Adapted from the tales my grandmother used to tell me as a kid, about Shango and how he came to own his famous axe oshe... I will write the story from shangos perspective as the narrator.

Greetings mortal, here again to listen to the tales of my valour?. of the adventures that have made my eternal rival ogun's head swollen with jealousy...which one would you like to hear, was it the day I won my first bride oshun in a wrestling contest,or the day I lost the ability to shed tears in a wager to a gnome of the forest...nay I shall tell you of the day I got Oshe the shameless biter’, my far-famed battle axe from Shokoti the elder smith god to whom I paid in full, the blood and essence of a deity; Elegbara the god of despair, bloodshed and violent deaths, Lanroye the trickster god’s twin.

My axe; ‘‘Oshe Shango’’, it was called the shameless biter because it cuts anything regardless; mortals, monsters and gods, I won it in my nineteenth rains and with it, I slew my first god.

During one of my carefree gambol across Oyo empire as a mortal prince,long before my ascension to orisha, the parties, palm wines and dance festivals drew me to Ipetu, a town at the outskirt of Elegbara’s forest grove. My band and drummers, a body of careless, womanizing rugged youths; sons of wealthy merchants, sons of farmers, nobles and paupers with the same adventurous fire burning in our eyes went with me.

Ipetu was famous across the empire for its dance festivals, the beauty of its damsels and their provocative hips as they wriggle to the beats of the Bata and Gangan drums, few in the empire could match my dance steps when under the spell of the Bata beats, my graceful leaps and acrobatics have sent many a warrior into jealous fits after losing their women to my antics. but at Ipetu, they said the men were like earthworms wriggling in the rain, for their dance styles was renowned all over the empire; drew men from far and wide to partake in their festivals so I led my bands towards the town to compete my skills against theirs and pour red palm oil on their stainless record.

At first, the town folks received me with pomp and pageantry as the talking drums announced my arrival, for a prince of the empire and the inventor of the Bata drum has come to partake in their festivals, then smiles became frowns as I beat them in their game, taking the spot light from her youths as the Bata beats intensifies, the sweat sleek on my torso, Obembe my drummer vent away with abandon, the clouds rumbled and parted like curtains; it was as if the deities peeked down to bear witness to the competition. In droves the other dancers slunk away from the dance arena unnoticed as I held the crowd in a trance and enticed the women folk with my dance steps and masculinity till I had had enough and retired to drink and make merry.

Sullen and sulking the other dancers returned to take over the dance arena, some of the warriors were not pleased, for I have ruined their chance to excel and turned most of the town beauties away from their attention began to plot against me. The Baale (Town chieftain) last wife was among the women that fell to my charms, joined me at my merry making as we flirted and consumed gourds of palm wine till night fall, filled with food and drink, I carried her off to my lodge as she laughed seductively and whispered promises to my ear after which we danced to a new tune.

At day break; the warriors rose against me and carried the news of adultery to the Baale’s ears, in blind rage he rashly ordered for my head, forgetting the said head belonged to a prince of Oyo and a child of Oranmiyan, but some of his Chiefs knowing such action would bring disastrous repercussions on Ipetu, as a son of the Alaafin even if my offence was sleeping with the Baale’s mother, for Oranmiyan’s rages was legendary, such that he would raze Ipetu to the ground and stamp her inhabitants flat, even if it was for a wayward son, still a prince was a prince no matter his offence so the chiefs sent a runner to warn me, in anger I drew my cutlass and dared them to come face me but my band argued caution for I would surely lose the favor of the Orishas if I stayed to fight what they called a fight of blame, and risking the innocents of Ipetu, in reluctance I led my band away, scaled the town wall and fled into the forest.

In the forest, we agreed to lay low until the storm had passed and then continue on our journey, Alas for we knew not that we had unknowingly entered Elegbara’s grove to which only the foolhardy and those tired of life ventures into from which none has ever returned, for so the people of Ipetu and the surrounding hamlets feared the terrible god they offered human sacrifices every full moon to appease him, the poor victims were led into the forest and were never seen again ,for lo that night; Elegbara strolled through his grove seeking an unwary wanderer, came upon us as we slept.

