One of the Orishas born of Yemaya, he descended to Earth in human form and lived on a little farm, where he encouraged the soil to produce bountiful goodies.

Then one day he mysteriously vanished. Did the earth swallow him up? Did he ascend back to Heaven? We have no idea. He didn’t even leave a note. All that was left was his wooden staff, sticking up out of the ground.

His neighbors were intrigued and realized that the old farmer was more than he seemed. Obviously he was a divinity of great power. Not only could he appear and disappear at will, but his fruit and vegetables were magnificent.

Once everyone realized Oko’s true nature, his staff took on a whole new meaning — as a phallic symbol. Obviously he’d left it sticking up like that on purpose to represent fertility.

These humble beginnings led to Orisha Oko being worshiped across the land as a deity of fertile farming and fecundity. He is almost a Yoruban Priapus. At the start of the rainy season there is a festival devoted to him — in which men are allowed to get up close and fertile with any woman they choose. We just hope all that agricultural frolicking is consensual as well as sensual.

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Article last revised on May 19, 2019 by Rowan Allen.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders

References: Coming soon.

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