Ogun

Ogun may refer to several topics associated with the Yoruba people and Nigeria, including a major deity, a state in the country, and a river. The name is also used as a personal name in Yoruba communities and elsewhere.

In Yoruba religion, Ogun is the Orisha of ironworking, metalcraft, war, and labor. He is regarded as a patron of blacksmiths, hunters, and technicians and is associated with strength, innovation, and progress. Worship and rituals for Ogun are found in Yorubaland and among Afro-Diasporic communities in the Americas and the Caribbean. Offerings typically include iron tools and palm wine, and rituals can celebrate his industrious aspects through songs, dances, and prayers.

Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Created in 1976 from the Western State, its capital is Abeokuta. The state lies along the Ogun River and borders Lagos, Oyo, Osun, and Ondo states, with Atlantic access. Its economy blends agriculture and manufacturing, and its major towns include Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, and Sagamu, which contribute to industry, trade, and education in the region.

The Ogun River is a major river in southwestern Nigeria that flows through Ogun and Lagos states before discharging into the Lagos Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. The river supports fishing, irrigation, and local transportation, and its course has historically shaped settlements and livelihoods along its banks.

As a surname or given name, Ogun is used among Yoruba-speaking communities and in the Nigerian and wider Afro-Caribbean diaspora.