and drum music. Among his characteristics, he also possesses a negative side, as he has a strong character and can sometimes be quite violent.
What is Yoruba?
Yoruba is a vast culture, originating in Africa, specifically in the region of Nigeria, which has 40 million people, initially conceptualized as a type of ethnicity.
Then it came to be considered as a religion, based on beliefs, traditions and culture, that identify a people, marked by the experience of living in slavery. The practitioners of this religion are mostly farmers, artisans and merchants.
Over the years, this ideological doctrine managed to permeate the culture of many countries, adapting to unknown places that even have other types of religious values and beliefs.
The diaspora of this belief dates back to the times of colonial slavery, when a group of slaves began to move to other continents and countries, in the case of the South Americans: Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil and the Santa Fe region, specifically to La Dominican Republic.
With the arrival of the slaves were also the practices of their ceremonies and rites, since they refused to set aside their ideals and beliefs. However, they were forced to practice them clandestinely, since they were strictly prohibited.
Main features
One of the main characteristics of Shangó 's children is their natural gift for divination, which serves as a great attraction and draws attention. Since they are lovers of money, they also possess great business acumen, enabling them to amass wealth and fortune; however, they dislike having to work for it.
They have great potential and are very intelligent, and they also possess a strong charge of positive energy. Another characteristic used to describe the children of Shangó is that, like the god, they are festive and love dancing and parties. They are lovers of good food and other pleasures in life.
They are also violent, prone to fits of rage, which makes them impulsive and even intolerant. The children of this Orisha tend to be very aggressive and vengeful if offended, displaying an arrogant and haughty attitude. They are often very jealous, not only of their partners but also of friends and other personal and family relationships, and they do not forgive infidelity.
Since their father Shangó is the master of fire, his children love it, and like the god, they also love the color red. They are not afraid to confront anyone to defend their ideals, and they tend to be generous with those closest to them, sharing their own energy with them.
Another characteristic of Shangó 's children is that they are considered very just beings, enemies of injustice. Likewise, they possess a great talent for lying. Worthy children of their Father, they like to boast of their great strength and tend to be very sexual and passionate, having relationships with different women and fathering many children. Also discover the Prayer to Yemayá.
Among the professions that Shangó 's sons can pursue are firefighters or police officers, and they also excel in the arts, working as musicians. Shangó 's daughters are somewhat tomboyish but very passionate women who, despite not forgiving infidelity, may have multiple partners. They are sometimes talkative but very hardworking.
Names of Shango's children
One of the distinctions that the Yoruba religion makes with respect to the formation of others, is that its members or those who make it up or constitute it, must be baptized within the religion and adopt a new name, which will depend on the saint that is chosen as Father.
For the belief of this doctrine, that name has already been chosen for them from the moment they are born, but it is once they start on the paths of Santeria, when it has been revealed to them. Once the name is given to the person, they must wear it with great pride, they will not be able to hide it and they must present themselves with it everywhere.
It is also established within the Yoruba religion and its beliefs that the name given to a person will be linked to their life and will therefore have an influence on them, especially on their future, with which they will do great things that will leave a mark and shape their history.
Specifically, the names of these children are linked to the characteristics of Shangó , adding an additional quality to the personality of the bearer of that name. Some of these names are shown below:
Alabi; known as the mantle of good
Arabi ; the lightning
Bango Che ; King of Soap.
Efun Ekun; Lord of the Tigers.
Ican Lenu ; tongue of fire
Obba Aña ; King of the drum
Obba Dina; King of the candle
Obba Dimelli , twice crowned king.
Obba Ekun, King of the Tigers
Obba Erula , Sovereign of War.
Obba Kosokisieko , King who lives in the palm tree.
Obba Lari or IlariObba , messenger of the King
Obba Oñi, owner of the honey.
Obba Orun , King of the sun or of the sky
Obba Remi , my friend the King.
Obba Yomi ; King of the water.
Obban Yoko; Seated King.
Oddu Ara , Lightning Stone.
Okan Aremi; my dear friend.
Oloyu Morula Obba; the eyes of the King's son.