We are here,children of thunda..TheBlessedMan,Come o,some one is talking about your father,my uncle...carry go.

The next day, we woke up to witness a sizable decrease in our number, six of us were nowhere to be found, after searching for them in vain we concluded that they had left for the town to face the townsfolk’s wrath rather than the forest’s, the next day another six was missing from our number and amidst them Obembe my drummer, Obembe had been my bard and friend since childhood, the son of a woodcutter and loyal to me than would my own mother, he would not desert me for we had been through worse situations together, sensing foul play I seized my cutlass and decided to search for him, the rest of my band implored me in vain but I refused, swearing to bring back Obembe or the head of whoever meant him harm; they agreed to follow me, I refused, no more lives will be forfeit on my behalf; on saying this I bid my friends farewell and embraced the dark forest.

I spent the better part of the day searching for a trail but found none, it was as if the missing members of my band had disappeared into thin air, but still I followed my instinct as I burrowed deeper into the forest, on the second day of my search. I made my first encounter, an old woman so wizened, death mistook her for dead and so she lived on.

“Come to me young warrior’’ she croaked as i drew close; lend me your strength and youth.

“Stand back old one’’, she stopped as I drew my cutlass, “my strength is mine for I earned it, my youth is mine for it is my time, why borrow mine when you spent yours to the fullest even though I find it hard to believe you were once supple and young’’, I grinned mischievously.

“A trade then”, the old woman crooned, a sliver of youth for a glimpse of your future, or a chance at what you most desire.’’

“No thank you old mother, I answered polite but firm, I am young and full of zest, why burden my mind with a glimpse of the future’’, and for my heart desire’’ I am a prince; what more can I ask for.’’

I made to move on but the old soot bent on dying, grabbed my arm as I passed, hissed and released her hold like she was burnt.
“Your life force burns with so much thirst it drains other close to you, you’ll have nothing but a life of misery and ruin ahead she sneered.”

Chilled with fear at her evil prophesy, I cursed her in rage.

“Depart from my sight old witch;’’ you want death so bad offer yourself to Elegbara for I shall not soil my cutlass with your foul blood’’ as much as I want to, a slap from me is enough to end your horrid existence.”

On saying this, I brushed past her and moved on, the old woman’s voice followed me as I hastened to distance myself from her.

“A brisk life of regret, she wailed, “As fleeting as the fog of dawn. Thirty children you shall bury and countless souls you shall send to the beyond and none shall know your grave, master of chaos.”

Her evil cackle chased me as I ran on like the daemons were after me. It took me another full day to get over the old witch’s ominous prophesy and by then I had ventured deep into the forest god’s grove then I met another encounter.

This time it was an old man, not as old and hideous as the old witch but old still; regaled in a flowing agbada robe and wore a beaded crown, sat on a boulder like a king in court; my encounter with the old woman had made me cautious as I quickly prostrated and paid homage as expected of a Yoruba youth to an elder then made to move on when he called me by my name.

“How do you know my name old one I asked’’ the old man smiled and answered in a surprisingly deep voice for an old man.

“Who does not know the infamous wayward son of Oranmiyan, the birds sang your arrival and the forest dwellers gathered their females away from your path lest you leave them without women, the stories I heard about you always portrays you as vain and rash but never foolhardy enough to throw his life away as the man I see before me.’’

“What am doing in the dark forest does not concern anybody but me’’ I snapped rudely, my temper getting the best of me, if you had a friend who was lost you would understand but I see all your age mates would have joined their ancestors by now.’’

The old man chuckled,

“The famous temper; I heard many a story about that too, so who was the lost person you seek?’’

“My friend and drummer Obembe, I replied, “he disappeared along with a number of my band a few days ago.’’

“then he is lost forever’’ the old man mused; ‘‘for anyone taken in the dark forest never saw the sun again, go back while you still can young prince for your friends has been claimed by the god of despair for now as we speak Elegbara may be drinking their blood, using their skulls as cup.’’

