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The Praises of Ogun
Overview
A Yoruba poem or praise song in honor of Ogun. Translated by Jerome Rothenberg (called a “working” rather than a translation) from a French translation by Pierre Verger.
Commentary
Context
This poem is an example of Yoruba praise poetry called oríkì.
Ogun is one of the Orisha, deities in the Yoruba religion. The number of Orisha varies by source, but there are always several hundred to over one thousand. This poem calls him “orisha number three.” A note preceding the working indicates that “Ogun must be praised by all those who use iron.” He is also connected to physical combat, the woods, and roads.
Bibliography
Brooks, Robin. “Manifestations of Ogun Symbolism in Paule Marshall's Praisesong for the Widow.” Journal of Africana Religions, vol. 2, no. 2, 2014, pp. 161–183. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/jafrireli.2.2.0161. Accessed 16 June 2021.
