Ògún is the Spirit of Iron in the West African religious tradition called Ifá. The essence of Ògún is considered one of many Spiritual Forces in Nature which are called Orisha. There are a large number of Orisha and each Orisha has its own Awo. The unique function of Ògún within the realm of Orisha Awo (Mysteries of Nature) is to remove all obstacles that stand in the way of Spiritual evolution, which includes the evolution of all that is. In order to do this Ògún must sacrifice all that stands in the way of spiritual evolution. Because of these sacred responsibility Ògún is considered the Guardian of Truth. Ògún does not protect the truth of what we would like to be, he guards the truth of what is. It is the process of making this distinction that lies at the core of Ògún's mystery.

This landmark work of ethnography explores the enduring, global worship of the African god of war—with five new essays in this new, expanded edition. Ogun—the ancient African god of iron, war, and hunting—is worshiped by more than forty million adherents in Western Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas. This rich, interdisciplinary collection draws on field research from several continents to reveal Ogun’s dramatic power and enduring appeal. Contributors examine the history and spread of Ogun throughout old and new worlds; the meaning of Ogun ritual, myth, and art; and the transformations of Ogun through the deity’s various manifestations. This edition includes five new essays focusing mainly on Ogun worship in the new world. “[A]n ethnographically rich contribution to the historical understanding of West African culture, as well as an exploration of the continued vitality of that culture in the changing environments of the Americas.” —African Studies Review