“Then Elegbara has taken his last meals on this earth for if he does not hand over my friends in peace I will take them in pieces’’, I raged.

“Bold words from a brave man, the old man said, Ogun the Orisha of iron and warfare said the same before he beheld the daemon deity yet fled on sight, he is an Orisha, you are just a mortal, what did you have that Ogun does not.’’

“I have you old one’’, I answered, my reply sent him into another bout of laughter.

“you’re not only brave but cunny and surely, Ogun did not have my backing but you could, if you are willing to accept my patronage; for your skills, wits and iron cutlass will avail you not when you face the daemon deity.’’ I am Shokoti the elder smith god, he proclaimed, rising up to his full height, it was at my bellows a young Ogun learnt his trade.’’

“Then you must surely have a weapon that can defeat Elegbara I implored.”

Shokoti smiled and answered; “why ask a yam farmer if he knows how to plant and grow cassava, for if he can cultivate yam he would surely know the secret behind planting cassava for are they not both tuber?’’, surely that was not the question I expected from you.

“Give me the weapon and name your price’’ I tried again.

I must have answered correctly for his eyes glowed as he smiled and I realized I have been lured into bargaining with a god from which I might pay dearly and losing Obembe could as well be the least of my problems. From the fold of his large robe, he withdrew a great axe I couldn’t help but wondered how he managed to fit a weapon of such size on his person, a double bladed weapon of black steel so dark it emits shadows of its own, sigils and symbols crafted all over its edges a haft of burnished metalloid carved with images of unknown idols.

A thing of terrible beauty, terrible to a foe for the beauty would be the last thing he sees before he is sent on the journey of no return to report his deeds and works to his ancestors.
I could hear the sharpness of the axe singing as it cuts through the air.

“This is Oshe,’’ he said an amused look on the elder god’s face as I watched him twirl the seemed heavy axe through the air with ease, greed on my face. The shameless biter; forged in my youth, at the peak of my might, melted in the heat of the essence of a long dead god, hammered with his hip bone, tempered with ancient forbidden incantations learnt at a terrible price, and cooled in his blood, I will let you borrow it at a price, the essence of a god is my price he concluded.

“And if I could not get it?” I countered.

“Then your life will be collateral’’, he answered calmly like he was mentioning the price of a goat.

Nice one boss

“What if you’re lying I fired back, what if this axe is not as powerful as you said it is and I ended up in the daemon god’s cook pot for my trouble.

Shokoti managed to look offended.

“Howu! An Orisha wouldn’t lie to you and I wouldn’t get his essence for my trouble if he slays you.’’

“Lanroye lies all the time and you would still get paid with my life,” I smirked.

“I so swear by Eledunmare the creator of all things the weapon is true,’’ Shokoti answered not amused this time around.

“Well here’s my bargain old man I growled, I’ll take the axe, if I spill the blood of Elegbara with it my life stays mine, and if I slay him for his useless essence, Oshe is mine forever.’’

“Ashe, It is sealed!!! The ground rumbled as he said this, his annoying smile back on his face, he handed Oshe over to me and I held it aloft to inspect. I felt its glee race through my core, it was happy it had found me; it was made for me and me for it.

“Together we shall slay a god and achieve greatness you and I,’’ I whispered, it hummed back in appreciation and I smiled.

I turned to address Shokoti but the elder god was nowhere to be found. Strapping Oshe to my back, I moved on through the dark forest; for I have a god to hunt.

Ore mi, abeg give me more update jor

For more two days, I encountered other dwellers of the forest. Tree imps, gnomes and minor deities, but I paid them no heed for none of them was whom I seek. They also avoided me because of the dark aura emitting from Oshe, I was anxious to find my quarry as soon as possible for delay may prove costly for I still harbored hope of seeing my friend and bard, Obembe and the rest of my band alive.

On the third day, I began to despair and grow doubt, what if I was late, what if the elder god was lying and Oshe failed to cut the daemon deity’s divine skin and I ended up at the bottom of his stew pot, turning back had never felt so tempting, my purposeful steps began to falter as the dreadful thoughts ran through my mind, then I realized my adversary was the Orisha of despair and hopelessness, I then resolved in my mind that I must be getting close to the evil god’s lair which explained the change in my mood, turning back was never an option for I also have the price to pay for the weapon I had purchased, so I hardened my heart and pushed on.

