Ọrọnṣẹn

Yoruba

Etymology

Possibly from ọ̀rọn (“heaven”) +‎ ṣẹ̀n (“to flow from”), literally “That which came from heaven”

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̀.ɾɔ̃̄.ʃɛ̃̀/

Proper noun

Ọ̀rọnṣẹ̀n

1. (Ọwọ) a legendary queen of the town of Ọ̀wọ̀ from the 14th century, married to a king known as Rẹ̀nrẹ̀ngẹjẹ̀n. After she was betrayed by the members of Rẹ̀nrẹ̀ngẹjẹ̀n's court, she left Ọ̀wọ̀, and was deified as a protector deity. As a continued devotion to her, the town of Ọ̀wọ̀ worships her during the ọdún Igogo festival, where the king and all male chiefs dress in female clothing.