The trickster deity Esu (spelled Eshu in the original) had the power to manipulate even the most powerful gods, including Sango.
This folktale described how the inability of Sango’s wife, Oya to heed Eshu’s instructions ended in disaster for Sango’s people and made him the deity of lightning and thunder.
All of Oyo was under the control of the orisha Sango, who dominated both the city and the surrounding regions.
People in Oyo strived not to offend or displease him because he owned a thunderbolt. No one, not even the most remote inhabitant of Oyo was beyond his jurisdiction or immune to punishment for transgressions.
His power emblem was a double-bladed axe which indicated, “My strength cuts both ways.” They dubbed him Oba Jakuta, the Stone Thrower Oba, by his honorific title among the people of Oyo.
Though his presence could be felt across Oyo, as well as in other kingdoms around the world, Sango sought to inspire dread in the minds of men with something more.
He enlisted the help of Oyo’s greatest healers and told them to create jujus that would enhance his abilities. Every time the drug makers brought him something new, he wasn’t satisfied. In the end, he chose to beg for help from the orisha Eshu.
He sent a messenger to Eshu’s home in the distance. I am sent by Oba Jakuta, the great monarch of Oyo.” Then he hinted, “Go to where the famed Eshu is staying.”
Then, told him that “I require a powerful drug that will create terror in the hearts of the people.” Eshu agreed to take the medicine for Sango in exchange for a goat as a sacrifice. Eshu told Sango’s messenger to tell Sango that it is his wife, Oya that will come and collect the medicine after seven days.
The seventh day came and Sango sent Oya to collect the medicine from Eshu and she was instructed to greet Eshu and tell him that his sacrifice is on its way.
Oya got to Eshu’s place and delivered the message Sango sent her and afterward, Eshu gave her the medicine wrapped in a leaf and instructed her to give the medicine to her husband and make sure he takes it all.
Oya left and on her way, she wondered what sort of power Sango wanted and why it will be in a small leaf. She sat under a tree to rest and out of curiosity, she opened the leaf and found just red powder, she tasted it It wasn’t bad or good.
It had no taste. She closed the medicine and tied it with thin grass. She continued on her way. She arrived in Oyo and gave the medicine to Sango.
Sango asked her what instructions Eshu had given about the medicine, she wanted to say Eshu didn’t give any instructions whatsoever, but as soon as she opened her mouth to talk, fire came out from her mouth and Sango got so angry because he instantly realized she had tasted the medicine meant for him. His hand was raised in an attempt to strike her, but she escaped.
Sango was determined to find her. Oya went to an area where there were many sheep grazing on the grass. Thought Sango wouldn’t catch up to her, she hid amid the flocks of sheep. Sango, on the other hand, was enraged.
He threw his thunderstones in all directions, and they smashed into the ground. As Sango flung powers among the sheep, Oya was buried under the dead sheep, and Sango didn’t see her.
Out of anger, he came back home and Oya’s worshippers pleaded with Shango to forgive her, his anger cooled and he sent them to go bring her back home.
In the evening, he still did not know how to use the medicine, he went up to the hill where he could see the city and he stood there.
He unwrapped the medicine and put some on his tongue, as he breathed, enormous fire came out from his mouth and burnt the roof of the city of Oyo and the buildings caught fire.
Sango’s dwellings and granaries were damaged. Every building in the city was destroyed, leaving only ashes in its wake. As a result, Oyo was razed to the ground and rebuilt from scratch.
Sango continued to dominate the city once it had been rebuilt. It was common for Sango to throw his thunderbolts in times of conflict or when he was dissatisfied with his subjects.
In addition to each stone, a dazzling flare illuminated both the sky and the soil. Sango’s mouth spat fire, as everyone knew. While sheltering Oya from Sango’s thunderstones, the sheep that died were never forgotten.
As a mark of respect, Oya followers have refused to eat mutton up to this day.
