Eshu

Statue of the Orisha EshuNigeria, c1920.

Eshu, Exu or Esu is an orisha in Yoruba mythology. As the religion has spread around the world, the name of this orisha has varied in different places, but the beliefs remain similar.

Eshu. Orisha, from the Orisha Oddé group, commonly called "The Warriors". Governs the manifestations of evil.

Summary

Èsù is considered in the Yoruba religion to be the first differentiated particle of life created by Òlòórún. The word Èsù means "sphere", and represents infinity, permanent movement. Èsù is the messenger of the Òrìsà; he is the intermediary between men and the Òrìsà. He is the permanent communicator between Aiyé (sometimes mistranslated as the world we live in) and Òrún (beyond, home of the Òrìsà, sometimes mistranslated as heaven).

Eshu Alawana or Alaguana is everywhere. It lives solitary in the dark and inhospitable places of the mountain or in the savannah. He is the chief of the eggun, with whom he has a large trade. He represents hopelessness and misfortune.

Eshu Alawana is the smallest of the Elegguá and accompanies Oggún a lot. He is considered the owner of all kinds of chains, in addition to the guava doodle, a cedar doll that lives and eats with him, and the Ariku Bambaya.

He is a great sorcerer, he has the ability to release from prison, he is invoked with the guava doodle. He has his own Ossain which is prepared in a bull jar and he has his own tureen. The eshu Alawana to work is placed on the ground on the carapace of a snapper.

Among his tools are an Ariku Bambaya, some chains, a guava doodle, his cedar doll and his turtle shell.

The Orisha

In the Yoruba pantheon, Èsù rules over communication, the word, the crossroads of the roads (symbolizing the different options of life), trade, work, etc.

Family

He is the son of Obatala and Yenbo or Orchanla, friend of Ogun and Ochosi and Ozun are inseparable. Created by Olorun.

Eshu is the first particle of life created by Olorun.

Offerings and dances

Goats, game of Guinean cocks, roosters or chickens, pollons, game of pigeons (generally dark for Lodé and Laná; but lighter for Adàgué and Aselú) are immolated.

The Offerings (also called Fronts) can vary according to each tradition within the same Yoruba cult.

Bara Lodé: roasted corn, 7 baby papines (small potatoes) roasted with their skins and brushed with dendé (palm) oil.

Bará Laná: roasted corn, 7 baby papines (small potatoes) roasted with the skin and brushed with dendé (palm tree) oil

Bará Adàgué: light roasted corn, 7 papines (small potatoes) roasted with their skins on and smeared with dendé (palm) oil: in the center, place a good handful of pipoca (pororó).

Bará Aselú: Axoxó (boiled corn), 7 papines (small potatoes) boiled with skins (once cold they are peeled to be presented; they are interspersed with 7 honey candies. Eventually, the candies can be replaced by strips of peeled fresh coconut

Syncretism

As part of the transculturation and the danger that the slaves brought to Cuba saw of losing their roots, each saint adopted the name of a Catholic saint. There is also the fact that the slaves came from different parts of Africa and in each one they were called differently.

