Elegba Eshu the Powerful Knife
Elegba Eshu the Powerful Knife is an Orisha and father of the Eshu kithain.
Overview
After the great God Olorun, the greatest Orisha, conceived of the world and had his two sons, Obatala and Orunmila, design and order it, he sent another Orishas named Eshu, his linguist and messenger, to collect sacrifices for him.
Eshu is the orisha with authority over roads and gateways and who loves to cause mischief. He is neither good nor evil, he is simply himself. He plays tricks because it is his way. The good learn from his tricks and the wicked suffer. While on earth he also sired many children who would later become the Eshu, sharing his name and duties.
His progeny, unfortunately, happened to steal his name for themselves, if without malice, and when Eshu heard that the mortals were treating his kin as him he new he had to punish his wayward children or others would loose their names as well and the world would be undone. He did this even though he was just a little proud of all his children had accomplished and how much they had learned from him.
So, after observing to come up with the best punishment, he called all his children together and told them a great and powerful secret and made them his messengers to the world, commanding them with weighty words to teach their children to follow his ways as well. Then he flew back into the sky laughing. The joke and punishment? He got his kids to do his job for him and to enjoy it.
For more information see the history of the Eshu.
Yoruba Praise Song
"O great one, I pay obeisance,/ A young child does not confront/ The powerful;/ I pay obeisance/ To Elegba Eshu, who is on the road.../ Eshu the awesome,/ O powerful knife!/ The awesome one, on the road."
References
- CTD. Kithbook: Eshu, pp. 16-18.