Exu
/ɛˈʃuː/noun
A Yoruba or Afro-Brazilian deity associated with crossroads, communication, choice, and the unpredictable forces of change.
Did you know?In Yoruba religion, Èṣù is a divine messenger and guardian of ritual communication, so offerings are traditionally made to him first to ensure that prayers reach the other orishas.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial period
Yoruba
Èṣù
“A powerful orisha associated with crossroads, communication, choice, and transformation”
18th–19th Century
Yoruba
Èṣù
“A central figure in Yoruba religious practice, invoked in rituals involving communication between humans and the divine”
19th Century
Portuguese
Exu
“Portuguese rendering of Yoruba Èṣù in Brazil”
19th–20th Century
Brazilian Portuguese
Exu
“A religious figure in Candomblé and related Afro-Brazilian traditions, shaped partly through Catholic-era interpretations and local religious development”
Modern English
English
Exu
“A Yoruba or Afro-Brazilian spiritual figure, commonly discussed in studies of African diasporic religions”