Description Changó likes bananas, okra, red palm oil, and amalá (corn meal dumplings). He usually wears red satin pants and a red shirt with white trim; on his head he wears a crown. He lives in a wooden batea (shallow bowl with lid), sometimes placed on a wooden pilón(pedestal). He protects against burns and death by fire.Changó’s symbol is the double headed ax, which represents swift justice. His followers call him by shaking a maraca as they pray to him at his altar. Those who have Changó on their head salute him by lying face down on the floor with arms extended to their sides. Changó’s Characteristics In human form, Changó was a king in Oyo, the Yoruba ancestral homeland. As an Oricha, he shows many of the qualities we associate with human kings: he’s proud, fierce, brave, a magnificent warrior, intelligent, hardworking and, above all, he likes to be acknowledged as the leader so he doesn’t have to take orders from anyone. He knows how to be a good friend, he’s a master at divination, and he’s a great healer. But, he also shows imperfections that remind us of his time on earth. For example, he’s a great womanizer, and a bit of a libertine. He seduces with his charm and his lies. He’s a fast talker, and can be manipulative. He can also be a compulsive gambler and wasteful with money. When his ego gets out of control, he’s arrogant and domineering. As long as his children are obedient, he’s a good father, but he’s very critical and quick to punish them if they don’t live up to his standards. Changó’s children are like their father, strong willed, energetic, full of fire, extraordinarily intelligent, sometimes arrogant and self-absorbed. They often have stormy tempers, although they like to have a good time, go to parties, flirt, dance. They’re very charismatic and like to be the center of attention.
