Altar stand "odo shango" · Nigeria, Yoruba, Igbomina · ID: 3049109
Ursula Heijs-Voorhuis, Sint Agatha, The Netherlands
Description
wood, pigments,
The bottom of the altarpiece is hollowed like a mortar, the wall decorated in relief with symbols typical of “shango”, such as the double axe, “shangos” dog, which can even be found on both sides, as well as the snake on the back, whose zigzag-shaped body is supposed to recall the lightning with which “shango” reveals its power.
According to Witte, “shango” priests sit on these stool-like objects when they are possessed by the deity. Above all, however, they serve as pedestals / bases for utensils used in the cult of the thunder god. These include containers in which Neolithic stone axes “edun ara” are kept, which “shango” hurls through the air as thunderbolts, as well as dance wands and calabash rattles. “Shango” is said to be present in these objects, and so the mortar becomes a throne for “shango”.
A festival is held annually for the worship of “shango”. Before the festival takes place, the “odo shango” and other shrine objects are prepared by being washed and re-painted in “shango’s” colours (red, white and blue). On the day of the festival, an animal sacrifice is made and it’s blood is poured over the collected “edun ara” placed in vessels stored on the “odo shango”.
Comparing literature
Homberger, Lorenz (Hg.), Yoruba, Zürich 1991, p. 70, fig. 83