Baston Oshe Shango

It is a cane or axe of ceremony used during the cult of the god of Thunder Shango, fourth Yoruba king who was deified, and in the ceremonies of possession the Orisha (intermediate divinity) is embodied in the initiate who handles the axe, during the trance. And in this way, Shango transmits the power of lightning to his descendants. The priests and priestesses who participate in this ceremony are clothed in the red robe of Sangho, the colour of lightning and blood. The handle represents a priestess whose headdress is the stone that produces the lightning cleft the sky. Some canes are topped by two women's faces representing the two wives of Shango, Oya and Osun, both Orishas of the Rivers. The altars consecrated to Shango are called ojubo-sangho. Sangho society is one of the most important.

The dance sticks in his honour frequently present the stone axe, other times women figures, his two wives, the Orishas of the Aya and Osun rivers. He is worshiped, despite being feared, for his manifestations of anger, storms, bring water and fertilize the earth. These dance sticks, Oshe Shango, are the symbol of who has been consecrated. In the ceremonies they are carried by an initiate who lifts him above his head and lowers him with the speed of lightning or by the priest who directs the ceremony. The cane is also the symbol of the Shango divinity.

This cane represents an androgynous figure, no doubt an Orisha, overmounted by a double face, which could represent the two wives of Shango. The dobre face also represents the double-edged axe of Shango which is the symbol of the lightning, Shango's instrument of power. Very dark patina.