The forest began to change as the trees grew thicker and darker and eerily quiet for I neither heard nor saw bird or beast, the grounds were littered with the bones of different animals so thick I waded on in a marsh of bones then I knew I had gotten to Elegbara’s groove.
Lo, I beheld the monster and nearly flew from his presence, for Elegbara was terrifying in appearance. A massive being, a single horn protruded from his forehead burned with unnatural black flame and chewing through a human skull with lion like teeth stained with blood, he was surrounded by dozen human corpses while he ate from a very large pot boiling with the same flame on his horn.

He was so engrossed in his gory feast that he failed to notice he had a visitor, I recognized some of the dead men as the lost members of my band and my heart fell further when I saw Obembe’s drum amidst the dead men. Reckless with righteous anger, I hollered boldly at the feasting god.

“Greetings Elegbara” I hope the salt is not too much and the meat not too overcooked.’’

Elegbara must have been in a good mood for he mumbled greetings as he sucked through the skull that looked so much like Obembe’s head. My blood boiled at his nonchalant gesture and yelled again rudely this time.

“Oh, one-horned father of smelly he-goats, have you no respect?’’ or are you simply too dim to recognize honored guest as the one standing before you?’’
The daemon deity paused at this to peer down at me. I noticed another smaller horn protruding from his chin like a beard. He shook his head, probably amused at the audacity of the foolhardy mortal before him, he resolved I was either mad or some god in disguise.

“Who are you and what do you seek?’’ His hoarse voice sent chills down my spine.

“I am Shango, the son of Oranmiyan. The great grandson of Oduduwa and I have come seeking for your head for the wrong which you have wronged me.’’

The Orisha did not look impressed as he sucked on a leg bone,

“I know Oduduwa, for he offered me offerings as a mortal king, paid his respects, kept out of my way and knew his place before he ascended unto godhood to the invisible realm of the Orishas, I know your lofty sire Oranmiyan for his conquests and wars fed me much blood and misery, you on the other hand are just an impudent youth trying to move away from his father’s illustrious shadow, to create a shade of his own, go home boy and learn more wisdom, for when a child’s hand cannot reach round a sword hilt, surely he is not ready to avenge his father’s death.

I will let you go for your father’s sake. Run home to your mother’s breast for I see you are not weaned completely, because a dog that enters into a leopard’s den will surely have its coat soaked in blood, only a fool ventures into Elegbara’s groove.

“I am Eshu Elegbara; the daemon deity, father of incubi, succubi, windhorls, tree demons and ghommids of the dark forest.’’ I am the hopeless calm after despair, the acceptance of the inevitable, the dreaded one that snatches the infant from its mothers safe arms, I am Eshu Lanroye’s twin for we both own the roads and crossroads, serving out accidents and chances to world travelers, for when a man is content and his cup is filled to the brim, his cattle fat at the moor, his barn filled with bountiful harvest, his household rang with songs and laughter, I will enter into his house, add bitterness into his life, take away his happiness and leave sorrow behind.

I am Eshu Elegbara the terrible, the blood of man is my favorite brew, and his tender fleshes my favorite snack. I bath in his tears and cloth in his despair. Now that you know into whose house you had foolishly ventured, disappear from my sight before they bring news of bereavement to Oranmiyan’s household.’’

On saying this, Elegbara returned to his gory meal.

Insulted and a little stung at his pitying dismissal, I cursed him and called him by rude names, my sharp tongue which had landed me in numerous hassles failed me not, days spent with lawless men and drunkards supplied me with vulgar speeches from which I held nothing back.

“You wool brained hideous bastard of a thousand fathers, you dare to call yourself an Orisha, you mistake of a deity, you dared to open that excrement filled maw you call mouth and compared yourself to Lanroye in all his divinity, perchance if you had ever sat to think why you stayed down here in your gods forsaken groove where no one visits you and you think it was because everyone feared you, then you must be dumber than you look.

