A Picture And Its Story: Ogun - Sacrifice To The Iron God
Chief priest Gbenga Saala raises a cutlass to kill a dog during an annual prayer and sacrifice celebration of the iron god Ogun in Abuja, Nigeria, June 23, 2015. Every year worshippers offer a dog as sacrifice to Ogun, a traditional Nigerian deity, in hope of an auspicious year ahead. Taxi drivers, blacksmiths, panel beaters and mechanics - trades that depend on metal for their livelihood - pay homage to Ogun, led by high priest Gbenga Saala. As part of the ceremony, the priest pours the dog’s blood on symbols of these workers’ trade: keys, spanners and other tools piled up in a metal barrel. Picture taken June 23, 2015. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY