Ogoun

Ogoun America
The Voodoo warrior hero of Haiti, a divinity related to the Nigerian iron god Ogun. There are many Ogouns: the fighter; the politician; the victim, head drooping and arms outstretched like the crucified Christ; the magician; the impairer, ferei; the gate keeper, known as Ogoun Panama, ‘the straw hat’; and the guardian of fire.

Ogoun never receives libations of water. Instead, rum is poured on the ground, and a match is set to it, so as to produce his sacred colour, red. When in possession of a devotee the fierce god wants a strong drink, he will shout: ‘My testicles are cold!’