Elegba is the absolute balance of nature, and in a sense, lays down the foundation for man's understanding of the laws of nature. He, nevertheless, tends to negate these laws of man and forces the establishment of new laws. Elegba is able to do this because he is the choice that changes man's relation to the world, by making the impossible possible. For example, Elegba was the idea that it was possible for man to fly, he ushered in this new ability and there by,set up new rules concerning flight.
As stated earlier, Elegba is the divine trickster. It is because of his sacred 'pact with GOD ( Olodumare) . That the Yoruba believe that he must be appeased first. The Yoruba also believe that if Elegba is not appeased first, he will prevent the offering from reaching the Orisa, or he will confuse or muddle the purpose of the offering.' He is also appeased first because the offeror wants to make sure that the ritual is done properly. Elegba comes to see that the sacrifice is performed properly. He is like an efficiency expert, and acts as the bag man of the Orisa. The Yoruba believe that if Elegba is not placated at the* beginning of any important event' he will penalize the offerer and tip the scales of fortune against him.
They also placate him so he will not become an obstacle in the proper conclusion of that event. Since Elegba is the guardian of the crossroads, and of potentiality , *he is prayed to to open up the realms of possibility. Elegba is that part of life which is insatiable. He never has enough, and he always wants more. This is partly the reason that his penis is always erect. The erect penis speaks of his constant drive and shows that he is always ready, and is physically insatiable. He has a voracious appetite which is never satisfied, and he is sometimes depicted with either his mouth open, or sucking his thumb.
As stated earlier, Elegba counterbalances those aspects of existence that we call reality. The constant counterpointing of constructive and destructive forces is what propels life forward. In this sense, Elegba' s role as the patron Orisa of the hobo, the beggar, "the tramp, the beatnik, and the 'insane, counterbalances normal society members. At the same time, he reminds us of the delicate line between the "rational" and "irrational" approaches to existence, and re- enforces the meaning of chance in determining who is to be on each side.
One legend says that in a vain attempt to outwit GOD, he accidentally chose the streets because of a slip of the tongue and GOD held him to it. Nevertheless, it can be said that Elegba scraped and lived in the streets because it is on the streets, or in the social context, that all of man's lessons find their useful-ness. It is in the streets where life and death are amplified, that the different roads of man collide, forcing him to use his wits to maneuver in and out of different situations.
Here, we confront the idea that man has a drive to live, and has an innate need to survive. Elegba is that innate drive to survive and he symbolizes those characters who live on the edge of that survival, those individuals to whom luck or cunning alone brings them their daily meal. This is why the rat is the sacred animal of Elegba. He is the forager who eats garbage, or any food that will keep him alive.
Elegba eats all foods. The male rat, it should be noted, is an animal which, although ever ready and always seeking sexual release, is denied such release by the female unless he can show that there will be ample food for the offspring. The rat has no permanent home and wanders from place to place.
The rat is, therefore, a symbol of Elegba because, like Elegba, "He is a homeless wandering spirit who inhabits the market- place, the crossroads, and the thresholds of houses".
The rat lives anywhere and Elegba does, too. Elegba, therefore,rules the feet which symbolize his movement in the streets, begging and foraging.
Of all the male Orisa, Elegba is the only one not sexually linked with a female. He sires no children, 9 and has no need to propagate. He is called the club bearer and is depicted in song and in sculpture as carrying a club. The club is also symbolic of his masculinity and is symbolic of the idea that Elegba is one of the most powerful warriors. He is said to have 1600 clubs. His emblems are the comb, the whistle and the spoon. The comb alludes to his sexuality. Elegba has long plainted hair, which is combed back. The long hair is a sign of strength and sexuality. In traditional sculpture, it is sometimes
shown braided in the shape of a penis.
The whistle, indicates his ability to communicate. Researchers have indicated that "whist- ling is taboo in the Yoruba palace because of its sexual association. The perverse nature of Elegba finds whistling a natural activity, and in view of his disobedience and disregard for authority, the palace taboo is happily disregarded".
The whistle also reinforces the idea of his insatiable appetite and of his masculinity. The whistle we are referring to is a penny whistle, which is shaped like a recorder, and Elegba Laroye (The Talkative) uses it to call other Elegbas. *It is taboo to whistle around Elegba' s shrine. Elegba 's colors are red, black . The red stands for life and for blood the black death and the unknown. In contemporary worship, his colors are represented as mainly as red and black.
Since Elegba is the guardian of the crossroads, and of potentiality , He is prayed to to open up the realms of possibility. Elegba is that part of life which is insatiable. He never has enough, and he always wants more. This is partly the reason that his penis is always erect. The erect penis speaks of his constant drive and shows that he is always ready, and is physically insatiable. He has a voracious appetite which is never satisfied, and he is sometimes depicted with either his mouth open, or sucking his thumb.
As stated earlier, Elegba counterbalances those aspects of existence that we call reality. The constant counterpointing of constructive and destructive forces is what propels life forward. In this sense, Elegbas role as the patron Orisa of the hobo, the beggar, "the beatnik, and the 'insane, counterbalances normal society members. At the same time, he reminds us of the delicate line between the "rational" and "irrational" approaches to existence, and reinforces the meaning of chance in determining who is to be on each side.
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