On the Etymology of the Yoruba Theonym Shango

Abstract

This paper revisits the contested origins of Shango, a prominent Yoruba deity associated with thunder, lightning, and kingship. While Yoruba tradition often portrays Shango as an early king of Oyo who was deified, such accounts present inconsistencies. By examining linguistic evidence, the author proposes that the name Shango derives from the Gbari term ɛtswaʃɛ̰gʷo (ruler of the sky) and entered Old Oyo Yoruba via Nupe. In Gbari cosmology, ɛtswaʃɛ̰gʷo denotes a sky god, while in Nupe the borrowed form etsu ʃjə̰gʷo was reinterpreted as “King ʃjə̰go,” thereby blending notions of rulership with divine power. This linguistic shift, the paper argues, set the stage for Yoruba tradition to merge the idea of a thunder deity with an actual royal figure, giving rise to Shango’s dual identity as both a celestial power and an Oyo king.

Drawing on analyses of tonal correspondences, morphological segmentation, and comparative phonology, the study demonstrates that the word Shango does not align with proposed Yoruba-internal or direct Nupe etymologies. Instead, the evidence supports a route of transmission from Gbari into Nupe and, subsequently, into Yoruba. By tracing these borrowings, the paper elucidates why Shango is closely linked to royal authority, highlighting how the etsu (“king”) component would have reinforced regal connotations. This hypothesis challenges earlier scholarship that relied predominantly on historical or mythological data, suggesting instead that the narrative of a once-living Oyo king was constructed to rationalize the deity’s regal attributes. Overall, the paper offers a fresh perspective on Shango’s etymology, demonstrating that his origins lie in a cross-cultural synthesis that profoundly shaped Yoruba religious tradition.