No one wants to come near you because you stink to the heavens, your foul stench led me right from the edge of the forest to the hole you call groove, your brother wears robes made with golden linen, you’re here strutting about in skirts made of palm fronds, he dines and wine on a table of silver while you squat on plantain leaves and bones, eating carrion, and you dare to call yourself a god. I am not surprised for as we have beggars and mad men amidst mortals surely you must be the father and deity of beggars and lunatics, ‘‘arise from your rags thou beggar god and set your affairs in order for today, you have eaten your last human flesh, after I have silenced you forever, your dear twin will surely thank me for removing such embarrassment from his life.’’

My taunts and jabs must have pained him so much his was speechless with rage his meal forgotten, the black flame burning on his single horn died down to thick black smoke, he rose to his full height allowing me to really see the hive of hornets I had foolishly stirred with a stick, Elegbara was terrible in appearance. His head, thick with hair like a lion’s brushed the tree tops, his eyes glowed like bonfire; he drew a great spiked club taller than I am from his person.

“I see some second rated Oracle must have misled you with songs of glory into throwing your life away or your doomed fate has finally caught up with you. I promise you a painful passing for your mother shall feel the old pain of childbirth as I rip out your heart from your chest, I will use you as a lesson to foolhardy youths who would want to venture on the doomed path you have taken, I shall keep you alive long enough to see me eat your still beating heart so in your next life, your heart with flutter within you whenever you hear the name Elegbara.”

On saying this, the daemon deity charged with a blood curdling roar that shook the forest.

See mind o

rukidiv shift make i sit down, omo dis one na die...

germaphobe:
rukidiv shift make i sit down, omo dis one na die...

i yaff shifted bruh

i love the proverbs nice tale

Abeg finish the story na. Very intersting write up . Think we have lovely myths and legends of gods and"daemons" in this country that can rival those of the olympians. Who born hermes or zeus when we get sango,ogun,obatala et al. Lol. Keep it up please and looking forward to other tales. Thanks

Lol...the comments have been encouraging ,thanks guys...working on it faster than before, not to worry,tale nearly finish...elegbara go soon turn worm food.

zubike01:
i love the proverbs nice tale

thanks...been following your stories too...so many talents than nairaland literature forum deserved...you should really have kasala the lightening stone published .

I will not lie to you mortals, I panicked.tell me who wouldn't when a thousand pound of monstrosity charged at you. I hurled my cutlass at him, my aim was true but my iron cutlass shattered against his face as an earthenware pottery would shatter against rock.

At this, I turned around and raced away into the dark forest, the daemon deity at my heels. Years of running from angry husbands, jilted lovers and the quick dancing beats of the Bata drum had rendered me fleet footed as I raced gracefully like the gazelle, in spite of Elegbara’s great height and reach, kept ahead of him.

Oshe was not pleased, it hummed with disapproval, "I can drop you if you are so eager to fight him then" I sent back thoughts to it.

"Upon all your mouth running and bragging", oshe hummed in mockery. I was shamed at this but I kept mum, steadfastly focused on running.

Our chase led us straight into a grotto of hanging creepers and spidery tree trunks, I raced through the grotto with ease but Elegbara’s larger form was soon trapped as he tried to force his way in after me. Roaring in impotent fury, the more he struggled, the more he was stuck in entwined vines.

"Now this is your chance" Oshe trummed with eagerness to bite, Elegbara's plight returned some courage into my breast for I drew Oshe and smote with all the strength in my limbs.

Oshe was true for it bit the trapped god, his bellow of surprise rather than pain shook the forest floor, for the first time in thousand of years, Elegbara felt pain, in a burst of divine strength; he showed me why he was Orisha for the black flame from his single horn became an inferno as I raced for cover.

Peeking out from behind the boulder from which I took cover, I beheld the entire grotto of creepers and hanging vines in a blackened ruin.
Amidst the smoking stumps that was his temporal prison, Elegbara stood glowing with black power, watched me and my weapon with wary interest.

