Elegua

Elegua, also known as Esu, Eshu, Exu, or Legba in various traditions, is a prominent orisha in the Yoruba religious corpus and in Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Brazilian rites such as Santería (Regla de Ocha), Candomblé, and Haitian Vodou. He serves as the messenger between humans and the other orishas and as the guardian of pathways, beginnings, and opportunities.

In many rituals, Elegua is the first orisha to be honored. Offerings are presented to him at the outset to secure permission to communicate with the divine and to open roads for success and safe travel. He is also associated with doors, gates, crossroads, and the spoken word.

Iconography often depicts him as a playful child or trickster figure. His gender is usually described as male in traditional Yoruba practice, though representations can vary in diaspora communities. He is commonly associated with color combinations such as red and black and may be shown with a staff, a cap, or keys.

Typical offerings include candies and toys for children, coins or money, rum, cigars, and lighted candles placed at crossroads or thresholds. He is honored with ritual songs, dances, and divination to determine his wishes.

Across the African diaspora, the figure of Legba or Exu/Eshu/Elegua maintains the core role as guardian of the crossroads and intermediary between worlds, while local practices and names adapt to cultural contexts.