Shango — Thunder, Justice, Sovereign Power

Shango (Ṣàngó) is the Orisha of àrá (thunder), mànàmáná (lightning), and ìdájọ́ (justice) — historically the fourth Aláàfin (king) of the Ọ̀yọ́ Empire who became a cosmic force after his departure from ayé (the visible world). As documented in Britannica's entry on Shango, he wields the oṣé (double-headed axe) and the èdùn àrá (thunderstone), symbols of sovereign judicial authority. Shango's ese Ifá teach that his destructive power is legitimate only when deployed in service of òdodo (righteousness) — the oral tradition records that when he used his lightning carelessly, it consumed his own àfin (palace). His worship demands that àṣẹ and ìwà pẹ̀lẹ́ (power and character) remain inseparable.