“Son of Oranmiyan, from whence did you acquire a weapon such as this? Surely an Orisha is behind this, what were you promised? Which coward god sends a mortal to do his dirty work.’’

“Little wonder Ogun lord of Ire withdrew from your duel, I fired back, for you bored the fight out of him with your senseless talk and aimless banter, are we going to fight or rant like market women, you concern yourself with the wrong sort, for you should be concerned about your safety because Shango of Oyo will walk away from here with your head, in payment for his friends whom you sent to the beyond with their works incomplete.’’

Giving him little time to react, I charged him and the forest rang with the clash of our weapons.

Elegbara was no mean god, for he gave me the fight of my life but I drew strength from Oshe’s dark aura and brought forth sweat from the daemon deity’s brow for never in his ancient existence has he met a mortal like me,my agility gaving me advantage, you mortals should take to the energetic beats of bata drum more often, the dance alone works wonders to the body than herbs.

My quickness began to frustrate the deamon deity for I was not staying in place for his great club to smash into amala, roaring with rage he muttered words of incantation,the forest floor answered and i was rooted in place. "I have you now little fly he howled with glee.

But I was not ready to meet my Creator, I am sango demi-god great son of the legendary Oduduwa i uttered incantations of my own,calling upon the spirit of egbe,Elegbara raised his club to end me but i was nowhere to be found egbe has teleported me a yard away from danger.

Wonderful write up... Pls more update.

Nice. Shangoic act

lovely write up.

"I admit I underestimate you son of Oranmiyan, but I grow weary of your boju boju games, you have toyed with an Orisha long enough, this is my forest, this is my dominion, your charms shall have no effectiveness again" Elegbara said.

True to his words, non of my charms worked again as I uttered incantations after incantations till I ran out of saliva. Neither daunted nor discouraged ,I once more hurled myself at the deamon deity and the real battle began.

For a day and a night the forest dwellers cowered fearfully in their abodes as our battle leveled great trees, till at last my mortal limbs began to tire, blood flowed freely from deep wounds and I realized I must end the conflict or be finished in return. Calling on Oshe’s strength for one final maneuver, its power rushed through me as I weaved under a swing from Elegbara’s spiked club that could have taken off my head till it had landed in my father’s throne room at Oyo.

Racing up his great club, I leapt with the borrowed strength in my limbs till I was leveled with the monster’s head, yelling the battle cry of my ancestors, I sent Oshe on an errand and it delivered. Elegbara’s head was separated from his shoulders and thus my friends were avenged.

I lay dying beside my vanquished foe. Oshe like an anchor, held me clinging stubbornly to life until Shokoti appeared and healed me of my mortal wounds. Stronger than the first day I stepped into the dark forest, I stood up and watched as the elder god pulled out a dark fishing net, spread it over the daemon deity’s remains and drew it, a burning aura that must be Elegbara's essensse shined so bright that I shielded my eyes came away with the net into which the elder god put in a great brass pot with stopper. He turned to me with a satisfied smile on his face.

“Shango, slayer of Elegbara, the world of man and Orishas thank you for your great service, I suppose I can have my axe back now?’’

He must have read the look on my impassive face for he chuckled and said he was only joking and he surly did not want to escort Elegbara into limbo.

“Although Elegbara’s passing might not be missed by most Orishas but a monster still have loved ones, his twin; Lanroye will not be pleased, his sisters, the three world mothers of red, white and black witches and his numerous monster offspring’s will have a score to settle with you now so this is where I give you my patronage, it will discourage his Orisha siblings from coming after you directly but his monster children are another matter, some of them are already hunting after your scent through the forest as we speak.’’

“Handle the godly siblings for me old one, I can take care of his children.’’ I said as I swung Oshe up and caught it, what about Elegbara, is he really dead?

"Orisha never cease to exist," Shokoti chuckled. "as long as there are worshippers to remember them, although it might take him millennia to return because I have his essense with me, the deamon deity will resurface, and guess who he would find first, but that is for another time now you need worry about his vengful family,so kneel."

I knelt down before the elder god, he laid a hand on me, and I felt nothing more than a tingle as he told me to get up.