Xango

Xango

Xango is one of the most popular Orisha in the candomble religion in Brazil. He is a Candomble divinity. In other parts of the world, Xango can be spelled in many ways. Xango is also known as Sango. Shango, or Chango. He is the God of thunder and lightning. Xango is the fourth king of the Yoruban kingdom and represents the Oyo people of West Africa. He controlled the powers of lighting an thunder. He died by suicide by hanging himself and entered the Yoruba pantheon. He is still celebrated in Nigeria and Brazil. Xango is known for justice, power, violent temper, magic, music and dance. He is a protector. He carries a double-headed axe, which represents swift and balanced justice. He owns Bata, the three double-headed drums. Xango makes all things double and is associated with the ram, a holy animal. His colors are red and white and his number is 6. His metals are stone and silver. Xango was a king who brought upon prosperity to his kingdom. Xango chooses his followers by pointing lightning at them. Followers who worship Xango have a sense of power and self-control. Xango originated in Africa in what now is now Nigeria. The orisha was brought over to Brazilian countries within slavery. The Xango traditions and ceremonies survived the passage and reestablished in the western part of the world. Now it is popularly known in countries such as, Brazil, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Xango is one the most important orishas because he represents justice, by punishment. The axe is his weapon and represents his powers. Xango was feared for his ability to breathe fire from his mouth. Xango wears colorful clothes. His costume is white an red, and he wears a red skirt. Xango is an important orisha, that along with his mythological background and power, it is worshiped and celebrated in the countries it spread to.

History

Xango’s history has many stories. One of the stories tells about Xango’s parents. He is the son of Anganju and Obatala. Obatala is the king of the white cloth. He meets Anganju when he was traveling and had to cross a river. Aganju was the ferryman and god of fire. He refused Obatala passage. Obatala left and came back as a beautiful woman. Obatala went back to the river and exchanged his/her body for passage from Aganju. Xango was the result of this encounter.

Xango has many stories. Another story talks about him and his three wives. His three wives are Oshun, Oba, and Oya. Oba was his first wife, Oshun his second, and Oya his third. Xango’s three wives lived surrounding him. He lived, ate , and slept with all, every time he visited them. His favorite wife is Oshun the river goddess, because of her cooking. Oba is another river goddess. She becomes jealous of Oshun and Xango‘s relationship. Oba asks Oshun what she does in order to have Xango happy with her. Oshun did not like Oba because her children would inherit Xango’s kingdom; since she is Xango’s first wife. Oshun decides to tricks Oba and tells her that she needs to cut off a piece of ear and serve it to Xango when he eats. This will cause Xango to desire Oba’s food and bring him happiness with her. Oba does as she is told, but instead of cutting off a piece of her ear, she cuts her entire ear and serves it to Xango for dinner. Oba believes that by serving Xango her entire ear, he will forget about Oshun. As Xango eats dinner, he comes upon the ear and believes that Oba is poisoning him. He forces her to run away and she falls to earth and turns into a river. Due to this, now Oba is worshiped as the patron of matrimony. Oya is Xango‘s third wife; she stole Xango’s magic.

Xango has many mythological stories that originate from Africa. They all were transported to countries in South America and the Caribbean during slavery. Today, Xango is still worshiped by Yorubians. Yoruba is the most populous tribe in Africa, located primarily in Nigeria.

Xango Dance

Xango features rhythms of Santeria dancers who spin with bowls with flames and eat fire. Xango dancers wave their axe, holding it firmly with their hands. The axe is very important to the Xango ritual, because it is what represents Xango. Xango dance comes from west African ancestors and gods. The dances use a lot of drum beats and atabaques. Xango also dances around as if riding a horse. The dances are performed as rituals, were animals are sacrificed.

Xango Music and Instruments

Xango is a mixture of African Rhythms and Caribbean sounds. The music uses a lot of drum beats and clapping. The main language Xango music is sang in is Portuguese, including a lot of musical instruments. Some instruments used for Xango music are:

Ÿ Chere or Chechere: This denotes several types of mental shaker. The one Querino illustrates, used in Xango ceremonies, is a copper vessel containing pebbles.

Ÿ Adja: Small metal bell used in candomble and Xango ceremonies.

Ÿ Batas: Small wooden drums of Yoruba origin, used in Xango ceremonies.

Ÿ Ubata: No description known. May be alternative name for bata drum used in some Recife Xango ceremonies.

Cynthia Lopez

Works Cited

1. Eliade, Mircea( Editor in chief). The Encyclopedia of Religion. Vol. 3. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 1987.

2. http://www.geocities.com/beargomke/Xango.html

3. http://www.amazingpsychicreading.com/shango1.html

4. http://www.nickbuxton.info/photos/brazil/photo037.html