Shango Ladde ; his great crown
His passion for dance
According to tradition, Shangó gave his Ifá divination board to Orunmila (the supreme Yoruba deity ) in exchange for the gift of dance, as it was one of his greatest passions, along with music itself. This talent even led to him being named Batá , which means "owner of the drums."
Because it is a very characteristic quality of this deity, it was conferred on his children, who have great skills and ability to dance, and also in the execution of the drum instrument, seeking to emulate the holy Father.
During the ceremonies in his honor, it is said that Shangó descends to dance with his children, climbing onto the shoulders of one of them and performing a spectacular dance. The traditional form involves a spin similar to a top, but only three full rotations, before facing the drums.
Through the execution of his dance, he will show some of his skills, such as, for example, his strength and virility, making his dance provocative. When dancing, he will have the typical elements of his clothing, such as a striking red suit and the company of his powerful axe, which he shows during the dance like a warrior, with a very remarkable expression in his eyes that becomes threatening and even challenging.
Clothing of the children of Shangó
A very distinctive feature of the children of Shangó is their clothing, which features specific colors that stand out and predominate, such as alternating red and white. In ceremonies, a candle that opens paths is also an element that provides great power.
In general, the suit is red with white borders, the shape of the shirt is quite loose and red; shorts at knee height and also red, finished in points. The color of the pants can also be white but the condition is that it will be short and with the edge ending in points.
When they don't wear shirts, they usually bare their chests, or simply put on a small red and white jacket. Other times they can only be seen wearing a kind of cross-shaped red band.
As adornments, they wear necklaces of alternating red and white beads, with exactly 280 beads in total. Their attire also includes objects that identify them with their patron saint, Shangó ; specifically, their two-headed, petal-shaped axe of power, as well as their sword and a cup.
How are Shango's children in love?
Given that Shangó is characterized by being very virile and having many women, people wonder the same thing about his children, who, as already mentioned, tend to be very generous, have a good sense of humor, are dedicated when they want to be, but are also quite loving people.
They possess the virtue of being able to find a partner who shares their deep feelings. Like their father, the children of Shangó are very passionate, giving themselves completely to their loved one. However, they can also be quite obsessive and jealous, which often leads to problems in their relationships.
They are usually one of those who, when they fall in love, leave everything for that person, even putting aside their family, friends, their obligations at work, everything to dedicate themselves only to the loved one. This aspect is more noticeable in the case of the female gender, because they are the most committed and sentimental.
For the male gender, showing their jealousy and obsessions, it is the way they have to represent their virility, also walking with several women, something that many do not like, because they prefer that they be faithful to them, seeing on the contrary that behavior as a lack of respect. It is said that for this reason, many men tend to suffer from heartbreak.
However, it is also noteworthy that when they choose a single woman, they give themselves to her completely and demonstrate all their passion and love, even remaining faithful to her in order to show their true feelings. Generally, in matters of love, the children of Shangó tend to follow their hearts and ideals.
Relationship with his children and Oshun
Oshun is a deity belonging to the Yoruba religion , considered one of the most important. Practitioners of the religion invoke her name for help in situations of conflict or financial hardship. She possesses magical powers like the other gods of the Yoruba pantheon, and is the ruler of lakes and rivers. She is represented as a female deity who also symbolizes love and fertility.
In mythology, she is associated with the gods Orunmila , Ogun , and Oshosi , but she is also linked to Shango as one of his wives , specifically his second wife. Because of her close connection to fertility, many women who cannot have children invoke her name, asking for her help in becoming pregnant.
Regarding the children of these gods, it is recommended that they avoid each other, as it has been previously established that the children of Shango cannot crown a child of Oshun , nor vice versa. In the religion, this is currently considered a symbol of respect, since in the past, followers of Shango murdered followers of Oshun , so it is best that they not be together.
The clash between these two gods can be compared to a battle between fire and water, the elements that characterize them both. They became rivals because Shango brought death and misery, while Oshun was responsible for preventing this. Therefore, the god saw the need to neutralize her so she wouldn't interfere with his actions. Despite this, both elements must prevail for balance to exist.
