Oggun is an Osha of the group of Orisha Oddé, this group is conformed by Eleguá, Oggún, Oshosi and Osun. He is one of the first Orishas and Oshas that any individual receives. He is the strength; he also represents the work and the rough and initial force, the force that locks up the box of the human body, the thorax, where they are all the vital organs. In the nature he is symbolized by the iron, all the metals and the virility in the human being. He owns the chains. He is a decisive Osha in the ceremony of confirmation of the Oloshas (Pinaldo) and in the Awó ni Orunmila (Kuanaldo). He is the one that has the right to sacrifice, since the knife belongs to him, the object with which the sacrifice is made generally.

He is crowned on his children's head. He owns the forrests along with Oshosi and the paths along with Elegua. The metals belong to him, is patron of the blacksmiths, of the wars, watcher of the human beings. His name comes from the Yoruba Òggún (war). He is from Ileshá and was king of Iré. His colors are mulberry or green and black. His elekes (necklaces) are made alternating green and black beads.

His number is 3 and its multiples. His day of the week is Tuesday and days 4 of every month. Compared with St. Peter (29 of June).

He is greeted Oke Oggun! Oggun Kobú Kobú, Aguanilé!

Son of Oduduwa, brother of Shangó, Oranmiyán, Oshosi, Osun and Elegua.

Speaks in the odú Oggunda (3).

He lives in an iron kettle of three legs and lays otá (stone) collected in the forrest or the railroad. His attributes are the horseshoes, the nails of railroad, a piece of railroad, brake of horse, swords, tips, shovels, machete, mass, the set of anvil and hammer representing the forging of iron, tools of work in general, chains, revolvers, rifle, knives (of which he is owner), achabbá (chain with 21 pieces), hat of guao, mariwó, lances, magnet, etc.

Oggun's Tools of Power.

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The machete.

Suits of Oggun:

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Oggun gets dressed in purple vest and trousers with a flattened cap. He also wears a belt adorned with long fibers of palm. In his shoulder a purse of skin of tiger adorned with shells.

He is offered butter of cacao, jutía and smoked fish, tobacco, aguardiente, butter of corojo, meat cattle or goat, toasted corn, canary seed, flour of maize, ñame, haricot beans, nuts of Kola, etc. To him are immolated goats, roosters or chickens, hens of Angola, doves, jutías and in the antiquity dogs and horses. His ewes are the avocado, carob tree, almácigo, almond, atiponlá, language of cow, leg of hen, ceiba, Moor, grass of the blood, dormidera, basil, aroma, rompesaragüey, romerillo, thistle santo, jengibre, grenade, pendejera, peonía, tobacco, always alive, peregún, wonder, jagüey, verdolaga, grass ten of the day, yucca, fine grass, gallant at night, etc.

Oggun's dances:

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When Oggun comes down, is known by two characteristic dances. The dance of the warrior, in which he swings the machete breaking the air, while he advances with a foot and drags the other and the dance of the worker in which he mimics harvesting with the machete, or as if he was hammering like a blacksmith. The others must imitate the movements of Oggun, dancing around in a circle.

To crown Oggun. Kari-Osha:

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In order to crown this Osha must have received before the Orishas Warriors. During the coronation the Oshas and Orishas due to receive are the following.

Oggún, Elegguá, Oshosi, Obbatalá, Oke, Yemayá, Shangó, Oggué, Oshún, Oyá and Aggayú.

Characteristics of the Omo Oggun:

Dedicated to the manual works, blacksmiths, the military, police, butchers, etc. Of strong character and always wanting to impose his thought, they look for fights where there no cause, they are righteous, but in many cases obstinated, do not regret the committed acts, therefore if they are mistaken do not recognize it. They do not like to be told what to do and are very independent.

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In the begining of times Ororima and Tabutu were married. Of this relation a son was born, who was known by all like Tobi Ode (the hunting matador). Between all the Orishas, was Tobi Ode the first who decided to make a path from the invisible kingdom (Ikole Orun) to the Earth (Ikole Aye). The other Orishas when followed him discovered that Ikole Aye was covered with the dense forest (igbo), and they couldn't go through it. It was then that Obbatala took his adá fadaká and began to clean the forest. After awhile he discovered that his adá had bent and no longer it was efficient in the task. Then Oggun came to solve this problem, he discovered the mystery of the iron (Irin) and made a machete of iron (adá irin). With this he cleaned the way through the dense forest and all the Orishas could cross it and make their way to Earth. Since then Oggun is known like the owner and spirit of irin, and was rewared with the title of Osin Inmolé.