Eshu: The Yoruba Trickster God

One hot afternoon, two friends were having an argument.

- Moyo Okediji

It was over a simple matter. What color cap was the stranger who had just walk by wearing? Was it red or black? The tall friend said the cap was black. The short one insisted that it was red. The friendly argument soon became a big fight. After much yelling, the two friends started hitting each other. A crowd gathered around the two men. The man in the cap was part of the group. After taking another look at the cap, the two men stopped fighting. They realized it was red on one side and black on the other. They had both been right—and in a sense, both were wrong.

That stranger’s name was Eshu. His hobby? Creating conflict, like he did between the two friends. But Eshu is not just an ordinary stranger. Eshu is the Yoruba trickster. He is one of the most powerful and respected orisha (gods) of the Yoruba-speaking people. There are hundreds of gods in the Yoruba religion. Most are regarded as minor. Eshu is considered a major god.

Eshu can speak all languages. It is his job to make sure that languages do not change. He wants people to be able to understand each other. He makes sure words hold onto their meaning even as times and behavior change. He also ensures that people living in different areas can talk to each other as long as they know the same language. This allows people from different areas to understand each other. Eshu can talk with mortals and gods alike.