Ebbo for the children of Shangó
Ebbo , within the Yoruba religion , is a very important aspect of Santería, where a ritual is performed for a specific deity or saint through a special ceremony. The reasons for carrying out this ritual can vary, but the most common are:
- to purify
- to offer
- To make a sacrifice
These rituals are performed to please the gods and orishas, and should be geared towards fulfilling desires resulting from good deeds while rejecting bad ones. In addition to having a purpose, a specific methodology must be followed.
Among the most common requests are those for good health, acceptance within social groups, good luck or fortune in new ventures, or, in the case of a request for love, that someone notice them with good intentions. You might be interested in learning about the Prayer to Eleguá.
In the area of sacrifices, animals were used, sometimes even as offerings, although this was not always well-received by some observers of these rituals. For the Yoruba religion , animal sacrifices are considered a form of control over life, intended to transform it into a better quality.
Sometimes the animal is allowed to live, and its care is entrusted to the person who offered it. In the specific case of the Ebbo of the children of Shangó , the types of offerings should be the following:
Four duly baked green bananas, to later place them in front of the other materials of the saint, inside a special container. Through said offerings you can ask for the health of the person, placing two colored candles and leaving the offering for about 16 days.
At the end of those days, you will have to make a dispossession bath, using various spices and herbs, according to the type of request that is going to be made. In case the request is framed in money or business, the ideal offering is wine and in case you are looking for help for things of love, offer the saint some rosé wine.
Pataki of the children of Shangó and Oyá
The term Pataki refers to the story that constitutes each odun , many of which form part of a kind of metaphor. This is a mystical and spiritual place, where the god Obatalá reigned and all the other deities could coexist. These short stories served as references to explain a particular event.
Most of the time, they lacked clarity and, on the contrary, tended to confuse everyone who read them. Therefore, the decision was made that they should only be read by Ifa priests, who were the only ones qualified to provide the correct interpretation, and who, among all the participants in Santería, held a higher rank than the rest of the members.
As for explaining who Oya is , we can point out that she is a female deity who, within the Yoruba religion, symbolizes passion and wildness. Her characteristics include being a self-assured orisha , capable of making sound decisions without any indecision or doubt.
Within the Yoruba pantheon, she holds a high rank, being very powerful and disciplined. She has been granted the power and dominion over lightning and wind. She is one of Shango 's wives and manifests on Earth through natural disasters, as she is a tornado. Her presence inspires mystery and elegance.
The following is a pataki about the children of Shangó , beginning with this deity's visit to Oshun . During this encounter, an altercation occurred in which the saint was questioned about whether he wasn't ashamed of being with a flawed woman.
Shangó did not know who the woman was referring to, so he immediately clarified that it was Obba , from whom he tore off the handkerchief she was wearing over her face, noticing the fact that she was missing one of her ears.
After this, the saint decided he would no longer live with her, to which she reacted by deciding to appeal his decision through legal channels. Shangó explained the reasons for his actions; however, he agreed to go to heaven with her, but on the condition that when he returned to Earth, he could only do so if he took his descendants with him. Shangó 's children wear a white handkerchief to continue the tradition.
Phrases to your children
Shangó has dedicated several special phrases to his children, intending to offer them advice so they can feel good about themselves and the world around them. Among the most common phrases are:
The lion is a lion, even if they cut off his mane, so don't stop for anything and keep going.
Do not fear anything or anyone, I will always be here with you, so wear me with pride.
I won't take the pleasure out of fighting your own wars, but if you need help, I'll be there for you.
If the past ever calls you, do not answer it, because it has nothing new to offer you, better live in the moment.
Do not act impulsively, because only regret and shame remain afterwards, which are a punishment for all those who act without thinking.
Just as the waves withstand the blows of other waves, I will teach you to withstand the blows that life will give you.
Anyone who wishes me ill will turn against him, affecting his own destiny.
If you enjoy this topic about Santería and its deities, in addition to this article, we invite you to also check out the Prayer to Obatalá on our blog.
