Elegua (

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

: Èṣù-Ẹlẹ́gbára, also spelled Eleggua; known as Eleguá in Latin America and

Spanish-speaking Hispanophone and Hispanic refers to anything relating to the Spanish language (the Hispanosphere). In a cultural, rather than merely linguistic sense, the notion of "Hispanophone" goes further than the above definition. The Hispanic culture is th ...

Caribbean islands Almost all of the Caribbean islands are in the Caribbean Sea, with only a few in inland lakes. The largest island is Cuba. Other sizable islands include Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago. Some of the smaller islands are re ...

) is an

Orisha Orishas (singular: orisha) are spirits that play a key role in the Yoruba religion of West Africa and several religions of the African diaspora that derive from it, such as Cuban, Dominican and Puerto Rican Santería and Brazilian Candomblé. T ...

, a deity of roads in the religions of

Santería Santería (), also known as Regla de Ocha, Regla Lucumí, or Lucumí, is an African diaspora religions, African diasporic religion that developed in Cuba during the late 19th century. It arose through a process of syncretism between the tradit ...

, Winti, Umbanda, Quimbanda,

Holy Infant of Atocha Holy Infant of Atocha, ''Santo Niño de Atocha'', ''Holy Child of Atocha'', ''Saint Child of Atocha'', or ''Wise Child of Atocha'' is a Roman Catholic image of the Christ Child popular among the Hispanic cultures of Spain, Latin America and th ...

, and

Candomblé Candomblé () is an African diasporic religion that developed in Brazil during the 19th century. It arose through a process of syncretism between several of the traditional religions of West Africa, especially that of the Yoruba, and the Roman ...

In Africa

Elegua is known as Èṣù-Ẹlẹ́gbára in the Yoruba religion and is closely associated with

Eshu Èṣù is an Òrìṣà/Irúnmọlẹ̀ in the ìṣẹ̀ṣe religion of the Yoruba people. Èṣù is a prominent primordial Divinity (a delegated Irúnmọlẹ̀ sent by the Olódùmarè) who descended from Ìkọ̀lé Ọ̀run, and the Chie ...

. ''Ẹlẹ́gbára'' means the "master of force" in the

Yoruba language Yoruba (, ; Yor. '; Ajami script, Ajami: ) is a language spoken in West Africa, primarily in South West (Nigeria), Southwestern Middle Belt, and Central Nigeria. It is spoken by the Ethnic group, ethnic Yoruba people. The number of Yoruba speake ...

Santería

Eleguá (Legba) is known in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Colombia, Cuba and Puerto Rico as the orisha and "owner" of ''caminos'', or roads and paths. All ceremonies and rituals in Santería must first have the approval of Eleguá before progressing. He is the messenger of Olofi. Within the "''Regla de Ocha''" uba he slightly differs from Echu, who in this case is seen as his brother, by having less dangerous and less aggressive characteristics. Eleguá moves silently; in contrast, Echu "breaks through". Manifestations of Eleguá includes Akefun, Aleshujade, Arabobo, Awanjonu, Lalafán, Obasín, Oparicocha, and Osokere. There is a ''

patakí A patakí is a brief teaching story used in Ifá and Santería. Definition “Oral narratives of the Lucumí faith, religious stories reknown to practitioners as patakís.”Lele, Ócháni. ''Diloggún Tales of the Natural World: How the Moon Fo ...

'' (story) in Santería in which Olodumare gives Eleguá the keys to the past, present, and future; for this reason, Eleguá is often depicted holding a set of keys. A figure of Eleguá may be placed in the house behind the entrance door.

In Brazil

In Afro-Brazilian religion Elegbara is one of the titles of Exu.

References

External links

Santeria cubana :: Tratado de Eshu-Elegbara

Santeria.fr :: All About Eleggua

Santeria.fr :: Todo Sobre Eleggua

Santeria.fr :: Tout sur les Eleggua
Traditional African religions Yoruba deities Yoruba mythology Brazilian deities Crossroads mythology Liminal deities Trickster gods Santería {{deity-stub

In Africa

Santería

In Brazil

See also

References

External links