Eshu

Eshu, also Esu, Elegua (Eleggua), and variations such as Èṣú or Legba in some diaspora traditions, is a central orisha in the Yoruba religion of West Africa and a key figure in several Afro-diasporic faiths. He serves as the divine messenger and intermediary between Olodumare (the supreme God) and humans, and between the other orishas and people. Eshu governs communication, language, fate and chance, crossroads and thresholds, travel, commerce, and opportunity. He is commonly described as a trickster and a master of words, through whom prayers, offerings, and oracular messages are conveyed. His moods can bring fortune or misfortune, and he must be honored and properly placated before other rites or divination occur.

Worship and practice vary by tradition but share the role of Eshu as the gatekeeper of paths and decisions. In Ifá and in Afro-diasporic systems such as Santería (Regla de Ocha), Candomblé, and related practices, adherents make offerings to Eshu at crossroads, doorways, or altars. Common offerings include ritual foods, candy, fruit, nuts, tobacco or cigars, red palm oil, and alcohol, accompanied by prayers, songs, or divination. Eshu is often depicted wearing red and black and may be shown with distinctive headgear, a staff, or other symbols of a trickster and guardian figure.

In many diaspora traditions, Eshu is syncretized with Catholic saints, most notably Saint Anthony of Padua in Santería, reflecting a broader pattern of linking orisha and saint veneration. He is also identified with gatekeeping deities such as Legba in Haitian Vodou.