Paths

1. Eshu Abalonke.
2. Eshu Abainukue [Abanulue].
3. Eshu Abarikoko [Aberekoko].
4. Eshu Aberu.
5. Eshu Aboni.
6. Eshu Adawa.
7. Eshu Afradi.
8. Eshu Aganika.
9. Eshu Agbadé.
10. Eshu Agbalonké.
11. Eshu Agbanile.
12. Eshu Agbobamaleki [Agbobara Meleki].
13. Eshu Agongo Olo Onya.
14. Eshu Agongo Ogo.
15. Eshu Agogogo [Agoto].
16. Eshu Agomeyo.
17. Eshu Agororó [Agoggoro].
18. Eshu Agroiele [Agroi].
19. Eshu Aiyede.
20. Eshu Akarajéu.
21. Eshu Akanadrede.
22. Eshu Akere [Aguere].
23. Eshu Akerebioke [Arerebieke].
24. Eshu Akokolebiye [Akokoleriyu] [Akokoriye].
25. Eshu Alagbona [Alagbana] [Alagbawana].
26. Eshu Alaloilu [Alalombe].
27. Eshu Alakétu.
28. Eshu Alawana.
29. Eshu Alayikí.
30. Eshu Aletán.
31. Eshu Alimu.
32. Eshu Aloba.
33. Eshu Aloma.
34. Eshu Aluasamá.
35. Eshu Alufama.
36. Eshu Añaki Olokun.
37. Eshu Arailele [Araelele].
38. Eshu Araidi.
39. Eshu Arayeyi.
40. Eshu Arinika [Arimika].
41. Eshu Aroni.
42. Eshu Aropiu [Aropin].
43. Eshu Aruda [Wrinkle].
44. Eshu Arufin.
45. Eshu Aselu.
46. Eshu Ashikuelu.
47. Eshu Atulú [Atutu].
48. Eshu Awaloboma [Alawabona].
49. Eshu Awere.
50. Eshu Ayentelú [Ajetola].
51. Eshu Yesterdayu.
52. Eshu Ayé.
53. Eshu Barabé [Baragbo].
54. Eshu Baradage.
55. Eshu Baragargaluo [Baragadano].
56. Eshu Baraiye.
57. Eshu Baralanube [Saralanube].
58. Eshu Baralajiki.
59. Eshu Baralasikú.
60. Eshu Baralona.
61. Eshu Baraña [Baraiña].
62. Eshu Barañiki.
63. Eshu Bariño [Baraiño]
64. Eshu Barokeño [Barakeño] [Bara Kinkeño].
65. Eshu Batioye [Batieye] [Batiye].
66. Eshu Belón.
67. Eshu Beleke.
68. Eshu Bí.
69. Eshu Birí.
70. Eshu Biribí.
71. Eshu Bikuyin.
72. Eshu Bode [Bogde].
73. Eshu Borokú.
74. Eshu Bragada.
75. Eshu Dare.
76. Eshu De.
77. Eshu Diki [Deke].
78. Eshu Ebelukeño [Abelugueño].
79. Eshu Edugbele.
80. Eshu Ekileyo.
81. Eshu Ekuboro.
82. Eshu Elegbara.
83. Eshu Eluasama.
84. Eshu Emere.
85. Eshu Esherike.
86. Eshu Ewé.
87. Eshu Griyelu.
88. Eshu Gberú.
89. Eshu Ibamalá [Imbalá].
90. Eshu Iboribueno [Iborikeño].
91. Eshu Idena.
92. Eshu Igidé.
93. Eshu Ileloya.
94. Eshu Ijelu.
95. Eshu Iña.
96. Eshu Janadá.
97. Eshu Jano.
98. Eshu Kakesa.
99. Eshu Kaminalowá.
100. Eshu Kawanilele Orun [Mawanitele Okun].
101. Eshu Kekunyelede [Yekun Yeledi].
102. Eshu Keneno [Kekeno].
103. Eshu Koima Koima [Koiña Koiña].
104. Eshu Kolofó.
105. Eshu Kotero.
106. Eshu Laboni.
107. Eshu Lalu [Lala].
108. Eshu Laluokirioko [Laluokikiokoko].
109. Eshu Lameta [Lamota].
110. Eshu Lamulamubata.
111. Eshu Laribere [Layibora].
112. Eshu Laroke [Larowe].
113. Eshu Laroye.
114. Eshu Lashe.
115. Eshu Layé.
116. Eshu Lodo [Londelo].
117. Eshu Lodé.
118. Eshu Lolu.
119. Eshu Malé.
120. Eshu Marara [Karara].
121. Eshu Marimaiyé.
122. Eshu Masankio.
123. Eshu Meko [Mako].
124. Eshu Morilaye [Merilaye].
125. Eshu Ná.
126. Eshu Nanke.
127. Eshu Ni Bakuo.
128. Eshu Nikiniki [Miwi Miwi].
129. Eshu Obakokero [Obakekero].
130. Eshu Obaniwana [Obanijuana].
131. Eshu Obarakaketu [Abara Lakentu].
132. Eshu Obasin Layé [Abasinlaye].
133. Eshu Obayila [Abatila].
134. Eshu Oddara.
135. Eshu Oddemasa [Oddemora].
136. Eshu Ofun Meyiyí.
137. Eshu Ogunilobe [Ogunnilewo].
138. Eshu Ojuani Lelé Alaroye.
139. Eshu Okán.
140. Eshu Okokoyebiye [Akoyebiye].
141. Eshu Okuanda [Okuando] [Okuande].
142. Eshu Okuboro [Akuoro].
143. Eshu Olanki.
144. Eshu Onibarakeña [Onibara Kena].
145. Eshu Oniburu [Onibure].
146. Eshu Oni Oshosi.
147. Eshu Onini Buruku.
148. Eshu Oroigi [Oroiki].
149. Eshu Osiká.
150. Eshu Osukakugbo [Osakakungmo].
151. Eshu Owó.
152. Eshu Shiguide.
153. Eshu Sibonoku.
154. Eshu Sokere.
155. Eshu Soko Yoki.
156. Eshu Suayu.
157. Eshu Tolabí.
158. Eshu Unyolo [Ungolo].
159. Eshu Wanloke [Awanloke].
160. Eshu Wonke.
161. Eshu Yangi.
162. Eshu Yelu.