“The rooster that sits atop the iron chalice of Osun, one of Santeria’s protective Orishas (deities)—Osun [as distinct from Ochún/Oshún] is one of the four…Guerreros: Eleggua, Ogun, Ochossi and Osun,” as photographed by Thomas Altfather Good, 2012.
In “Migration and Slavery as Paradigms in the Aesthetic Transformation of Yoruba Art in the Americas,” Christopher Adejumo quotes ‘Wande Abimbọla to shed light on the African roots of this orisha:
An interesting change has occurred [in the African Diaspora] with respect to opa orere, also known as osun, handled by titled babalawos [diviners of the Ifa divination system] of Africa. This staff is usually made of iron in Africa. To the sides of the staff are attached rattles, also of iron, so that it rattles making the sound “jin-win-rin-rin” when it lands with its pointed base on the ground as the babalawo who uses it as a walking stick goes about on the streets. The top of an orere staff of Africa is dominated by eye kan (the lone pigeon), who watches over the affairs of a babalawo even in his absence.
In Cuban Lucumí and Santería, osun is received as part of the artifacts given to a new initiate of any orisa and not restricted to a babalawo. Furthermore, it is made of a zinclike object, and it is not a walking stick. It is about 10 inches (25 cm) high compared with the African type, which can be in excess of 3 feet (90 cm) depending on the height of its owner. Moreover, the top of a Cuban osun is dominated by a rooster and not a pigeon.
However, osun, in both Africa and Cuba, is highly regarded as a ritual and sacred object. In Africa it is believed to be an orisa in its own right. It must never be allowed to fall with its sides lying on the ground. Hence the babalawo keeps it in a sacred corner of his shrine and makes sacrifices to his Ifa. If it accidentally falls on the ground, a special sacrifice must be made to restore its ritual potency. That is why we have the following saying among Ifa priests: Oorogan gaangan la a bosun. (Osun is to be found standing erect at all times.)