TYPE: God of fresh waters and oceans.
ORIGIN: Fon [Benin, West Africa]
INFORMATION: The eldest son of the creator god Osanobua. He is symbolized in the sacred river Olokun, which runs almost the length of Benin and from the source of which come the souls of unborn children. A girl baby is given a shrine of the god that includes a pot of river water that she takes with her to her new home when she marries. The god is particularly popular among women and has a cult of priestesses. Olokun is also a guardian deity of mariners.