Oya : godess of the storm

by Michael Ediale

This play centers on love and power. The strong bond between Oya and Songo made then victorious in battle. She also had access to Sango’s Edun Ara or thunderbolt which fast-tracked Sango’s doom. Oya, was the one who advised Sango to get rid of his powerful war general, Gbonka after they initially refused his order not to wage a war against Owu. Sango sent the duo to border towns of Oyo Empire. Sango eroded Gbonka against Timi in order to get rid of them. He ordered that Gbonka be burned to ashes after his fight against Timi. Powerful Gbonka reappeared after three days demanding that Sango should abdicate the throne. In anger, Sango requested his Edun Ara from his beloved Oya. He got the Edun. But there was a problem. It was wet and stained with blood from Oya’s menstruation. To refortify the Edun, Sango, history says, went to a nearby rock. The thunder from that exercise struck his palace and razed it down. It was all down for Sango thereafter. Gbonka challenged him to abdicate the throne . Unwilling to fight, he hanged himself in a place. She was saddened by Sango’s death so much that she decided, much like Juliet did for Romeo, to take her own life.

22 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2020