Shango was, by the tradition's own account, a historical Alaafin of Oyo — its third or fourth king — and became an orisha after his death. The story is not flattering and is not tidied: he possessed the power to draw down lightning, experimented with it, and destroyed his own palace and killed members of his own household. Deserted by his people and humiliated, he left the city and hanged himself from a tree at a place called Koso. His loyalists then went through the country insisting oba ko so — the king did not hang — and the phrase became both a praise name and the name of the shrine town. His symbols are the double-headed axe and the mortar, his colours red and white, his day and rhythms distinct. Lightning striking a house is attributed to him and requires specific rites and payment to his priests, historically a substantial source of their authority in Oyo territory.