Shango

This article is about the deity and legendary figure. For other uses, see Shango (disambiguation).

Shango
Thunder Lightning Fire Justice Dance Virility
Member of Irunmọlẹ Oriṣa
Representation of Ṣàngó, National Museum of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
Other names	Sango Ṣàngó Changó Xangô Arabambi Jakuta Hevioso Siete Rayos
Venerated in	Yoruba religion, Dahomean religion, Batuque, West African Vodun, Santería, Umbanda, Candomblé, Kélé, Haitian Vodou, Arará, Louisiana Voodoo, Kumina, Trinidad Orisha, Folk Catholicism
Major cult center	Ọyọ
Weapons	Oṣé, thunderstone
Day	The fourth day of the Kọjọda week Wednesday Friday
Color	Red and White
Region	Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Latin America
Ethnic group	Yoruba people, Fon people, Ewe people
Temples	Casa Branca Ilê Axé Opô Afonjá
Festivals	Sango Festival
Genealogy
Parents	Ọranmiyan and Torosi
Siblings	Ajaka (brother)
Spouse	Ọba, Ọṣun, Ọya
Children	Ibeji
Equivalents
Vodún	Xɛvioso
Catholicism	Saint Barbara
Igbo	Amadioha

Shango (Yoruba: Ṣàngó) is the Orisha (or deity) of fire, thunder, lightning, virility, dance, drumming, strength and justice in the Yoruba religion. Genealogically, Shango is a royal ancestor of the Yoruba as he was the third Alaafin of the Oyo Empire prior to his posthumous deification. Shango is known for his double-headed battle-axe (Oṣé) and is considered to be one of the most powerful rulers in Yoruba history.

Xangô, as he is called in Candomblé and various other Afro-Brazilian religions, is believed to have numerous manifestations as various historical and legendary figures, including Ayrá, Agodo, Afonja, Lubé, and Obomin. Ayrá is derived from another deity in Yorùbáland, the personification of thunder, that is often closely associated with Ṣàngó and is called Ara (lit. 'Thunder'). In the New World, he is syncretized with either Saint Barbara or Saint Jerome.