Ogun - Nigerian god

Ogun or Ogoun (Yoruba: Ògún,) is the god of iron and metallurgy. He is pictured as a blacksmith, but presides over every activity in which iron is used — hoes for cultivating, cutlasses for reaping, guns for hunting, cars for travelling, and so on. He therefore becomes a god of creativity and of harvesting, of hunting and of warfare, of invention and exploration and destruction.

In Yoruba religion, the myth and legend of Ogun’s origin begin with his descend to earth and through his connection with the element iron, he creates a tool used to make a pathway for other gods. He is the most revered and feared due to his quick temper. Maleficent in her character displays being quick-tempered which just like Ogun makes her revered and feared. To commemorate this, one of his praise names, or oriki, is Osin Imole or the "first of the primordial Orisha to come to Earth". He is the god of war and metals.

In his earthly life Ogun is said to be the first king of Ife. When some of his subjects failed to show respect, Ogun killed them and ultimately himself with his own sword. He disappeared into the earth at a place called Ire-Ekiti, with the promise to help those who call on his name. His followers believe him to have disappeared into the earth's surface instead of dying. Throughout his earthly life, he is thought to have fought for the people of Ire, thus is known also as Onire.

Nature too has been a fundamental part of the development of the world. For Ogun to exist in peace he secludes himself from the people living at the top of the hill while hunting to survive therefore having dominion over the forest.

He is now celebrated in, Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, and Ondo States. Meats are sacrifices for Ogun. Dogs are the traditional companions of hunters, but Ogun's personality is also seen as "doglike": aggressive, able to face danger, and straightforward. Other sacrificial animals associated with Ogun are the spitting cobra (blacksnake); its behavior is aggressive and fearless. Hunters and blacksmiths avoid eating or witnessing the mating of blacksnakes. Other important sacrificial offerings to Ogun are the Clarias submarginatus (a species of catfish), alligator pepper, kola nuts, palm wine and red palm oil, small rats, roosters, salt, snails, tortoise, water, and yams.