Key Info

- Governs Earth's agriculture. 

- Often depicted as a powerful farmer lost in his work

Brief Bio

Okó, also known as Orisha Okó or simply Oko, is the Yoruba god responsible for agriculture, farming, and fertility. Governing the earth's fecundity, he ensures prosperous harvests and the nourishment of the populace through nature's cycles and seasons. Often depicted as a sturdy farmer immersed in his work, Okó embodies the sacred connection between the land and its life-giving attributes. In addition to his terrestrial roles, he sometimes bridges the realms of earth and sky, overseeing broader aspects of fertility. Rituals in his honor frequently feature offerings of agricultural products, celebrating the land's nurturing essence. Okó has also been depicted as a deity of law and, in certain contexts, a god of war.

In Nigeria and the Benin Republic, he was a strong hunter and farming deity, as well as a fighter against sorcery. He was associated with the annual new harvest of the white African yam. Among the deities, he was considered a close friend of Oosa, Ogiyan and Shango, as well as a one-time husband of Oya and Yemoja. Bees are said to be the messengers of Oko.